Where does a J.D. degree fit in (rank) with a Masters, MBA, and doctorate?
Question:
Answer:
Technically, a JD is a doctorate -- but not all doctorates are equal. Professional degrees -- like JD, MD and DDS rank below an academic doctorate (like PhD). This is why only PhDs get to wear those cool tam hats at graduations while everyone else wears a mortarboard. Unlike other doctorates, JDs do not use the title Dr.
But the JD is really an American degree that is equivalent to the LLM in the UK -- which is a master's degree. I'd rank degrees as follows:
1. PhD
2. MD, DDS, DVM
3. JD
4. MS
5. MA
6. MBA
7. BS
8. BA
Degrees in the science are considered to be slightly above those in the arts which is why BS > BA and MS > MA. Academic degrees are considered higher than professional degrees, which is why PhD is at the top and MA and MS are both above the MBA.
a JD would rank on the level of a MBA sort of. It's kind of like trying to figure out where a MD ranks as well. A JD is a legal degree but there is a LLM which is a Masters of a JD. a JD is a post graduate degree if that helps any.
That is a juris doctorate--a law degree equivalent to a MD or a PhD (so it is the highest degree). The order is: Associates (AA); Bachelors (BA or BS-science or arts), a masters (of which a MBA is a masters in business administration, and again a MA {arts} or a MS {science} and so on); then a doctoral level (PhD {doctor of philosophy}, MD, JD etc).
The JD stands for juris doctoris, it's the legal equivalent of a Ph.D.
J.D. does not really fit the heirarchy of degrees in any specific way. Every field has levels of it's own caliber, ranging in research, professional, and honorary degrees, and within majors with them.
The J.D. is considered a doctoral degree, however it is routine to not use the title Dr., just the abbreviation of J.D. after your name. The J.D. used to be a Bachelors of Law before they decided to change the title (although it was a Masters program, ironically).
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