A terminal degree is a

college A college ( Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...

degree that is the highest level college degree that can be achieved and awarded in a specific academic or professional field. In other cases, it is a degree that is awarded when a candidate completes a certain amount of coursework but cannot continue to doctoral studies. For certain professions and research grants, a terminal degree is a minimum eligibility requirement. An earned academic (or research)

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' ...

such as a Ph.D., Ed.D. or D.B.A. is considered the terminal degree in most academic fields, as well as the most advanced degree possible, advancing the boundaries of human knowledge through research and dissertation defense, in the United States. However, professional doctorates may be considered terminal degrees within the professional degree track, even though they are prerequisites for research degrees, for example, Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Juris Doctor (JD) in the United States. The phrase "terminal degree" is used heavily in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, but is used less in other countries. The term is not generally used in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

, for example, and its exact meaning varies somewhat between those areas and disciplines in which the term is used. In some countries there are degrees which are more advanced than the PhD, such as the higher doctorates in the United Kingdom and Russia, and the habilitation degree awarded in Germany and Austria. Not all terminal degrees are doctorates. For example, in professional practice fields there are often terminal master-level degrees, some which are called doctorates e.g. MEng (Master of Engineering), MLArch standing for Master Landscape Architect or BEng for Engineers, MB (Bachelor of Medicine (UK)). Architecture was a discipline where the M.Arch was considered terminal as a professionally oriented degree, but a Doctor of Architecture (D.Arch) that is recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) establishes the doctoral level as the highest level of "professional degree" in architecture in the United States. For the same discipline of Architecture, the "Laurea di Dottore" is the terminal degree in Italy. Interior design and Interior Architecture have terminal master-level degrees such as MID, MA, MS interior design education. Most non-doctoral degrees are not terminal in academic terms, with the exception of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA), an academically recognized terminal degree given to practitioners in the fine arts and performing arts. The

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA; also Master's in Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accou ...

is also considered a terminal professional degree.

Research degrees

In academic fields, the typical terminal degree is that of Doctor of Philosophy, although others also exist. The first phase of the Ph.D. consists of coursework in the student's field of study and requires one to three years to complete. This is often followed by a preliminary or comprehensive examination and/or a series of cumulative examinations, in which the emphasis is on breadth rather than depth of knowledge. Finally, another two to four years is usually required for the composition of a substantial and original contribution to human knowledge embodied in a written dissertation that in the social sciences and humanities is typically 250 to 450 pages in length. Dissertations generally consist of (i) a comprehensive literature review, (ii) an outline of methodology, and (iii) several chapters of scientific, social, historical, philosophical, or literary analysis. Typically, upon completion, the candidate undergoes an oral examination, sometimes public, by his or her supervisory committee with expertise in the given discipline.

Typical professional degrees, professional/clinical doctorates, and research doctorates

* Arts: ** Doctor of Arts (DA) ** Doctor of Music (DM or DMus) ** Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) (Usually awarded to performance majors in the musical arts) ** Doctor of Modern Languages (DML) **

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

(Ph.D. or DPhil) ** Doctor of Professional Studies (DPS) ** Master of Fine Arts (MFA) **

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. ...

(MA) * Design: ** Master of Art and Design (MAD) ** Master of Architecture (M.Arch) ** Doctor of Architecture (D.Arch) ** Doctor of Design (DDes) ** Master of Design (MDes) ** Master of Landscape Architecture (MLArch and/or MLA) ** Master of City Planning (MPLAN, MCRP, MUP, MCP, MCD or MURP) ** Master of Fine Arts (MFA) **

Master of Graphic Design Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans * Grandmaster (chess), National Maste ...

(MGraph) * Education: ** Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) ** Educational Specialist (EdS) * Healthcare: **

Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

(DAOM) ** Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) **

Doctor of Behavioral Health Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

(DBH) ** Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) ** Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) ** Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDS or DMD) ** Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) ** Doctor of Health Science (DHS, DHSc) **

Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated M.D., from the Latin ''Medicinae Doctor'') is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degre ...

(MD) ** Doctor of Medical Physics (DMP) ** Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) ** Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) **

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

(DOT or OTD) ** Doctor of Optometry (OD) **

Doctor of Osteopathy Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO or D.O., or in Australia DO USA) is a medical degree conferred by the 38 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. DO and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees are equivalent: a DO graduate may become licens ...

(DO) ** Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) ** Doctor of Physical Therapy or Physiotherapy (DPT or DPhysio) ** Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) ** Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) ** Doctor of Public Health (DrPH, DPH) ** Doctor of Science (DSc) ** Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci) ** Doctor of Social Work (DSW) ** Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) * Law: ** Doctor of Canon Law (JCD) **

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice l ...

or Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) ** Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD/SJD) (in the U.S.) ** Doctor of Laws (LLD) * Management: ** Doctor of Business Administration (DBA, DrBA) ** Doctor of Management (DMgt, DM) **

Master of Public Affairs The master of public affairs (M.P.Aff., M.P.A. or MPA) is a master-level professional degree offered in public policy schools that provides training in public policy and the operation of government. Courses required for this degree educate ...

(MPA) ** Master of Project Management (MPM) **

Doctor of Public Administration The Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.) is a terminal applied-research doctoral degree in the field of public administration (a part of public service). The D.P.A. requires significant coursework beyond the masters level and a dissertation ...

(DPA) **

Doctor of Economic Development Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

(DED) * Religion: ** Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) ** Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) **

Doctor of Sacred Theology The Doctor of Sacred Theology ( la, Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, abbreviated STD), also sometimes known as Professor of Sacred Theology (, abbreviated STP), is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Roman Catholic ...

(S.T.D.) ** Doctor of Theology (Th.D. or D.Th.) * Science and Engineering: ** Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) **

Doctor of Computer Science The degree of Doctor of Computer Science (DCS, DCompSci, DSc.Comp, D.C.Sc.) is an applied research doctorate in computer science awarded on the basis of advanced study and research in the field of computer science. While it is considered a terminal ...

(DSc.Comp, DCS, D.C.Sc.) ** Doctor of Engineering (Dr.-Ing./DEng/Dr. Eng./EngD) ** Doctor of Science (Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D., or D.S.) * Social Science: ** Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is a professional doctorate (terminal degree) that is awarded on the basis of advanced study and research in the field of criminal justice. Structurally, the Doctor of Criminal Justice differs from the Ph.D. in that the DCJ has, as noted above, at least a three year duration, with only one year equivalent on the dissertation, while an American Ph.D. in criminal justice would normally require a minimum of four years, with at least two years spent on the dissertation. The Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ) prepares the holder for research and academic positions. It also prepares the holder for professional positions in the American criminal justice system. * Technology: ** Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) ** Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS, MLS, MSLS) (Given in the US, by an ALA accredited school or program.)

Professional degrees

A professional degree is a degree that is required, often by law as in the case of medical and other clinical professions, that must be earned first before the holder of the degree can practice in the profession. A speech-language pathologist, for example, must hold a master's degree in communicative disorders: speech-language pathology in order to practice. However, an actor does not need a degree to act, even though there are degrees for acting available. In some fields, especially those linked to a profession (such as medicine, law or teaching), a distinction is to be drawn between a

professional degree A professional degree, formerly known in the US as a first professional degree, is a degree that prepares someone to work in a particular profession, practice, or industry sector often meeting the academic requirements for licensure or accreditat ...

, an advanced degree and terminal degree. A first professional degree is generally required by law or custom to practice the profession without limitation. An advanced professional degree provides further training in a specialized area of the profession. A first professional degree is an academic degree designed to prepare the holder for a particular career or profession, fields in which scholarly research and academic activity are not the profession, but rather the practice of the profession. In many cases such as law, medicine and teaching, the first professional degree is also terminal, usually because no further advanced degree is required for practice in that field, even though more advanced academic degrees may exist.

Typical professional degree

* Business: ** Accountant (MAcc, MAcy, MSAcy) ** Business Administration ( MBA) * Design: **

Architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

(B.Arch, M.Arch, D.Arch) ** Architectural Engineer (B.A.E, M.A.E) ** Landscape Architect (BLA, MLA) **

Urban Planning Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water ...

(MPLAN, MCRP, MUP, MCP, MCD, MURP) ** Interior Design, Interior Architecture (BS, BFA, MFA, MID, MA, MS) *

Education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. ...

or a bachelor's usable for teaching (BEd, BA, BME, BSE, BSocSc, BSc) *

Engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...

(BE, BEng, MEng, BSE, BScEng, BASc) * Healthcare: ** Acupuncturist (MAcOM, DAcOM) ** Advanced Practice Nurse (DNP, DNAP, DNS, DNSc) ** Audiologist (MS, AuD) ** Chiropractor (DC) **

Health Administrator Health administration, healthcare administration, healthcare management or hospital management is the field relating to leadership, management, and administration of public health systems, health care systems, hospitals, and hospital networks ...

(MHA) ** School Counselor (M.A., M.S., M.Ed., M.Coun. lso M.C. or Ph.D.) ** Mental Health Counselor (M.A., M.S., M.Ed., M.Coun. lso M.C. or Ph.D.) ** Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS, CLS, MT) ** Dentist (DMD, BDent, DDS, BDS, BDSc, BChD, CD, Cand.Odont., Dr.Med.Dent.) ** Midwife (BMid, BScMid) **

Nurse Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...

(BSN, MSN) ** Occupational Therapist (OTD, DrOT, MSOT, MA, MOT) ** Optometrist (OD, B.Optom) ** Pharmacist (BPharm, BScPhm, PharmB, MPharm, Pharm.D.) **

Physical Therapist Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, pat ...

(DPT, DPhysio, MPT, MSPT, MPhysio, BSPT, BPT, BPhysio) **

Physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

or Surgeon ( M.D., D.O., MBBS, MDCM, MBChB, BMed, Dr.Med, Dr.MuD, Cand.med). ** Physician Assistant (MPAS, MPS, MS, PGDip) ** Podiatrist (DPM, DP, PodD, BPod, PodB) **

Psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how ...

(PhD, PsyD, ClinPsyD or EdS) **

Public Health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...

(MPH) ** Radiation Therapist (BSc, BRad) ** Radiographer (BSc, BMRSc, BRad) ** Respiratory Therapist (MSRC, BSRT) ** Scientist (BSc, BS) **

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 ...

er (BSW, BA, BSc) ** Speech and Language Therapist (MA, MS) ** Veterinarian (DVM, VMD, BVS, BVSc, BVMS) * Lawyer ( LL.B., J.D.) *

Minister Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

( M.Div.)

Advanced professional degrees

(MEd, MAT, MT, EdS) *

Engineering Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...

(MEng, MASc, MMSc, PD) * Healthcare: **

Acupuncture Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body. Acupuncture is a pseudoscience; the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scient ...

(DAcOM) ** Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN: CRNA, NP, CNM, CNS) (DNP, DNAP, DNS, DNSc) **

Biotechnology Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used b ...

(ALM) ** Dental Science (DDSc, Dr.Odont) (advanced degree in countries that award a bachelor's degree in dental surgery as first professional degree, usually awarded for outstanding research to a particular field of Dentistry) **

Dentistry Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions ...

(MDS, MSD, MDSc, or DClinDent) (these are usually granted at the culmination of a specialty training program in dentistry in those programs that also require research and a thesis to be completed) **

Medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, and Health promotion ...

(MD/DO) (advanced degree in countries that award a bachelor's degree in medicine or surgery as first professional degree, usually awarded for outstanding research to a particular field of Medicine) ** Midwifery (MMid, MScMid) ** Nursing Practice (DNP) ** Surgery (MS, MSurg, MCh, ChM, or MChir) (Usually granted after completion of surgery training program in conjunction with a research thesis) **

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

( PsyD) **

Social Science Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of soc ...

(PhD, DPhil) **

(MSW, DSW, ProfD or PhD) * Lawyer ( LLM, JSD,

PhD PHD or PhD may refer to: * Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification Entertainment * '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series * ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic * Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group ** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...

) * Ministry (DMin) *

Public Policy Public policy is an institutionalized proposal or a decided set of elements like laws, regulations, guidelines, and actions to solve or address relevant and real-world problems, guided by a conception and often implemented by programs. Public ...

( MPP) *

Public Administration Public Administration (a form of governance) or Public Policy and Administration (an academic discipline) is the implementation of public policy, Administration (government), administration of Government, government establishment (Governance#P ...

( MPA)

References