Most people have heard about the term ‘Terminal Degree’ but wonder what it is and how it affects your career. The term is more widely used in the United States than in other countries.
Most people think that Ph.D. is the highest degree in the educational field but it is not true. In different fields, people who have master’s degrees or bachelor’s degrees can be seen to get a Terminal Degree.
Meaning of Terminal Degree
A terminal degree is the highest degree gotten in different academic fields. It is a requirement that makes a candidate eligible for qualified for promotion to get the highest position in their specific field where they work. The degree comes in various forms depending on the academic program.
Kinds of Terminal Degree
In the United States, all doctorate degrees can be terminal degrees but not all the terminal degrees are doctorate degrees as some of them are master’s degrees too. There are different terminal degrees for different academic fields which include:
- Terminal doctorate degrees
- Professional degrees
- Terminal master’s degree
- Habilitation degrees
Terminal Doctorate Degrees
There are different kinds of terminal doctorate degrees which include:
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Treat is the most common terminal degree and covers a majority of academic fields. You can do Ph.D. in various subjects which include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Education
- Engineering
- English
- Physical therapy
- Physics
- Psychology
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Doctor of Education (EdD)
Some schools awarded a doctorate in education in some special fields which include:
- Adult education
- Counseling
- Curriculum
- Educational (psychology, technology)
- Human Resources Development
- Language
- Leadership
- Teaching
Doctor of Arts (DA)
A doctorate in arts allows a student to pay more attention to deeper aspects of their field so they can teach very well. The subjects include:
- History
- Mathematics
- English
Doctor of Engineering (EngD, Dr. Eng, Deng. )
Some programs pay more attention to research. Having a degree in doctor of engineering is the same as for Ph.D. in engineering.
Professional Degrees
These professional degrees include:
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Juris Doctor
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Educational Specialist
- Chiropractic therapy
- Veterinary medicine
Terminal Master’s Degree
Some programs don’t have doctorate degrees so a master’s degree is required to lecture at University. These include:
- Master of Social work
- Master of Fine arts
- Master of library information systems
- Master of Architecture
Habilitation Degree
Although the most common degree in the United States is Ph.D. we have a habitation degree which is considered the highest.
Importance of Terminal Degree
The level of education provided at this level will prepare you for leadership positions. Having a terminal degree makes you qualified for the highest positions in your specific field.
Conclusion
Having a Terminal degree will expose you to higher positions and opportunities but it also requires more years of learning, internship expertise, and research to get the terminal degree.