Types of Doctorate Degrees: Which One Is Right for You?

Key Takeaways

• Two main categories: Research doctorates (e.g., PhD, ScD) focus on original scholarship and a dissertation; professional/applied doctorates (e.g., EdD, DBA, PsyD, DNP, DrPH) focus on advanced practice with an applied project, clinical training, or a dissertation-in-practice.
• First-professional/licensure degrees: Programs like MD/DO, JD, PharmD, DPT, DVM, and DDS/DMD lead to professional licensure when combined with accredited training and exams.
• Capstone differences: Choose dissertation (research/academia) vs applied/clinical project (leadership, industry, or patient care) based on your career goal.
• Time & funding: Research doctorates often run 3–7 years with funded cohort models; many professional/applied doctorates take 2–5 years and may offer online or hybrid formats.
• Accreditation matters: Verify field-specific accreditation (e.g., APA for psychology, CCNE/ACEN for nursing, ABA for law, LCME/COCA for medicine, CEPH for public health) and confirm licensure paths in your region.

Are you looking to earn your doctorate degree, but aren’t sure where to begin? Or maybe you’re just curious about the kinds of degrees that are available to you. In this article, we’ll go over the different types of degrees, the difference between research degrees and professional degrees, and finally, give you a full comprehensive list of doctorate degrees available in the U.S.

We hope you discover some new fields that pique your interest, and maybe even get you started on your path to earning a degree.

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What Is A Doctorate Degree?

There are four major types of degrees that you can earn in university. In order, they are: associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctorate degree.

A doctorate degree is the highest level of education in most fields. For fields of research or teaching it is usually a PhD, while other applied doctorates will include degrees such as Doctor of Medicine (MD), or Doctor of Education (EdD).

In order to earn a doctorate degree, you will first need to earn your bachelor’s degree. Most people choose to earn their master’s degree before entering a doctorate program, but it is possible to go straight to a doctoral degree in some cases.

Doctorate programs fall into two broad categories: research-focused degrees and professional/applied degrees. Research doctorates like the PhD are centered on creating original scholarship through a dissertation, while professional doctorates such as the EdD, DBA, or PsyD emphasize applying advanced knowledge to practice, often with a capstone project or dissertation-in-practice. Both represent the highest level of study but prepare graduates for different career paths.

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Types of Doctorate Degrees

Doctorate programs generally fall into two main categories: research doctorates and professional doctorates. Both represent the highest level of academic achievement, but they serve different purposes. Research doctorates focus on original scholarship and advancing knowledge, while professional doctorates emphasize applied skills, leadership, and preparation for specific careers. Understanding these types of doctorate degrees can help you choose the path that aligns best with your goals.

What Is A Research Degree?

A research degree focuses on exploring a topic in depth. A research degree gives students the opportunity to conduct their own unique research on a topic of their choice in order to produce their own research papers and innovative studies of knowledge.

A research degree prepares students with the skills and experience necessary for working and conducting research in academic, governmental, and business fields. Throughout history, many leaders have pursued such degrees, including Woodrow Wilson, who is the only US president with a PhD degree, and who conducted extensive research in political science.

Below is a comprehensive list of all the research degrees available in the US.

Types Of Research Degrees:

• Doctor of Arts (DA)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
• Doctor of Canon Law (JCD)
• Doctor of Design (DDes)
• Doctor of Engineering or Engineering Science (DEng, DESc, DES)
• Doctor of Education (EdD)
• Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA.)
• Doctor of Hebrew Letters (DHL)
• Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD, SJD)
• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
• Doctor of Music Education (DME)
• Doctor of Modern Languages (DML)
• Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Doctor of Public Health (DPH)
• Doctor of Sacred Theology (STD)
• Doctor of Science (DSc, ScD)
• Doctor of Theology (ThD)

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What Is A Professional Degree?

A professional degree prepares students for a specific profession. Through earning a professional degree, students study the necessary information for their field, meet specific academic and licensure requirements for their desired profession, and prepare for state exams.

Below is a comprehensive list of all the professional degrees that can be earned in the US.

Types Of Professional Degrees

• Doctor of Acupuncture (D.Ac., D.Acu.)
• Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (D.A.O.M.)
• Doctor of Anesthesia Practice (Dr.AP)
• Doctor of Applied Science (D.A.S.)
• Doctor of Architecture (D.Arch.)
• Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.)
• Doctor of Audiology (Au.D)
• Doctor of Behavioral Health (D.B.H.)
• Doctor of Chemistry (D.Chem.)
• Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
• Doctor of Church Music (D.C.M.)
• Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (D.C.N.)
• Doctor of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology (CScD)
• Doctor of Comparative Law (D.C.L.)
• Doctor of Civil Law (D.C.L.)
• Doctor of Computer Science (D.C.S.)
• Doctor of Criminal Justice (D.C.J.)
• Doctor of Criminology (D.Crim.)
• Doctor of Divinity (Divinitatis Doctor) (D.D.)
• Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)
• Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
• Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env.)
• Doctor of Forestry (D.F.)
• Doctor of Geological Science (D.G.S.)
• Doctor of Health Administration (D.H.A.)
• Doctor of Health and Safety (D.H.S.)
• Doctor of Health Education (D.H.Ed)
• Doctor of Hebrew Literature/Letters (D.H.L.)
• Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc., D.H.S.)
• Doctor of Hebrew Studies (D.H.S.)
• Doctor of Humane Letters (D.Hum.Litt.)
• Doctor of Industrial Technology (D.I.T.)
• Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)
• Juris Doctor (J.D.)
• Doctor of Law and Policy (L.P.D., D.L.P.)
• Doctor of Liberal Studies (D.L.S.)
• Doctor of Library Science (D.L.S.)
• Doctor of Management (D.M.)
• Doctor of Medical Humanities (D.M.H.)
• Doctor of Medical Physics (D.M.P)
• Doctor of Medical Science (D.M.Sc.)
• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
• Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss)
• Doctor of Music (D.M., D.Mus.)
• Doctor of Music Therapy (D.M.T.)
• Doctor of Naprapathic Medicine (D.N.)
• Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D., N.M.D.)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D., D.O.T.)
• Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
• Doctor of Organizational Leadership
• Doctor of Oriental Medicine (D.O.M., O.M.D.)
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
• Doctor of Pastoral Counseling (D.PC)
• Doctor of Pastoral Music (D.P.M.)
• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
• Doctor of Physical Education (D.P.E.)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.)
• Doctor of Practical Theology (D.P.T., D.Th.P.)
• Doctor of Professional Studies (D.P.S.)
• Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D)
• Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.)
• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
• Doctor of Recreation (D.Rec., D.R.)
• Doctor of Rehabilitation (Rh.D.)
• Doctor of Sacred Music (D.S.M.)
• Doctor of Science in Dentistry (D.Sc.D.)
• Doctor of Science and Hygiene (D.Sc.H.)
• Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine (D.Sc.V.M.)
• Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.)
• Doctor of Social Science (D.S.Sc.)
• Doctor of Social Work (D.S.W.)
• Doctor of Transformational Leadership (D.T.L.)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

Choosing the Right Doctorate Degree

When deciding which doctorate to pursue, consider your career goals, preferred learning style, and time commitment. If you are drawn to academia or advanced research, a PhD or other research doctorate may be the best fit.

If your goals involve leadership, clinical practice, or applied work, a professional doctorate like an EdD, DBA, PsyD, or DNP may align better. Think about whether you prefer long-term independent research or hands-on professional application, and review accreditation and licensure requirements for your field before committing.

Earn A Degree Online

If you are planning to earn a doctorate, the first step is usually completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Online programs can make this pathway more accessible by allowing you to balance work, family, and study on a flexible schedule.

University of the People offers accredited, tuition-free bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, health science, computer science, and education. While UoPeople does not yet grant doctorates, completing an undergraduate or graduate program here can be an affordable and flexible way to prepare for doctoral study at other institutions.

If you are interested in earning your doctorate degree in any desired subject, consider earning your bachelor’s or master’s degree online, so that you are one step closer to your goals.

Wrapping Up

There are many doctorate degrees available, from research-oriented PhDs to professional programs like the EdD, DNP, or JD. Each prepares you for different career opportunities, whether in academia, healthcare, law, or business.

If you are serious about pursuing a doctorate, the best place to start is by earning your bachelor’s or master’s degree. Online and tuition-free programs like those at University of the People can help you reach that first milestone and position you for doctoral study in the future.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a PhD and a professional doctorate?

PhD programs focus on original research and a dissertation. Professional doctorates apply research to practice and typically use an applied project, clinical training, or a dissertation-in-practice.

Which doctorates lead to licensure?

Degrees such as MD/DO, JD, PharmD, DPT, DVM, and some PsyD programs lead to professional licensure when combined with accredited training and exams.

Can I earn a doctorate online?

Many professional and some research doctorates offer online or hybrid options. Always verify residency or clinical requirements and accreditation.