Motivations for Pursuing an Engineering PhD and Perceptions of its Added Value: A U.S.-based Study

Engineering doctor of philosophy (PhD) holders possess expertise that is vital to addressing society’s grand challenges, but the dismal number of U.S. citizens pursuing the degree suggests many are not convinced of its value. There are few studies that have explored what motivates people in other disciplines to pursue a PhD, and not many of these were in the context of engineering. In this study, forty engineering PhD holders working in academia and industry in the U.S. described their motivations for earning an engineering PhD and the perceived added value of possessing the degree. The results of this study indicate that the motivations for pursuing an engineering PhD relate to career aspirations, prior success in graduate school, the influence of others, and intrinsic factors. Participants’ discussions about the added value of an engineering PhD manifests itself in the form of career outcomes, attributes and skills, and positive responses from others. Few participants described the “added value” of a PhD as neutral or having limitations. Both motivational and added value factors vary by employment sector. The findings of this study have implications for engaging more students in pursuing doctoral engineering studies — both in U.S. institutions and doctoral engineering programs around the world.