Student use of credentials

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by DWCox, Aug 2, 2001.

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  1. DWCox

    DWCox member

    Today I encountered a gentleman who had Ph.D/C listed on his business card. When I inquired he told me it meant that although he did not as yet have his Ph.D. he was in the candidacy stage. I have seen others in the past put A.B.D. on marketing documents and even think I’ve seen this printed on a business card somewhere.

    I guess no rules/laws/regulations exists to prevent this practice and specifically this gentleman from using Ph.D./C but I do want to introduce the subject here on this forum to gain a collective opinion on this issue.

    Opinions please.

    Regards, Wes
     
  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    The only places I've ever used my doctoral candidacy is on a resume (and then only when applying for teaching positions, because I thought they should know I'm working on my Ph.D.) and for a little while when I first got involved with MIGS. (I did that to make sure people knew I was involved with the program when they read my opinions about it. I really got lit up from Levicoff for that, which I thought was uncalled for.)

    I really can't imagine using it in correspondence or on a business card; it smacks of "wanna-be." Again, I only used it when it was directly relevant to the specific situation.

    Rich Douglas, Ph.D. (Candidate) [​IMG]
     
  3. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Wes,

    I too have seen this practice, where one would list either [Ph.D.(c)] for candidate, or [Ph.D. abd] for all but dissertation, when a Ph.D. student would get to the stage of their program where all coursework was complete. In the UK/SA/AU research doctorate programs, where no course work is required, one becomes a Ph.D. candidate at the point one's research proposal is officially accepted (or this is what I was told concerning the PU/GST program).

    Of course, I haven't had my business cards changed to Ph.D.(c) yet! I am still using D.Min., but since you brought this up, and I am currently writing chapter two of my thesis, I am off to the print shop. [​IMG]

    Russell A. Morris, BA, MA, D.Min., Ph.D.(c)
     
  4. PSalmon

    PSalmon New Member

    There was a person discussed on AED a while ago who listed "KBE (pending)" -- i.e. knighthood pending (and no doubt prayed for every night and twice on Sundays). A joke?

    P. Salmon
    KGCMG (pending)
     
  5. Seems a little silly. If I were a Ph.D. candidate *and* I expected to earn the Ph.D. pretty soon, I'd list that on my resume. But on a business card? Nah.

    ------------------
    Kristin Evenson Hirst
    DistanceLearn.About.com
     
  6. drwetsch

    drwetsch New Member


    It comes across as pretentious. Heck, lets use Ph.D./S where the since means "started" or just a Ph.D. student. -- just kidding.

    John
     
  7. drwetsch

    drwetsch New Member

    I am not sure where the "since" came from as it should have just been an "s."

    John
     
  8. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    My philosophy:

    In situations where it's appropriate to type out "Ph.D. Student," this is appropriate. If for some reason this would be a good idea for a business card (I can't imagine many situations where it would be), I suppose it would be all right, but only if it's typed out in its complete form.

    In cases where one is ABD and wants to call attention to that fact, "Ph.D. Student (ABD)" or "Ph.D. Candidate" would seem to be clear enough.

    IMHO, no research doctorate student should ever call himself/herself ABD unless s/he was required to complete a preliminary first year of coursework or the like. However, I see nothing wrong with a research student calling himself/herself a "Ph.D. Candidate" once enrolled, since that's what they're called.

    Me, I'd probably leave the title off except in instances where I'd use "M.A." (rare cases indeed), at which point I might substitute "Ph.D. Student" or "Ph.D. Candidate," since it correctly implies that I've progressed ahead of the M.A., even if I don't have a new piece of sheepskin to hang on my wall yet. But I'd never use abbreviations that might suggest I've somehow already completed my Ph.D.

    Peace,

    ------------------
    Tom Head
    www.tomhead.net
     
  9. Guest

    Guest Guest

    John,

    And to expand this idea, one might also use the letters--Ph.D.(tai}---with the latter meaning "thinking about it." This could technically be used for many years, or as long as one was thinking about it. In this manner so many more people could enjoy the letters Ph.D. in some form. [​IMG]

    Russell
     
  10. David

    David New Member

    Or Ph.D(f) = failed orals.

    ------------------
    David
     
  11. barryfoster

    barryfoster New Member

    At Fielding, students must get to a very specific point in the program before they can legally call themselves "Ph.D. Candidate". (Fielding is very specific about this.) And it is well into the program, not too many months/weeks before graduation. Ph.D. Candidate does not refer to a person who is in a Ph.D. program. It refers to a person who has done so much of the work that it is very unlikely that s/he will not complete the Ph.D.

    Barry Foster

     
  12. barryfoster

    barryfoster New Member

    Thats sicknening, isn't it?? Total double negative!! :-( Maybe this is better ...

    "It refers to a person who is very likely to finish the Ph.D."

    (Damn academics!!! :)
     
  13. mamorse

    mamorse New Member

    I personally never liked the designations "ABD" or "Ph.D.(c)"

    Mark, President of the United States(ABE)

    [ABE = all but election]
     
  14. Guest

    Guest Guest

    C'Mon Guys! I had already placed my order at the local printer to have my business cards read "Ph.D.(c)," but after reading all the opinions I just called and cancelled the order. Man, this Ph.D. stuff gets complicated!!!

    Of course, if one placed an order for business cards which listed Ph.D. after one's name, by the time they arrived one could have received their Ph.D. from T C&U. [​IMG]

    Russell
     
  15. Ike

    Ike New Member

    Wait a minute. One does not have to use ABD any more because the Business School at Nova Southeastern University has proffered a solution. The business school will now award a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) to those that have completed course work but could not compltete the dissertation [​IMG]. http://www.nova.edu/cwis/ia/pubaffairs/news/cags.html

    Ike
     
  16. Ike

    Ike New Member

    "complete" not "compltete"
     
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    "ABE" could apply to our current President.

    Rich Douglas
     
  18. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I was thinking of his opponent, Rich! W won the election.

    Gore, US President (ABE)

    Russell
     
  19. DWCox

    DWCox member

    TO: All Respondents

    Please don't turn this thread into a cartoon. I too like humor but in many cases it will detract from the value and/or the number of legit responses.

    Please don't flame me!

    Respectively submitted, Wes
     
  20. EsqPhD

    EsqPhD member

    I think it is permissible to use the abd or candidacy listing on resumes and certain selective arenas (i.e., when writing an article where the listing would give helpful informational background about the writer).

    EsqPhD
     

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