19 Academic Titles And Their Meanings

Many people while in school at different levels have failed to understand the meaning of all the academic titles they hear or have ever heard.

This is due to the non existence of research works done by students, which have deeply affected many students around the globe today.

Below are academic titles and their meanings:

1. PhD: Doctor of Philosophy

Phd is the highest university degree that is conferred after a course of study by universities in most countries around the World. PhDs are awarded for programs in any academic fields. DPhil is the same as PhD.

2. MSc: Masters of Science

A Masters Degree in any Field of Science. It is usually gotten After a Bachelor’s Degree.

3. MA: Masters of Arts

A Masters Degree in any Field of Arts. It is usually gotten After a Bachelor’s Degree.

4. MBA: masters of Business Administration

A master of business administration (MBA) is typically a graduate degree that provides both theoretical and practical training for business or investment management.

5. DBA: Doctor of Business Administration

A DBA is a professional doctorate typically with a focus on theoretical knowledge and its use in business practice. A DBA candidate or graduate is focused on making a contribution to the practice of management and a difference in the industry

6. Mphil: Master of Philosophy

The MPhil, or ‘Master of Philosophy’, is a postgraduate research Masters. It involves more often research work entirely of your own independent project. it is very less of Coursework and assessments unit.

7. M.Ed: Masters of Education

M. Ed. stands for master’s in education. This degree also gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge in other settings – like charter schools and home schools, nonprofit education programs and institutions, higher education, and corporate environments

8. MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

MBBS are generally the two first professional degrees in medicine and surgery awarded upon graduation from most medical school by universities in countries that follow the tradition of the United Kingdom, just like Nigeria.

9. BSc and BEng: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering

A Bachelor of Science or Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years in Science and many technological related Fields.

10. B.Tech: Bachelor of technology

A Bachelor of Technology is an undergraduate academic degree conferred after completion of a three-year, a four-year or even a five-year program of studies at an accredited university or accredited university-level institution. B.Tech. is considered to be a skill-oriented course. You find this alot in Nigerian Federal University of technology.

11. BA: Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years in Arts, Humanities, Management and other related Fields.

12. ND or OND: Ordinary national Diploma

Fro 12. ND or OND m a Strictly Nigerian contest OND or ND is a polytechnic award for a 2 year course done in a mono or poly technique with which the holder can be employed or be offered admission into Higher National Diploma (HND) and where through Direct entry admission, be admitted to 200 level course in a university.

13. HND: Higher National Diploma

An HND is the next level up and takes only two years to complete full-time HND. The practical skills and knowledge acquired from an HND course can lead directly to the workplace.

14. PGD: Post Graduate Diploma

A postgraduate diploma is a shorter qualification than a masters degree, although at the same academic level. Whereas a masters degree is made up of 180 credits (taken from exams, assignments, and so on), a postgraduate diploma is 120 credits.

A postgraduate diploma (PgD, PgDip, PGDip, PG Dip., PGD, Dipl. PG, PDE) is a postgraduate qualification awarded after a university degree.It can supplements the original degree and awards them with a graduate diploma especially in another field of study. A postgraduate diploma is a usually shorter qualification than a masters degree, although at the same academic level. In some countries, a masters degree is made up of 180 credits (taken from exams, assignments, and so on), a postgraduate diploma is 120 credits. You could do a Pgd to explore or test a new area before going all in.

15. Professor

Professor is a teacher of the highest rank in a department of a British university and even Nigeria, or a teacher of high rank in an American university or college. You need at leas a Phd to become a professor

16. Associate Professor:

An associate professorship is typically the first promotion obtained after gaining a faculty position, and in the United States it is usually connected to tenure. You need at least a Phd to be promoted to an associate professor

17. Professor Emeritus

The word emeritus is Latin, originally meaning “veteran soldier.” The honorary adjective is most often used with professor, but it applies to other professions whose retirees continue to hold their title, like ministers.

It could also mean an honorary title for professors who want to stay active in scholarship following retirement.

In some countries, nominations for emeritus status must be initiated within two years following retirement. The title “posthumous emeritus” may also be awarded to faculty who died before retiring. Nominations must be initiated within two years following death.

It would also interest you to know that an emeritus professor is a title given to any selected retired professors from a university or college with whom the university wishes to continue to be associated due to their stature and ongoing research or some other very important ongoing work. Of an important note is that the title of “professor” is strictly used for academic positions rather than for those holding it on honorary basis. You don’t see honorary professors. They are all academics.

18. PharmD: Doctor of Pharmacy

A Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional doctorate in pharmacy. In some countries like the USA, it is a first professional degree and a prerequisite for licensing to practice the profession of pharmacy or to practice as a clinical pharmacist

19. MD: Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different Countries. In Canada and some other countries, M.D. can also denotes an undergraduate degree awarded upon graduation from medical school. More less a professional graduate degree in medicine. It is However not very common in Nigeria sine we practice more of UK system in that area.