[notme77]

I'd like to see more professional, terminal (doctorate) degrees that aren't PhDs. Run them in parallel. For instance, I feel there should be an M.Eng. equivalent for comp sci that requires mastery of existing theory instead of development of new theory.

[SketchySeaBeast]

That's literally what a PhD is for - the fact that you're an expert in your field and breaking new ground. Wouldn't a masters in comp sci be the equivalent to a masters in engineering? You can get a PhD in engineering as well.

[jefft255]

You can simply do a course-based masters for that... same classes as a PhD student, no need to produce original research.

[adestefan]

There exists a handful of EngD problems out there. It’s to be treated as an applied PhD where the goal is to develop as a leader of industrial R&D.

[sytelus]

Exactly. There is something dearly missing between Masters to PhD. Many European PhDs are now 3 years while US PhD tends to be 5 year. It would have been great if PhD degree standardized to 5 years but was broken down into two separate degrees of 2+3 years.

[schuetze]

Although the time to completion seems quite disparate between Europe and US, the difference isn't nearly as stark as it appears.

Nearly all Europeans enter PhD programs with a Master's degree in hand. At least in psychology (my discipline), US PhD programs will admit candidates directly from undergraduate. The overall time from bachelor's to PhD is similar when you account for these differences.