A Professional Doctorate can best be described as being a profession-focused, applied degree where the research in your courses and capstone could be applied at a specific institution or organization. This research tends to be more focused and less generalizable. Alternatively, the research conducted in a PhD could be described as focused on the theoretical foundations of the field contributing to the general body of knowledge of the discipline.

This distinction between degree paths is common across many disciplines. For example, in the field of medicine the individual may be choosing between a PhD or MD. The PhD would be focused on research in a specific area of medicine, whereas the MD could be seen as the more practical degree that would be used to practice medicine. This is similar in the field of psychology. Often a Professional Doctorate in Psychology (PsyD) is pursued by professionals who are interested in working directly with clients in a clinical setting.

When choosing which degree path is right for you, consider connecting with and talking to professionals who are employed in settings that you are interested in or have completed a degree that you are considering. You can review the Career Center's networking resources for ideas on how to make these connections.