An honorary doctoral or PhD degree is given to people who have made extraordinary achievements in their field. This degree is awarded because of leadership, creativity, public and humanitarian services and excellence in scholarship. The recipient doesn't necessarily need to attend college to earn it. Many schools give this degree through a process that begins with someone being nominated for an honorary degree. Other schools require anyone who wishes to receive this degree to submit an application that explains why they deserve the degree, along with a small donation to the school. Recipients are often members of the university's staff and have an excellent academic record, but honorary degrees are also sometimes given to individuals with no prior formal education. Some schools grant an honorary degree simply because of the work the recipient has accomplished in a certain field.
Professional PhDs or doctorate degrees are designed to prepare students to become experts in their career field. This professional degree can help students acquire higher positions of leadership, consulting and upper management. Some of the popular fields for this type of degree include education, business and management, law, health care, and psychology and counseling. The purpose of many of these professional programs is to give senior-level managers higher-level skills that they can bring into their workplaces. According to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, there are less than a dozen accredited business schools that offer these degrees in the United States, as of 2010. Working toward a professional PhD will take a minimum of three years to complete but often takes as many as eight years.
Many research PhDs or doctoral degrees can now be earned online, but a number of traditional schools offer this degree program as well. This degree is awarded after a student completes a thesis in their field, which requires significant and extensive research on a specific subject. Common types of PhDs in research are in philosophy, science and English. The average earning potential for achieving this degree can be as high as $80,000 for a job in this field. It can take anywhere from three to 10 years to complete this degree after undergraduate studies are completed.
Job choices for individuals with PhD degrees can be endless. Research positions in fields such as sciences, medicines and humanities are a popular career choice. Teaching at a university is another career option for those holding a PhD or doctorate degree. Before working toward a PhD degree, it is important that students ensure a PhD will benefit them in the career field they wish to pursue.