Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcvax!ukc!etive!hwcs!nick
From: nick@cs.hw.ac.uk (Nick Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Difference in Degrees
Keywords: Ph.D., D.SC., Sc.D.
Message-ID: <2161@brahma.cs.hw.ac.uk>
Date: 13 Feb 89 17:38:37 GMT
References: <2008@lcuxlm.ATT.COM> <00JuC36BGP1010IEdew@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com> <669@wucs1.wustl.edu> <02lc3af66p101003bfE@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com> <677@wucs1.wustl.edu>
Reply-To: nick@cs.hw.ac.uk (Nick Taylor)
Organization: Computer Science, Heriot-Watt U., Scotland
Lines: 35

I have found the explanations of these different terms as used in the USA
most illuminating. This is because it differs considerably from the British
usage of the terms.

In Britain doctorates can be awarded in three ways :

a). After the usual research, thesis write-up and viva process has been
    completed successfully the university at which you are registered may
    award a Ph.D. or D.Phil. This is the normal Ph.D.;

b). After a considerable amount of quality original work has been done
    (Eg. 50 excellent papers produced) or a highly significant contribution
    to the commercial applications of a field of study a university which
    awarded you one of your degrees (usually your first) may honour you with a
    D.Sc. or an Sc.D. This is regarded as a tremendous accolade;

c). Universities offer honourary doctorates to all sorts of Toms, Dicks and
    Harrys such as royalty, politicians, captains of industry for no
    particular reason other than that they wish to flatter them. These kind
    of doctorates are more important for who they are not awarded to than
    for who they are awarded to. Viz. Oxford always give the PM an honourary
    doctorate. They refused to give one to the Maggon (Margaret Thatcher).
    This, of course, became big news here!

So, when you see somebody with a British D.Sc. or Sc.D. remember that this
really is something special. Most of them these days have a Ph.D. or D.Phil.
as well so you shouldn't have much trouble identifying them.


Nick Taylor   "Life? Don't talk to me about life!" Marvin the paranoid android
Department of Computer Science                JANET : NICK@UK.AC.HW.CS
Heriot-Watt University                      ARPANET : NICK@CS.HW.AC.UK
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