Candidate of Philosophy

Candidate of Philosophy can refer to the US degree or status of Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil. or Ph.C) or various degrees from other countries. In a few countries the degree is at a level similar to a bachelor's degree elsewhere.

United States

The usual practice in the United States is for a graduate student working toward a doctorate to earn a master's degree (usually Master of Arts or Master of Science) in course after about two years of coursework. In a very few universities, a student who has completed all of the coursework, all of the comprehensive examinations in the subject and all of the language examination requirements, and whose dissertation topic has been approved—in short, who has fulfilled all requirements for the doctorate except the writing and defense of the dissertation itself—may be awarded a Master of Philosophy degree, beyond the Master of Arts or Master of Science already earned. In other universities, such students used the informal designation of Ph.D. (ABD), for "all but dissertation," not an actual degree but an informal convention.

The University of California began offering the Candidate in Philosophy degree in the early 1970s, but some campuses discontinued the practice before the end of that decade; it is still offered at most UC campuses, where it may be awarded within one year of advancing to candidacy.

Very few schools actually designate such students Candidatus Philosophiae or Candidate in Philosophy, abbreviated C.Phil. as a formal status.

University of California

Seven of the ten University of California campuses offer the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree to those who have passed the candidacy exam for the PhD in some programs. On some campuses it is only awarded to those leaving without a master's or a doctorate.

• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of California, Riverside
• University of California, San Diego
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of California, Santa Barbara

University of Washington

The University of Washington awards a certificate of Candidate in Philosophy (Ph.C.) to those admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D., alongside the Candidate in Education (Ed.C.) and Candidate in Musical Arts (C.M.A.) for those admitted to candidacy for the degrees of Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.). These are designations for candidate status rather than degrees.

Scandinavia

The word "Candidate" is often used in the titles of degrees in a different sense to those described above.

In Sweden and some other European countries the licentiate is a similar degree, in the respect that it requires the coursework of a doctorate, but a less extensive dissertation.

The Candidate of Philosophy is the lowest academic degree, essentially the same as a bachelor's degree, in several countries. For example, Sweden gives these degrees, which are, however, usually translated as "Bachelor".

In Finland, formerly the the graduate degree (cf. Master) was called filosofian kandidaatti. The title filosofian maisteri "Master of Philosophy" (usually translated as Master of Arts of Master of Science depending on the field of study) was received thereafter ceremonially and required no further academic work. However, the present practice is that filosofian maisteri is the name of the graduate degree, and filosofian kandidaatti is no longer awarded. The names for the undergraduate degrees (cf. Bachelor) have not gone under any corresponding changes; they are called luonnontieteiden kandidaatti "Candidate of Natural Sciences" and humanististen tieteiden kandidaatti "Candidate of Humanities" and (See fi:Kandidaatti)

Eurasia

Russia and Central Asian countries

• In Russia and ex-Soviet Union countries kandidat minimum refers to the necessary coursework required for the post-graduate research degree kandidat nauk (comparable to Western PhD). Kandidat minimum includes work in the area of specialization, foreign languages and the philosophy of science.

Bibliography

• United States Office of Education, Office of Education, United States (1917). Statistics of Land-grant Colleges and Universities. Original from the University of Michigan: Govt. Print. Off. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)