Doctor of Metaphysics (PhD, Ph.D., or DMETA;
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
: or ''doctor Metaphysica''), also called a Metaphysical Science Doctorate, is a purported academic degree. While academic universities may teach
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of conscio ...
as a branch of Philosophy,
the Doctor of Metaphysics degree is a non-secular (religious based) degree. It is a real, legal degree, but is not federally recognized as an academic degree.
[Vasché, James Burton (1940) “$100 Doctors”: The Facts on Today’s Degree Mill Racket. ''The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas'', 15(3), pp.159-163. ][Sigrist, J. (1949). "Beware the Mind-Meddler". '' American Journal of Psychotherapy'', 3(1), pp.162-163. ]
Metaphysics
The study of metaphysics is centered on spiritual (not necessarily religious) matters and positive thinking. The derivation of the word metaphysics comes from the greek: meta - over and beyond and physics.
The Department of Philosophy at the
University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
defines metaphysics as a branch of philosophy concerned with reality and potentiality, mind and matter.
Doctorate of Metaphysics
In the United States, a Doctor of Metaphysics degree may be offered by purported religious institutions of learning, "so called" churches and colleges of metaphysics.
In 1938 the
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the ma ...
published a book listing the "Doctor of Metaphysics" degree in a section written by Walton C. John, titled "Counterfeit Degrees".
A 1960 ''
American Psychologist
''American Psychologist'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the American Psychological Association. The journal publishes articles of broad interest to psychologists, including empirical reports and scholarly reviews covering scien ...
'' article titled, "Mail-order training in psychotherapy," warned against unaccredited schools purporting to offer "training in a variety of psychological and metapsychological methods" and awarding a Doctor of Metaphysics degree.
In the field of
social work
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...
there are counselors who claim the title "Doctor of Metaphysics". In 2019 the ''
Journal of Social Work Education'' published, "Predatory Doctoral Programs: Warnings for Social Workers". The article warned that the majority of doctoral programs in metaphysics are little more than
diploma mill
A diploma mill (also known as a degree mill) is a company or organization that claims to be a higher education institution but provides illegitimate academic degrees and diplomas for a fee. The degrees can be fabricated (made-up), falsified (fake ...
s which require few prerequisites other than money.
See also
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History of higher education in the United States
The history of higher education in the United States begins in 1636 and continues to the present time. American higher education is known throughout the world.
Colonial era
Religious denominations established most early colleges in order to ...
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List of fields of doctoral studies in the United States
This is the list of the fields of doctoral studies in the United States used for the annual Survey of Earned Doctorates, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, as used for th ...
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List of unaccredited institutions of higher education
This is a list of colleges, seminaries, and universities that do not have educational accreditation. In many countries, accreditation is defined as a governmental designation.
Degrees or other qualifications from unaccredited institutions ma ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metaphysics, Doctor of
Titles
Degrees offered by unaccredited institutions of higher education