3 ms·

Problem sets for a second year PhD? Is that common in the US?

timy2shoes 4y ago
First year is general classes (e.g. in economics that would be Micro, Macro, Econometrics, etc), 2nd year is classes more specific to your area of study.
- was_a_dev 4y ago
  What about the following years? In my PhD in the UK, I had three months of part-time classes and then onto my research. Just curious, as I didn't realise it was such a difference
  - cge 4y ago
    PhD programs in the US and elsewhere are different: most PhD programs in the US are significantly longer, and could be seen as combined Master's and PhD programs, admitting students directly after their undergraduate degrees. The first year or two could be seen as more of a Master's program, and many programs give Master's degrees at some point in the process (some by request, such that the difference between having a Master's and not having one can be whether you decided to file a form or not). There can also be a certain filtering process at some point in the process, with some form of qualifying exams with three possible results of failing, being given a Master's degree but not being permitted to continue in the program, and continuing on to a PhD. The result is that for many PhD programs, the first year or two transitions from being fully class-based (though often very small classes) to more and more research, and then finally a switch to having no classes, and only research (and teaching).
    - was_a_dev 4y ago
      Great to know. Thank you
solarmist 4y ago
Yes, the first two years in STEM Ph.D. programs are typically coursework-heavy and include qualification exams as part of your courses. You must pass X quals, of which Y must be from this subset. Because of this, if you leave the program after the first two years, they will often issue a terminal master's degree as a consolation.
- was_a_dev 4y ago
  Ah ok, I have no such examinations. Do most in the US start their PhD from a Bachelors degree? I had a masters degree prior to starting my PhD. It is also possible to start a PhD with a Bachelors, however you wouldn't likely be awarded a masters degree if you failed to complete
  - solarmist 4y ago
    Most often than not yes. Some will continue after a master's. Still, they will usually need to change universities (or at least go through the full selection process again), so if you're interested in a Ph.D., you should apply for that rather than a master's. For that reason, most master's programs in the US are professional degrees, not research ones. Also, almost no university advertises or promises a terminal master's degree. It is a very subjective process as well.
    - xupybd 4y ago
      Here in New Zealand you cannot go directly into a PHD. You have to get a first class honours or complete a masters before you can start a PHD.
      - barry-cotter 4y ago
        An honours degree is a Bachelor’s degree. It’s a Bachelor’s degree, with honours.
        xupybd 4y ago
LatteLazy 4y ago
US undergrad is much more general than most of Europe (especially compared to the UK). So you get to grad education with a much wider but more shallow knowledge base.

First year is general classes (e.g. in economics that would be Micro, Macro, Econometrics, etc), 2nd year is classes more specific to your area of study.

was_a_dev 4y ago
What about the following years? In my PhD in the UK, I had three months of part-time classes and then onto my research. Just curious, as I didn't realise it was such a difference
- cge 4y ago
  PhD programs in the US and elsewhere are different: most PhD programs in the US are significantly longer, and could be seen as combined Master's and PhD programs, admitting students directly after their undergraduate degrees. The first year or two could be seen as more of a Master's program, and many programs give Master's degrees at some point in the process (some by request, such that the difference between having a Master's and not having one can be whether you decided to file a form or not). There can also be a certain filtering process at some point in the process, with some form of qualifying exams with three possible results of failing, being given a Master's degree but not being permitted to continue in the program, and continuing on to a PhD. The result is that for many PhD programs, the first year or two transitions from being fully class-based (though often very small classes) to more and more research, and then finally a switch to having no classes, and only research (and teaching).
  - was_a_dev 4y ago
    Great to know. Thank you

solarmist 4y ago

Yes, the first two years in STEM Ph.D. programs are typically coursework-heavy and include qualification exams as part of your courses. You must pass X quals, of which Y must be from this subset. Because of this, if you leave the program after the first two years, they will often issue a terminal master's degree as a consolation.

was_a_dev 4y ago
Ah ok, I have no such examinations. Do most in the US start their PhD from a Bachelors degree? I had a masters degree prior to starting my PhD. It is also possible to start a PhD with a Bachelors, however you wouldn't likely be awarded a masters degree if you failed to complete
- solarmist 4y ago
  Most often than not yes. Some will continue after a master's. Still, they will usually need to change universities (or at least go through the full selection process again), so if you're interested in a Ph.D., you should apply for that rather than a master's. For that reason, most master's programs in the US are professional degrees, not research ones. Also, almost no university advertises or promises a terminal master's degree. It is a very subjective process as well.
  - xupybd 4y ago
    Here in New Zealand you cannot go directly into a PHD. You have to get a first class honours or complete a masters before you can start a PHD.
    - barry-cotter 4y ago
      An honours degree is a Bachelor’s degree. It’s a Bachelor’s degree, with honours.
      - xupybd 4y ago

LatteLazy 4y ago

US undergrad is much more general than most of Europe (especially compared to the UK). So you get to grad education with a much wider but more shallow knowledge base.