Pursuing PhD Universities and the PhD Degree

Doctorate Articles : Pursuing PhD Universities and the PhD Degree by Matt Murren

Are you one of those that is never satisfied with your education? You have your Master's degree, now what do you do? For many the next step is to pursue a PhD degree. This starts with a review of the different PhD Universities available to you. There are many PhD Universities and PhD Programs so you must take your time and find the best fit for you.

To obtain your PhD you must select your field and take advanced courses in your area of study. Typically you take smaller seminars, study independently with a distance learning or online program. The courses typically take three (3) to four (4) semesters of full time study.

Now the fun begins..After your coursework is completed, the doctoral student must pass a written or oral qualifying exam. This provides evidence that the candidate has sufficient expertise in the subject matter to proceed with his/her independent research.

How does the the qualifying exam work?

Usually the qualifying exam is given by a committee. For most PhD Universities this consists of three to five professors in the candidate's program who have agreed to guide the doctoral students research. The PhD candidate starts his/her original research and writes a book size thesis or dissertation on the research. When this is complete, the candidate must oraly defend the positions stated in the research before the committee. After the candidate has ben the oral exam with the given PhD University, the title of "doctor" will have been earned.

How do I select the PhD University right for me?

Finding a good fit for you will take research in its own right. Many times the PhD University you select will depend on what field you are studying as many Universities specialize in different areas such as Business, Economics, Psychology, Medicine etc..

The other factor you may want to consider is if distance learning or online learning is a good fit for you and your PhD Degree pursuit. This isn't for everyone.

Simply sit down, open up your web browser and make a list of your top 5-10 PhD Universities that are a good fit in your area of study. Start by marking down the pro's and con's and consider things such as relocation, prestige, financial impacts etc..

Don't take this decision lightly as you will be spending up to six (6) years in achieving the credential of "doctor". You may want to call some of the professors at each institution to get a good sense of each program and so you can further weigh the pluses and minuses.

The pursuit of the doctoral degree is not for the light hearted but well worth the effort. Take your time in selecting the right PhD University and set yourself up for success. Best of luck on your journey.

About the Author
Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.phd-universities-advisor.com Phd Universities

Source: http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=533083