Can a non-RA PhD be earned in one year

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by George Brown, Dec 4, 2004.

Loading...
  1. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    I recently read a site where a fellow allegedly earned a Greenwich PhD in one year. Is this at all possible? I know that US RA PhD's contains some coursework and dissertation requirement - to what ratio, I am not sure. Would appreciate some outline.

    Cheers,

    George
     
  2. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Yes, I know of one popular author in the field of apologetics who submitted a "dissertation" (actually a re-write of a book he had written some years earlier) to a well-known non-RA school and received his doctorate in less than a year.

    I have seen a vita of another author, who currently runs a non-RA theological seminary, who has multiple doctorates, at least one (maybe two) of which appear to have been earned in one year or less.

    Then again, there are some infamous (at least on this forum) non-RA institutions that will gladly award you a PhD in FAR less than a year (they wait until the check clears). ;)

    Tony
     
  3. revans

    revans member

    U.S. Ph.D.'s will vary, according to discipline, but course work is usually heavy, even in short-length Ph.D. programs--sciences, mostly-- three or four years. Exotic Humanities' Ph.D.'s can be (announced up fron in the program guides) six to seven years in some cases, most course work and reading lists to prepare for exams, even study abroad for a year or more.

    Course work (or some kind of formal exam preparation) is, in my experience, 2/3 to 3/4 of the degree program. But there may always be exceptions; does the student come to the program with a masters degree already, etc.
     
  4. George Brown

    George Brown Active Member

    OK thanks for the info. I have a sneaking suspicion that the fellow may have converted to a PhD as he was going along, but he was conferred a Masters and a PhD at the end. Mmmm, I have seen MA (Hons) degrees before - maybe this should be the actual award?

    Cheers,

    George
     
  5. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    The PhD program I am in consists of 78 credits hours (of which 30 credits were transferred from my masters degree, 24 credits of new coursework, and 24 dissertation credits), a comprehensive exam, and an oral defense.

    I have to complete 8 doctorate level courses, pass the comp (which covers 4 of those courses), and have my dissertation proposal approved before they will even let me enroll in any dissertation credits. The school catalog also states that the dissertation phase will take a minimum of one year to complete...minimum.

    I don't see how one could possibly complete a PhD from an RA school (at least not from my school) in one year or less. :confused:
     

Share This Page