Honours, Undergraduate or Postgraduate

The last research conference I was at was focusing on finite state autonoma, and they are all PhD graduates or busy doing PhD. They included people from Germany, Russia, Eindhoven, and America. I have yet to meet a DSc....

Now, I am just curious, if someone takes a minimum of 3 to 4 years, and some have been busy for 10, to complete a degree in advanced algorithms, which to me is very much science, how can it be "phylosophy"?

Wow, I learn a lot from all of you today! Thank all of you!

Nancy - goodluck getting results out f unisa by 4 december - I think it would be best to tell UCT you are waiting for results which are only due on 15 Dec - sometimes the universities arrange to have results sent earlier.

I know a DSc when I got my bsc or honours at wits, there was 1 guy who got his DSc - but he must have been almost 90 years old...

Philo = love of, Sophy = wisdom. The root of the word philosophy comes from the old Greeks, the Sophists, which was a forerunner of Plato and Socrates, which was a forerunner of Western thought

rklopper Wrote:
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> doctor of philosphy = DPhil



doctor of philosphy = DPhil = Dr Phil

heheh tracey, very funny....


Now, flame if you want, but a PhD = DSc in most places:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Science

"In the United States, the Doctor of Science is a doctoral degree equivalent to the Ph.D.[1]. The first North American Sc.D. was inaugurated by Harvard University in 1872 - when graduate studies first began at Harvard and the Ph.D. degree first introduced there [2]. The Doctor of Science degree is earned with the approval of a committee on the basis of original research and publications, and it is awarded predominantly in doctoral-level science programs, such as engineering, information systems, medical and health sciences, and neuro- and health economics[1]."

"Despite many countries, most of doctorate title given in Brazil could be classified in two large group: 1. Doutor em (Doctor in) field studied such as: Doutor em Medicina (Doctor in Medicine), Doutor em Teologia (Doctor in Theology), Doutor em Farmácia (Doctor in Pharmacy). 2. Doctor in Science (D.Sc.) followed the concentration area (Program field). Both kind of doctorate is equivalente and obtained in Graduate School after satisfactory evaluation of knowledge, research accomplishment and thesis defense. This doctorate could be compared as PhD program found in other countries."

This is from UP where I am doing my MSc:

"The Department of Computer Science offers research-based MSc and PhD degrees. In both cases, a student works under the guidance of a supervisor and is expected to identify and pursue a research project. Research results are to be fully reported in an MSc dissertation or PhD thesis respectively.

The department thus follows the system of MSc's and PhD's by research only, i.e. these degrees are not module-driven, as is sometimes the case elsewhere. In particular, the Department does not offer an MSc degree that has the flavour of a conversion degree from some other discipline into computer science.

Since such a research-oriented student does not have daily commitments (classes, etc.) it is not absolutely necessary to do these degrees on a fulltime basis. However, it is highly desirable to do so, even if only for a limited period in order to get the research process going. Whatever mode of study the student chooses (full- or part-time), regular discussions and interaction with the supervisor are important. While this can sometimes take place electronically, it is also important to hold regular across-the-table discussions. Thus, staff will not normally enter into a supervisory relationship with a student who is not physically resident within reasonably proximity of the university.

The minimum registration period for an MSc is one year, and for a PhD it is two years.In practice, almost all part-time students will take at least double this minimum time. Many full-time students, for one or other reason, also take a few months more than the minimum time. After the 4th year of registration however, special approval is required to continue studies. This will normally be given if there is sufficient evidence that steady progress is being made.

The outcome of an MSc is a dissertation that demonstrates to an examination panel that that the student has the ability to plan, initiate, carry out and report on a scientific investigation. A draft article to be submitted to a reputable journal or conference should also be prepared towards the end of the research period.

The outcome of a PhD is a thesis that demonstrates to an examination panel that the student has the ability to independently plan, initiate, carry out and report on a scientific investigation. The research work done should be a significant and original contribution to the body of knowledge in the area of specialisation. At least one article should have been submitted to a reputable journal or conference before the end of the research period.

A PhD thus differs from an MSc in terms of scope, depth, degree of independent work expected of the student, originality in the research results, etc."

celene Wrote:
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> Nancy - goodluck getting results out f unisa by 4
> december - I think it would be best to tell UCT
> you are waiting for results which are only due on
> 15 Dec - sometimes the universities arrange to
> have results sent earlier.
>

Thank you celene, very good idea, I will send them an email just now.

Rick Wrote:
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> Philo = love of, Sophy = wisdom. The root of the
> word philosophy comes from the old Greeks, the
> Sophists, which was a forerunner of Plato and
> Socrates, which was a forerunner of Western
> thought


Wow, Rick, I didn't know that before, very smart. Don't you also know about the Thai chi? I am studying it, since I finished all my exams and have time now.

Thanks Nancy. I don't know Thai Chi, but I know that Bini is a student of it. I'm glad you've so much time I gonna do as many Java courses as I can after my exams are over.

rklopper Wrote:
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> doctor of philosphy = DPhil

Ph.D., PhD, DPhil

That is a very good idea, I think I am going to do some more Qt4, since it's very interesting and useful. I also should do some more Java, since I can use Java to write small app for the website. I really didn't learn that much Java after the cos214. Thank you Rick!

oi vey....Motaboy, did you not read my previous posts, taken from not my own opinion, but other places....??? In the acedemic context, a PhD is the same as a DSc......

Nancy, you went very quiet on the original puprpose of your thread. What is you opinion on the info I posted?

I did read it. What has the PhD/DSc discussion have to do with my post?

You were still trying to equate DPhil with a PhD...

Is it not the same?

According to the standards I posted earlier, a PhD is recognised as equivalent to a DSc, not a DPhil. A DPhil is what the academics sees as a doctorates in phylosophy.....not a PhD...So in my opinion, it is not the same no.....but hey, that is just what I and all the PhD students and PhD graduates,as well as the professors that I work very closely with think...

I was not aware that it is not the same thing (PhD and DPhil). It seems that PhD means Philosophiæ Doctor and DPhil means Doctor Philosophiæ in latin.

It is not about the direct translation of it. It is about what it means in the academic world....

For example, if you want to do a doctors degree at UP in phylosophy, you register for a DPhil.....If you want to do a doctors degree in Science you register for a PhD.....

Just out of curiousity - are they both on the same academic level or is one "seen" as higher than the other. Thanks for the info.

They are both at the same academic level yes, but in different disciplines. A doctors degree is the highest qualification you can achieve. That is why I say a DSc and a PhD is the same, as they both refer to the science field on a doctors level....

Nancy probably doesn't care what else you guys wrote

You cared enough to post that!

well, she should She was the one who wanted to know how it all works in the first place

but I am sure she didn't care about the whol PhD, DSc part

rklopper Wrote:
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> Nancy, you went very quiet on the original
> puprpose of your thread. What is you opinion on
> the info I posted?


Thank you for all your information. I do understand very well now that Honours is postgraduate.

rklopper Wrote:
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> They are both at the same academic level yes, but
> in different disciplines. A doctors degree is the
> highest qualification you can achieve. That is why
> I say a DSc and a PhD is the same, as they both
> refer to the science field on a doctors level....


I believe learning is endless... I do know there is After Doctors degree, but that is not important.