Students who want to learn practical ways to improve the lives of children and their families may benefit from the study of child development. Through learning to assess developmental needs, scholars may learn how to promote understanding and healthy learning programs in their communities.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.