Colorado Technical University

Does a Master or Doctoral disseration decide what my specialty is? My cousin says he has a ph.d in?

...Modern Chinese History, but I thought history ph.d and poli sci ph.d.s were just general PhD (ie ph.d. in history) and the dissertation chose) but he says he went to a college to actually get awarded a Ph>D. with the title "Modern Chinese History" on the degree? How does this work? What about specializing in economics of a particular country? Eri, okay. Thank you Chris- I understand now, thank you very much.

Public Comments

1. Chances are good the PhD just says something like 'PhD in history'. However, he specialized in Chinese history, so that's what he'll be saying when he applies for a job that requires a degree in the field.
2. A doctorate is just a research degree in a general area. For example, you earn a doctorate in English, or in French, or in Political Science. However, your personal research that you did while earning the degree that you use to write your dissertation is what you are a specialist in. So, that doctorate in English my have researched late Victorian literature. So, this person has a PhD in English and they specialize in late Victorian literature. Or the person has a doctorate in French but they specialize in the 20th century new novel. A masters is an even broader research degree that goes less in depth.