Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.): also known as a Doctor of Philosophy, the Ph.D. is the highest degree students can earn. At this level, the focus is on advancing knowledge through original research. The doctoral degree classification includes Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Nursing Science (D. NSc.), Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in fields as diverse as astronomy, the arts and business, to food technology, education, engineering, public administration, and many more.