To '(c)' or not to '(c)'? Each time I see a "(c)" behind someone's initials, I pause and sigh. My advice: You shouldn't do it, and this is why.
What's the big deal?
What is a (c), you ask? It is a symbol used by individuals who have earned, through coursework, status as doctoral candidates. These students are approved to work on their final projects in their course study. Each degree seems to have a point at which someone becomes a candidate, such as PhD (c), DNP (c), MBA (c), and even BSN (c), among others. What is the problem with this? First, it is not a degree, credential or formal status that any university or college confers. Second, being a candidate can, for some, be forever. These unfortunate forever candidates are also known in the PhD world as ABD's or "all but dissertation." Unfortunately, about 50% of doctoral students leave school without finishing! These individuals could call themselves PhD (c)'s forever. Last, it perpetuates an environment for incomplete degrees for instant gratification. I have seen people use "PhD, ABD" on their credential line for an unspecified time.
Seriously, if your degree is about having the credentials, then you may be pursuing it for the wrong reason.
Many professional organizations and publications do not allow you to note credentials of degrees in progress.
Don't shortchange the finale
Having completed my PhD, I endured the amount of work that must be done to get to that point -- and it's a lot! After the course work came the comprehensive exams. Once I passed those exams, I had oral comprehensives. For an hour, five faculty members asked questions that expanded on my essays and the course (three years' worth) of learning. After passing the oral exams, I became a "candidate" and could continue to work on my dissertation.
In my doctoral program at the University of Arizona, if the associate dean of research ever saw you use "PhD (c)" after your name on anything, she would call you on it. So, we didn't do it.
For PhD candidates, as well as other doctoral candidates, even after all the studying and challenging work, this is where the real work begins. This is where these students bring together all that they have learned into a yearlong (at least) research study or project where the rubber meets the road. Believe me, after all that work, I felt I deserved something! But I understood that using the (c) wasn't an actual degree or title. Using the (c) would have been shortchanging the actual completion of my doctoral education for early gratification. What can you call yourself that gives you credit for all the hard work that you have done? Call yourself a PhD or DNP student, or PhD or DNP candidate. Write out the word "candidate" or "student" behind the initials. The university has not yet conferred the degree to you, and no university confers the (c) initial. You will eventually finish your degree. And that day will become all the sweeter when you do get to use the initials after your name, the ones conferred by the university, officially documented on a degree, and fully recognized by your colleagues.
Courses related to 'pursuing a degree'
- Doctoral Degrees for Nurses (1.0 contact hr) This course reviews three terminal degrees relevant to nursing practice, PhD, DNP, and EdD, in terms of typical scope, purpose, and career progression.
- Getting Your BSN (1.0 contact hr) This course will help you to start your path to a BSN, understand the benefits, and overcome barriers.
- Career as an Advanced Practice RN (0.5 contact hr) The information provided in this course is intended as initial guidance to RNs interested in returning to school to attain an advanced degree and transition to an APRN role.
