Can you use different degree Abreviations than your university does?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by mcjon77, Feb 11, 2004.

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  1. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    Hey all,

    A question came to mind and I thought you guys might be able to provide some answers. Lets say you recieve a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from your university, but rather than calling it a PhD, your school calls a DPhil. Is it still appropriate to call your degree a PhD if you so choose. does the same hold true for a BS/BSc/SB and a MS/MSc/SM?

    This is just one of those random questions that probably doesn't make that much difference in the real world, but once I thought about it I felt compelled to find the answer, or at least the reasoning behind the possible answers.

    Jon
     
  2. Han

    Han New Member

    Great question, I would like to know this for DBA vs PhD.
     
  3. leo

    leo Member

    I would think you would use the same as your school.

    It sure would be interesting to know what´s correct.
     
  4. jackjustice

    jackjustice New Member

    I believe the DBA is considered a professional degree, as are MD, PharmD, DO, OD, etc. The PhD is usually different in that it should always include an extensive research component, the results of which are presented in a dissertation. It supposedly shows the student is capable of original research that contributes meaningfully to the field of knowledge. This doesn't mean that some professional doctorate degrees do not have a research component. Some indeed do. I think the DPhil is similar and one could probably argue that it would not be objectionable to use PhD if one desired.

    Honestly, I have never met an individual who holds a doctorate, professional or otherwise, who seemed to have a great desire to use anything but the initials that identifies the degree earned. I have incidentally met a number of PhD holders who wish they had originally pursued a professional doctorate. In downsizing, which is common to most industries these days, the professional doctorate holder will almost always have an easier time finding a new job.
     
  5. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    You might be able to justify using Ph.D. instead of D.Phil. since both mean Doctor of Philosophy (I wouldn't do it though), but putting Ph.D. when you earned a D.B.A. would be plain wrong, IMO.

    I think degrees should be like a Chinese lunch menu....no substitutions!!!! :D
     
  6. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    I've known a couple of Ed.D.s that used Ph.D. but I understand from this forum that there is in fact virtually no difference between the degrees, so why not?
     
  7. mcjon77

    mcjon77 Member

    Because the actual degree conferred is different. and EdD.s is an abrieviation for "Doctor of Education" (I think). While a PhD is an abrieviation for "Doctor of Philosophy". They are two different degrees. Even if the curricullum is the same or similar, the actual degree confered is different. The case I was refering to was different school's abreviations for the same degree. For instance, IIRC, Cambridge awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and they abreviate it as PhD. Oxford also awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, but they abreviate it as DPhil.


    Jon
     
  8. drwetsch

    drwetsch New Member

    Not much difference between using D.Phil. or Ph.D. but using Ph.D. instead of of an earned Ed.D. or D.B.A. is improper. Regardless of the work done to get the degree the degree title conferred by an institution is specific on the diploma and transcript. It is certainly misleading to designate something other than what has been awarded.

    John R. Wetsch, Ph.D.

    er.,

    John R. Wetsch, Ed.D.

    er.,

    John R. Wetsch, D.B.A.

    er.,

    John R. Wetsch, D.F.A.

    er.,

    John R. Wetsch, D.M.


    etc, etc, etc...
     
  9. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I think all unaccredited, state licensed/approved schools should use D.Phil. instead of Ph.D.
     
  10. Han

    Han New Member

    I have seen that there is not a difference (in my experience).

    My DBA is an 80,000 word dissertation, very research based, much like a PhD, which is what people think of with a PhD (like jackjustice pointed out). So the DBA is proper, but it needs a * maybe. :D
     
  11. Han

    Han New Member

    This begs the question - Henley has a program, where they do not actually award the degree, but all of the work is done at Henley. Since Henley is AACSB, and the awarding degree school is not (I can't remember their name), but the program is - what would you use as the school of graduation????

    There is a brainteaser!
     
  12. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Whatever school conferred the degree.
     
  13. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    I seem to remember that once upon a time in a newsgroup far, far away, someone wrote that they had earned a "D Lit et Phil" (did I write this correctly?) degree from UNISA and quickly became tired of explaining that designation and it's PhD equivalency. He got someone at the school to write a letter stating that the D Litt et Phil was equivalent to a PhD and then he used that letter as justification for using the PhD designation. You can decide for yourself whether this was an ethical action but I believe that's the way it was described.
    Jack
     
  14. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    IMHO, it would be inappropriate for someone with a DBA to use "Ph.D." or some other designation. The DBA is specific to business; the Ph.D. is awarded to graduates from almost any discipline. While I wouldn't think any less a DBA--there simply is no reason to do so--one should be accurate.

    Regarding D.Phil vs. Ph.D., I think they're the same. Generally, I would use the one used by the school. But some people may not understand what a "D.Phil is, so I can see the motivation to use the more commonly understood designation.

    The one area where I would understand some latitude is when the designation one earns comes from a school using a different language, and doesn't use "Ph.D." The Mexican "doctorado" is comparable to the Ph.D., and we see it used by Mexican scholars when in the U.S.

    There are some potential sources of confusion on this matter. For example, again in Mexico, the baccalaureate is an advance high school diploma, awarded after 12 years of school. (Instead of the usual 10 in Mexico.) The "licenciatura" or "titulo" is issued to graduates of universities, and is the equivalent to the U.S. bachelor's. One might be led to use the U.S. equivalent "B.A." or "B.S." when in the U.S.
     
  15. Police

    Police member

  16. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Re: D.B.A. is equivalent to the Ph.D.

    Police, I agree with you on this, the DBA is not a professional degree. One does not get a DBA and then take a test to get a license to practice 'Business" as one does with any of the medical degrees, the pharmacy degree, or the law degree.
    There was a similar thread http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11393 which discussed professional degrees.

    All in all I think you should you use what the school gave you. If they gave you a PhD then use PhD, if they gave you a DPhil, use a DPhil. You can of couse tell people I have a Doctorate in basketweaving or whatever no matter what doctorate you hold.

    Matthew
     
  17. DL-Luvr

    DL-Luvr New Member

    Degree Initials


    I agree - it's just being honest. One of the concerns we all share in these forums is people using degrees that they didn't earn.

    And using PhD on your resume while your transcript shows EdD, DBA etc., could prove to be very embarassing. Even placing "PhD equivalent" next to your doctoral initials on a resume is a personal interpretation. With foreign doctorates is probably better to just spell it out and not abbreviate.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 12, 2004
  18. Professor Kennedy

    Professor Kennedy New Member

    I am somewhat amused by this discussion. The degree you were awardd is what you must use, notwhat it may be equivalent to.
    A BA is equivalent to a BSc but you list the one you were awarded. Anything else is fraud.

    A DBS is a DBA it is not a PhD, or vice versa.

    The Congressional Medal of Honour is not the Victoria Cross ('for valour'), though they may be equivalent.

    Once you start changing awards to suit your momentary needs the system of awards is compromised. Before long we will get award inflation - an Honours degree is a MSc, for example.

    I cannot believe that people who re-label their awards in this manner will not be treated with contempt once it is discovered, as it will be. All British degree awards are listed for all faculty in the Association of Commonwealth Universities Annual Handbook and a quick look in there (now online) will expose the offender to an interview panel, and almost certainly disqualify them for attempted perpertrating of a (silly) fraud.
     
  19. AJJ

    AJJ New Member

    I can't believe this!

    It really is unbelievable that people have nothing better to do than debate something like this! Professor Kennedy is right-you use what you have been granted! This stated, I have seen Oxford DPhil faculty at major US universities designated as PhD simply because most Americans would not understand the DPhil designation. Perhaps it may be appropriate to use BS in the US where someone has a BSc from the UK but - by and large, I think people should use the designatioons granted and, if necessary, put in brackets a brief equivalency explanation BUT this does not mean stating DBA (equivalent to PhD as stated inthis that and the other). A DBA is a DBA and a PhD is PhD and an EdD is an EdD! Anyone who is truly happy with his/herself does not get hung up on all this nonsense. At the end of the day, people will judge you for what you are worth not ....etc!

    AJJ
     
  20. Han

    Han New Member

    I think this is more a discussion of what is appropraite. Unfortunately, many are not educated enough to know what is euqal to another degree.

    Like some would say (and have!) a PhD required. When one applies with a DBA, it is not a PhD, and not considered the same.

    I am not sure why there are so many names of similar degrees out there, but it is more of a question of how to clarify.

    I have opted to spell mine out "Doctorate of Business Adminstration".

    I am sorry it is amusing to some that we are struggling with the ignorance out there, but I am new to this, and trying to do the right thing.
     

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