A doctoral program in America differs from its international counterparts. While original research remains essential, American PhDs often involve additional requirements before focusing on the thesis. US PhD programs typically commence with instructional classes and assessments.
Only after this phase does a student select their dissertation topic and begin research. We provide a detailed explanation of the structure, duration, and assessment methods of PhD programs in the USA.
What is the duration of a PhD in the US?
In the United States, the typical duration for completing a PhD is approximately 5.5 years, with the ideal target being 5 years.
Typically, pursuing a Ph.D. in the United States encompasses about 5.5 years, with the optimal timeframe set at five years. However, an increasing number of scholars across different disciplines are taking up to six years to reach this academic achievement.
Students generally spend 1-4 years on coursework and 2-4 years on their dissertation. The academic year is divided into two semesters: August-December and January-May, when classes and assessments occur.
Range of Duration
While the standard timeframe for completing a PhD is around 5.5 years, there is variability among scholars. Some may extend their studies to 6 years, while a select few exceptionally dedicated individuals achieve completion in just 4 years. However, proceeding with shorter timelines requires careful consideration and caution.
What is the structure of a PhD in the US?
PhD programs in the US have a unique structure compared to those in other countries. They are divided into two main stages: the coursework stage and the dissertation stage.
Coursework
The initial phase of a US PhD program closely resembles a taught master’s program. During this stage, it might not be clear who is a PhD candidate and who is a master’s student.
Students undertake a series of structured classes or coursework modules, which encompass both mandatory core modules covering fundamental research concepts and optional elective modules tailored to individual interests. The flexibility in course selection depends on program design and technical knowledge needs.
Additionally, some programs mandate doctoral candidates to participate in personal and professional development activities, such as work placements, volunteer opportunities, or language acquisition.
Upon fulfilling all program requirements, students undergo a comprehensive examination, commonly known as a ‘field exam’ or ‘dissertation qualifying exam.’ Those who reach this stage in their graduate studies may be referred to as ABD (All But Dissertation).
In certain cases, students may opt to exit the program with a master’s degree.
Dissertation
After passing the field exam, students become full PhD candidates. The last step is creating the doctoral dissertation, also called the ‘capstone project.’
Initially, you’ll choose a research topic, often related to your application. You’ll have the opportunity to adjust your plans or choose a new topic.
You’ll need to present your research topic in a dissertation prospectus. It’s similar to the research proposal required in some other countries for a PhD application. In it, you’ll outline your project, methodology, outcomes, and include a bibliography, positioning your proposal within existing scholarship.
In some programs, you may need to present your prospectus and defend your ideas, similar to the MPhil upgrade in the early stages of a UK PhD. However, the main difference lies in being evaluated on your proposal rather than a sample of your research or thesis.
Following this stage, a USA PhD program typically follows a more traditional research doctorate format. You’ll be assigned a committee of supervisors or advisors whose interests and expertise align with your topic. They will provide support as you conduct research, gather results, and write up your findings.
Moreover, additional development activities may occur alongside your research. Some programs require students to participate in teaching and administrative tasks. Additionally, you may be expected to submit an academic article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
How are PhDs in the US assessed and ranked?
In the United States, PhD programs are typically assessed and graded through a combination of regular evaluations and the defense of a dissertation. Unlike research-focused doctorates in other countries, American PhDs often have a structure resembling taught degrees.
Throughout the program, students must pass various assessments to advance and eventually defend their dissertation. These assessments may include exams, coursework, presentations, and research milestones.
Your assessment in the program will cover the following areas:
- Coursework: Evaluation of your classes through essays, exams, and presentations. To successfully complete the coursework stage of your program, passing these assessments is essential for earning enough credits.
- Examinations: Before progressing to the dissertation phase, your competence will undergo a comprehensive assessment. These examinations may include oral presentations and debates with faculty members, or they may take the form of traditional ‘closed book’ exam papers to evaluate your overall subject knowledge. It’s worth noting that some programs may require more than one set of exams.
- Dissertation Prospectus: Oral examination of your proposed topic and plan by your dissertation committee, prior to proceeding your research.
- Dissertation Defense: The final evaluation for your PhD, involving a presentation and oral examination of your doctoral dissertation. This process resembles the viva voce used in the UK and other countries.
You might also be required to provide evidence that you’ve fulfilled additional requirements for your program. This could include obtaining language proficiency, finishing professional internships, and presenting or publishing academic work.
Other articles
Please read through some of our other articles with examples and explanations if you’d like to learn more about research methodology.
Research
- Resources for PhD Literature Review
- Top 100 Google Scholar Journals
- 16 Reasons for Your Manuscript to Be Rejected by Reviewers
- How to Reach a Wider Audience in Research?
- Journal Publication Ethics for Authors
- Best Websites to Download Thesis and Dissertation
- Do All References in a Reference List Need to Be Cited in Text?
- Respondents To Fill Out a Dissertation Survey
- Stolen Unpublished Work
- Co-author Uses ChatGPT for Acedemic Writing.
- Article Retraction in Academic Publishing
- Write a 10 and 20-Page Research Paper in One Night
- Journal Submission Hacks
- How to Conduct a Research Survey
- Consistency in Ph.D. Research
- Peer Pressure in PhD Research
- Facts About Sci-Hub
- Finding Scopus Indexed Journals
- Scopus Indexed Journal
- Cloned Journals
- Timeline for Writing a Research Paper in a Month
- Why Do Paid Scientific Journal Publications Exist?
- Types of Plagiarism
- How GPTzero Detects ChatGPT-Generated Research Articles?
- Free Open Access Journals
- How to Conduct Community Member Research Interviews
- How Q1 Journals are Calculated?
- AI Detection Tools for ChatGPT-Generated Research Articles
- Sci-Hub Proxy Links Working
Citation Styles
- APA Reference Page
- MLA Citations
- Chicago Style Format
- “et al.” in APA, MLA, and Chicago Style
- Footnote Citation
- Do All References in a Reference List Need to Be Cited in Text?
Comparision
- Basic and Applied Research
- Cross-Sectional vs Longitudinal Studies
- Survey vs Questionnaire
- Open Ended vs Closed Ended Questions
- Experimental and Non-Experimental Research
- Inductive vs Deductive Approach
- Null and Alternative Hypothesis
- Reliability vs Validity
- Population vs Sample
- Conceptual Framework and Theoretical Framework
- Bibliography and Reference
- Stratified vs Cluster Sampling
- Sampling Error vs Sampling Bias
- Internal Validity vs External Validity
- Full-Scale, Laboratory-Scale and Pilot-Scale Studies
- Plagiarism and Paraphrasing
- Research Methodology Vs. Research Method
- Mediator and Moderator
- Type I vs Type II error
- Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
- Microsoft Excel and SPSS
- Parametric and Non-Parametric Test
PhD
- Tips for Completing PhD in 36 Months
- Resources for PhD Literature Review
- Top Highest Paying PhD Degrees
- Complete Your PhD in 3 Years
- Top Fellowships to Support PhD in USA
- Freelancing Ideas for PhD Researchers
- Consistency in Ph.D. Research
- How to Cope with Problematic PhD Supervisor
- Peer Pressure in PhD Research
- Consequences of Peer Pressure:
- Pros and Cons of Being an Older Student in a PhD
- PhD Students Seeking Industry Job
- How Long Does it Take for PhD in USA?
- How to Answer Unexpected Questions During PhD Viva?
- Difference Between M.Phil. and Ph.D.
- How to Balance Between PhD Thesis Writing and Job Search?
- Types of PhD Guides
Research
- Research Methods
- Quantitative Research
- Qualitative Research
- Case Study Research
- Survey Research
- Conclusive Research
- Descriptive Research
- Cross-Sectional Research
- Theoretical Framework
- Conceptual Framework
- Triangulation
- Grounded Theory
- Quasi-Experimental Design
- Mixed Method
- Correlational Research
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Stratified Sampling
- Ethnography
- Ghost Authorship
- Secondary Data Collection
- Primary Data Collection
- Ex-Post-Facto
Comparision
- Independent vs. Dependent Variable
- Research Article and Research Paper
- Proposition and Hypothesis
- Principal Component Analysis and Partial Least Squares
- Academic Research vs Industry Research
- Clinical Research vs Lab Research
- Research Lab and Hospital Lab
- Thesis Statement and Research Question
- Quantitative Researchers vs. Quantitative Traders
- Premise, Hypothesis and Supposition
- Survey Vs Experiment
- Hypothesis and Theory
- Independent vs. Dependent Variable
- APA vs. MLA
- Ghost Authorship vs. Gift Authorship
Research
- Table of Contents
- Dissertation Topic
- Synopsis
- Thesis Statement
- Research Proposal
- Research Questions
- Research Problem
- Research Gap
- Types of Research Gaps
- Variables
- Operationalization of Variables
- Literature Review
- Research Hypothesis
- Questionnaire
- Abstract
- Validity
- Reliability
- Measurement of Scale
- Sampling Techniques
- Acknowledgements
- Data Coding
- Research Methods
- Quantitative Research
- Qualitative Research
- Case Study Research
- Survey Research
- Conclusive Research
- Descriptive Research
- Cross-Sectional Research
- Theoretical Framework
- Conceptual Framework
- Triangulation
- Grounded Theory
- Quasi-Experimental Design
- Mixed Method
- Correlational Research
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Stratified Sampling
- Ethnography
- Ghost Authorship
- Secondary Data Collection
- Primary Data Collection
- Ex-Post-Facto
Statistics
- PLS-SEM model
- Principal Components Analysis
- Multivariate Analysis
- Friedman Test
- Chi-Square Test (Χ²)
- T-test
- SPSS
- Effect Size
- Critical Values in Statistics
- Statistical Analysis
- Calculate the Sample Size for Randomized Controlled Trials
- Covariate in Statistics
- Avoid Common Mistakes in Statistics
- Standard Deviation
- Derivatives & Formulas
- Build a PLS-SEM model using AMOS
- Principal Components Analysis using SPSS
- Statistical Tools
- Type I vs Type II error
- Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
- Microsoft Excel and SPSS
- One-tailed and Two-tailed Test
- Parametric and Non-Parametric Test