Doctorate Degrees

A doctorate degree is the highest level of academic degree in most fields. For research or university teaching, the degree is usually a PhD. Applied professional doctorates include the Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Theology (Dth), and the Juris Doctor (JD), among others.

Difference between two degrees, such as MD and PhD are: PhDs advance knowledge and MDs apply existing knowledge. The MD does not need to produce original research; the PhD must produce original research and write it up in a dissertation, which must be approved by a review committee before achieving a PhD.

Incidentally, in the US, a thesis is the final project for the master's degree and a dissertation leads to a doctoral degree. A thesis is a compilation of research that proves knowledge about the information learned throughout the graduate program. A PhD dissertation must contribute something completely new and undiscovered to the field. The dissertation must contribute original knowledge to the subject. In short, a thesis (MA) proves someone else's point and a dissertation (PhD) proves your own point.