Earning the title of Doctor (Dr.) in your name...

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by ybfjax, Nov 7, 2004.

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  1. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    First Philosophiae Doctor degree awarded in Paris, 1150 C.E. No Philosophiae Doctor awards in subjects other than Philosophy until 17th century, in Germany at which time the entire Arts faculty was referred to as "Philosophy" for doctoral degree-granting purposes. Again, in Germany, in the early 19th Century, The Ph.D. was reinvented in its current form, as a research degree.

    First Medicinae Doctor(es) - Medieval Europe, much the same time-frame. Certainly, not every physician was required to have this degree. Many countries stuck with the Bachelor's degree to qualify for medical practice. University of Glasgow conferred the first MD in Britain in 1703. England stayed with the Bachelor's degree for a long time. In some countries, the MD is a first professional degree. In others it is a "higher" doctorate; not required of every physician.

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2017
  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    And at the bottom of the doctoral pile, there are many who are more properly termed Showman of Philosophy, or maybe Madoff of Business....

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2017
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    deleted - duplicate

    J
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2017
  4. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    You could have saved yourself some Googling as I wasn't trying to make a counterpoint to that argument. Just that, in Canada especially, there is less of a title fetish and it is not terribly uncommon for someone with a doctorate to not use the title and to instead opt for "Professor" if they are, indeed, professors or no title at all if they are business professionals. I'm sure some love the title. But there seem to be many more who don't care when compared to the U.S. in my humble, unofficial and wildly anecdotal observation.

    Well, of course it is. There are numerous articles on the subject. Why didn't you look for those instead of random faculty profiles to prove a point that didn't really need proving?

    Here's one about the debate in Ontario which focuses on the case of an Audiologist, with a doctorate, who was suspended for using the title "Doctor."
    The Ontario law seems geared specifically toward healthcare professionals who are offering healthcare services to the public. There are no title police stamping out errant philosophers. But, in the case of the audiologist, there is a regulatory body for audiologists who consider using the title of "Doctor" to be professional misconduct even if you have a doctoral degree.
     
  5. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Wait, what?

    So now my J.D. is officially a "doctorate"? What does that make my (higher) Master's? I think I'll rely on Miss Manners here and "never take a title to myself".:tongue:
     
  6. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Technically, you are (or were) correct, but that was then and this is now. It appears that many lawyers are stating that the JD is higher than the masters. However, it's ironic that the masters cannot be obtained unless an applicant first has a JD.
     
  7. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    There lies the conundrum that the ABA has made for themselves. If the J.D. is truly a doctorate, then why is the Master of Laws a higher degree? If you already have a doctorate with the J.D., then what is the S.J.D.?

    It would make far more sense (but wouldn't satiate the egos of lawyers) to have a hierarchy similar to religious degree titles, where the first professional law degree is a Master's (M.Div.), the advanced law degree is a higher Master's (Th.M.), and if you want the title of doctor, you go on for an actual doctoral degree (Th.D., D.Min., Ph.D., etc.).
     
  8. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    In Canada, the College of Registered Psychotherapists note that Ontario law restricts the use of the title "Dr." in Clinical settings but that they are free to use it in universities, other business settings and socially.

    There is variation among provinces and medical professions. Some provinces will not allow podiatrists/chiropodists to use the title "Dr." in their practice.

    This is an article from Maclean's that was just interesting (etiquette).
    https://www.google.com/amp/www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/what-do-you-call-a-professor/amp/
     
  9. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    I liked calling the J.D. a "First Professional Degree" and the LL.M. a "Second Professional Degree" or "Advanced Professional Degree". But what do you do with New Mexico State University's Doctor of Economic Development (DED)? You need a Master's (or equivalent) in economics and you pass comprehensives and do an internship/project, but no dissertation. Not intended, saith the school, for an academic career. Well, okay, then who needs it??

    Sigh.
     
  10. Elijah James

    Elijah James New Member

    If you want to add Dr in front of your name there 2 options one is by becoming a medical Practioner i.e. MBBS second one is doing a Doctoral degree i.e. PhD in the field of your choice.
     
  11. Aroon

    Aroon New Member

    It is really an honor to prefix Doctor Aka Dr in front of our name. There are 2 ways we can prefix Dr before our name, one is by doing a MBBS and the second one is by doing a PhD. Very soon I will prefix in Dr Front of my name as I am going to study medicine program.
     
  12. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think they do a lot of things backwards in the UK. I'm entitled to think so because I'm originally from there.

    For example, a G.P. is referred to / addressed as "Doctor." A highly-qualified medical specialist, however, will be "Mr. or Ms." Example: The Brit. TV hospital drama, "The Royal," set in the 1960s. Rank-and-file doctors were "Dr.", while the Rolls-driving, pipe-smoking Consultant Surgeon was "Mr. Rose." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal
     
  13. Tahitimom

    Tahitimom New Member


    I just wanted to point out that Colorado Tech University does require a dissertation in the Doctorate in Management Degree. My husband just earned his 2 years ago and I am working on mine as well. Not sure where that information came from or it wasn't required at the time of this post. My apology for posting on an old post but I had make that information known.
     
    SteveFoerster likes this.
  14. Tahitimom

    Tahitimom New Member

    Can anyone tell me the proper way to sign a document with a Doctorate in Management degree and being a CEO? Do you use both or just the D.M.?
     
  15. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm not sure why someone would include either one in a signature.
     
    Vonnegut likes this.
  16. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Sign with your best Spencerian flourish and leave ALL the titles off.
     
  17. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    It is in your signature block and not the signature itself.

    As in:

    Signature
    Darlene Tahitimom, D.M.
    Chief Executive Officer
    Squeeze Cheez & Crackers, Inc

    Oddly more and more I am seeing:
    Dr. Darlene Tahitimom, D.M.

    Used to be against protocols and only Chiropractors did it (I am a Doctor too darn it). But now others are doing it. One guy told me it both indicated his title preference AND let people know he was not an M.D.
     
    datby98 likes this.
  18. Jahaza

    Jahaza Active Member

    In some medical/nursing contexts, it's required to use your degree (or professional designation, such as RN or PA-C) as part of your actual signature, whether manual or electronic and not just the signature block.
     
  19. pueblopicasso

    pueblopicasso Member

    I don't use mine in any form of signing whatsoever because of my circle. Most have doctorate degrees and as faculty we prefer our students to address us by our first name.
    It also doesn't appear in any official documents, and when filling forms I opt to tick Mr. instead of Dr.

    I do list out my credentials in LinkedIn and CVs though but not the title itself, and the credentials is somehow an expected mention in author bio, so I have this line that reads pueblopicasso read ... at so and so.

    I prefer to used my chartered statuses as my post-nominals instead because that's where the industry is at currently. For example, I know a person's investment expertise if he has a CFA or CISA, etc.
     
  20. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Interesting. New to me to write it.
     

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