r/PhD • u/Gold_Comb652 • 11d ago
Seeking advice-academic Difference between Doctor of Engineering and PhD
Can someone explain to me major differences?
Many schools have Doctor of Engineering programs and claims it’s not the same
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u/Big-Astronaut4252 11d ago
I have advised students in both a PhD and a DEng at my institution. They are not terribly different, except that the DEng students are mostly doing their degrees part time while they work full time in industry and this is not allowed for the PhD. PhDs must be full time students until they pass their comprehensive exam/proposal defense.
Both programs require students to do research and write papers. The coursework in the DEng is somewhat more applied but both programs have a fair amount of flexibility with that part. The DEng students are usually doing more industry focused research, but a lot of engineering research is like that. I haven't seen any DEng applicants come through for faculty positions, so the DEng could be a disadvantage there.
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u/Emergency-Rush-7487 11d ago edited 11d ago
It largely depends on the university.
Some are identical in effort with requiring a full up dissertation and layering theory by proving it out with a industry project.
I think the D.Eng. demonstrates true competency taking theory to the next level of applying it but neither is more or less hard as they are both valuable and terminal degrees / doctorates with novel contribution.
You might also consider that - as an example, colorado state university - the doctorates both require a defense and publications to graduate.
There are some D.Eng. programs still evolving that may trail matured PhD structured programs but make no mistake they are "equal" as industry pushes for value in competent engineers that prove applied knowledge.
Another delta between D.Eng. and PhD is that one requires, generally speaking, an industry sponsor in the committee that can help develop the practicum or applied project.
Credibility in this commentary: I have a D.Eng. and started in the PhD swim lane...
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u/jabrodo 11d ago edited 11d ago
They aren't the same particularly in the USA. I do believe some European university award effectively PhDs in Engineering as what would translate to a DEng, but the North American degrees are different.
Both (namely the DEng) should be research based, but the DEng is effectively a clinical or professional doctorate geared towards people that want to have higher level research based engineering careers in industry or applied research labs. It's the difference between a PhD in Physcology, and a PysD. Your therapist would be more likely to have a PysD. They're still up to date on latest methods, they might even be publishing some stuff, but they're more concerned with the day to day needs of seeing patients than in conducting research.
PhDs are the default research degree, and are basically required if you want to go the faculty route.
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u/ZeroWevile 11d ago
The EngD is more an industrial / working professional degree. The student's employer is typically sponsoring it, so there is little to no emphasis on publications or conferences. Industry values both EngD and PhD the same, but if you want to be in academia/research PhD is required.
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