The new title, effective for degrees granted this academic year, does not indicate a change in requirements for either degree but reflects trends within academia and the University itself, Fr. Neenan said.
"With the change in title of the doctor of social work and doctor or education degrees," Fr. Neenan explained, "all doctoral degrees at Boston College will now be Ph.Ds, with the exception of the juris doctorate granted by the Law School. Consequently, Boston College will be in synch with the practice now commonly followed by leading doctoral programs in the US.
"The doctor of philosophy degree title also reflects the increased research dimension present in all our doctoral programs," he added.
-S.S.