Doctor of Philosophy by publication

Last updated

A Doctor of Philosophy by publication (also known as a Ph.D. by Published Work, PhD by portfolio or Ph.D. under Special Regulation; also a thesis by publication, a thesis with publications, a publication-based thesis, an articles-based thesis, a manuscript-style dissertation, a compilation thesis and a journal format thesis [1] ) is a manner of awarding a Ph.D. degree offered by some universities in which a series of articles usually with a common theme are published in scholarly, peer-reviewed journals to meet the requirements for the degree, in lieu of presentation of a final dissertation. It is a type of thesis by published works, a practice originating in Germany in the 19th century. Many PhD by Publication programs require the submission of a formal thesis and a viva voce.

Contents

Program

In general, awarding of the Ph.D. requires an original contribution to human knowledge. This is typically achieved through a period of research culminating in the presentation and examination of a major dissertation on an approved subject, and may be preceded by one or more years of formal coursework on research methodology and academic writing. A Ph.D. awarded "by publication", by contrast, may not require any formal coursework and does not necessitate preparation of a dissertation. Instead, the candidate proves the past publication of several quality articles in peer-reviewed, scholarly journals which, in the opinion of the degree-granting university, represent an original contribution to human knowledge equal to that which would be demonstrated by a dissertation. Notwithstanding many PhD by Publication programs require a viva voce, and the submission of a formal thesis.

The PhD by publication may involve either the demonstration of work previously published prior to application to the program, or the achievement of publications during the period of enrollment, or some combination of the two. [2]

In a 2018 study, it was found that recent doctorates awarded by publication in Australia involved the publication of an average of 4.5 journal articles, though some were awarded with as few as one article published, and others with as many as twelve. [3]

Examples

At the University of Cambridge the doctor of philosophy may be awarded "under the special regulations" only to alumni of Cambridge who can prove the publication of works constituting "a significant contribution to scholarship" and to which are appended an original statement "summarizing the rationale behind the works submitted". Like conventional doctoral students, the candidate must present an oral defense of his or her work before a committee of examiners. According to the university, "the standard required for the PhD Degree under the Special Regulations is the same for the PhD Degree awarded to a Graduate Student on the submission of a dissertation embodying the results of three years of research". [4]

History

In the United Kingdom, PhD by publication was officially first adopted by the University of Cambridge in 1966, but in fact it was informally practiced much earlier: for example, Florence Nightingale David was awarded a doctorate for four papers in 1938, while Ludwig Wittgenstein was awarded one for his book Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus in 1929. [5]

In Sweden, when PhD was introduced instead of licentiate in 1969, it already was allowed to defend a thesis by publication. [6] In the US, the "published-article option" was quite widely available in sciences by 1991. [7] It was also practiced in Japan, where an example of such a PhD was 2014 Nobel laureate Shuji Nakamura, awarded doctorate in 1994 by the University of Tokushima. [8]

As of 1997, the practice was not uncommon all over Europe, and besides Sweden, well-established in Belgium and the Netherlands. [9]

Notable recipients

Notable recipients of Ph.D.'s by publication include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postgraduate education</span> Phase of higher education

Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree.

A doctorate or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism licentia docendi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master of Science</span> Type of postgraduate qualification

A Master of Science is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medicine and is usually for programs that are more focused on scientific and mathematical subjects; however, different universities have different conventions and may also offer the degree for fields typically considered within the humanities and social sciences. While it ultimately depends upon the specific program, earning a Master of Science degree typically includes writing a thesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thesis</span> Work by academic candidate

A thesis, or dissertation, is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings. In some contexts, the word thesis or a cognate is used for part of a bachelor's or master's course, while dissertation is normally applied to a doctorate. This is the typical arrangement in American English. In other contexts, such as within most institutions of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the reverse is true. The term graduate thesis is sometimes used to refer to both master's theses and doctoral dissertations.

Habilitation is the highest university degree, or the procedure by which it is achieved, in Germany, France, Italy and some other European and non-English-speaking countries. The candidate fulfills a university's set criteria of excellence in research, teaching, and further education, which usually includes a dissertation. The degree, sometimes abbreviated Dr. habil., Dr hab., or D.Sc., is often a qualification for full professorship in those countries. In German-speaking countries it allows the degree holder to bear the title PD. In a number of countries there exists an academic post of docent, appointment to which often requires such a qualification. The degree conferral is usually accompanied by a public oral defence event with one or more opponents. Habilitation is usually awarded 5–15 years after a PhD degree or its equivalent. Achieving this academic degree does not automatically give the scientist a paid position, though many people who apply for the degree already have steady university employment.

The Doctor of Education is a research or professional doctoral degree that focuses on the field of education. It prepares the holder for academic, research, administrative, clinical, or professional positions in educational, civil, private organizations, or public institutions. Considerable differences exist in structure, content and aims between regions.

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) or (DrBA) is a terminal degree in business administration. The DBA is classified as a research doctorate or professional doctorate depending on the granting university and country where the degree was awarded. Academically, the DBA is awarded based on advanced study, examinations, project work, and advanced research in the field of business administration.

Legum Doctor (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law and civil law, with the double “L” itself indicating the plural, although Cambridge now gives the degree the name Doctor of Law in English. This contrasts with the practice of the University of Oxford, where the degree that survived from the Middle Ages is the DCL or Doctor of Civil Law (only).

A Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate degree. It may be awarded to postgraduate students after completing taught coursework and one to two years of original research, which may also serve as a provisional enrolment for a PhD programme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comprehensive examination</span> Type of examination in higher education

In higher education, a comprehensive examination, often abbreviated as "comps", is a specific type of examination that must be completed by graduate students in some disciplines and courses of study, and also by undergraduate students in some institutions and departments. Unlike final examinations, comprehensive examinations are not linked to any particular course, but rather test knowledge across one or more general fields of study.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candidate of Sciences</span> Junior scientific degree in Soviet Union and post-Soviet countries

A Candidate of Sciences is a PhD-equivalent academic research degree in many post-Soviet and Eastern European countries, including Russia, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. It is officially classified by UNESCO as ISCED level 8, "doctoral or equivalent". In those countries conferring the Candidate of Sciences degrees, a more advanced degree, Doctor of Sciences, is usually conferred as a higher doctorate.

Doctor of Letters, also termed Doctor of Literature in some countries, is a terminal degree in the arts, humanities and social sciences that, depending on the country, is a higher doctorate after the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree or equivalent to a higher doctorate, such as the Doctor of Science or Doctor of Laws (LL.D). It is awarded in many countries by universities in recognition of superior accomplishment in the Arts, Social Sciences or humanities, such as original contributions to the creative or cultural arts, or scholarship in Social Sciences and humanities and other merits. It may be conferred as an earned degree upon the completion of a regular doctoral course of study, usually including the development and defense of an original dissertation, or may be conferred as an earned higher doctorate after the submission and academic evaluation of a portfolio of sustained scholarship, publications, research, or other scientific work of the highest caliber.

A magister degree is an academic degree used in various systems of higher education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor of Sciences</span> Soviet and Russian degree

A Doctor of Sciences is a higher doctoral degree in the Russian Empire, Soviet Union and many Commonwealth of Independent States countries. One of the prerequisites of receiving a Doctor of Sciences degree is having a PhD-equivalent Candidate of Sciences degree beforehand. In addition, the Doctor of Sciences conferral also requires applicants to demonstrate significant and outstanding contributions to their research field. This degree is generally regarded as an honor and recognition for lifetime academic achievements rather than an ordinary academic degree by courses and theses.

"All but dissertation" (ABD) is a term identifying a stage in the process of obtaining a research doctorate, most commonly used in the United States.

A Doctor of Philosophy is a terminal degree, that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the degree is most often abbreviated PhD, pronounced as three separate letters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Medicinae (Danish and Norwegian degree)</span> Danish and former Norwegian higher research doctorate in medicine

Doctor Medicinae, also spelled Doctor Medicinæ and abbreviated Dr. Med., is a higher doctoral degree in medicine awarded by universities in Denmark and formerly in Norway. It is officially translated as Doctor of Medical Science (D.M.Sc.), corresponding to similarly named higher doctorates found in some Commonwealth countries. It is regarded as a higher doctorate and officially ranks above the Danish PhD degree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor of Law</span> Doctorate in legal studies

A Doctor of Law is a doctorate in legal studies.

In the United States, the PhD degree is the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most fields of study. American students typically undergo a series of three phases in the course of their work toward the PhD degree. The first phase consists of coursework in the student's field of study and requires one to three years to complete. This often is followed by a preliminary, a comprehensive examination, or a series of cumulative examinations where the emphasis is on breadth rather than depth of knowledge. The student is often later required to pass oral and written examinations in the field of specialization within the discipline, and here, depth is emphasized. After the comprehensive examination the student is a "PhD Candidate", which is the academic equivalent of a master's degree. Some universities will award terminal Master's for students who drop out of the PhD program at this stage, and some, like Columbia University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, award a Master's en route to the PhD. Some PhD programs require the candidate to successfully complete requirements in pedagogy or applied science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open thesis</span>

An open thesis, also known as an open dissertation, is a thesis that is freely available for members of the public to access upon publication, and often also during the planning and writing process. The decision to write an open thesis is made by the author, who will usually explain their rationale for creating an open thesis as part of the final published work or while developing it. Writing an open thesis is a process with many decision points regarding where and when to share information openly - from the planning stage, through research and writing, the defense/ voce viva and ultimate publication. Open theses are usually created and located in digital and multimodal formats.

References

  1. ↑ Paltridge, Brian; Starfield, Sue (2023-08-09). "The PhD by publication in the humanities and social sciences: a cross country analysis". Journal of Further and Higher Education. 47 (7): 863–874. doi: 10.1080/0309877X.2023.2190450 . ISSN   0309-877X.
  2. ↑ Smith, Susan (2015). PhD by Published Work: A Practical Guide for Success. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 4–6. ISBN   978-1137385215.
  3. ↑ Mason, Shannon (March 2018). "A Current View of the Thesis by Publication in the Humanities and Social Sciences" (PDF). International Journal of Doctoral Studies. 13: 139–154. doi: 10.28945/3983 .
  4. ↑ "Guide to Applicants: PhD Degree under Special Regulations" (PDF). cam.ac.uk. University of Cambridge . Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  5. ↑ Davies, Ruth E; Rolfe, Gary (2009-08-01). "PhD by publication: A prospective as well as retrospective award? Some subversive thoughts". Nurse Education Today. 29 (6): 590–594. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2009.01.006. ISSN   0260-6917. PMID   19232790.
  6. ↑ "The value of PhDs has shifted but is still disputed". University World News. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  7. ↑ The Role and Nature of the Doctoral Dissertation (Report). Council of Graduate Schools of the U. 1991.
  8. ↑ "The Nobel Prize in Physics 2014". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  9. ↑ https://ukcge.ac.uk/resources/resource-library/the-status-of-published-work-in-submissions-for-doctoral-degrees-in-european-universities https://ukcge.ac.uk/resources/resource-library/the-award-of-the-degree-of-phd-on-the-basis-of-published-work-in-the-uk
  10. ↑ McMartin, Pete (July 27, 2009). "Research Pays Off with PhD after 54 Year Wait". Vancouver Sun . Retrieved December 20, 2018– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  11. ↑ "Mary Ellen O'Connell". nd.edu. University of Notre Dame . Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "JOHN MULVANEY ao cmg fba fsa frai FAHa" (PDF). humanities.org.au. Australian Academy of the Humanities . Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  13. ↑ Catherwood, Christopher (2008). Making War in the Name of God. Kensington. p. xi. ISBN   978-0806531670.
  14. ↑ McMurdo, Wendy (2015) "Children and computers : collected works (1995-2014)," British Library EThOs e-theses online service. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.