ABSTRACT
As with any subject, doctoral education, and the Ph.D. in particular, is best understood when viewed through its historical roots. A brief historical account of the doctorate and the Ph.D.'s place in this history is followed by commentary on the purposes of the Ph.D. Given the interdependence between the Ph.D. and research, such a historical overview inevitably includes an account of the research enterprise in this country. We culminate this chapter with different ways to understand the experience of doctoral students.
