How to abbreviate Doctor of Literature and Philosophy in the US

UNISA offers various Doctor of Literature and Philosophy Degrees. Wikipedia refers to this degree as being "equivalent to a PhD." I am not sure if this is an accurate statemeent or not. That said, would it be appropriate in the US to refer to this degree as PhD. Also, is there an particular abbreviation for this degree. I have seen DLitt et Phil. Thank you.

 

I believe that the abbreviation you mentioned is the correct one to use. While that degree may be the equivalent to a PhD I do not believe that you are justified in using the PhD nomenclature.

 

Have you considered an evaluation by NACES? For example, I have a friend from Africa with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and his US evaluation says first professional doctor of medicine and can now use MD after his name although he does not practice medicine but academics in the US.
example
see: www.WES.org

"Credential 1
Country of Education: South Africa
Name of Degree: Doctor of Commerce
Name of Institution: University of South Africa
Equivalency in U.S.: Earned doctorate (Ph.D.)"

Should be "justified" in using the credential of an official evaluation!

 

A degree that is "equivalent to" is not the same as "equal to."

The DPhil and PhD are equal; they both are designations for the Doctor of Philosophy.

The DSoSci and PhD are equivalent. The former is a designation for the Doctor of Social Science, while the latter is (again) the Doctor of Philosophy.

It would be inappropriate to earn a DSoSci and list it as a Ph.D. in any formal way.

Being a PhD, I don't mind if those with other doctoral designations refer to them casually as a "PhD"; it usually cuts down on confusion with people who don't know these distinctions and think all doctorates are the PhD. But it's more appropriate to refer to these as "doctorates," not the PhD. Still, no biggie.

Another snag: degrees from other systems, especially those from other languages.

In UNISA's case, the Doctor of Philosophy is available in the South African system. A Doctor of Administration or a Doctor of Commerce aren't the Doctor of Philosophy. One should not use the PhD or DPhil in those cases.

So what to do here? Well, what does UNISA call it? Use that.

 

Sorry but I see nothing inappropriate with using the credential interpreted from an official evaluation.

 

"e·quiv·a·lent
iˈkwivələnt/Submit
adjective
1.
equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.
"one unit is equivalent to one glass of wine"
synonyms: equal, identical, same; More
having the same or a similar effect as.
"some regulations are equivalent to censorship"
MATHEMATICS
belonging to the same equivalence class.
noun
noun: equivalent; plural noun: equivalents
1.
a person or thing that is equal to or corresponds with another in value, amount, function, meaning, etc."

 

However, I would agree that equivalent is not the same as "equal to" or in this example, identical credentials are not "equal to". For example, I have a friend who is a US Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.). He is a licensed Physician and Surgeon! In other parts of the world a D.O. is simply an Osteopath or Chiropractor. Definitely, not "equal to". That's why I stress an official evaluation.

 

I never even knew what NACES was until you suggested it. I looked up the website and it appears to be a consortium of foreign credentials evaluators. I am not sure how I would go about choosing an evaluator. Any tips? I am curious how others feel about NACES and the services it offers.

The circles in which I hang out would not be terribly concerned with the nomenclature. I just want to be sure that I am not offending anyone or saying anything inaccurate. Saying that one has a "doctorate," as Rich suggested, is probably best. But sometimes it's just much easier to say that you have a PhD, in a generic sense, not to equate credentials in any way.

 

The problem with a dictionary definition is that it lacks context. In this situation, context is everything.

The key is the impression one leaves with others. If the OP told people the degree was a Ph.D. in literature (or literature and philosophy), it would be okay, if inaccurate.

In the UK, the difference between the EdD and the PhD is very real. The degrees are earned in different ways. They're equivalent, but not equal. In the U.S., the degrees are typically identical. Still, the letters of the designation are different--and should be honored.

Whatever the school says it is should be followed. I can see translating it if the degree was earned in another language besides English because this improves clarity on the situation.

Let's say for a moment that I had completed oh, I don't know, the DSoSci from the University of Leicester. Now, this degree is earned by completing a set of course modules, followed by a 50K-word thesis. In all respects, it is comparable to a PhD in the U.S. But it isn't a Doctor of Philosophy. It is a Doctorate in Social Science. It would be okay to style myself "Rich Douglas, DSoSci." But it would not be okay to use "Rich Douglas, Ph.D." The PhD is also offered by the University, but it means you did a big thesis but no courses. The degrees are considered comparable, but they are different. (This is also the case in South Africa.)

Now, what if I had completed both degrees, but from different schools. Let's say, the DSoSci from Leicester and the PhD from Union? Hmmmmm......that would be interesting. And if I had done that, and the PhD was in higher education, well....I would think having both a PhD and another doctoral designation and one of them was in this subject, I might then want to claim some standing regarding this question. But we know how preposterous that would be, right?

 

Rich,
This is a very good find, the program is less than 20K pounds and comes from a top UK school. The catch is that although the program is "equivalent" to a PhD is not a PhD.

Doctor of Social Science (DSocSci) — University of Leicester

A DComm from UNISA is really a PhD as the faculty of commerce of UNISA doesn't offer a PhD but only the DComm. The DComm is research only. If someone with a DComm is in the US, I think is fine to call your self a PhD. For example,most professors that hold a "Doctorat d'etat' from a French school call themselves PhD although this is not the right designation but this was a higher French doctorate that was meant for academics.

 

The only reason I'd disagree is that, while UNISA may not offer the PhD, other schools from its system--South Africa--do offer it. I think someone earning a DComm shouldn't use the "PhD" designation for that reason. Even though the DComm might employ the same process as a PhD, that doesn't change things any more than the fact that an EdD is the result of a doctoral process exactly like the PhD.

But in the end, the real issue is (a) whether or not the distinction makes a difference and (b) whether or not the holder of the degree is misleading anyone.

Yeah, funny how I found that example. I have no idea how. :wink:

 

It is just matter of making yourself for marketable. If I list a DComm in a resume, most people would think is a Diploma in Commerce and not of Doctorate degree, the same for many foreign designations.
I believe it is fine to list the foreign degree as (e.g. DCom):

" Doctor of Commerce, University of South Africa (Evaluated as a PhD in the US by WES)"

As for a business card, I believe it would be legal (maybe not ethical) to list the degree as a PhD as the person hold an official NACES evaluation.

Most employers in the US now ask for a NACES evaluation and go with this for designation purposes.
My guess is that the Doctor of Social Science would be evaluated as a PhD also by WES.

 

But it isn't a PhD. That degree is present and available from South African universities, but UNISA awards a DComm, not a PhD.

I'd like to see the wording from the credential evaluator. I'd have to believe, otherwise, that they evaluate it as equivalent to a PhD. That's different from saying it is one.

Legal? Probably, if no material harm came from it. No one is seeking to arrest Julius Erving for being "Dr. J."

Again, I have trouble believing they would call it a PhD. They might (probably would?) say it was equivalent to a PhD in the U.S., which is their task, by the way.

If you have a DBA or EdD from, say Nova Southeastern U., is is okay to call it a PhD? No. So how is this any different? (Not the credential evaluator, either, because they're not empowered to change the title of your degree.)

 

Quote from WES:
"WES reports – always based on verified credentials – offer clear and consistent analysis and the U.S. equivalency for each of an individual’s academic degrees and transcripts."

Yes, you are correct in saying the evaluation says it is "equivalent to" a US Bachelor of Science or Master of Science or PhD, etc. So the question is does that official evaluation allow one to use the title or credential after their name since it is not an exact translation or precise equivalency. My vote is Yes!

You got me thinking so I looked at my diploma and it says in English, "all the rights, honors, and privileges pertaining to that degree".


I imagine it says something similar in languages like Chinese, Russian, Danish, Greek and other foreign diplomas. It's the best system we have to translate and come up with a US equivalency while maintaining those rights, honors an privileges! For all I know Chiasoungg Flingy Ese means something close to PhD in a Chinese language. With all due respect, we need some kind of system in the USA that determines equivalency and this is what we have.

 

If someone has earned what would be a PhD here but is called something else in another language (and that system doesn't use the term "PhD"), fine. Call it a PhD.

But if you've earned a degree that has a title in English that is something other than "PhD," then use that when writing English, not "PhD." You don't have a PhD.

 

South African Universities instruct in Afrikaans and English.
I'm sure their diplomas and credentials reflect that as well!

 

That's why we use evaluation services!

 

True! Latin is frequently used on diplomas. My point is that one should be able to use a title or credential in the USA legally and ethically if it is translated and evaluated by an approved, recognized agency such as WES. If I held a DCom from South Africa and my official evaluation said equivalent to a PhD in the USA, I now have another piece of paper that justifies me using PhD after my name. If I held a MBBS and it is officially evaluated to be equivalent to a MD then I should be able to use the initials after my name legally, ethically and justifiably! If the degree holder has a problem with it then simply use the original initials and you will probably make a nice conversation out of it!

 

It boils down to whether or not the distinction makes a difference. If it does, one should be honest and exact. If not, one should seek to be clear.

The DComm is not a PhD, no matter what WES or anyone else says. The PhD is awarded by South African universities, just not that one. You can't get a PhD from UNISA, so claiming one in situations where that would make a difference would be a material fraud.

"Hey, Fred. I hear you got your PhD." "Yup," says Fred, who actually earned a DComm. No big deal.

"Fred Muggs, PhD" when the doctorate is a DComm from UNISA? Totally different. Again, just as different as taking an EdD here in the US, but listing it as a PhD in your bio or resume. Not cool.