Professional Doctorates at BU

As you consider graduate school, you will find three main types of degrees – master’s programs, PhD programs, and professional doctorate programs. Professional doctorates provide you with a specific set of skills to practice in a particular field or industry; they are often rooted in preparing for specific professions. While “professional doctorate” may be an unfamiliar term, you may likely be familiar with some of the specific degrees – common examples include the MD (Medicine) and JD (Law).

Although most graduate degrees are pursued to achieve career-related goals, professional doctorate degrees are often specifically required to practice in certain fields. For example, a JD (Juris Doctor) is required to practice law in the United States.

If you are looking to pursue a professional doctorate, whether it be a doctorate in occupational therapy or a doctorate in medicine, Boston University offers a variety of resources to support BU undergraduates in their exploration and preparation. In addition to pre-health and pre-law advising, the BU Undergraduate Advising website can connect you with the advising services within your school or college, in addition to resources available for all BU undergraduates.