1876 was a turning point for all of humanity, it was then that Alexander Bell held the first public demonstration of a telephone conversation. 1902 is when Willis Carrier improved the lives of millions of people in warmer countries when he invented electric air conditioning. Charlie Kayn and Bill Duvall successfully connected from a distance network and started the Internet in 1969. All these inventors studied or taught at American universities, where they conducted their experiments, used the resources of laboratories and worked hard to leave their mark on history. Are you planning to continue this list with your own achievements? American universities will help you achieve your research goals.
The beginning of a scientific career
The United States opens up a boundless world of science for students entering doctoral programs. If you clearly realize that you want to devote your life to this, then you don't even need to have a master's degree. Because there are integrated doctoral programs that provide both a master's and doctoral degree at the same time. For those who already have a master's degree, admission to a doctoral program in the USA is a logical step in the development of a scientific career.
The process of submitting documents to doctoral studies involves active communication with scientists of the selected department. Since potential scientific advisers are the ones that have a significant impact on the decision to enroll doctoral students. The duration of doctoral programs is determined individually, but on average lasts 5-6 years.
US colleges and universities offer doctoral programs of various types. PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most common qualification, however, it is not the only one. Although PhD stands Doctor of Philosophy, this degree can be obtained in almost any industry. There are programs that concentrate more deeply on the study of a specific direction, which is why they got the corresponding name. We suggest considering some basic examples.
Types of Doctoral Programs
DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) is a specialized doctoral degree for professionals in business and management. Many DBA programs are designed for students who want to continue to work in their respective specialty and do research. Sometimes their research is based on data from the company where they work. So, to adapt to such a schedule, DBAs often provide part-time jobs. But this scenario does not suit foreign students because of visa requirements, therefore, when choosing a DBA, you should pay attention to whether the program provides full-time education.
EdD (Doctor of Education) is a doctoral program for experienced teachers and specialists in the field of education. Applicants of this degree often plan to continue their professional activities in the field, while graduates of PhD programs focus on research and teaching.
MD (Doctor of Medicine) - Doctorate in Medicine. There is no undergraduate degree in medicine in the USA, therefore MD is the only American degree that can be obtained in this direction. Students who wish to pursue a medical career must first obtain a Bachelor of Science (BS). Usually there are no specific requirements for a specialty, but it is mandatory to study such subjects as chemistry, biology and physics. It is often said that for success in further specialization, future doctors will benefit from training under the pre-med school program, that is, preparation for the school of medicine. However, it should be understood that this is not a separate degree, it is simply used when a student intends to go to doctoral studies and selects the appropriate courses for the last two years of undergraduate studies. After undergraduate, future doctors should receive a doctorate in MD, which lasts four years. The theory is studied for the first two years, the next two years are devoted to practice in medical institutions under the guidance of experienced doctors.
Dsc/ScD (Doctor of Science) is a doctoral program in the field of STEM. Earlier, ScD was considered more prestigious than PhD, and scientists received it in the later stages of their career. Now, though, two levels are perceived by many institutes as identical, and some institutions allow you to choose between ScD and PhD. Although, as a rule, obtaining a ScD requires a much wider portfolio of scientific publications.
Optional Practical Training
Studying in the USA is attractive because of the possibility of gaining professional experience. During training, students of American higher education institutions have the opportunity to work on campus up to 20 hours a week or to have a Curricular Practical Training. Basically, students in doctoral studies practice as teaching assistants or researchers. After training in doctoral studies, you can get permission to undergo "postgraduate" practice for one year - Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM students can continue their practice for 24 months.
