Colorado Technical University

Is a Juris Doctorate(JD) considered a "professional" or a "doctoral" degree?

I'm applying for this program at my college, and I want to get a JD for grad school, and I have to fill out this part that asks if I want a "professional" or a "doctoral" degree. What does a JD fit under?

Public Comments

1. It's both, but a professional degree first (that's the term for a JD, MD, DDS, etc).
2. It's both....a juris DOCTORATE is, of course, a DOCTORAL degree. The professional doctorates include JD (law), MD (medicine), DVM (veterinary medicine), etc.
3. Essentially it's a professional doctorate. All higher degrees carrying the title of Doctor of This or Doctor of That (JD, MD, DD, PhD) are doctoral degrees. In the US the highest doctorate is the PhD, Doctor of Philosophy. JD and MD are professional doctorates. There is some discussion in more rarefied academic circles in the US about whether the JD is a "proper doctorate". Some folk who have PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy) consider the JD to be of a lesser academic standard - more akin to a slightly advanced master's degree. Holders of the JD are not usually addressed as Doctor. The situation in the UK is somewhat different. The basic (lower) doctorate is the PhD. There is no JD degree. The higher degree in law is the LLM, Master of Laws. The LLD (Doctor of Laws) is a higher doctorate normally awarded for published work or distinguished contributions to the legal profession. Similarly, most physicians ("doctors") do not have doctoral degrees. They usually hold the MB/BS or MB/ChB - bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery. Again the MD is a higher degree, awarded for advanced published work or distinguished contributions to medical research or practice. Higher doctorates also include, DD, DLitt, DSc. The Doctor of Music (DMus or MusD) is also a higher doctorate.