The point is to train you to be a scholar, someone who can do original research in the field, as is expected of university professors. To that end, a PhD program includes coursework advanced enough to bring you up to the current state of the research in the subject, and a period of research apprenticeship with your advisor, where you begin to contribute to the field yourself. That&#x27;s valuable enough to devote four years to if scholar is the job you want. I wouldn&#x27;t recommend it for any other purpose. Way too much pain.