If your ultimate objective is to be a fully licensed and certified psychologist, researcher, or educator, there are many degrees that can engage you on your chosen career path. There are two primary options for doctoral-level that will enable you to qualify to work at the topmost level of the field – the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

Even though both of these degrees are intended for learners to be engaged in a profound knowledge expertise within the subfields of psychology, there are still significant differences between these degrees with regard to the type of training involved and also with the career plans of each student. Knowing and understanding the differences and similarities between PhD and PsyD will help each student to gauge what is the best-fitting degree for him or her.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The most popular degree in psychology is PhD. This degree is generally offered to both private and public research universities. This degree is designed for those students who are interested in acquiring new knowledge through scientific studies such as setting up experiments, gathering data, applying statistical and analytical strategies. It is also intended for students who want to gain teaching experience. Continue reading →