This insightful article addresses the big question, can one do doctorate degree online without any dissertation? There are many benefits to getting a PhD: a wider and richer scope of job opportunities in academia; higher salaries; prestige and success; and expertise in your field. There are roadblocks to achieving a PhD, though, and most of them are, quite simply, real life – time, money, work responsibilities, family obligations. Universities understand these limitations, and more often, they are developing PhD programs without dissertation requirements, or 1 year online doctoral programs, that will allow students to get their credentials more efficiently. Want to know more? Read on to know more on Doctorate Degree Online No Dissertation, Easiest Phd Without Dissertation, 1 year phd programs online & 18 month doctorate without dissertation.

Doctorate degree online no dissertation

While still somewhat rare, there are an increasing number of select universities that offer 1 year online doctoral programs. Online formats make it easier to attend class from far away without having to relocate – a major expense and headache not everyone can take on. This also allows one to stay in the workforce, or to take short breaks (such as using vacation time to attend an orientation), maintaining financial stability and career trajectory. However, some of these programs, as they are shorter and more intensive, may require you to study full-time, so be aware to the requirements and expectations of the programs. Research programs carefully, and email their admissions departments to ask about their accelerated PhD programs.

WHAT’S A DISSERTATION REALLY WORTH?

As with the shorter degrees, finding PhD programs without dissertation requirements are more rare than programs that require them. Yet, they do exist. Some fields and programs that may not require dissertations can include:

• JD (Juris doctorates, law degree)
• DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
• EdD (Doctor of Education)
• DM (Doctor of Management)

One of the most common no-dissertation doctorate programs today is the Doctorate in Leadership. These are a relatively new invention, and they are spreading across many different disciplines. There are now doctor of leadership programs in areas including Higher Education Leadership, Organizational Leadership, and Leadership and Management. These professional doctorate degrees are targeted toward working professionals already in their chosen field, and often substitute applied research projects, done within their current jobs, in place of a conventional dissertation.

The nagging question is: Is it really a respectable PhD program without a dissertation? The point of the dissertation is for the program to assess your knowledge in the field. But the dissertation is just one traditional way of doing that. As times change, so do the ways universities assess learning. Some programs may have a doctoral capstone project, or some other way of proving you have developed expertise. Remember: the dissertation was a new and radical idea once. Higher education is always changing, even if it happens slowly, and what seems new and strange today, will be traditional one day.

In the end, what matters is what works for you as a student, and for your career goals. Make sure to research carefully into what programs best suit your interests and needs, and what will make you happy and successful.

easiest phd without dissertation

A PhD status is a prerequisite for making an academic career. However, PhD thesis writing is a tiresome activity taking several years to complete. While many students discard their dreams or seek PhD proposal help, there exists another path allowing you to get the best of both worlds. Here are the tips on getting a PhD degree without writing a PhD thesis.     

One Year Programs

Some universities presently offer 1-year doctoral programmes. On the one hand, this format is still unusual in the academic world and you may need to perform an extensive search. On the other hand, this allows you to avoid writing a dissertation or a thesis. This way, you can balance your educational goals with your career.

Specific Subjects

A number of study fields do not require PhD dissertation writing. For example, you can get a PhD in psychology, international education, law, therapy or nursing without having to complete a thesis or a dissertation.

Thesis or Articles

A limited number of universities including Columbia Southern University and Colorado Technical University presently offer a choice between writing a dissertation project and publishing a series of articles or a research project.

Remote Study or Distance Learning

4. With remote education becoming more popular, many online universities allow you to get a degree without a dissertation. However, you need to choose accredited online schools with globally recognised diplomas if you want your degree to have value and credibility.

Expert Status

Finally, an expert status may confirm your expertise and convince a dissertation committee to grant you the PhD status. Having multiple publications in renowned scientific journals and a published book in your sphere of research may come in handy for explaining that the completion of a PhD dissertation project may not be necessary in your case.

While going the road less travelled may be highly beneficial for selecting a dissertation topic, we would not necessarily advise you to follow the same idea in attaining your PhD degree. Academic world is full of established norms and standards that are difficult to change. Because of that, following experimental paths in this sphere may result in a failure to build a good career.

If you feel that you lack the time and resources to complete a dissertation project all by yourself, you may seek PhD dissertation help from credible companies providing academic writing services. This way, you will get your degree in accordance with the established procedures and avoid the above-mentioned problems.

What does ABD Mean?

The term “ABD” stands for All But Dissertation. This means that you have finished everything in a PhD program except for the dissertation. Someone who is ABD has successfully completed all of the required classwork and any required comprehensive exams. The term itself has no academic standing but is used to tell others where you are in your program.

Having completed in the neighborhood of two years of classwork, it is nice to have something to acknowledge this accomplishment. Many use the term “ABD” to let others know their position in their doctoral journey.

However, this should not be a destination. ABD should just be a way to tell people where you are on your journey, similar to telling someone that you just passed the hardware store on your way home. Home is your destination, not the hardware store.

Can You Get a “PhD ABD Degree”?

The short answer is no, there is no such thing as a “PhD ABD degree.” Rather, the term “PhD ABD” is used to refer to a place in one’s journey towards getting a PhD.

Another term that has begun to be used to connote a similar message to “PhD ABD” is “PhDc” (also expressed as “PhD(c)” or “PhD-c”). This term has gained popularity recently but there is concern about its use. The APA has expressed concern that the general public may not know what the term means and believe that the holder has completed her/his PhD. Similarly, the term “ABD Degree” makes claim to a degree that was never completed.

When a similar question was asked online, one user commented, “A PhD that’s All But Dissertation is like an espresso that is All But Coffee. It’s hot water with a bit of sugar, thus defeating the entire purpose of the exercise.”

Neither PhD ABD nor PhDc represents the achievement of a degree, so the use of either in a formal setting, such as your CV or in correspondence, should probably be avoided. Avoid making claims like holding an ABD Degree.

However, a new type of degree has arisen lately for those who stop their studies having completed all but their dissertation. This gives people something to show for their time in the PhD program. Called names such as Certificate of Doctoral Completion, this is a way to allow students who leave a program to do so with a degree–albeit, one not nearly as esteemed as a PhD. This may serve the purpose as an ABD degree.

All But Dissertation: Why Do So Many PhD Candidates Quit?

Around 50% of those who start a PhD program do not finish. Many of those who do not finish get to the All But Dissertation stage before they leave their program. Why would someone leave a PhD program after such a big time and effort investment?

There are many reasons why people leave at the ABD level. Among the reasons are:

Lack of funds

Getting a PhD takes time and money. For many people the money (or access to loans) can run out. If that happens, there may be no other option but to leave.

External obligations

Life happens and situations change. Maybe you have had two kids during the process and they need your time and attention, perhaps your aging parents need your care, or maybe your Aunt Melville died and left you her $30 million estate. We cannot predict the future, and valid reasons may arise to leave a program.

Bad situations

There are many stories about abusive advisors/mentors in PhD programs. There is an uneven power distribution between committees and doctoral students. This can turn into a reason to not finish a degree.

Realization that they don’t want/need a PhD

One of the things that you learn in PhD classes is critical thinking and asking questions. What is not part of these programs is solving problems. You learn to answer questions and leave the application/problem solving to others.

Some people get to the ABD stage and determine that they are more suited to being advocates and solving problems than answering questions, giving them an incentive to go out and begin solving the problems that they see. The world needs both types of people.

All But Dissertation: How Not to Stay There

Many people get stuck at the ABD phase of the journey and do not finish their degree. Most of the time, this leaves them with nothing to show for the considerable amount of coursework they completed.

If you decide to leave a program at the ABD stage, having loans can make it seem worse.  Eight months after you stop attending school, student loan payments kick in. No one really enjoys making student loan payments, and they can seem even worse if you left a program without a degree.

Here is my advice for powering through the all but dissertation phase and earning your degree.

Know what’s coming

When you were taking classes, your program was laid out in front of you. You knew which courses to take when and what grades you needed. As you enter the dissertation phase things are not as straightforward. You should read everything that your school provides on the process and become familiar with any templates that are provided. A good template can signal to you what sections are needed in each chapter and save you time.

Also understand the review process for the work you submit and plan accordingly. If it takes two weeks for your committee to review your Prospectus, then work on finding more literature for your eventual Chapter 2. If your Proposal is being reviewed, start preparing your IRB submission. Be as efficient as possible.

Work every day

There is a book titled “Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day.” The idea is that you need to work on your dissertation consistently, everyday. I find that people who put time in on a regular basis, daily if possible, tend to move forward faster than those who put in a lot of time on an irregular basis. If you have large amounts of time between sessions, you have to spend time remembering where you were. Make writing your dissertation a habit and you will move beyond the ABD stage.

Ask for help

In our society, we’re often taught that asking for help is a sign of weakness. But if you want to complete your PhD program, you’d better let go of that belief and recognize that asking for help is both wise essential for your success.

If you are in a graduate program there are people out there who can help you if you ask. For example, librarians can help you find material and save you lots of time. If your writing needs help, most schools have Writing Centers and if that is not enough, a good academic editor can save you a lot of time and help you move forward.

If you are looking for more hands-on help, a dissertation coach can help you towards the finish line.

Be good to yourself

Graduate school is not a sprint. It can be a long, grueling process so you need to take care of yourself along the way. You don’t want to reach the end and be so burned out that you aren’t able to use the degree you worked so hard for.

Self care is very important. Try to add simple things like taking a walk of talking to a friend to your routine. This can save your sanity and help you move forward.

Realize your progress

It is easy to get lost in the vastness of writing a dissertation and not realize how much you have actually accomplished. Sometimes it is good to stop and look back at what you have accomplished. For example, you have finished all of your coursework and comprehensive exams. You have done a great deal. Now you get to concentrate on something that truly interests you.

Reward yourself for genuine progress. Rather than paying attention to how much time you spent writing, set mile markers such as writing 2,000 words, finishing a draft of your Chapter One, or addressing all of your committee’s comments.

All But Dissertation: Summary

You have the chance to be one of the 2 percent of the population with a doctoral degree. Take care of yourself on the journey, stay dedicated to the process and call on all available resources. You can do this!