The degree of doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.), introduced to this
country by Yale in 1861, is the highest degree offered in American
education. It is conferred in recognition of two accomplishments: (1)
marked ability and scholarship in a broad field of learning (such as
chemistry or classics), and (2) distinguished critical or creative
achievement within a special area of the general field. The special
field forms the subject of the doctoral dissertation. A student must
devote a minimum of three years of full-time study beyond the
bachelor's degree for the Ph.D., of which at least one year must be
devoted to dissertation-related research. One year of study is
represented, for this purpose, by 24 credits of coursework or
research. The minimum requirement for the Ph.D. degree is, therefore,
72 credits, of which at least 24 credits must be devoted to research.
If any of the work is conducted on a part-time basis, the minimum time
required will, of course, be longer.
Doctoral programs
normally are arranged in two phases. The preliminary phase, which
generally involves formal courses of study, is completed when the
student passes the qualifying examination. In the second phase, the
student usually pursues research courses and writes his or her
dissertation. This phase concludes when the dissertation is accepted
and the defense of it is approved. Between admission to the Graduate
School-New Brunswick and the conferral of the Ph.D. degree, the student
must (1) satisfy the course and other preliminary requirements of the
particular graduate program in which the student is enrolled, (2) pass
the qualifying examination, (3) present the results of the special
research in an acceptable dissertation, and (4) pass a final
examination related to the subject of the dissertation. The student
becomes a formal candidate for the doctorate only after completing the
qualifying examination.