<p>Is it possible to get dual Phds in two completely unrelated fields; Business and Physics related areas, for example. Are there any universities that will allow one to do this?</p>
<p>Just something that I've always been interested in. :)</p>
<p>Nope. The only way to do 2 PhDs at the same time is in a combined program the university has already developed, and those are always related in some way. Otherwise, you need to commit to one PhD program at a time. You can finish one and then start another, but programs look at that rather suspiciously.</p>
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The only way to do 2 PhDs at the same time is in a combined program the university has already developed
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<p>I think that's a bit too strong. There are some (admittedly rare) schools that will allow you to construct an ad-hoc dual-PhD program. </p>
<p>For example, Eric Drexler, "Mr. Nanotechnology", actually earned 2 PhD's simultaneously at MIT, one in Media Arts and Sciences (at the MIT Media Lab), and the other in Architecture. The two programs did not offer a formal combined program (and still don't), so Drexler stitched a special program by himself. </p>
<p>I have also heard of several others who have received dual-doctorates at MIT, or have at least tried to, on an ad-hoc basis. For example, I believe there have been people at MIT who have stitched together PhD's in engineering with one in a science or math. I think there may have even been one guy who tried to do doctorates in both economics and in management at the MIT Sloan School.</p>
<p>But, then again, MIT is a fairly free-wheeling place where it is often said that formal rules don't really matter and everything, including the degrees that you receive, is all a matter of what you can negotiate. If you can get 2 departments at MIT to both admit you into their PhD program. That includes 2 completely unrelated programs. So if you can get admitted to the PhD programs in, say, both Physics and in the Sloan School, I don't think anybody at MIT is going to stop you from pursuing both. I think you'd have to be insane to do it, but I doubt that anybody would stop you. </p>
<p>Searching around the Net, I also noticed this guy who is studying for dual-PhD's in Physics and Computer Science at the University of Delaware. From what I can tell, Delaware does not offer such a dual program formally, which means that he had to hack his programs together himself. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.cis.udel.edu/%7Ebreech/%5B/url%5D">http://www.cis.udel.edu/~breech/</a></p>
<p>sakky,</p>
<p>MIT is a pretty neat and special place. Just talking to a buddy of mine at Stanford (poli sci), I gather that most programs aren't as open to people being as "experimental" or "crazy" as MIT perhaps is. </p>
<p>As with most things at the graduate level, your mileage may vary depending on your vehicle.</p>
<p>Yeah, MIT is special that way. Plus, again they generally have to be related in some way - I can see someone arguing for physics and CS, but not physics and business.</p>
<p>Heck, I originally wanted to do 2 PhDs, one in history and one in poli sci, both of which are far more related. No dice - anywhere. Of course, that was long ago, before my history focus changed, so now I'm happily engrossed in history.</p>
<p>The problem is that departments don't generally like to work together and share nice. As it is, you can get pulled in a lot of different directions within a department - I can't necessarily imagine going through that with 2 departments simultaneously.</p>
<p>Penn has a dual-degree program where current PhD students in the humanities and social sciences can obtain an MA/PhD in Education. I want to go this route.</p>
<p>From what I gather, going for a second Phd is hard if you are planning to do so concurrently with another program. Would colleges really be suspicious and unwanting in allowing you to pursue your second Phd after obtaining the first one (a few years after getting your first Phd, for example)?</p>
<p>Yeah, they tend to be. It makes you look like someone who is not dedicated to your field or cannot sustain dedication in your field. I don't necessarily agree, but that's how they see it. In fact, some programs are hesitant to even consider admission for someone who already has a PhD, even if in an unrelated field, on the rationale that people who have no PhD should get consideration first.</p>
<p>And honestly, after completing one PhD, I can't imagine wanting to jump into another. You're talking 6-7 years for a PhD. That's 12-14 years of graduate schooling - a bit much, when you think about it.</p>
<p>Now, you mentioned business and physics. It occurred to me that it may be a bit different, as I believe a PhD in business is only about 2-3 years. However, a PhD in business is only really for people who want to be professors. In any other business arena, you would only need an MBA, if that. So I'm wondering why you would want to get 2 PhDs in these areas. One of them would essentially be useless, and that is why programs will look at it suspiciously.</p>
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It occurred to me that it may be a bit different, as I believe a PhD in business is only about 2-3 years
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<p>Depends on the school, but usually (and especially for the top schools) it's about 4-5 years. For example, at HBS, Stanford or Wharton, you should plan on 4 years. At MITSloan, it's about 5. </p>
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However, a PhD in business is only really for people who want to be professors. In any other business arena, you would only need an MBA, if that.
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<p>I think there is something to be said about the notion of taking a business PhD and running off to consulting or (for the finance or business economics PhD's) to banking. In fact, I would say that almost any new doctorate coming out of any of the top B-schools, especially HBS, can get a consulting job without much trouble, and can probably start his/her own consulting firm. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, I agree with the general premise that business doctorates are mostly geared towards producing new profs and that an MBA is a far more direct way to get a regular industry job.</p>
<p>Like I said, it really depends on the degree program. It is possible to get a dual PhD in Education and Sociology, for example, in under 8 years.</p>
<p>tenisghs - The OP is not talking about combined programs - he's talking about two unrelated degrees.</p>
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tenisghs - The OP is not talking about combined programs - he's talking about two unrelated degrees.
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Second of sakky's links points to someone who is sort of doing something like that. Physics and CS can be similar but if you look at research interests/areas for each you'll find they're more or less unrelated.</p>
<p>Yes - but as I said, it's not a combined program - tenisghs is talking about programs that are set up already, like the history/ed program. The guy's website doesn't say how long it will take him to do his degrees, but I would guess it would be longer than the usual already combined program. And the OP's post asked about business and physics, two completely unrelated fields. You're not gonna find that and do it in 8 years.</p>