What is the easiest Ph.D to earn?

Answer 1

At first glance one must wonder at the sincerity of this question, much less the practicality. Taking "easiest" as a relative term then technically there would be degrees that require less time, energy, diligence, and perhaps even intellectual ability than others. As the ultimate designation of academic accomplishment, any worthy Ph.D. requires a tremendous commitment on the part of the scholar. Unfortunately, too many positions within and without the academic community have begun using the degree as some stamp of approval on a job candidate's resume, which has resulted in "online" and "part-time" programs granting "Ph.D.'s" without the requisite disciplined learning and contribution to academia. As the holder of a traditional B.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in academic areas, as well as an M.B.A. (a professional degree), I am somewhat familiar with the perception of the academic circles and professional circles regarding degrees. Many feel that any degree in Education requires less work and original thought, including the Ph.D. and Ed.D. Psychology programs have an inconsistent reputation, but many are considered less strenuous at the undergraduate levels. The Ph.D. programs would appear to be rather challenging and time-consuming in most traditional programs. Ph.D. programs in Business, which are becoming more popular with the proliferation of MBA's on the job market, appear to require less time and the formal dissertation is often replaced by or supplemented with more practical and finite projects, etc. Many classically academic Ph.D. programs allow the concurrent earning of a Masters degree but some still require the formal granting of the Masters before actual candidacy for a Ph.D. The difficulty of different major subject areas might be effectively measured by comparing the relative pass rates and scores on such exams as the GRE General and Special (subject area) exams, an archaic metric still required by many schools. If one is committed to his subject, whether it is Physics, Literature, History, Mathematics, or anything else, then presumably the "ease" of the Ph.D. program is a non-issue, and the suitability of the Graduate Faculty and reputation of respective schools become the deciding factors. Many Ph.D.'s can be earned in four years, some less, but actually meeting the many requirements (which can include publishing, coursework, residency, research, dissertation, etc.) can often take much longer if attempted concurrently with raising a family, trying to make any significant income, and living anything near a normal life. I am reminded of the cliche about the response to a would-be Porsche owner who had the temerity to ask "How much is it?" The response is, of course, "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." So perhaps the best answer to the question of 'What is the easiest PhD to earn?' is this: IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO EARN ONE ANYWAY.

Answer 2

There is no definitive answer as the difficulty of earning a Ph.D. varies depending on the individual's interests, skills, dedication, and the requirements of the specific program. Generally speaking, Ph.D programs in education, business, and some Social Sciences may be considered less challenging by some due to the nature of the research and coursework involved.