- 1). Understand why people choose to earn a Ph.D. Earn a Ph.D. if you wish to pursue a career in teaching or research. As a general rule of thumb, a Ph.D. is not an ideal career decision for professionals wanting to gain more knowledge but apply it only in a clinical capacity, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
- 2). Choose a Ph.D. degree. Common Ph.D. degrees include a Ph.D. in psychology -- which explores advanced psychology topics such as neuroscience, cognition and personality -- and a Ph.D. in art history -- which may explore advanced art topics such as Native American landscapes, postmodernism and the visual arts, contemporary African art and ancient Near Eastern art.
, - 3). Complete the components of your program. Expect at least two years of course work in your area of interest. Other requirements may include individual research projects, course work in other areas (e.g., research design and statistics) and a final qualifying written or oral examination.
- 4). Advance to a "doctoral candidate" status. At this time you must complete a dissertation. A dissertation is an independent, original research study focused on a critical question within your field.
- 5). Complete the final requirement of your Ph.D. program by defending the findings in your dissertation to a committee of faculty members.
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