A first professional degree is a type of academic degree designed to prepare the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing practical skills over theory and analysis. These professions are typically licensed or otherwise regulated by a governmental or government-approved body. Areas such as law, medicine, engineering, dentistry, chiropractic, optometry, pharmacy, social work, religious ministry, or education, among others, generally require such degrees for licensing. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study. ... A professional degree or professional membership is an academic degree designed to prepare the holder for a particular career or profession, fields where scholarly research and academic activity are not the work, but rather a profession such as law, medicine, logistics, optometry, architecture, accounting, engineering, religious ministry, or education. ... A profession is an occupation, vocation or career where specialized knowledge of a subject, field, or science is applied. ... For the fish called lawyer, see Burbot. ... Look up doctor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying scientific knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria. ... X-rays can reveal if a person has cavities Dentistry is the practical application of knowledge of dental science (the science of placement, arrangement, function of teeth) to human beings. ... Chiropractic (from Greek chiros and praktikos meaning done by hand) is a health care profession whose purpose is to diagnose and treat mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system with the intention of affecting the nervous system and improving health. ... Optometry (Greek: optos meaning seen or visible and metria meaning measurement) is a health care profession concerned with eyes and related structures, vision, visual system and vision information processing in humans. ... The mortar and pestle is an international symbol of pharmacists and pharmacies. ... A social worker is a person employed in the administration of charity, social service, welfare, and poverty agencies, advocacy, or religious outreach programs. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Licensure refers to the granting of a license (in the US, whilst, elsewhere the term registration is used), usually to work in a particular profession. ...

In practice

First professional degrees can be awarded as undergraduate or graduate entry degrees (Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate). Titling of first professional degrees in certain professional fields as a "doctorate" originated in the United States. For example, U.S. law schools once called their law degree the LL.B (abbv. Legum Baccalaureus; Latin: "Bachelor of Laws") before introducing the J.D. (abbv. Juris Doctor; Latin: "Teacher of Laws"); U.S. Medical schools once granted M.B. degrees (abbv. Medicinae Baccalaureus; Latin: "Bachelor of Medicine") before they changed to the M.D. (abbv. Medicinae Doctor; Latin: "Teacher of Medicine"). Recently there has been a world wide movement to structure professional programs as "graduate-entry" (meaning requiring a previous degree). It should be noted that some graduate-entry programs have continued to call their degree a bachelors even though they may still require a previous bachelors for admission similar to their American doctorate equivalents.^[1],^[2],^[3] This movement towards the graduate-entry model reflects an emphasis that has been placed on teaching professional skills at an advanced, intensive level.^[4] The switch to graduate entry also allows for a greater diversity of applicants who are more mature and motivated to study at the professional level. ^[5] Currently, physical therapy programs in the US are transitioning their entry-level or "first professional degree" from the Bachelors or Masters to a "doctorate" (Doctor of Physical Therapy) as well. Most countries outside the U.S. continue to only award doctorates as higher academic research degrees. Not all faculties in the U.S. have chosen to change their first professional degrees to "doctorates". For example in the field of architecture, the professional first degree is called a Master of Architecture while in the field of fine art, its professional first degree is the Master of Fine Arts. There is currently some debate in the architectural community to rename the degree to a "doctorate",^[6] and DFA programs are growing also.^{[citation needed]} In some educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelors degree. ... The degree of Bachelor of Laws is the principal academic degree in law in most common law countries other than the United States, where it has been replaced by the Juris Doctor degree. ... An abbreviation (from Latin brevis short) is a shortened form of a word or phrase. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... J.D. redirects here; for alternate uses, see J.D. (disambiguation) J.D. is an abbreviation for the Latin Juris Doctor, also called a Doctor of Law or Doctorate of Jurisprudence, and is the law degree typically awarded by an accredited U.S. law school after successfully completing three years... The Bachelor of Medicine, abbreviated BM, is an academic degree denoting the degree obtained after studying Medicine at University. ... The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a doctorate level degree held by medical doctors. ... The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a postbaccaluareate degree conferred upon successful completion of a doctoral level professional (entry-level) or postprofessional education program. ...

Many of those who obtained their first professional degree outside of the United States (which may be a bachelors) are considered to have an "equivalent" qualification to their doctorate counterpart in the United States. For example, a British medical degree, the MBBS, is equivalent to the US-MD). An MBBS graduate if licensed to practice medicine in the United States would be allowed to use the "MD" and is referred to as "doctor".^[7] Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinæ Baccalaureus et Baccalaureus Chirurgiæ (abbreviated MB BChir, MB BCh, MB ChB, BM BS, MB BS etc. ... Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning Teacher of Medicine,) is an academic degree for medical doctors. ...

Some first professional degrees such as the Juris Doctor, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Optometry and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine have the term "Doctor" in the title, but they are not academic research doctorates such as is the Ph.D. degree.^[8]

For example,

• In medicine, the first professional degree is a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (B.M., Ch.B.), (M.B.B.S.) or Doctor of Medicine (U.S. M.D.) or (Canada M.D.C.M. or MD), degree depending on the country, while an advanced professional degree can be a Master of Science (e.g. Surgery), and the terminal academic research degree can be a Doctor of Medicine (non-U.S. M.D.) or a Ph.D. in a medical science (e.g. Anatomy). Because they are considered equivalent medical degrees, in the United States each state board of medicine allows those who have been granted a "bachelor of medicine" overseas the right to use the title "MD" while practicing in the United States.

• In law, the first professional degree is a Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Civil Law or Juris Doctor degree, depending on the University. The terminal academic research degree is the J.S.D., LL.D. or Ph.D., depending on the university.

• In engineering, Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Applied Science degrees are commonly awarded in the UK and Canada respectively, and the Bachelor of Science in an engineering field is awarded in the United States. The advanced professional degree usually awarded is the Master of Engineering, although some schools have the option of an Engineer's degree. The terminal academic research degree is the Ph.D., Sc.D. or DEng.

For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ... Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinæ Baccalaureus et Baccalaureus Chirurgiæ (abbreviated MB BChir, MB BCh, MB ChB, BM BS, MB BS etc. ... Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning Teacher of Medicine,) is an academic degree for medical doctors. ... Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning Teacher of Medicine,) is an academic degree for medical doctors. ...

Professional degrees

Main article: Professional degree

In some fields, especially those linked to a profession (e.g. medicine, dentistry, law, architecture, pharmacy, social work, religious ministry, engineering, accounting, education, etc.), a distinction is to be drawn between a first professional degree, an advanced professional degree, and a terminal academic degree: A professional degree or professional membership is an academic degree designed to prepare the holder for a particular career or profession, fields where scholarly research and academic activity are not the work, but rather a profession such as law, medicine, logistics, optometry, architecture, accounting, engineering, religious ministry, or education. ...

• A first professional degree is generally required by law or custom to practice the profession without limitation.
• An advanced professional degree provides further training in a specialized area of the profession.

The American DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) is a requisite for the MS (Master of Science) in Dentistry which is a requisite for the Ph.D. in this field. Similarly, the American MD (Doctor of Medicine) is a notch below the MS and Ph.D. in Medical Science (such as anatomy, pathology, microbiology, etc.).

A first professional degree is an academic degree designed to prepare the holder for a particular career or profession, fields where scholarly research and academic activity are not the work, but rather the practice of a profession. In many cases, the first professional degree is also the terminal degree because no further advanced degree is required for practice in that field even though more advanced academic research degrees may exist.

First professional degrees

• Architect (BA(Arch), B.Arch, M.Arch)
• Business Administration (BBA, MBA)
• Engineering (BE, BEng, BSc, BASc, or BAI)
• Fine Arts (MFA, BFA)
• Chiropractor (DC, DCM, BChiro, or MChiro)
• Naprapath (DN)
• Optometrist (OD, B.Optom)
• Osteopath (BOst, BOstMed, BSc(Osteo))
• Education (BEd, BA, BSc)
• Physician or Surgeon: (MD, MBBS, MDCM, MBChB, BMed, Dr.MuD, Cand.med, etc) or D.O. degree.
• Dentist (DMD, BDent, DDS, BDS, BDSc, BChD, CD, Cand.Odont., Dr.Med.Dent. etc)
• Lawyer (LLB, JD, or BCL)
• Naturopath (ND, NMD, BSc)
• Pharmacist (BPharm, BScPhm, PharmB, MPharm, PharmD)
• Podiatrist (DPM, DP, BPod, PodB, or PodD)
• Minister (BD, BDiv, MDiv, STB, STL, MTh, STM, DThP, or DPT)
• Physical therapy (BSPT, MSPT, DPT, or DPhysio)
• Psycologist (PhD, PsyD, or ClinPsyD)
• Nurse (BSN, BSc)
• Veterinarian (DVM, BVS, BVSc, VMD, BVMS, etc.)
• Library science (MLIS, MLS)
• Information Science (MSIS, (MISM)
• Social worker (BA, BSc, BSW, MA, MSc, or MSW)
• Biotechnology (BSc, BS, or ALM)
• Oriental Medicine (BSc, MSOM, MSTOM, or DOM)

A first professional degree is generally required by law or custom to practice the profession without limitation. An advanced professional degree provides further training in a specialized area of the profession. Below are some examples of advanced professional degrees. For other uses, see Architect (disambiguation). ... This article is about business administration. ... Bachelor of Engineering (commonly abbreviated as BE or BEng) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at an accredited university in Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the United... Fine art refers to arts that are concerned with beauty or which appealed to taste (SOED 1991). ... Chiropractic treatment uses manipulative therapy to correct subluxation, which has been shown to have some efficacy in treating back and neck pain, headache, and other symptoms of spinal-related conditions. ... Naprapathy is a branch of medicine, (manual medicine) that focuses on the evaluation and treatment of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. ... Optometrists are primary care practitioners for vision and ocular health concerns. ... This article is about a type of complementary medicine practiced worldwide. ... For other uses, see Doctor. ... “Surgeon” redirects here. ... Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning Teacher of Medicine,) is an academic degree for medical doctors. ... D.O. redirects here. ... This article is about the dental profession. ... For information on the type of fish called Lawyer, see the article on Burbot. ... Naturopathic medicine (also known as naturopathy) is a school of medical philosophy and practice that seeks to improve health and treat disease chiefly by assisting the bodys innate capacity to recover from illness and injury. ... The mortar and pestle is an international symbol of pharmacists and pharmacies. ... Podiatry, more appropriately podiatric medicine is a field of healthcare devoted to the study and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and the knee, leg and hip (collectively known as the lower extremity). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      For other types of... Physical therapy (or physiotherapy[1]) is the provision of services to people and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. ... The Greek letter Psi is often used as a symbol of psychology. ... This article is about the occupation. ... Look up veterinarian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Library science is an interdisciplinary science incorporating the humanities, law and applied science to study topics related to libraries, the collection, organization, preservation and dissemination of information resources, and the political economy of information. ... Not to be confused with informatics or information theory. ... Social Workers are concerned with social problems, their causes, their solutions and their human impacts. ... The structure of insulin Biotechnology is technology based on biology, especially when used in agriculture, food science, and medicine. ... Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also known simply as Chinese medicine (Chinese: 中醫學 or 中药学, zhōngyào xŭe) or traditional Oriental medicine, is the name commonly given to a range of traditional medical practices originating in China thousands of years ago. ...

Typical advanced professional degrees

• Education (EdD or DEd)
• Divinity (DD or DMin)
• Business administration (DBA)
• Social Science (DSocSci)
• Medicine (MD, DM, or Dr.Med) (advanced degree in countries that award a bachelor degree in medicine or surgery as first professional degree, usually awarded for outstanding research to a particular field of Medicine)
• Dental Science (DDSc, Dr.Odont) (advanced degree in countries that award a bachelor degree in dental surgery as first professional degree, usually awarded for outstanding research to a particular field of Dentistry)
• Surgery (MS, MSurg, MCh, ChM, or MChir) (Usually granted after completion of surgery training program in conjunction with a research thesis)
• Dentistry (MDS, MSD, MDSc, or DClinDent) (these are usually granted at the culmination of a specialty training program in dentistry in those programs that also require research and a thesis to be completed)
• Engineering (MEng)
• Ministry (DMin)
• Worship Studies (DWS)
• Science (MS, MSc) (also offered in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy)
• Psychology (PsyD)

For other uses, see Divinity (disambiguation) and Divine (disambiguation). ... Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a tertiary degree in business management. ... The social sciences are groups of academic disciplines that study the human aspects of the world. ... For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ... This article is about the dental profession. ... “Surgeon” redirects here. ... Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying scientific knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria. ... The term ministry can refer to the following: A ministry is a department of a government. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... Psychological science redirects here. ...

References

See also

• Terminal degree
• Postgraduate education