Doctoral Degrees

A doctorate is a type of graduate degree that represents the highest level of academic achievement in a field. For this reason, they are considered “terminal” degrees. Doctorates come in many different forms, such as a PhD, EdD, DBA and more.

If you have not yet completed your doctorate, you may be eligible to transfer credits to GCU and complete your program with us. The university employs a convenient bulk transfer process for the transfer of doctoral credits from the same type of degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, etc.) and the same type of content (e.g., Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, etc.). Learn more about how your credits may transfer with GCU’s Progressive Transfer Policy and the many resources available for dissertation support. 

The terms "PhD" and "doctorate" are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences in their usage and context. A PhD is considered a specific type of doctoral degree focused on theory-based research and contributing new knowledge to a field. Doctorate is a broader term that encompasses various types of doctoral degrees, including professional doctorates with a practical or professional focus in addition to research. However, not all doctorates are PhD programs. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is just one form of a doctoral-level program. There are additional forms of doctorates, including an EdD and a DBA.

To gain a better understanding of these terminal degrees, it can be helpful to compare them to the other primary graduate degree program: master’s degrees. A master’s degree is a graduate program, but it isn’t the pinnacle of academic achievement in a field — a doctorate is. A master’s degree may require a thesis, but it does not always require original research like many doctoral programs do. In addition, doctoral candidates typically need to give an oral defense of their dissertation before their academic advisory committee.