“Understanding the Doctoral Process: What It Really Takes to Earn the Title ‘Dr.’”

I have been following the ongoing conversation surrounding the controversy over whether popular internet life coach “Dr.” Cheyenne Bryant actually holds a doctoral degree. Many individuals have questioned her academic credentials and qualifications, including inquiries about the title of her dissertation, the date of her dissertation defense, and transcripts of her doctoral coursework to substantiate her claim of holding a doctorate.

In this post, I would like to explain to the public how the doctoral process works and the tremendous amount of work required to earn a doctoral degree. First, it is important to understand that not all doctoral degrees are the same. There are professional doctorates, which differ from the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), traditionally regarded as the highest academic degree in most disciplines.

Based on my experience as a former doctoral student and now as the holder of two PhD degrees—my first from the University of Texas at Dallas (PhD in Literary Studies) and my second from the University of Pretoria (PhD in Systematic Theology and Ethics)—I hope to shed light on this important matter and clarify some common misconceptions about the doctoral process.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive examination of doctoral education; rather, it is an overview of the essential stages and requirements typically involved in earning a doctorate or the PhD degree.

Preface

First of all, earning a doctoral degree requires discipline, dedication, determination, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to completing the process from beginning to end. It is an extraordinarily rigorous, demanding, and intellectually intense journey that often requires years of sacrifice, resilience, and sustained focus. It is more difficult if you have small children or have to work a full time job while working on your doctorate.

While many individuals have successfully completed this academic path, others, unfortunately, have not been able to finish for a variety of personal, financial, academic, or professional reasons. However, if you did not complete your doctoral degree because of personal circumstances or life challenges, that does not make you a failure. Quite simply, the doctoral process is not for everyone, nor does everyone desire to endure the level of pressure, sacrifice, and dedication it demands.

My reflection in this post considers the doctoral system in the United States.

1. Degree Requirements

In most cases, a master’s degree is required for admission into a doctoral program, although some programs admit exceptionally qualified students directly from a bachelor’s degree.

2. Entrance Examinations

Many doctoral programs in the Humanities and Social Sciences require applicants to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Other disciplines may require different graduate entrance exams.

Other entrance exams to Graduate or Professional schools might include the following:
—GMAT for Business school admission or MBA programs
—LSAT for Law school admission
—MCAT for Medical school admission
—DAT for Dental school admission

3. Grade Point Average (GPA)

Most PhD programs require a competitive GPA, often a minimum of 3.5, for admission consideration. Admission to a doctoral program is often a competitive process.

4. Statement of Purpose

Applicants are generally required to submit a statement of purpose explaining their academic interests, research goals, and reasons for pursuing doctoral study in a specific field such as Medicine, English, History, Biology, Physics, or Theology.

5. Admission Process

After submitting the application packet, a graduate admissions committee evaluates the applicant’s credentials and determines whether to grant or deny admission. Successful applicants receive an official letter of acceptance.

6. Coursework

Traditional PhD programs usually require two to three years of advanced coursework in the student’s chosen discipline. It’s quite a phenomenal process and journey.

7. Comprehensive Examinations

Doctoral students must complete comprehensive or qualifying examinations in several areas of specialization, and in most disciplines, it is three areas of specialization/academic interest. Some universities also require an oral defense component of the field exams.

8. The Doctoral Committee

The doctoral student assembles a committee of scholars and experts who guide the dissertation process. The committee is led by a doctoral supervisor or advisor who oversees the research project from beginning to completion. The relationship between the student and advisor is extremely important because the advisor serves as the primary mentor and specialist in the student’s research area.

9. Prospectus or Dissertation Proposal

After successfully passing comprehensive exams in one’s academic discipline or area of study, the student advances to the dissertation proposal stage. This involves writing a detailed academic document explaining the research topic, methodology, theoretical framework, and significance of the proposed study.

The prospectus is one of the most important documents in the doctoral journey. In some institutions, students must orally defend the proposal before receiving approval to proceed with dissertation research and writing.

Once the prospectus is approved by both the supervisor and committee members, the student is granted permission to begin full dissertation research.

10. Dissertation Research and Writing

I believe this stage is often the most intellectually rewarding aspect of doctoral study for several reasons:

1. The student researches a topic about which he or she is deeply passionate.
2. The student seeks to make an original contribution to knowledge in a particular field or discipline (English, Medicine, Chemistry, Engineering, etc.)
3. The dissertation, as a peer-review and academic document, is written under the supervision and evaluation of qualified scholars and experts: one’s doctoral committee.

The dissertation represents years of research, critical thinking, writing, revision, and scholarly engagement. It’s quite a journey!

11. Dissertation Defense

After the dissertation is completed and approved by the supervisor and committee, the Office of Graduate School or your university schedules the oral defense. Traditionally, this is a formal academic event lasting approximately two hours.

During the defense:

a. The student/doctoral candidate presents and explains the dissertation.
b. Committee members ask questions and evaluate the research and its presentation by the doctoral candidate.
c. The committee deliberates privately.
d. The doctoral candidate is informed whether he or she passed or failed the dissertation.

It is at this stage (“this very moment”) that the title “Doctor” is formally earned academically, and it is publicly announced by your doctoral advisor and affirmed by all the members of your committee.

However, the journey does not end with the defense. Several final administrative and institutional requirements still remain.

12. Official Sign-Off Documents

The advisor and committee members must sign official certification documents confirming that the student has successfully completed and defended the dissertation. These documents are submitted to the Graduate School or Graduate Office for final approval. There is, however, one important document that is usually placed as the first or second page of your dissertation and it is signed in ink by all members of the dissertation committee.

13. Archiving the Dissertation

Once approved by the academic Dean and the Graduate Office of one’s institution, the dissertation is archived in the university library and frequently uploaded to ProQuest, the major international database for doctoral dissertations and theses.

14. Publication and Personal Copies

After the dissertation is successfully submitted to ProQuest, graduates may order bound copies for themselves, family members, or professional use.

15. Graduation and Hooding Ceremony

The final step in the doctoral process is participation in the graduation or hooding ceremony, during which the doctoral advisor publicly confers the doctoral hood upon the graduate.

**This is voluntary. For example, I did not have the opportunity to attend my doctoral graduation ceremony at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

Any individual who legitimately holds a doctoral degree will almost certainly possess records of that achievement, including transcripts, dissertation copies, defense documentation, or archived institutional records. Even if personal copies are unavailable, such records are typically preserved within university archives, libraries, ProQuest databases, or official institutional repositories.

***For example, I have bound copies of both my PhD dissertations and maintain both official and unofficial copies of transcripts for both degrees and in all my previous academic degrees.

The purpose of this post is not to attack any individual personally, but rather to educate the public about the rigor, structure, and academic integrity traditionally associated with earning a doctoral degree.

Hope that helps!