Medical doctors actually stole the esteemed "Doctor" title from those who studied for a doctorate in philosophy and theology--they're the real doctors. The medical profession way back then didn't have the distinction it has now. Come on, doctors work with their hands, unlike philosophers :P

If I recall, there was a German scientist or an intellectual of some sort who had two doctorate degrees, so they called him Dr. Dr. so-and-so. True.

I'll share my experience. Back in high school there was a math teacher who supposedly earned a doctorate, and one thing she mentioned on the first day of class was that she expected that we address her as "Dr." Many of us were used to addressing teachers as Mr. or Ms. (as most kids are), and one day I accidently called her Ms and I think she took offense. She never liked me after that. It was quite disheartening because I really didn't mean to disrespect her. Her license plate says PHD. Go figure.

What a tool.

I had a friend in graduate school who was an adjunct professor at a local university while completing his Ph.D. He passed his dissertation defense in the middle of spring semester but graduation was in May. He made an appointment with the director of graduate studies to inquire as to whether he could require his students to call him 'Dr' for the rest of the semester since he had passed his defense, even though his diploma had not yet been awarded.

I know a number of Ph.D programs that accept candidates with Bachelor's degrees and award a Master's upon completion of comprehensives and Ph.D. upon completion of the dissertation.

Her degree is not a PhD, nor was she awarded a Masters upon completion of the doctorate. IIRC, the program was only 2 years, and no dissertation, although there was some sort of a research paper.

My son has his DMA ( Dr Musical Arts). The ONLY person required to call him "Doctor" is my wife. Oh, and the university requires that students use the title.

Sounds like my late-grandfather's douche-bag wife (NOT my grandmother) who got a paper with her name on it for some doctorate of psychology and then proceeded to get the vanity plate "DR-H***" and made sure everyone knew it. I've run into a lot of pretentious people in my days, not many could keep up with her.

I don't think that's unusual, there's not much point in doing two steps if you are plannig on doing both.

Sounds like a shortcut for failures to me. Does this mean that you are supposed to be getting a Doctorate but you can't hack it so they award you a "compensatory" Masters as a feel good?

- Peter.

In the UK a MPhil is sometimes viewed as a failed PhD - I think this is unfair to those hard working mature students who only have the time or the funds to get a masters.

Before taking my PhD I had to enroll on the masters course and then prove myself. It is a bit of a paper work exercise but it helps with ratings...

Yeah: Intellectual? Check. Academic? Check. Self absorbed? Double check!

I saw a NY tag in town last weekend. "CPALAW" BFD.:rolleyes:

Mine: "LYTINUP";)

If a person has a title I will call them that.

To me my comp sci teacher is Dr. Zollo until she says it's ok for us to call her Teresa.

It's far from pretenious to introduce yourself as doctor. They earned that title! It's rude to adamently address them as any other way regardless of how many years it took said person to acquire the degree. On the flip side it's rude on his part to take offense or hold a grudge when you incorrecty announce the title.

As long as the Ph.D is from an acredited institution then the title stands. Even if it is a Ph.D for basket weaving.

Anyone who thinks a legitimate PhD in Education only takes two weeks to earn is uninformed at best. Perhaps the dissertation only took two weeks to finalize. Big deal. That may only indicate that the author had done all their research and other legwork extremely well. My EdS (Specialist in Education) degree took 2 years post Master's, and the reason I chose that degree as opposed to the PhD had to do with economic benefits vs the time involved to complete the degree. I was qualified for pretty much any position a PhD was, and finished at least a year earlier.
In this country, we've come to assume that "Doctor" means medical doctor. In actuality, the M.D. degree is just one of many doctorates. Anyone with a doctorate in anything has the right to be called Doctor. I haven't heard many medical doctors complaining about others with PhDs calling themselves Doctor, must be some jealousy poking it's head out. :)

I don't think anyone has argued that PhD-holders shouldn't be allowed the prefix "Dr." I'm not sure where this idea came from.

Jealousy *may* be a motivator for some who complain, but it's certainly not mine. A PhD is an impressive feat and I know and work with many who have earned the title. The least impressive of the bunch are those most likely to insist on being called "Dr." or introduce themselves as such at times when such things are completely irrelevant. Is it really necessary to toot your own horn at, say, a kids' soccer game when you meet other parents?

Though I do agree with you, I’ll have to add to that “impressive feat” a few more titles some are certainly entitled to use. Such as:

Made it out of the getto Fred.
Kicked drug abuse Bill.
No longer in my car Carrol.
Sent my kids to college Karen.
Paid off my house Pat.
Have no debt Dan.

Introduce yourself at the party with something of this sort, and I’ll be more apt to raise an eyebrow. And a glass.

That is true, they do have the right. Any prof I had in college that had a PhD I made sure to call Dr. _______, even if they didn't introduce themselves that way. But when a person tells you to call them "Dr." ________ is where I think that person is letting it go to their head and shows their true character.

I have...in fact I've heard many medical doctors poke fun at chiropractors and such.

In that case, what about a Bachelor's degree? What is the total time it took to get it if you consider the exams only? :D

Assume. Makes and ASS out of U and Me :D.