It's very simple: 1) They got their doctorate legitimately by attending a University; 2) It's an honorary title given by a legitimate institution; 3) It was acquired through an online diploma mill.
For the designation of "Dr." to be legit, a person must have completed the course work at a legitimate University; this can take 4—6 years. But with an online diploma mill it may take 2 years and cost a whole lot less. Diploma mills don't check your work; you just tell them what work you've completed, pay your money, and bang you're a Dr.
At some diploma mills, those who have completed the program and attained their "doctorate" go on to become "professors" at the diploma mill. Check out Primus University of Theology for example. Some of the names of their graduates are very familiar, and are now "Alumnus Professors." From their website:
Jerry Boykin
Randy Clark
T. D. Jakes
Rick Joyner
T. L. Osborn
Lance Wallnau
Kevin Zadai
These are the names I recognized. There are quite a few more at the link posted above.
As I understand it, if a degree is honorary, a person only has the privilege of using their title at the institution from which the degree was given. For example, Bill Gates was awarded an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University in Addis Ababa, Etheopia. If he gave a lecture there he'd be entitled to be addressed as Dr. but nowhere else.
So the next time you see "Dr." in front of someone's name, don't assume this person has done the work to earn the title.
"The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."—Proverbs 14:15
For the designation of "Dr." to be legit, a person must have completed the course work at a legitimate University; this can take 4—6 years. But with an online diploma mill it may take 2 years and cost a whole lot less. Diploma mills don't check your work; you just tell them what work you've completed, pay your money, and bang you're a Dr.
At some diploma mills, those who have completed the program and attained their "doctorate" go on to become "professors" at the diploma mill. Check out Primus University of Theology for example. Some of the names of their graduates are very familiar, and are now "Alumnus Professors." From their website:
"Our Graduates become our Adjunct Professors. Their books and materials become our curriculum; this allows our students to learn from experts in their field of study, and the authors of the books and materials they will be teaching." (underline mine)
Notice what's happening here: this is little more than a gimmick to increase book sales. Some of Primus' graduates include:Jerry Boykin
Randy Clark
T. D. Jakes
Rick Joyner
T. L. Osborn
Lance Wallnau
Kevin Zadai
These are the names I recognized. There are quite a few more at the link posted above.
As I understand it, if a degree is honorary, a person only has the privilege of using their title at the institution from which the degree was given. For example, Bill Gates was awarded an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University in Addis Ababa, Etheopia. If he gave a lecture there he'd be entitled to be addressed as Dr. but nowhere else.
So the next time you see "Dr." in front of someone's name, don't assume this person has done the work to earn the title.
"The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps."—Proverbs 14:15
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