Hello.
Here's a good description from Purdue University of what a Ph.D is:
"A Doctor of Philosophy degree, abbreviated Ph.D., is the highest
academic degree anyone can earn. Because earning a Ph.D. requires
extended study and intense intellectual effort, less than one percent
of the population attains the degree. Society shows respect for a
person who holds a Ph.D. by addressing them with the title 'Doctor.'
To earn a Ph.D., one must accomplish two things. First, one must
master a specific subject completely. Second, one must extend the body
of knowledge about that subject. "
source: Notes On The PhD Degree, hosted by Purdue
http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/essay.phd.html
Yes, Ph.D. (c) is a common and legitimate way of identifying someone
who is a Ph.D Candidate (i.e., someone who is in the final stages of
completing a Ph.D.)
Here's an explanation from St Louis University:
"A student who has been advanced to candidacy is entitled to identify
him/herself as PhD(c)."
source: Slu.edu
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/NR/phd2_dissertation.html
Here's an explanation from University of California San Diego:
" After completing the qualifying exam, you can apply for a 'Candidate
of Philosophy degree (PhD.C.). '"
http://ece-classweb.ucsd.edu/gsc/info/latetips.html
Here's an example listed on the web site of the American Medical
Association:
"Karen E. Geraghty, PhD (c)
...she is completing a PhD in the history of medicine at the
University of Chicago..."
source: ama-assn.org
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/7373-2990.html
More examples:
"Theresa Ann Yeo, PhD(c)...
PhD Candidate, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public
Health"
source: Johns Hopkins University
http://www.son.jhmi.edu/directory/faculty/faculty_detail.asp?ID=652
"KIM MCCLANE, Ph.D.(c)...
Currently she is completing her dissertation at the University of San
Diego for her Doctorate of Nursing Sciences.
Source: csudh.edu
http://www.csudh.edu/soh/don/faculty/kmcclane.htm
The median length of time a student is enrolled in graduate school to
complete a Ph.D. is 7.4 years.
source:
University of Chicago's Doctorate Recipients from United States
Universities: Summary 2000
http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/issues/sed-2000.pdf
As for the length of a thesis (also sometimes called a
"dissertation"), estimates vary:
"A finished dissertation is generally 200-300 pages long. "
Source: Harvard University
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~rll/graduate/prospectus.html
"There is no fixed length for a dissertation, but most are between 150
and 200 pages long. "
Source: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
http://www.unl.edu/modlang/grad/french_PHD.html
"a doctoral dissertation--usually at least 200 pages long"
http://www.history.ku.edu/Graduate%20Program%20Folder/Graduate%20Fields/Graduate%20American%20History.htm
search strategies:
"phd is", doctor philosophy
"phd c", candidate, completing
phd, "years to complete"
dissertation, "pages long"
I hope this helps. |