As with master’s degrees, there are several specialized doctorate programs specific to different disciplines and areas of study:
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor of Engineering (EngD/PhD)
- Doctor of Education (EdD/D.Ed)
- Doctor of Social Science (DsocSci)
- Doctor of Professional Studies (DProf)
- Doctor of Architecture (DArch)
- Doctor of Theology (Th.D)
- Doctor of Divinity (DD/DDiv)
- Doctor of Science STEM (Dsc/ScD)
- Doctor of Science Arts & Humanities (DLitt/LitD)
When deciding which one to get, consider your immediate or long-term career goals — which degree would serve you best? In some cases, you can obtain a Ph.D. with just a bachelor’s degree, but often it’s recommended you get a master’s first for the research experience that will be required for a Ph.D.
As with anything, there are exceptions. Students in law school obtain a J.D. (Juris Doctor) but can then further obtain a master’s in a sub-specialty like tax or immigration law. The health care occupations of physical therapist and pharmacist are also doctorate programs obtained post undergrad.