Multiple Doctoral Degrees

This article is about the phenomenon of individuals holding more than one research doctorate. For other uses, see Dual degree.

Multiple doctoral degrees (often called double doctorates) refers to the attainment of two or more research doctorates (e.g., PhD, DPhil, ScD) by the same person. Although some universities offer structured joint or dual-title doctorates across fields, earning more than one separate doctorate sequentially is uncommon and sometimes discouraged by institutions in favor of postdoctoral study or cross-disciplinary programs.

Definition and scope

The term generally excludes professional doctorates (e.g., MD, JD, EdD), unless explicitly noted, and focuses on research-intensive awards (e.g., PhD/DPhil/ScD). Universities often provide alternatives to a second doctorate—such as dual-title degrees, concurrent programs, graduate minors, or postdoctoral fellowships—to support cross-disciplinary work without duplicating degrees.

Rarity

There is no global statistic for the share of people holding multiple doctorates; major surveys count whether a person has a doctorate, not how many. As context, doctorates themselves are rare: in 2022 only about 1.3% of 25–64 year-olds across OECD countries held a doctoral or equivalent degree. In the United States, 57,862 research doctorates were awarded in 2023 according to the Survey of Earned Doctorates. Because institutions frequently discourage duplicating advanced academic degrees, individuals who pursue a second research doctorate represent a very small subset of doctorate holders.

Institutional policies

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT advises that, “In most cases, no,” applicants should not seek a second PhD at MIT and encourages postdoctoral opportunities instead.
• University of California. UC policy “in general, discourages the duplication of advanced degrees,” while permitting structured concurrent/articulated programs across different areas.
• Pennsylvania State University. Penn State's GCAC-307 sets conditions for concurrent or second doctorates, balancing access with resource considerations.

Motivations

Motivations for a second research doctorate vary and may include re-tooling into a distinct field, meeting country-specific licensure or credential norms, or pursuing cross-disciplinary research beyond what a single degree or a postdoctoral position would ordinarily cover. Universities often direct such interests toward joint degrees, dual-title programs, or postdoctoral training instead of sequential doctorates.

Documented holders

The following examples—sourced to university or institutional profiles, theses, or reputable news releases—illustrate individuals who earned more than one research doctorate. Lists are selective rather than exhaustive.

Computing, information, and technology

• Richard Brian Adams — PhD (2006, Murdoch University, Australia), *The Advanced Data Acquisition Model (ADAM) for Digital Forensic Evidence Collection and Analysis*; PhD (2014, Curtin University, Australia), *The Advanced Framework for Evaluating Remote Agents (AFERA) for Digital Forensic Evidence Acquisition*; independent digital-forensics practitioner and expert witness.

Behavioral science and business

• Dan Ariely — PhD in Cognitive Psychology (1996, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and PhD in Business Administration (1998, Duke University).

Film studies and philosophy

• Jinhee Choi — Two PhDs (Philosophy; Film Studies) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison; philosophy dissertation: *Emotion, Fiction, and Rationality: Cognitivism vs. Non-Cognitivism* (1999).

Political theory, classics, and anthropology

• Danielle S. Allen — PhD in classics (1996, University of Cambridge) and PhD in government (2001, Harvard University).
• Wale (Adewale) Adebanwi — PhD in Political Science (2002, University of Ibadan) and PhD in Social Anthropology (2008, University of Cambridge).

Biology, physiology, and biophysics

• Martin Blank — PhD in Physical Chemistry (1957, Columbia University) and PhD in Colloid Science (1960, University of Cambridge); later Special Lecturer, Columbia University (retired).

Theology and genetics

• Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J. — PhD in Molecular Genetics and a separate PhD in Bioethics/Theology; Catholic bioethicist and academic.

Geoscience and spatial information

• Massa (Marwa) Shoura — earned a second PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences (2023, The University of Texas at Dallas); previously earned multiple graduate degrees at UTD.

Engineering

• Haitham Abu-Rub — two PhDs (Electrical Engineering; Humanities/Social Sciences), including study at Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk; later professor at Texas A&M University at Qatar and HBKU.

Economics

• B. R. Ambedkar — DSc (1923, London School of Economics) for work published as *The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution*; PhD (1927, Columbia University).

See also

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Postdoctoral research
• Dual degree
• Interdisciplinarity

Notes

• The examples above emphasize verifiable research doctorates with institutional or thesis citations. Many universities do not publicly list alumni with multiple doctorates, so the section is illustrative rather than comprehensive.

Further reading

• "Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) — 2023 cycle". U.S. National Science Foundation (NCSES). Retrieved 8 September 2025.
• "Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) — 2023". U.S. National Science Foundation (NCSES). Retrieved 8 September 2025.
• "Education at a Glance — OECD Indicators (tertiary attainment)". OECD. Retrieved 8 September 2025.

This article "Multiple Doctoral Degrees" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Multiple Doctoral Degrees. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

📰 Article(s) of the same category(ies)

• Simone Muratelli
• Government Polytechnic Muzaffarpur
• Lymm (MCR)
• Harry Jarvis
• Crocker Island
• Eachy
• Michael Patrick Coyle

---