The number of people who hold a doctoral degree has more than doubled since 2000. Now, an estimated 4.5 million people have gone on to get their Ph.D.
Why is the doctoral degree getting more popular? How do you know if it’s right for you?
When you start delving into the benefits of holding a doctoral degree, its desirability becomes clear.
Read on for five reasons that getting a doctoral degree can improve your quality of life.
1. You Can Contribute to Important Research
Getting a doctoral degree takes years to complete and during that time, you’ll participate in ground-breaking research. The individual objective is to prepare for your dissertation and come to original conclusions. In that process, however, you’ll do far more than help yourself–you’ll advance your field.
2. Publishing Opportunities Grow
Outside of the academic sphere, it can be difficult to find publishing opportunities for niche, research-based writing. When you go back to school to get your doctoral degree, you’re encouraged to network and find avenues of publication for your work. Having that university affiliation can go a long way in the academic publishing arena.
3. Career Opportunities Grow
It’s no secret that the job market is becoming more and more competitive. Having a doctoral degree can give you an edge that most of your competition won’t have. Plus, it will allow you to pursue a career in higher education, as Ph.D.’s are typically a requirement for university teaching positions.
4. You Can Become One of the Bonafide Experts in Your Field
If you’re in a research-based field, you’ve probably grown familiar with the “greats” that publish, lecture, and make the biggest impact on your field as a whole. When you get a doctoral degree, you open the door to becoming one of the greats. After dedicating five or more years to research, you will become a bonafide expert.
5. Doctoral Degree Options Are Expanding
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that we’re seeing an increase in Ph.D. holders in the US is that doctoral degree options are expanding. Now, you can pursue a doctoral degree in almost every field, including subjects like creative writing, sociology, and economics.
Plus, the way that you can pursue your higher education is expanding, as well. You can now find accelerated programs (usually in the four-five year range) as well as online programs, which you can view here now.
Is a Doctoral Degree Right for You?
If education and research is your passion, it may be time to go back to school. Getting a doctoral degree can improve your quality of life by improving career opportunities, turning you into an industry expert, and more.
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