dissertation phd completion

10 Best All But Dissertation Completion Programs [2024 ABD Guide]

Students who completed their doctoral coursework and received doctoral candidacy but left the program before completing their dissertation may qualify for ABD completion programs.

All but dissertation programs provide doctoral students with the opportunity to finish what they’ve started.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

Let’s take a look at how an accredited dissertation only PhD program may help you achieve your academic goals. You can also discover some of the current degree programs available for returning PhD students.

Universities Offering Online All But Dissertation Completion Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

1. Alverno College

Alverno College offers an ABD to help with the completion of EdD degrees. There is also a concentration in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education available. Most of the program is online with 2 weekend residencies in Milwaukee. The program requires approximately 6 semesters.

Alverno College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

2. American College of Education

An EdD in Leadership is available through the American College of Education. Those who are considered ABD may be able to follow a customized pathway to completion. The program is fully online, and there are no residency requirements. Courses are in an asynchronous learning format.

American College of Education is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

3. Baker College

Those with 32 credits toward a DBA may finish their degree through Baker College’s ABD completion program. The dissertation program requires an additional 28 credits and may be completed entirely online. On average, the program may be completed in 18 months.

Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

4. Bay Path University

Bay Path University offers an EdD in Educational Leadership. Those who have completed doctoral coursework may be eligible for the ABD program. All coursework is online with 1 weekend residency per year. The dissertation requires 21 credits. The school offers multiple concentrations including Higher Education Leadership and Transformative School Leadership.

Bay Path University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

5. Brenau University

Brenau University offers an online EdD in Education program that features an ABD path for those who have completed core courses. There are start dates each fall and spring, and the program follows a semester schedule. The program requires 2 weekend residencies over the course of the program.

Brenau University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

6. Centenary University

An EdD in Educational Leadership through Centenary University’s ABD program. The program requires 13 to 21 credits. Courses are online or in a blended format. A faculty advisor is available throughout the program. Courses follow a semester schedule.

Centenary University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

7. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Mercy University offers an EdD for ABD students. The program is in an accelerated format. All coursework is fully online with 1 weekend residency required. The required 27 credits can typically be completed in 18 months.

Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

8. Indiana Wesleyan University

Those classified as ABD can earn an EdD through Indiana Wesleyan University. The program is fully online, and there are no residency requirements. The program is taught through a Christian worldview. The program’s required 30 credits may be completed in as little as 20 months.

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

9. Manhattanville College

Manhattanville College offers an EdD in Educational Leadership for those who have completed all doctoral coursework except the dissertation. Courses may be completed online or on campus. Online programs start each spring. Courses are in an accelerated format. The program requires 30 additional credits for a total of 59 credits.

Manhattanville College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

10. Union Institute & University

A PhD can be earned through Union Institute & University’s ABD program. All coursework is online with 1 week of residency required at the start of each term. There are start dates are in January and July. The program requires 9 to 12 credits. On average, the program may be completed in 3.

Union Institute & University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Online ABD Completion Programs

If you’re interested in completing an all but dissertation (ABD) or dissertation only PhD program, there are a few steps involved.

The process is different for every school and dissertation completion pathway, but you’ll typically be asked to:

• Submit an application . You’ll be asked to share your educational history, including doctorate coursework completed. Each school will determine if and how they will offer transfer credits for the courses you’ve taken.
• Complete coursework . Some schools ask students to complete a few prerequisite courses, often regarding research, writing skills, or communications.
• Seek mentorship and resources . Many schools provide students with a staff mentor who can provide them with support and guidance during the dissertation process.
• Complete your dissertation . Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to complete your dissertation.

Generally speaking, you’re often asked to have a proposal for your dissertation at the time of admissions. So, you may want to be prepared to speak with the program and admissions staff about your upcoming dissertation during the application process.

Select jobs require candidates to have a doctoral degree, though many careers do not. At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that professionals who have a doctoral degree experience the lowest average levels of unemployment.

Due to many different circumstances, a surprising number of adult students do not complete their dissertation after finishing their doctoral coursework. As a result, they must often start over to earn their PhD—unless they choose an ABD completion pathway.

Why PhD Candidates Quit

Though you may feel alone on an incomplete educational path, there are many other students who find themselves on a dissertation completion pathway.

There are many reasons why a student may find themselves in ABD status, including:

• Finances and personal circumstances . Some students need to take a break in their studies due to practical situations. Whether due to the cost of tuition or the amount of time spent working toward a degree, life may interfere with your studies.
• Intimidation or fear . Dissertations often range from 30,000 to 60,000 words and beyond. Many individuals find researching, organizing, and drafting a document this size to be intimidating.
• Time management challenges . For some students, losing the structure of a school setting can mean losing sight of writing the final dissertation. Without a school and study schedule, they may fall behind in writing their dissertation.

Though a dissertation isn’t an easy challenge to take on, all but dissertation programs help students who are ready for the final step in their doctoral degree. ABD programs could provide resources, mentors, and guidance throughout the process, such as knowing how to decompose the PhD project into distinct dissertation chapters can help in the writing phase.

ABD PhD Completion Programs Admissions Requirements

Schools that offer all but dissertation programs will have their own guidelines and admissions requirements for students. So it’s beneficial to review the admissions process and application for each school carefully.

Some common requirements include:

• GRE or GMAT scores (only some schools require them)
• Complete undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Doctoral work transcripts demonstrating completion of doctoral coursework
• Minimum GPA standing
• Academic writing samples

You may be asked to provide course descriptions or syllabus-level course details for some of your graduate and doctoral degree work. This will help each school determine which credits apply toward their doctoral completion program.

Unlike many educational opportunities, an ABD program often involves working with admissions and program counselors to determine your placement within their program.

PhD ABD Programs Accreditation

As you review various PhD ABD programs, it’s beneficial to check whether the programs that interest you most are accredited, just like checking online doctoral programs in education without dissertation .

Accreditation is offered to schools and programs that demonstrate a higher level of educational excellence. Organizations such as CHEA, or the Council for Higher Educational Accreditation , provide more information about the regional accreditation process.

There can be many benefits to selecting an accredited program. Many financial assistance opportunities, including federal student aid, are provided exclusively to those who attend accredited schools. Plus, required steps for employment in your field, such as licensing, certification, or membership in a professional organization may require accredited education.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

For many students, the first step toward receiving financial aid is completing the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Completing this application helps determine your eligibility for need-based federal assistance.

You can also research what scholarship or grant opportunities the school you will attend may offer. They might also offer financing or repayment opportunities. Other scholarship opportunities might come from your community, local businesses, large corporations, or private donors. There may be financial aid options specifically for those on a dissertation completion pathway.

Additionally, your employer may offer assistance for those who are returning to school. This could potentially include employer-sponsored scholarships, tuition reimbursement programs, or an educational allowance.

What Does ABD Mean?

All but dissertation (ABD) means that a student has completed every step in their doctoral degree program except the final dissertation. Typically, earning a doctoral degree includes 2 to 3 years of classwork followed by exams. After this, students propose, research, write, present, and defend their dissertation in front of a committee.

ABD status means you’ve done everything but the dissertation step. While there is no “ABD degree,” many schools offer all but dissertation (ABD) programs that help provide you with the structure, environment, resources, and timeframe to complete this important final step of earning a PhD.

How Long Are ABD Completion Programs Online?

All but dissertation completion programs online typically take 1 to 3 years to complete, depending on the university and your chosen specialty.

Some universities require students with ABD status to complete a few courses in order to remain eligible for their degree. These prerequisites often highlight helpful skills for dissertation writers, including research, writing, organization, and communication.

In many cases, students are asked to check in regularly with their mentors or advising staff to consider the scope of their projects and findings.

Is an ABD Completion Worth It?

Yes, an ABD completion is worth it for many students. While writing a dissertation can be seem intimidating and stressful, many doctoral candidates find that completing the process is rewarding and beneficial.

Not all careers require a PhD. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that professionals who have earned their doctoral degrees typically earn higher median salaries and experience lower incidences of unemployment.

While a dissertation only PhD program can’t guarantee your professional success, it can be helpful for those wishing to gain employment in the highest levels of their field.

Finishing Your Doctorate Degree Online

Plenty of doctoral candidates find themselves unable to complete their degree due to the final dissertation. Selecting a dissertation completion pathway can help students in this situation find the structure and guidance they need to finish this last step.

If you are ready to complete your doctorate or PhD degree, you may wish to consider all but dissertation programs to help you conquer this final challenge. Regardless of what caused the delay, you can still complete your terminal degree.

You can explore some of the accredited ABD programs offered online around the country to take this next step in your academic and professional journey.

• Online Degrees
• Tuition & Financial Aid
• Transferring Credit
• The Franklin Experience

Request Information

We're sorry.

There was an unexpected error with the form (your web browser was unable to retrieve some required data from our servers). This kind of error may occur if you have temporarily lost your internet connection. If you're able to verify that your internet connection is stable and the error persists, the Franklin University Help Desk is available to assist you at [email protected] , 614.947.6682 (local), or 1.866.435.7006 (toll free).

Just a moment while we process your submission.

Popular Posts

Doctoral Completion Programs: How to Finish Your Doctorate Degree

Doctoral programs are extremely rigorous. Unlike master’s degree programs, doctorate programs are heavily self-driven and require the highest level of scholarly research and writing. For some students who are balancing work and life priorities with a doctoral degree, this can seem overwhelming.

If you started a doctoral program but didn’t finish, you aren’t alone. Nearly 50% of people who start doctorate degrees never complete their program. 

There are many reasons doctorate students stop their studies. Maybe you took time off for personal, financial or professional reasons. Maybe the doctorate program you attended previously wasn’t the right fit. Whatever the reason you decided to pause your doctoral studies, you may still be able to complete the terminal degree you started.

Doctoral completion programs are specifically designed for students who have some doctoral credit, but didn’t meet the requirements to graduate. Let’s dive into what these programs offer to see if a doctoral completion program is right for you.

What is a Doctoral Completion Program?

A doctoral completion program is not a specific doctorate program in and of itself. In reality, doctoral completion programs are another name for transfer-friendly doctoral programs that offer dedicated support for transfer students.

Doctoral completion programs are designed to meet the needs of students who are restarting their doctoral studies in an effort to accelerate their completion of their degree. These programs are unique because many universities will not accept transfer credit at the doctoral level. 

Let’s look at two of the common pathways you can take when completing your doctoral program. 

Doctoral Completion Programs: Choosing The Right Pathway

There are two stages of doctoral study—the required coursework and the dissertation. If you’re looking to complete your doctorate degree, you need to consider which requirements you still need to meet. 

If you still need to complete coursework and pass your comprehensive exam: Look for a university that accepts significant transfer credit and can help you complete your remaining coursework. Make sure you understand:

• How many credits will transfer: Most doctorate programs require around 58 credit hours total to graduate. Some transfer-friendly universities, like Franklin University, will accept up to 24 credits, which is about 40% of the total required.
• Will your credits qualify to be transferred: Doctoral programs typically require credits to be applied directly to the degree, meaning the previous course has to be substantially similar to the required course at the new university. If your previous studies don’t align, you may need to retake coursework. You may also need to meet specific passing grade requirements or time requirements (often credits more than 7-10 years old won’t transfer).

If you’ve reached ABD (all but dissertation) status: Consider a dissertation completion pathway. Some universities will allow you to restart your doctorate degree at the dissertation stage. However, before committing, make sure you understand:

• You may still need to take coursework: Many advertised ABD programs will still require you to take prerequisites, focus area courses or research and writing foundations courses to complete your dissertation at their university.
• Admission requirements may be extensive: Universities that offer dissertation-only completion pathways usually require more than just graduate transcripts. Expect to submit additional documentation, including previous doctoral candidacy, portfolio or work samples, resume, letters of reference or other support materials.
• You need to feel confident about your dissertation topic: Since you will start directly at the dissertation stage, you will need to declare a topic. Some of these programs will require a learning agreement contract to establish milestones for completing your dissertation.

Accelerate your completion time and lower your total tuition cost at every academic level. Download this free guide for tips on maximizing your transfer credit.

How doctoral completion programs work.

Applying to a doctoral program to complete your degree is often very similar to regular doctoral admissions. Here are the steps you will need to take: 

• Research transfer-friendly universities that accept doctorate transfer credit. Based on your previous educational experience, find the best-fit university that will also accept the most transfer credit.
• Apply to the university’s doctoral program. Submit an application and all support materials. Most applications can be submitted online and may or may not require an application fee. 
• Submit official graduate transcripts for the university. You will need to submit official transcripts for all graduate level coursework. It can also be helpful to submit information on the courses you’ve previously taken, including syllabi or course descriptions. These materials can help a university determine whether courses are similar enough to reward transfer credit.
• Receive transfer credit evaluation. You will receive a determination that shows how many credits you received, what courses they apply to and how many credits still need to be completed.
• Get started! Meet with your academic and/or faculty advisors to determine your schedule and complete your doctorate. 

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Doctoral Completion Program

If you chose to stop your doctorate studies, there was likely a compelling reason. For some, the original doctorate program they chose wasn't a good fit for their needs as a student. You want to make sure that if you return to doctoral studies, the program you choose will set you up for success.

Make sure you ask these questions before choosing a doctoral completion program:

• How many credits will transfer into the doctoral completion program? You want to ensure as many credits as possible transfer into a new doctoral program, especially if you’re at the ABD stage.
• How will this program support you in completing your doctorate? Look for programs that offer dedicated faculty advisors, active student associations and extensive online library systems. All of these resources will help you complete your doctorate.
• Do you feel confident about the dissertation process? Many people fear the dissertation process. It’s why ABD has become a de facto designation for those who stop their doctoral studies before they complete their dissertation. Make sure you understand how dissertation committees work, how to establish milestones and how to defend a dissertation. Knowing all of this in advance can help you formulate a clear plan to finish your dissertation and earn your degree.
• Will this doctorate program work with your schedule? Some doctoral completion programs have a required in-person component. Others are conducted entirely online. The structure and flexibility of the program you choose will ultimately determine if you can successfully complete it or not.
• Are you excited and motivated to complete your doctorate degree? Personal drive and determination are two of the top factors in the successful completion of a doctorate degree. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve what you set out to do.

Finish What You Started: Complete Your Doctorate Degree

In the United States, only 2% of the population holds a doctoral degree. Franklin University is here to help you achieve this lifetime accomplishment. 

Our transfer-friendly, online doctoral programs are designed to support students from all backgrounds to complete their doctorate. From start to finish, a doctorate can be completed in as few as three years. If you maximize your transfer credit , it can be completed even quicker. Our no-fear dissertation process, faculty mentorship and peer support will help you stay on track to graduation.

Explore all of our doctoral programs to see if we offer a doctorate that aligns with your goals.

Related Articles

Franklin University 201 S Grant Ave. Columbus , OH 43215

Local: (614) 797-4700 Toll Free: (877) 341-6300 [email protected]

Copyright 2024 Franklin University

• Youth Program
• Wharton Online

How the PhD Program Works

Program Overview

Completing your doctorate at Wharton requires 5 years of full-time study. The first 2 years in the program prepare you for admission to candidacy by taking courses, qualifying exams, and starting research projects. In the last few years, you are primarily conducting research full-time including writing and defending your doctoral dissertation.

Admission to candidacy.

You begin by taking courses required for your program of study. All programs requires a preliminary exam, which may be either oral or written.

Some programs may have further requirements, such as an additional exam or research paper. If you enter with a master’s degree or other transfer credit, you may satisfy the formal course requirements more quickly.

Beginning the Wharton PhD Curriculum How the first two years of the Wharton program helped students discover their interests, learn the tools of the profession, and fuel their passion for teaching.

The Doctoral Dissertation

Upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, you are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies.

Your doctoral dissertation should contain original research that meets standards for published scholarship in your field. You are expected to be an expert in the topic you choose to research.

You are admitted to candidacy for the dissertation phase of your studies upon successful completion of coursework and passing a preliminary examination, but you can start thinking about and working on research of relevance at any time.

The dissertation process culminates with a “defense,” in which you defend the proposal orally before your dissertation committee.

While working on your dissertation, you interact extensively with Wharton faculty. Together with interested faculty, you create your own research community that includes your dissertation advisor and dissertation committee.

Policies and Procedures

Get more detailed explanation of course requirements, academic standards, the Teacher Development Program, time limits, and dissertation procedures and requirements.

Sample Program Sequence

Years 1 & 2.

Coursework Examination Research Papers Research Activities Field-Specific Requirements

Directed Reading & Research Admission to Candidacy Formulation of Research Topic

Years 4 & 5

Continued Research Oral Examination Dissertation

Hear From Our Doctoral Community

Faculty expertise in housing economics attracted this phd student to wharton, why i chose academic research instead of consulting.

Andrea Contigiani

How Wharton Makes It Easy to Be Successful

• Business Management
• Early Childhood Education & Adolescent Development
• Criminal Justice Management
• Emergency Services Management
• Maternal Child Health: Human Lactation
• Social Work
• Applied Nutrition & Dietetics
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Health & Wellness
• Human Lactation Studies
• Health Care Leadership
• Organizational Leadership
• Design your own MBA
• Cybersecurity
• Integrative Learning
• Montessori Integrative Learning
• All But Dissertation (ABD)
• Educational Justice & Equity
• Ethical & Creative Leadership
• Humanities & Culture
• Public Policy & Social Change
• Martin Luther King Jr. Studies
• Doctoral Certificates
• All But Dissertation (EdD - ABD)
• Applied Nutrition and Health Education
• Educational Leadership (Pre-K-12)
• Higher Education
• California Teacher Permit
• Health Education
• Online Teaching & Learning
• Creativity Studies
• History & Culture
• Literature & Writing
• Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling
• Cannabis Studies
• Leadership in Public Service
• Social Justice
• ETSA Catalog
• Ed2Go Catalog
• U4U! Early College Program
• University Catalog
• Tuition & Fees
• Payment Options
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid Overview
• Federal Work Study
• Net Price Calculator
• How to Register
• Transfer Students Overview
• Certified Learning
• Transfer Partnerships
• International Students
• Military Students
• Accreditation
• Board of Trustees
• Hispanic-Serving Institution
• Leadership & Offices
• Rankings & Awards
• Giving to Union
• Share Your Story
• Union Store
• University Calendar
• What’s Happening
• 2023 Commencement
• Request Transcript
• Academic Services
• Career Services
• Disability Services
• Mental Health Services
• Online Library
• Military at Union
• Educational Justice & Equity
• Public Policy & Social Change
• All But Dissertation (EdD – ABD)

DOCTORAL ALL BUT DISSERTATION (ABD)

Did you get to your dissertation and then have to put your Ph.D. on hold? Union Institute & University’s ABD or “All But Dissertation” program is perfect for you. This new program provides an opportunity for students who have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. at another institution, except their doctoral dissertation. Union Institute & University welcomes all applicants who have achieved this stature in their graduate education and whose work aligns with one of our areas of concentration. Now is the perfect time to finish earning your doctorate.

Total credits

Cost per credit hour

Next Start Date

FINISHING YOUR PH.D.

A number of factors may have inhibited your program completion - quite apart from intellectual potential. There are only a few programs in the country designed to streamline completion of the Ph.D. program for those who have made it to the dissertation stage.

• 9-12 credit hour program
• Full & part-time options
• *Hybrid program
• January & July start dates
• Complete your degree in as little as 3 years

*100% online classes with a one-week residency in Cincinnati at the start of each term.

The successful ABD student will take two advanced courses in their area of concentration - the dissertation literature review and the dissertation proposal. Both are offered in sequential semesters after which students undertake the dissertation, thus enabling completion in as little as two years.

PhD concentrations

Union's Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies focuses on four different concentrations described below.

About the Concentration in Educational Studies

Union’s Educational Studies (EDST) concentration is designed to prepare individuals to address the leading education issues through an integrative, holistic, and critical lens. Union’s strength is demonstrated by close collaboration with diverse disciplines engaged in today’s complex problems. The program stands in support of emergent activist scholars by reflecting voices of the global majority (including, but not limited to Black, Brown, Indigenous, Women, Gender fluid, LGBTQIA+, and neurocognitive diversity).

About the Concentration in Ethical & Creative Leadership

Union’s Ethical & Creative Leadership (ECL) concentration is unique in addressing all forms of leadership, stressing values and their application, cultivating one’s creative power and imagination, and connecting leadership philosophies to practical leadership experiences. ECL offers leaders an intellectual grasp of the makings of effective leadership in a diverse multicultural world, equips them with practical strategies and tools for various leadership roles and prepares them to tackle social justice challenges in their institutions and communities.

About the Concentration in Humanities & Culture

Union’s concentration in Humanities & Culture (HMC) allows you to study the human condition, explore creative ways to advance social justice and acknowledge differences among individuals and social groups. HMC draws on a variety of humanities fields – social and political philosophy, history, religious studies, literature, and aesthetics – that relate to social justice and cultural differences.

About the Concentration in Public Policy & Social Change

Union’s Public Policy & Social Change (PPS) concentration prepares students to critically re-examine the principles and values that undergird the public policy process. PPS challenges students to critically interrogate governmental policies through the lens of ethical leadership, creative problem-solving, social justice, diversity, and global interdependence. Students develop multifaceted expertise through courses such as policy processes, policy analysis, conflict resolution, community development, democratic theory, human rights, and global studies.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must provide:

• All graduate transcripts from accredited institutions, showing award of the master’s degree and subsequent training.
• Documentation of doctoral program completion except for the dissertation by the Registrar or a faculty member affiliated with the prior program.
• Two letters of recommendation, including one reference from someone who holds a Ph.D. (Starting with our January 2022 term, we will require three letters of recommendation).
• A Statement of Purpose which describes the intended dissertation topic, identifies the preferred concentration (HMS, PPS, ECL, or EDST), outlines the circumstances which led to the interruption in doctoral training, and discusses the applicant’s currency in research topics related to the planned dissertation.
• Formal course descriptions for all prior training that supports the selected concentration must also be submitted. If the prior program requires a Comprehensive Exam for doctoral students, that step must have been successfully completed prior to making an application to the Union doctoral program.

Applicants should consult the catalog for the area of concentration requirements. Students whose primary doctoral training is in the biological or physical sciences cannot be considered. Students with credits earned outside the U.S. should have their course work reviewed by AICE or NACES.

Admissions Review Process

The application is reviewed by the Admissions Committee. If materials are deemed appropriate for the next step, the applicant will be interviewed by a member of the Admissions Committee or their designee. If admission is recommended, the course history will be reviewed in light of particular concentration requirements. The admission letter will stipulate which of Union's courses must be completed. Admission may be provisional (to be reassessed after one year), or without condition. Initial review will occur within 48 hours of receipt. 

PROGRAM COMPLETION

Ordinarily, the successful “ABD” applicant will take 850 and 860 courses in their area of concentration in sequential semesters, then undertake the dissertation, thus enabling completion in four semesters. If core learning areas are deemed insufficient in the particular concentration, additional courses may be required. The applicant who has completed a recent dissertation proposal may petition the Dean to waive the 850-course requirement and begin with 860. Students must attend at least one residency, nominate a dissertation Chair who agrees to serve in that role, form a dissertation committee, pass the proposal defense, conduct the dissertation, and pass the dissertation defense. Academic progress is a condition of subsequent term registration.

Dissertation Information and Examples

The program supports a variety of formats for doctoral dissertations, including theoretical, historical, and interpretive research, social action research projects, empirical research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods, and creative dissertations. Below are some examples from each concentration

Education Justice & Equity:

• Hopson, J. (2021).  Texas A&M university system website analysis: Disability and diversity 
• Madry, T. S. (2020). Mentoring: A Leadership Tool for Black Greek Fraternities.
• Maples, G.L. (2019). Surviving the Invisible Wounds of War: As Told by the Unseen Heroes.
• Bolton, D. (2018).  Motivating African American Male Readers Through Mentorship.

Ethical & Creative Leadership:

• Crudup, Larry Terrell (2021). Walk Together Children: Black Congregational Leadership-as-Social Ethic .
• Worthen, Merritt (2020). Showing Faith through Work(s): Examining how Christian-Based Businesses are Practicing Faith in a Materialistic Society .
• Bradbury, Douglas S. (2019) . Quantum Reconciliation: A Framework for Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Inescapable Mutuality . ”
• Washington, Michael A. (2019) . Prince Hall Masonic Order Leader and Leadership Development .

Humanities & Culture:

• François, Emery (2021). The Beauty and the Strife: A Memoir of Haiti and Her Legacy in the United States .
• White, Tamara (2020). Visually Representing Diabetes Management for Incarcerated Women in California: A Creative Dissertation .
• Reinstatler, Michelle L. (2019). Becoming Legend: Constructing Paranormal Experience and Cultural Performance in Ghost-Hunting Reality TV shows and Recreational Ghost Hunting .
• Johnson, Jr., James L.  (2018). Sympathy for the Devil: Thawing the Ego and Fostering Empathy through a Theory of Lacanian Reader-response.

Public Policy & Social Change:

• Lewis, Jacinda (2020).   Exploring sex offenders’ experiences through the lens of social justice .
• Nauta, Carmen (2019). Understanding the challenges to lactation initiation and duration among low-income WIC participants in the South Bronx: A phenomenological study
• Rojas, Gina Augon (2018). Navigating Contested Terrain: A Critical Case Study of Guam’s Chamorro Land Trust Residential Land Lease Program.

FINANCIAL AID

All resources available to students who begin the Ph.D. program at Union will be available to “ABD” students unless the length of enrollment at the university is a criterion for a particular scholarship.

Funding Your Future

Explore your financial aid & scholarship options. We strive to make college affordable. See what makes Union the best value.

PhD completion: an evidence-based guide for students, supervisors and universities

Senior Lecturer in Management, Fellow of the APS College of Organisational Psychologists, Swinburne University of Technology

Disclosure statement

Timothy Colin Bednall does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Swinburne University of Technology provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

View all partners

Many students enrol in a Master or PhD postgraduate research degree, but few complete them. From 2010-2016 , 437,030 domestic and international students enrolled in postgraduate research programs in Australian public universities. Only 65,101 completed within the same six year period.

This discrepancy does not necessarily mean postgraduate research students “failed” their degree. Common reasons not completing a degree include changes of career goals, work-family conflicts, poor health or financial strain. Alternatively, some students remain enrolled in their degree for long periods without making significant progress.

Even so, the discrepancy is large enough for universities to be concerned. Nobody wants a student to suffer through years of hard work and frustration without achieving their goal.

What does research say about completion rates?

Research has identified several factors that make students more likely to persist with their degrees. These factors are related to the students themselves, their supervisor, and the university environment.

Psychological studies of postgraduate students find the more successful ones tend to perceive themselves as competent and be intrinsically motivated . These are students who enjoy their topic area, perceive their postgraduate studies as a valuable learning experience, and who strongly identify with being a career researcher. Students who are motivated by external factors (such as pursuing a prestigious academic role) are more likely to say they want to quit.

Scholarship holders are more likely to complete their degrees. This is likely because they are academically stronger than non-scholarship holders and are less vulnerable to financial strain. Students can support themselves financially through teaching, research assistant roles or other work, but this must be balanced carefully. Part-time students are less likely to complete their degrees.

Students’ field of study also affects completion rates. A higher proportion of students in sciences tend to complete their degrees than those in arts and humanities. This is likely because students working in the sciences are more often involved in laboratory-based work in teams, where there is greater social support and knowledge exchange. People studying humanities more often work on their research alone.

A positive student-supervisor working relationship is critical. A good supervisor should be an expert in the student’s subject of choice and a supportive mentor. They should help the student navigate through the frustrations and uncertainties of writing a thesis, and help students adjust to the world of academia.

Students are also more likely to finish their research degrees if they have strong connections with their peers . Such connections help students develop their professional identity as researchers, as well as providing opportunities for social support and informal learning .

The quality of associated coursework is also important. Ideally, postgraduate programs should provide students with a sound foundation of research skills and content knowledge, and facilitate ongoing communication with their faculty.

Involvement in formal and informal professional activities is also important. Students who complete tend to participate in departmental events, such as research seminars and professional development workshops. They also tend to participate in academic conferences. These events allow students to learn and expand their networks.

What students and their supervisors should do

First, given the importance of the student-supervisor relationship, universities can provide advice to students about locating and approaching a suitable supervisor. Specifically, students should consider the research area they wish to work in and locate a supervisor with relevant expertise. They should approach supervisors with an openness to negotiating a research topic.

Read more: Ten types of PhD supervisor relationships – which is yours?

Both students and supervisors should be upfront about their expectations about how the supervision will work. An excellent starting point for discussion is the Expectations in Supervision questionnaire. Students and supervisors sometimes have mismatched expectations about how often they should meet, the amount of feedback the supervisor should provide on drafts, and how much counselling and emotional support the supervisor should provide.

Supervisors have an important role in providing a realistic preview of academic life. One useful exercise is to review an academic competency model, such as the Vitae Researcher Development Framework , to discuss which skills academics need. In addition to knowledge of their topic area and research methods, academics increasingly need to be good at managing complex projects, working in multidisciplinary teams, and engaging with industry and media.

This discussion should enable supervisors and students to plan how students will develop their capabilities. Alternatively, it could prompt some students to opt out of a research degree if they think an academic role is not compatible with their goals.

What universities should do

As well as providing research training, universities can also increase the capabilities of students by helping them understand self-handicapping patterns. These include busyness, procrastination and disorganisation.

Students can be guided to replace these with more helpful actions such as scheduling dedicated writing time, reframing difficult tasks as learning opportunities, and developing a work routine. This could be done as part of a workshop or supervisory relationship.

Universities should also encourage greater connectedness between research students to build social support. This could be accomplished through team-based activities or face-to-face events.

For instance, some universities offer Three Minute Thesis , a research communication competition where students present their work in under 180 seconds.

Some universities organise Shut Up and Write sessions, which turns writing into a social experience and limits distractions. These activities can be complemented by encouraging students to become involved in supportive online communities and blogging .

Read more: The rise of writing events gives PhD students the support often lacking in universities

Finally, universities should be dedicated to helping academics develop as supervisors through ongoing training and coaching. Departments could consider tracking the progression of students and ensuring supervisors have the time and skills to take on new students.

Completing a dissertation can be richly rewarding, but it’s the endpoint of a process that’s often long, frustrating and uncertain. Helping students achieve their research aspirations makes academic life a better experience for all involved.

• Postgraduate degrees
• PhD supervisors
• PhD students

Want to write?

Write an article and join a growing community of more than 182,700 academics and researchers from 4,947 institutions.

Register now

PhD Completion Process

Congratulations!

As a PhD student, you have spent spend significant time at the University of Rochester taking courses, completing research in your field, completing milestones and are now ready to complete your degree.

The final requirement in earning a PhD degree is the completion and defense of the doctoral dissertation. Understanding the steps and associated deadlines in the dissertation submission and degree conferral process is necessary to establish a successful plan. For complete descriptions of the process, please review the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students .

The page below is organized by before, during and post-oral defense. Please read the page in it’s entirety and email questions you have to [email protected]

Doctoral Qualifying Exam / Admission to Candidacy

All PhD programs must administer a qualifying examination as part of the PhD program requirements. The qualifying examination may be either written or oral or both, at the discretion of the department/program, and must be passed at least six months before the final examination may be taken.

The associate dean of a school certifies that a student has passed the qualifying examinations and is recommended for candidacy.

For more details, please review page 12 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students .

Planning for the Final Oral Exam / Dissertation Defense

At least six months before you plan to defend your dissertation, you should contact the graduate coordinator of your program for details regarding the submitting the defense. During the months leading up to the anticipated defense, your graduate coordinator will walk you through the process and explain any department specific nuances.

Pay careful attention to the five PhD degree cycle deadlines. In each degree cycle, there is a deadline for the last day to complete your degree requirements.  There are no exceptions to the deadlines. If a deadline is missed, your name cannot be approved by the Council on Graduate Education and presented to the Board of Trustees until the following degree date.

The oral exam/defense/dissertation is approved at multiple levels of the University. Starting with the program, oral exam/defense/dissertation committee, school graduate deans and the University Dean of Graduate Education. You will receive emails a few days before your defense confirming that the approvals for the defense have all been received.

PhD academic calendar

PhD students can reference their specific academic calendar in the drop-downs below.

To enable review by the Graduate Education Offices in the Schools and University Graduate Education, online dissertation committee and program director approvals must be completed the following number of working days before the defense:

• SMD and SON: At least 10 working days before the defense
• AS&E, Warner and Simon: At least 15 working days before the defense
• ESM: At least 20 working days before the defense

A minimum of five working days must elapse between the approval of the candidate’s School Dean to advance the record to University Graduate Education and the day of the defense. This time has been included in the schools’ lead times listed above.

Defenses may be held during regular business hours on any University working day with the exceptions listed below. See calendar below for additional non-working days.

Monday, May 27:  The University is closed in observance of Memorial Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Wednesday, June 19: The University is closed in observance of Juneteenth. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Thursday, July 4: The University is closed in observance of Independence Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Friday, August 23, 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for an August 2024 degree conferral.

Monday, August 26: Fall semester begins.

Saturday, August 31: August 2024 PhD date.

Wednesday, August 28, 4 p.m.: Last day for students who have completed defenses to submit final corrected dissertation for October 2024 degree to the ProQuest website without having to register for Fall 2024. AFTER THIS DATE, SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS FOR DEGREE COMPLETION REQUIRES REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.

Monday, September 2: The University is closed in observance of Labor Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day

Thursday, September 26, 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for an October 2024 degree. NOTE: Students must be registered for the Fall 2024 Semester if submitting documents after August 28.

Friday, October 4: October 2024 PhD conferral date.

Monday, September 2:  The University is closed in observance of Labor Day. This day cannot be counted as a working day.

Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29: The University is closed in observance of Thanksgiving. These three days cannot be counted as working days.

Monday, December 16 at 4 p.m.:  Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a December degree. NOTE: Students must be registered for the Fall 2024 Semester if submitting final documents after August 28.

Friday, December 13: Last day for dissertation defense registration approval by University Dean of Graduate Education for defenses scheduled January 2, 2025.

Thursday, December 19 through Friday, December 31:  Due to recess and holidays, no dissertation registrations will be completed in the University Graduate Education office. No PhD defenses may be held during this time period.

December 31: December 2024 PhD conferral date.

The March 2025 PhD conferral date will be updated in late spring 2024.

Friday, April 26 , 4 p.m.: Last day to submit final corrected dissertation to the ProQuest website to fulfill degree requirements for a May 2024 degree.

Friday, May 17:  University Doctoral Commencement

Additional Information about Planning for your Defense

Writing your dissertation.

The dissertation process webpage offers several writing resources to help you get started, meet your goals, and complete your thesis/dissertation on time.

You also will want to take full advantage of internal reviews of the dissertation before uploading the thesis for defense registration, in order to minimize the number of errors in the registration version.

Final Oral Examination Committee

Page 11 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students (“Redbook”) goes into detail about the make-up of the committee.

PhD Committee Matrix

Approval Process for Non-Standard Committee Membership

Approval must be obtained in writing, based on a petition that includes a rationale for the request and a CV of the proposed nonstandard member.

Contact your Graduate Coordinator to start the petition process.

Page 12 of the Regulations and University Policies Concerning Graduate Students (“Redbook”) goes into detail.

Scheduling your Defense

Contact the graduate coordinator of your program for details regarding the scheduling the defense.

Click here to Download a checklist of information needed to schedule defense

Rubric for Oral Defense

Click here to download the Oral Defense Rubric.

After the final oral exam / defense

Submitting your final dissertation.

Approximately, 24 hours after oral exam, an email is sent that details out the next steps. Including uploading the final abstract and dissertation to ProQuest®, submitting a UR Research authorization form, and completing two required surveys.

UR Research Form

The libraries at  University of Rochester, electronically store and publish the dissertations based on a students embargo restrictions.

You can access our database of dissertations on the UR Research page hosted by the library.

Survey Completion

There are two required survey’s for completion of the PhD Process. The University of Rochester PhD Survey and the national Survey of Earned Doctorates. The links to completing these surveys will be included in the completion memo sent post-defense.

We use a service called ProQuest to administer the electronic final thesis/dissertation (ETD) submission. ProQuest provides services that enable strategic acquisition, management and discovery of information collections. Once you have made any necessary revisions and the thesis/dissertation is final, you are ready to begin the submission process.

PhD Completion Confirmation

Once you have completed the steps above, you will receive an email the confirms that all of the requirements have been completed and will include a PhD Completion memo.

We offer both an electronic diploma and a paper copy diploma to students after their graduation date. Information on ordering replacement diplomas is located on the registrar’s webpage .

Commencement

The University holds one doctoral commencement ceremony each year in May. Eligibility to walk in the May ceremony includes students that graduated between August of the previous year through August of the current year. As an example, the May 2023 ceremony is for students who graduated August 2022, October 2022, December 2022, February 2023, May 2023 and August 2023. Doctoral students are only eligible to walk once.

You will receive information about the ceremony that your are eligible to walk in during the Spring semester.

Online ABD (All But Dissertation) Doctoral Degree Completion Program

Are you an experienced educator who is abd (all but dissertion) in an edd or phd program   in any academic discipline.

If so, you have the experience. You’ve completed the coursework in a doctoral program. But, you haven’t completed your dissertation. Now, you have a path to leave your ABD (All But Dissertation) status behind with Gwynedd Mercy University.

Our innovative Accelerated Executive Doctorate of Education degree completion program for ABDs offers qualified candidates with significant educational experience the opportunity to finish developing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to earn your EdD. The program is helmed by Raymond Bandlow, PhD, who received this prestigious award for innovation in higher education  from the American Association of University Administrators.

See Program Details

Request information.

Complete the form below and an admissions counselor will contact you to answer any questions and help as you assemble all the components of your admissions file.

Program Details

Prepare for an advanced career in teaching at the college level, school administration, research, or policy analysis. Our Online Accelerated Doctorate Completion Program for ABDs will strengthen your skills in instruction and leadership in:

• U.S. and international schools
• School districts
• Colleges and universities
• Educational policy organizations
• Government and nonprofit organizations that support education

In 18 months, our rigorous course of studies will honor your previous experience with the global outlook, research skills, policy analysis capabilities, instructional expertise, and practical executive leadership abilities you need to lead and transform educational institutions to meet the needs of all learners. 

Continue developing your dissertation in one of four areas of interest:

• Leadership in PreK-12 Schools and School Districts (superintendent letter of eligibility courses may be included)
• Leadership in Higher Education
• Leadership in Special Education (special education supervisory certification courses may be included)
• Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

ABDs in Education may elect any of the above areas of interest. ABDs in any discipline other than education may apply for the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education program.

All of your coursework for the ABD degree completion program, except residencies, will take place online. Those in the degree completion program are only required to take one weekend residency at our Gwynedd Valley campus, just north of Philadelphia.

From the very beginning, you’ll be matched with a faculty advisor who will meet with you in regular dissertation advisement sessions. With GMercyU, there’s no reason to wait any longer — trade up from ABD to EdD and take your place among the next generation of education leaders.

What You Will Learn - Accelerated Executive Doctorate of Education ABD Completion Program

As a GMercyU ABD doctorate graduate, you will be able to:

• Provide leadership in teaching and learning at the K-12 and college levels
• Articulate an educational organization’s mission, goals, and guiding principles that distinguish the organization from others
• Understand the foundational base of organizational theory and demonstrate the ability to bridge theory and practice
• Given scenarios of conflict, choose ethical courses of action, consistent with Gospel values
• Synthesize and analyze data to reveal relations and causality and convert raw data into actionable information
• View problems and challenges through the lens of a scientist, seeking evidence-based conclusions
• Practice and model steward leadership in transforming organizations to better serve all constituents
• Demonstrate facility in the application of technology to solve problems, analyze and synthesize data, and manage information

Personal Support for ABD Students from Day One

GMercyU faculty members understand the challenges of ABD completion programs. That’s why they’ve helped us develop a program specifically for ABD students like you. Right away, you’ll join a small cohort of classmates and be matched with a faculty advisor. You’ll take supervised dissertation courses early in the program to keep your research and writing on track. Day in and day out, you’ll have the support you need to pursue research that improves education for students and the educators who serve them.

After graduation, you’ll join our extensive national and world-wide network of alumni. The colleagues, contacts, and friends you meet will inspire you.

Admission Requirements – Doctorate of Education Degree Completion Program for ABDs

To qualify for admission to our EdD in Education Degree Completion program, you must provide:

• Proof of A.B.D. or Advanced to Doctoral Candidacy or equivalent status from a regionally accredited institution
• A portfolio of coursework, scholarship, and career evidence for the Prior Learning Assessment
• Official graduate transcripts
• A Graduate Record Examination score of 155 or higher or a Miller Analogy Test score of 385 or higher (waived if you had a graduate GPA of 3.5 or greater)
• A resume showing professional experience and academic scholarship
• Three letters of reference from persons in leadership roles in your chosen area of concentration attesting that you have the ability to engage in studies at the doctoral level and to conduct research
• A personal interview with a member of the graduate faculty representing the applicant’s preferred area of concentration (in person or via electronic means, if the distance is a factor) 
• Evidence that you have received a minimum score of 550 (written), 213 (computer), or 79 (internet) on the TOEFL examination if English is not your first language.

Applicants who cannot meet one or more of the above requirements are encouraged to contact the Program Director for a review of qualifications. After enrollment, you will also need to obtain a Child Abuse Clearance, Criminal Background Check, and Federal Criminal History.

Learn more about GMercyU's online and accelerated   financial aid and tuition. 

You must complete at least 27 credit hours of coursework and practicum experience at Gwynedd Mercy University while completing your EdD with us. We will carry out a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) before your program begins and develop tailored coursework and practicum experiences that respect your previous experiences.

The credit value of your practicum may vary between 3-6 credits depending upon the breadth and depth of your prior learning. In all, your program will take no more than 18 months to complete.   Required courses for all ABD completion students include:

In addition, you must take three courses in your concentration area:

If you wish to become eligible for a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires 360 hours of district office practicum. You may also need to take the following prerequisites:

Doctorate in Education: Leadership in Special Education

If you wish to obtain Certification as a Supervisor of Special Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education requires 360 hours of central office practicum experience. Doctorate in Education: Leadership in Higher Education

Doctorate in Education: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

To review course descriptions, please refer to the  graduate catalog.

Meet the Faculty

Carol Etlen, PhD Associate Professor and Director, Masters in Educational Administration Program Read bio

Doctorate in Education

Lead in 21st century education.

Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Learn more about   GMercyU's accreditation . You can also   view our current accreditation status . 

Doctorate of Education (EdD) Information Session Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Register here

Related Degrees

Educational Leadership EdD

Post-Master's Principal Certification (K-12)

MS in Educational Administration - K-12 Principal Certification

Post-Master's Superintendent Certification

• Request Info Request Info
• Call (844-707-9064) Call
• Email ([email protected]) Email

By using this website, you consent to the use of cookies.

See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Dissertation completion fellowships provide advanced doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences with an academic year of support to write and complete their dissertation.

• Dissertation
• External Fellowships
• Instructions for Dissertation Completion Fellowships
• Fellowships from Harvard Research Centers
• Jens Aubrey Westengard Fund
• Research Fellowships
• Summer Fellowships
• Maximizing Your Degree
• Before You Arrive
• First Weeks at Harvard
• Harvard Speak
• Pre-Arrival Resources for New International Students
• Alumni Council
• Student Engagement
• Applying to Degree Programs
• Applying to the Visiting Students Program
• Admissions Policies
• Cost of Attendance
• Express Interest
• Commencement
• Diversity & Inclusion Fellows
• Student Affinity Groups
• Recruitment and Outreach
• Find Your Financial Aid Officer
• Funding and Aid
• Financial Wellness
• Consumer Information
• Life Sciences
• Policies (Student Handbook)
• Student Center
• Title IX and Gender Equity

Eligible students in the humanities and social sciences are guaranteed a dissertation completion fellowship (DCF) between the G4 and G7 years and must apply for the DCF in advance of the dissertation completion year.

Before applying, students should:

• review DCF opportunities offered by Harvard research centers (see below) and search the CARAT database for DCFs offered by non-Harvard agencies
• review dissertation completion fellowships policy
• follow the instructions for dissertation completion fellowships and apply by February 9, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

Award description and confirmation typically occurs in early May.

While there is no guarantee of a DCF beyond the G7 year, requests will be considered upon recommendation of the faculty advisor.

Instructions for departments can be found on the instructions for dissertation completion fellowships page.

Harvard Research Centers

Other dissertation completion fellowships are available through the Harvard research centers.

• Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History Dissertation Completion Grants
• Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies Dissertation Completion Fellowships
• Edmond J. Safra Graduate Fellowships in Ethics
• Mahindra Humanities Center Mellon Interdisciplinary Dissertation Completion Fellowship
• Center for European Study Dissertation Completion Fellowship
• Radcliffe Dissertation Completion Fellowships
• Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Canada Program Dissertation Research and Writing Fellowships
• Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Dissertation-Writing Grants

External Dissertation Completion Fellowships 

Search the CARAT database for dissertation completion fellowships offered by non-Harvard agencies.​ Here are a couple of examples:

• American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship
• Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship

Please contact the Academic Programs office with any questions.

Fellowships & Writing Center

Academic programs, share this page, explore events, related news.

Notes From a Writer's Desk: Code for Writing

Being well-written is a merit as valid for coding as for writing. Conversely, some writing foibles prompt me to think, “A computer will not be able to understand this!” It occurred to me that coding principles and best practices can actually help to promote more lucid writing. 

Karan and Jiang Awarded Soros Fellowship for New Americans

The merit-based graduate school program, founded 26 years ago, celebrates the achievements and potential of immigrants and children of immigrants across the United States.

Notes From a Writer's Desk: The Genius of a Problem and Solution Framework

Imagine you are writing an article and there is a paragraph that just keeps getting longer and longer despite all your attempts to stop it. What would it look like to pause and think about the paragraph in terms of the problem and solution? 

Notes From a Writer's Desk: Finding Focus

Spring is in the air. The birds are chirping, the sun is out longer, and we’re getting more and more days of 50+ degree weather. For academics in the Northeast, this can be rejuvenating, but it can also be distracting.

University of Rochester

Search Rochester.edu

Popular Searches

Resources for

• Prospective students
• Current students
• Faculty and staff

School of Arts & Sciences

Department of Linguistics

Graduate program, phd dissertation and completion process.

The submission of a dissertation stands as an imperative requirement for the conferral of the PhD degree. A dissertation is a formal document or scholarly product wherein a candidate meticulously presents their original research contribution.

While the content of the dissertation adheres to the scholarly standards of the specific discipline and is guided by the dissertation committee, the candidate assumes a primary role in conducting the research and authoring the dissertation.

PhD conferral calendar

First, consult the PhD conferral calendar. Degress are conferred five times per year (March, May, August, October, and December). The exact deadlines for each conferral period will change every year. The calendar can be found by searching the university website for "PhD completion process."

Dissertation committee

In the Fall semester of you fourth year, you will assemble a dissertation committee, which consists of at least three members, two of which are full-time tenure track or tenured faculty with a primary appointment in the Department of Linguistics. The chair of the committee must be a tenure-track/tenured University of Rochester faculty member.

The committee is formed by the student and their program advisor, and its approved by the department in a majority vote by September 30. Note : Once the committee is formed, the chair of the thesis committee takes over as the student’s advisor.

Committee requirements

The dissertation committee must include the following, each of whom will have a vote at the dissertation oral defense:

• At minimum, two faculty members internal to the Department of Linguistics at the University of Rochester.
• At minimum, one faculty member external to the program (either at the University of Rochester or at another accredited university).
• One faculty member of the University of Rochester, external to the program, with no significant scholarly relationship to either the candidate or other members of the committee, who will serve as chair of the dissertation oral defense.
• With the exception of the chair, the ratio of external to internal committee members with a vote should not exceed 50 percent, ensuring that equivalence or majority are internal to the program or department.
• At maximum, five members are permitted to vote. Additional members may participate without a vote.

Considerations can be found on page 10 and 11 of the GEPA Rules & Regulations Guide .

Preparing for your defense

You should contact the department manager at least six months before you anticipate defending for details regarding the defense and dissertation submission process.

Once you initiate this process, the department manager will review your student record and verify your eligibility to defend based on the credits you've completed, your grades, continuous enrollment, and teaching requirement.

Once you're cleared to proceed, the department manager will establish a comprehensive record within the University’s online PhD processing system on your behalf. This record includes details such as the planned defense date and time, committee members, and other pertinent information. You must provide this information to the department manager by completing a defense registration form .

After your record is created, you will receive an email to access the system and update your record as needed. You will continue to receive emails every step of the way leading up to and after your defense.

The timeline

Dissertation proposal

Students must prepare a dissertation proposal (min. 15 pages single spaced) including an appropriate bibliography. The proposal will be presented by the student in a private meeting with the committee at the end of the fall semester of the student’s fourth year. If the committee determines that the proposal needs more work, another deadline will be set up for later that academic year.

At least 8 weeks before your defense

Confirm the date and time of your defense so the department manager can reserve a room. Refer to the Dissertation Manual for formatting information. The University has strict formatting requirements and this manual provides everything you need to know. Before sending your dissertation to your committee, you may send it to the department manager to review for formatting requirements. If the dissertation isn't formatted correctly, you may not be approved to defend it.

At least 5 weeks before your defense

You must send a PDF copy of your dissertation to your committee members and the department manager. The same exact copy must be uploaded to your online record. Committee members need at least two weeks to review your dissertation before they can approve it for defense.

At least 15 business days before your defense

Once your record is complete the department manager will lock your online record. After it's locked, no changes can be made. Your record will go through a round of approvals (each committee member, AS&E staff, AS&E Graduate Dean, GEPA staff, and finally the University Dean of Graduate Education).

You will receive periodic updates from the PhD completion website as these approvals move forward. Once you've received all your approvals, your dissertation is officially registered, and you must wait a minimum of five days to defend it.

The department manager will create a flyer and invite all graduate students and faculty in the Department of Linguistics to your defense. You must provide the contact information for anyone else you want to receive the official invitation.

After your defense

The day after your defense, you will receive an email that outlines the next steps and final requirements for your degree.

For a more comprehensive overview of the PhD program, go to the detailed PhD timeline .

GEPA's Rules and Regulations guide will outline the specifics of the PhD completion process, including preparing for your defense, scheduling your defense, defending, and what happens afterwards. Formatting imformation can be found in the Dissertation Manual . 

Frequently asked questions

The topic of QP2 must be different from QP1 and it must be in a distinct subfield. For instance, it cannot be the case that both QPs are in formal semantics. The faculty will make a determination on a case-by-case basis whether a proposed QP2 is sufficiently distinct in terms of topic and subfield from QP1. We encourage students to discuss possible topics for QP2 with their advisor well in advance of the proposal, so the advisor can discuss any unclear cases with the rest of the faculty. The dissertation, however, can build upon a topic in one of your QPs.

Although it's not technically tuition, the dissertation fee—also sometimes called a continuation fee—is considered tuition in this instance.​

If a student is registered for LING 999 in their fifth year, the dissertation fee is covered by GEPA as a part of the student's funding package, just as if the student were taking a normal course in their first four years.

After a student's fifth year, the dissertation fee associated with LING 999 will not be covered by GEPA. Some departments take on this expense, and some don't. As of AY23-24, the Department of Linguistics is not able to pay students' dissertation fees.

GEPA firmly only allows PhD stipend funding and tuition coverage for five years. After that period, the financial package expires and PhD students must cover their own expenses.

It's not common practice for the department to cover dissertation fees after the initial five years , and it's expected that students will seek external funding for any year past the fifth one.

PhD funding packages last five full academic years. GEPA doesn't allow any exceptions for funding to be extended past the five years.

If you receive external funding within the first five years, that doesn't mean because the university isn't paying you that you can make up for those years afterwards. (i.e. if you receive a year of external funding during the first five years, you can't receive a year of university funding after the five years to make up for missing out on that one year of university funding.)

If you want funding for an additional year, you'd either have to get an extension on the external funding you received in your first five years when the time comes or try to find other external funding.

Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership

Dissertation completion pathway.

*This program is taught online

If you’ve completed all but the dissertation ( “ ABD ” ) for your Doctorate in Educational Leadership , Manhattanville University can help you finish your degree . Our Dissertation Completion Pathway is an innovative degree pathway designed for advanced doctoral students in education leadership (or a related field) who were enrolled in a doctoral program at an accredited university and have completed coursework requirements , but have not completed the dissertation.   

Request Information Apply Now Register for an Event

Designed with flexibility in mind, the Dissertation Completion Pathway can help you finish your doctorate in 2 to 4 years! 

The program is designed for students to complete in two years, but students can take up to four years to complete. Students who are not able to begin the program in July may work with the program coordinator to design an individualized pathway. An individualized pathway allows the student to begin coursework in August or January but does not provide the student with the cohort experience that is often an essential element of student success. Students are strongly encouraged to begin the program in July as part of a dissertation completion pathway cohort. 

• A customized and individualized course of study, with a focus on current problems of practice, the dissertation process, and research in educational leadership 
• Coaching toward the completion of a doctoral dissertation 
• Supportive, cohort-based model of teaching and learning 
• A flexible schedule and a career-friendly online class format  
• The ability to transfer up to 39 doctoral credits from an accredited program toward the 59-credit requirement. (Transfer eligibility determined by individual transcript review.) 
• An optimal two-year timeframe to complete the degree  

This pathway is a cohort-based, online program delivered in hybrid format: Students will receive a combination of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning.  A new cohort is admitted each Spring to begin coursework in early July.  

• Most sessions will be once a week (Mondays) from 7:00 to 8:30 pm to accommodate different time zones
• Zoom (supplemented with TEAMS/ Blackboard Collaborate) is the platform that will be used for synchronous classes
• Students will need access to a computer that has a strong internet connection, and are advised to have a headset to reduce echo from speakers

The program is structured as follows: 

Year 1: Summer Term 1 Residency (July 8-10) EDAD 8300: Literature Review course (3 credits) * launches during residency, and extends through end of September, overlapping with fall course

Fall Term 2 EDAD 8183: Research Methods Refresher (3 credits)

Winter 2022 EDAD 8181: Coaching Completion (1-credit)

Summer Term 4 EDAD 8190: Dissertation Supervision

Fall 2022/Term 5 EDAD 8190: Dissertation Supervision

Winter EDAD 8181: APA 101 (1-credit) - optional

Spring Term 6 EDAD 8190: Dissertation Supervision and/or EDAD 8152: Finish Strong Writing Seminar (2 credits)

Final Defense

May Graduation

You must have advanced to candidacy or reached all-but-dissertation (ABD) status in order to be accepted into the Dissertation Completion Pathway. Exceptions may be made as determined by the Admissions Committee. 

Request More Information   Register for an Open House or Information Session   APPLY TODAY

Upcoming Events

Manhattanville doctoral program in-person info session at pnw boces, 183rd graduate and doctoral commencement ceremony, manhattanville university doctoral program in-person info session at pnw boces.

Dr. Martin Fitzgerald Assistant Program Director [email protected] 914.323.3214

We Are Valiant

• Education Home

Doctoral Completion Pathway for All-But-Dissertation Students

The Doctoral Completion Pathway (DCP) is designed for All-But-Dissertation (ABD) students from the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ), and students from colleges and universities other than Nova Southeastern University. The DCP is a highly structured pathway through which students who are ABD are afforded an opportunity to complete the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) via a well-defined plan of action that is delivered entirely online. 

The DCP focuses on those students previously enrolled at NSU who are ABD, and students from other colleges and universities who completed a substantial portion of their coursework, all of whom left their respective programs in good academic and financial standing, with the prospect of completing an Ed.D. within a two-year maximum time frame. Students interested in the DCP will first need to complete an entrance survey and a transcript evaluation. Students admitted from other colleges and universities will be required to complete a minimum of 27 credits in the current Doctor of Education program. Upon entry to the DCP, students may choose between two capstone options, an  Applied Dissertation  or the  Strategic Research Project (SRP),  to satisfy degree requirements. 

General Eligibility Criteria

• Curriculum and Teaching
• Educational Leadership
• Higher Education Leadership
• Human Services Administration
• Instructional, Technology, and Distance Education
• Organizational Leadership
• Special Education
• Initial term of enrollment, no more than fourteen (14) years prior to the date of application to the DCP.
• NSU Students - All required courses for degree completed with an earned minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 on a four (4) point scale (3.0/4.0).
• Non-NSU Students - A substantial portion of required courses for degree completed with an earned minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 on a four (4) point scale (3.0/4.0).
• Timed out of program/dismissed for time (i.e., not dismissed for academic/other reasons).
• Not currently enrolled.
• Good academic and financial standing with NSU or prior institution.

How To Apply – NSU Students

If you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to be evaluated for admission to the DCP, follow these easy steps.

• Complete the  DCP Entrance Survey

How To Apply – Non-NSU Students

• Complete the  DCP-ABD Prequalification Survey
• Unofficial Transcript
• Curriculum Vita

Note: all three items must be received before the applicant can be reviewed (prequalification survey, unofficial transcript, CV).

After submitting the survey, prospective students will receive an email, letting them know their qualification status, and if pre-qualified, will also receive information to help them make an informed decision on the pathway (Dissertation or SRP) that best meets their needs.

Pre-qualified prospects then send their official doctoral transcript and their choice of pathway to our doctoral advisor, who will complete an Academic Review, which includes the courses/benchmarks that need to be taken, the anticipated timeline for completion, and program costs.

At the completion of the Academic Review, qualified prospects receive an invitation to apply to the program and submit the doctoral application with the $50 non-refundable application fee.

The admissions team then works with the new applicant to ensure all official college transcripts are received, upon which the applicant receives an admission status, and the doctoral advisor will process the registration.

Additional Information

Questions regarding the DCP-ABD can be directed to  [email protected].

Does not apply to students admitted after Summer 2022.

Each student will be part of a virtual cohort. This cohort will be considered the student's DCP home base. Cohorts utilize NSU's online-learning platform, Canvas. Within the DCP home base, students will have direct access to their faculty mentor and cohort colleagues. Within the DCP virtual cohort, students will have access to relevant support information and documents such as dissertation templates, IRB materials, and research-related lectures. Students are encouraged to network with other students in the cohort. Faculty mentors offer live sessions to the entire group as well as one-on-one consultation. This also includes the initial meeting between the faculty mentor and student to establish a learning agreement.

Program of Study for Previously Enrolled NSU Students Who are ABD - All Concentrations

Program of study for non-nsu students - all concentrations.

*Recommended for students pursuing Strategic Research Project.

FCE&SCJ students who earned the doctoral degree typically investigated problems connected with the workplace; thus, the final products have been applied in nature. Other than that distinction, FCE&SCJ applied dissertations are similar to dissertations found at other universities. The general outline includes a typical 5-chapter format and includes Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Literature Review, Chapter 3: Methodology, Chapter 4: Results, and Chapter 5: Discussion.

For complete information regarding the dissertation or the strategic research project, please visit the   Dissertation Support Services  page.

A maximum of 27 semester hours of graduate credit will be accepted to the DCP if:

• An official transcript containing the courses under consideration for transfer is received by the FCE&SCJ Office of Student Affairs.
• Credits will be reviewed for timeliness and relevance to the student’s field of study.
• The credits must be earned at a regionally accredited university.
• The credits do not apply to a prior degree.
• The grade earned for each course was a B or better. A grade of P (Pass) or other such grade are not accepted as equivalent to a B or better unless it can be officially verified as such.
• The credits were earned at a doctoral level.

Educator Certification / Licensure Requirements

The DCP-ABD does not lead to certification or licensure. The requirements for educator certification/licensure differ from state to state. Applicants should contact the specific state department of education for requirements and current information regarding teacher certification/licensure.

Transfer of Credit Information

A course description from the catalog of the institution and/or a course syllabus may be required for review. Final decisions are made by the Department Chair, and written confirmation of acceptance or denial will be conveyed by an academic advisor. Credits accepted for transfer by FCE&SCJ will not be factored into the student’s overall grade point average. Credits accepted for transfer will be applied solely to meet program/degree requirements.

Graduate Catalog and Handbook

The Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ) Catalog and Student Handbook is the governing document for all program-related information and FCE&SCJ policies/procedures.  Students are bound by the NSU Student Handbook and should be familiar with its contents. If there is any conflict between the information contained on program websites and that contained in this document and/or its addenda, the information in this document and/or its addenda prevail."  

All But Dissertation Doctoral Completion Pathway

An admissions specialist will contact you to get started.

By submitting this form, I am providing my digital signature agreeing that Brenau University (Brenau) and its agent, Academic Partnerships, may email me or contact me regarding educational services by telephone and/or text message utilizing automated technology or a prerecorded message at the telephone number(s) provided above. I understand this consent is not a condition to attend Brenau or to purchase any other goods or services.

Pathway to complete your doctorate

If you’ve achieved All But Dissertation (ABD) status, Brenau University offers you the support you need to complete your doctorate program. With all the time and energy you have put in to getting this far, why stop when you are so close?

Brenau offers a 27-credit, custom-designed program specifically created to help you earn your doctorate. In as few as two years of study, you can be ready to add “Ed.D.” to your list of accomplishments and advance your career.

Dissertation support from day one

Our ABD status option provides dissertation support from day one with immediate access to an academic advisor and faculty mentor who will guide you through the process as you complete productive research and writing for your dissertation.

Four concentration areas

Elementary Education – Take a deep look at elementary-specific trends and innovations related to educating young children. This concentration will train you to create quality learning environments for students.

Middle Grades Education – This concentration is designed to develop and enhance proficiency and professionalism among Middle Grade teachers. You will understand and implement specific teaching and learning trends for educating young adolescents.

Higher Education: Leadership – Prepare for leadership in higher education in the 21 st century. This concentration provides you with the advanced knowledge and skills needed in today’s colleges and universities.

Higher Education: Teaching and Learning – Advance your teaching and learning skills and prepare to educate at the collegiate or professional level. This concentration will prepare you to confidently design, facilitate, and assess a successful learning environment.

Potential career paths after graduation

Once you have completed your Ed.D. with one of our four concentrations, you may qualify for positions in:

• Public or private schools
• Local, state, or federal government education agencies
• Public or private research firms
• Education policy think-tanks and other education services firms

Courses: All But Dissertation (ABD) Status

• ED 795 Special Topics in Education —The course provides the student the opportunity to reengage with the problem-solving process and allows students to practice the research design process.
• ED 842 Serving Contemporary Students in an Inclusive HE Environment —In-depth look at the psycho-social development of today’s college student. This course is for the Leadership in Higher Education concentration and includes a practicum requirement .
• ED 865 Academic Program Assessment and Evaluation —The focus of this course is the theory and practice of how evaluation can effectively inform decision making and action within organizations.
• ED 870 Educational Issues and Policy —Addresses the application of communication and interpersonal skills to creative problem solving in a variety of school environments.
• ED 895 Special Topics in Education —This course takes the student through the theory, art, and science of the instructional design process and requires students to produce a complete course ready for a virtual environment. This course is for the Elementary Education and Middle Grades concentration .
• ED 932 Future Trends in Education —Examines a framework to address the emerging issues and trends which have the potential to significantly influence the future direction of education.
• ED 960 Dissertation Advisement 1: Literature Review —Emphasis is placed on contextualizing research topic through a complete analysis of the relevant literature.
• ED 965 Dissertation Advisement 2: The Proposal —Emphasis placed on writing the proposal and successfully defending the dissertation proposal as well as securing IRB approval.
• ED 970 Dissertation Advisement 3: Data Collection —Emphasis placed on students collecting data in accordance with approved research methodology.
• ED 975 Dissertation Advisement 4: Conclusion of Research —Emphasis placed on writing last two chapters of dissertation and successfully defending the research.
• ED 980 Dissertation Advisement 5: Dissertation Continuation (if applicable)—Students who need additional time to prepare their dissertation or submit corrections can enroll in a supervised continuation course.

Ready to finish your degree and help build a better future for education? Earn your Ed.D. with Brenau University! Get in touch today to start the conversation with us.

• Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Apply to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Give to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Search Form

Doctoral degree steps to completion, director, graduate student support & associate registrar.

Eva Bachman Office of Graduate Studies

Throughout these steps to degree completion, Eva will be answering your questions and reviewing your materials.

Related resources

• Certification of Full-Time Status
• Academic Leave Form
• Extension Request Form

Expand All Print

NOTE: Departments may have earlier deadlines. Please check with your advisor or graduate handbook.

• What to submit: Appointment of Supervisory Committee form
• When to submit: Prior to completing half of the coursework, including transfer hours, but excluding research or language tools.
• Who to submit to: Doctoral Programs Coordinator

You will be notified by email when your committee is approved.

For full policy, see Supervisory Committee in the Graduate Catalog.

• What to submit: Program of Studies form

Note: Program of Study forms will not be accepted unless an Appointment of Supervisory Committee form has been submitted.

NOTE: Requests to change an approved Program of Studies must be submitted by the student’s major advisor via email to the Doctoral Programs Coordinator . DO NOT submit a new Program of Studies.

For full policy, see Program of Studies in the Graduate Catalog.

For full policy, see Academic Residency in the Graduate Catalog.

Academic residency requirement must be satisfied before you schedule your final oral examination (defense). The Doctoral Programs Coordinator will note this on your Program of Studies.

Changes to approved Program of Studies must be submitted to the Doctoral Programs Coordinator using the Program Change Form.

For full policy, see Comprehensive Examination in the Graduate Catalog.

Note: be aware of deadlines for Application for Candidacy. See Candidacy section for more details.

Student must pass a written comprehensive examination in the major and minor fields of study. At the discretion of the supervisory committee, an oral comprehensive examination may also be required. The Supervisory Committee arranges for comprehensive examinations at least seven months prior to the final oral examination (defense).

• What to submit: Application for Admission to Candidacy form
• When to submit: After successful completion of the comprehensive examination, no later than date TBD

For full policy, including registration requirements, see Comprehensive Examination and Candidacy in the Graduate Catalog.

The comprehensive examination must be completed at least 7 months prior to graduation.

The Application for Admission to Candidacy form must be submitted when language and research tool requirements have been met and the comprehensive examination(s) have been passed.

• Complete the Application for Graduation in MyRED .
• All students must complete the Hooding Participation form.
• When to submit: The Application for Graduation and Hooding Participation form must be completed no later than: date TBD
• The online Application for Graduation will become available in MyRED the semester following Admission to Candidacy.

Failure to complete these steps will result in a diploma not being ordered for you and your graduation date will be postponed.

Form: Hooding Participation

• What to submit: Application for Final Oral Examination form, with signatures of the two readers, supervisory committee chair(s), your department’s graduate program chair.

Last day to hold Final Oral Examination: date TBD

For full policy see Final Oral Examination in the Graduate Catalog.

• What to submit: full dissertation/document rough draft, including title page and abstract.

The formatting will be reviewed and students will be notified of any needed changes. No content will be reviewed. Any formatting changes must be made prior to final dissertation deposit.

• When to submit: Submit Rough draft with Application for Final Oral Examination at least 2 weeks prior to Final Oral Examination. Last date to submit the Application for Final Oral Examination: date TBD

For full policy see Dissertation in the Graduate Catalog.

• Formatting resource: Preparing a Dissertation .
• Following approval by the major advisor, the dissertation and abstract should be presented to the Reading Committee for review at least four weeks prior to the oral examination (defense).
• What to submit: Final and complete dissertation as a PDF
• When to submit: after successful completion of your final oral examination, and no later than date TBD

Student will be notified when dissertation has been approved for upload to ProQuest (required) and UNL Digital Commons (optional).

For full policy see Dissertation and Final Oral Examination in the Graduate Catalog.

ProQuest will recognize you are a UNL student and not require payment for basic upload. If placing an embargo, ProQuest will delay distribution of your dissertation. You will need to be specific about the length of time.

If requesting copyright registration through ProQuest, complete the additional ProQuest form and pay the associated fee.

• When to submit: After final formatting approval has been given by Graduate Studies. No later than: date TBD
• Who to submit to: ProQuest
• While immediate publication in both ProQuest and the UNL Digital Commons is recommended, there is an option to temporarily restrict access to dissertations, known as embargoing .
• Dissertations will be uploaded to UNL Digital Commons as well as to ProQuest, unless an embargo is requested.
• If you choose to embargo your dissertation, it will be uploaded to ProQuest on the embargo expiry date, but not to the UNL Digital Commons unless otherwise requested.
• Upload only after approval by Graduate Studies.
• What to submit: Doctoral deposit fee - $25.00 (required)
• When to submit: No later than: date TBD
• How to submit: Paid in MyRED (To-do list) by credit or debit card.

NOTE: This payment is not part of your student account. You will receive email confirmation of this payment.

NOTE: A majority of the committee must be in attendance and sign the Report of Completion form.

NOTE: Abstracts must be submitted in the exact format as your dissertation/document, including your title, university, name, etc.

• When to submit: After your defense and no later than: date TBD
• Who to submit to: Upload Report of Completion & Abstract here

Note: Ph.D. students must complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates . The Doctoral Programs Coordinator will automatically receive a notice of completion.

Note: Committee Chairs are responsible for submitting final 999 grades. Submit outstanding incomplete/no report grades for 999 credits by following this link: Thesis/Dissertation Grade Change

The PDF forms on this page are Reader-Enabled: you can type in the form, save the PDF on your computer, then later reopen the file and change what you typed — if you use a current version of Adobe Acrobat software, such as the free Acrobat Reader . Other PDF-reading software may or may not support these features. See also: Troubleshooting Forms .

• Dissertation Completion Status

Dissertation Completion Status (DCS) is a less-than-half time student registration status specifically designed for PhD candidates who:

• are not eligible for full-time registration (for example, students beyond year six without additional funding), and/or
• choose to undertake full-time employment, but still intend to complete their PhD under the supervision of a member of the Graduate School faculty. 

DCS allows you to maintain your university access privileges, including netID, electronic library resources, and Yale email account. Students on DCS are charged a Continuous Registration Fee each term. They are not eligible for financial aid. 

Students on Dissertation Completion Status are not eligible to do the following:

• teach in Yale’s Teaching Fellow Program
• purchase and enroll in Yale Health student coverage
• retain Yale student visa sponsorship

Students typically may take up to four terms of DCS, although extensions can be requested with the recommendation of your director of graduate studies. You may request DCS by submitting the Dissertation Completion Status Request Form . 

Note: If you are a PhD candidate who has completed all of your PhD requirements except the dissertation, the Graduate School does not require you to be registered to submit your dissertation . However, programs are not obligated to accept a dissertation once a student’s full-time registration has lapsed. Please be sure to check with your adviser and DGS, if you are considering submitting your dissertation without being registered full time. 

Matthew S. Tanico

Assistant Dean for Academic Support & Outreach

• [email protected]

Humanities Fellowships and Grants

Dissertation completion.

Dissertation completion fellowships and grants are a particular category of humanities funding for students in their final year of dissertation work, post-candidacy. The goal of these funding opportunities is to give students significant time to write their dissertations, thereby increasing the impact and quality of the dissertation.

Emory University Johnson Institute Dissertation Fellowship

The Visiting Fellows Program provides two completion fellowships for Ph.D. candidates in their final year of graduate school

Friends of the APS Predoctoral Fellowship in Early American History (to 1840)

The American Philosophical Society Library & Museum in Philadelphia seeks applicants for a one-year, residential fellowship for graduate students working on topics in early American History (to 1840). The 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation.

John C. Slater Predoctoral Fellowship in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine

The APS Library & Museum seeks applicants for a one-year, residential fellowship for graduate students specializing in the history of science. The 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation. This fellowship is offered to advanced Ph.D. students working on topics related to the history of science, technology, and medicine.

University of Minnesota Charles Babbage Institute Adelle and Erwin Tomash Fellowship in the History of Information Technology

Each year the Adelle and Erwin Tomash Graduate Fellowship is awarded to and provides a $14,000 stipend to a standout graduate student for doctoral dissertation research in the History of Computing, Information, and Culture. The Fellowship is available to students who have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree except the research and writing of the dissertation.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program

The Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant program helps eligible doctoral students complete dissertations on housing and urban development issues. The Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant program is intended to stimulate policy-relevant urban research in several ways: by encouraging doctoral candidates to pursue research topics in community, housing, and urban development; by assisting doctoral candidates in the timely completion of the dissertation research; and by providing an arena for new scholars to share their research findings.

Council for European Studies Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Each fellowship includes a $27,500 stipend, paid in six (6) bi-monthly installments over the course of the fellowship year, as well as assistance in securing reimbursements or waivers in eligible health insurance and candidacy fees. Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowships are intended to facilitate the timely completion of the doctoral degree by late-stage graduate students in the humanities.

American Musicology Society Alvin H. Johnson Dissertation Fellowship

The Society makes available three funded dissertation-year fellowships each year. Any student registered in good standing for a doctorate at a North American* university who has completed all formal degree requirements except the dissertation at the time of full application is eligible to apply. The fellowships are not intended for support of the early stages of research: it is expected that a Fellow’s dissertation will be completed within the fellowship year.

Schlesinger Library Dissertation Research Fellowship

The Schlesinger Library invites predoctoral scholars whose dissertation research requires use of the library’s collections to apply for research support. Grants of up to $3,000 will be given on a competitive basis. Applicants must have advanced to candidacy in a doctoral program in a relevant field and have an approved dissertation topic. Priority will be given to those whose projects require use of materials available only at the Schlesinger Library. The awards may be used to cover travel and living expenses, photocopies or other reproductions, and other incidental research expenses, but not for the purchase of equipment or travel to other sites for research.

Winterthur Dissertation Fellowship

Upload an application essay of no more than 1,500 words in PDF format that provides a concise overview of the project. Address the following questions: What ideas, questions, or problems guide your project? What is distinctive about your project? How does it complement, expand, or challenge prior study in the field? Please be specific about prior scholarship that informs your work. What work do you plan to undertake at Winterthur? Why is a residence fellowship at Winterthur necessary for successful completion of your project? How do you intend to study, question, and examine the Winterthur collections in service of your project?

Mcneil Center for Early American Studies Dissertation Fellowships

Doctoral candidates from any PhD-granting institution who are in the research or writing stage of the dissertation are eligible. Some fellowships are targeted at specific areas, but any project dealing with the histories and cultures of North America in the Atlantic world before 1850 will be considered.

Gerald R. Ford Scholar Award (Dissertation Award)

The Gerald R. Ford Scholar Award in Honor of Robert M. Teeter is an annual award of $5000 given to a doctoral student to support dissertation research and writing in any field related to any aspect of the United States political process and public policy during the last half of the 20th century. Of special interest is the role and analysis of public opinion in that process.

Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations Marilyn Blatt Young Dissertation Completion Fellowship

The Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations will make one year-long award in the amount of $25,000 each, to support the writing and completion of the doctoral dissertation in each academic year. This highly competitive fellowship will support the most promising doctoral candidates in the final phase of completing their dissertations. Applicants should be candidates for the PhD in a humanities or social science doctoral program (most likely history), must have been admitted to candidacy, and must be at the writing stage, with all substantial research completed by the time of the award.

Society for the History of Technology Melvin Kranzberg Dissertation Fellowship

The Melvin Kranzberg Dissertation Fellowship is presented annually to a doctoral student engaged in the preparation of a dissertation on the history of technology. The $4,000 award is unrestricted and may be used in any way that the winner chooses to advance the research and writing of his or her dissertation.

Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations J. Robert Beyster Graduate Fellowship

This fellowship supports a Ph.D. student who is initiating or completing a thesis. The fellowship amount is $25,000 per year. The funds can be used to support full-time study at Rutgers University or research and travel expenses for graduate students at other universities.

Mellon/American Council of Learned Societies Dissertation Completion Fellowships

The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships support advanced graduate students in the last year of PhD dissertation writing to help them complete projects in the humanities and interpretive social sciences that will form the foundations of their scholarly careers.

Academy in Rome, Rome Prize

The American Academy in Rome has awarded the Rome Prize to support innovative and cross-disciplinary work in the arts and humanities. Each year, the prize is awarded to about thirty artists and scholars who represent the highest standard of excellence and who are in the early or middle stages of their careers. Applicants for all Rome Prize Fellowships, except those applying for the National Endowment for the Humanities postdoctoral fellowship, must be United States citizens at the time of the application. Graduate students in the humanities may apply for predoctoral fellowships only if they are all but dissertation (ABD).

Leo Baeck Institute Fritz Halbers Fellowship

The LBI announces the availability of one or more fellowship per year for students enrolled in a Ph.D. program at an accredited institution of higher education. The fellowships provide financial assistance to scholars whose research projects are connected with the culture and history of German-speaking Jewry. The fellowship(s) consists of an award, not exceeding $ 3000–, to be determined according to the requirements of the project. The fellowship should be used by the end of the year in which it was granted. Support for travel or family members is not available.

The Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts Predoctoral Fellowships

The Center in Visual Arts through the National Gallery of Art seeks a diverse pool of applicants in the history, theory, and criticism of art, architecture, urbanism, and photographic media. and especially welcomes candidates from historically marginalized fields.

Kress Foundation History of Art Institutional Fellowship

Advanced training in European art history requires direct exposure to the object of study, prolonged access to key information resources such as libraries and photographic archives, the development of professional relationships with colleagues abroad, and sustained immersion in European cultures. Nominees must be U.S. citizens or individuals matriculated at an American university. Dissertation research must focus on European art from antiquity to the early 19th century and applicants must be ABD by the time their fellowship begins. Candidates must be nominated by their academic department.

Kurt Weill Dissertation Fellowship

Doctoral candidates may apply for dissertation fellowships to assist in research activities on Weill, Lenya and/or Blitzstein-related topics. Fellowships are reserved for candidates with extraordinary potential for contribution to the field evidenced by recommendations from the academic community. The applicant’s project should address significant lacunae in Weill, Lenya, and/or Blitzstein research.

Ransom Center Fellowship Program

The Ransom Center will award 10 dissertation fellowships of up to $2,000 for graduate students whose doctoral dissertations require use of the Center’s collections.

American Society for Environmental History Hal Rothman Dissertation Fellowship

The fellowship provides a single payment of $1,000 for Ph.D. graduate student research and travel in the field of environmental history, without geographical restriction. Students enrolled in any Ph.D. program worldwide are eligible to apply.

Center for Jewish History Graduate Research Fellowships

The Center for Jewish History offers ten-month fellowships to doctoral candidates to support original research using the collections of the Center’s partners – American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, Yeshiva University Museum, and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research.

American Academy of Religion International Dissertation Research Grants

The International Dissertation Research Grants program is designed to support American Academy of Religion student members whose dissertation research requires them to travel outside of the country in which their school or university is located.

Thoma Foundation Fellowship

The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation offers predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships annually in support of projects and research initiatives that will advance study of the art of the Spanish Americas. Scholars may come from any discipline, but all projects must relate to the study of art and art history. Exceptionally accomplished scholars holding an MA may also apply. International scholars, particularly from Latin America, are strongly encouraged to apply.

No Deadline Listed

Western association of women historians founders’ dissertation fellowship.

The Founders’ Dissertation Fellowship is an annual $1000 award to a graduate student who shows promise of significant contributions to historical scholarship. All recipients shall be graduate students engaged in scholarship that is historical in nature, although the degree may be in related fields, have been advanced to candidacy, and are writing the dissertation at the time of application. They should expect the Ph.D. no earlier than December of the calendar year in which the award is made.

United States Institute of Peach, Peace Scholar Fellowship Dissertation Program

The U.S. Institute of Peace is dedicated to supporting advanced research from top academics in a variety of fields that contribute to a wider understanding of how to manage conflict and effectively build sustainable peace. Peace Scholars may be awarded stipends of up to $20,000 per academic year.

• Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering >
• PhD Program >

PhD in Industrial Engineering

The ISE PhD degree program prepares students to be scholars and leaders in academic, research or industry settings. Our students work with internationally recognized faculty in areas of operations research, human factors/ergonomics, production systems and manufacturing, and machine learning and artificial intelligence. The program combines rigorous coursework with supervised research experiences culminating in a significant, independent research project (the PhD dissertation). By the end of the degree program, students have become independent scholars, presenting and publishing their work in peer-reviewed conferences and journals.

Concentrations Offered

Students pursuing a PhD in Industrial Engineering can choose to concentrate their studies in one of following the areas: 

• 4/26/24 Operations Research
• 4/26/24 Human Factors/Ergonomics
• 4/26/24 Production Systems

General PhD Degree Requirements

Significant PhD milestones include completion of a qualifying ("B") exam, formation of an advisory committee, completion of an advanced research ("A") exam, completion and defense of a dissertation proposal, and final dissertation defense.

Department degree requirements (which are in addition to the degree requirements specified by the  UB Graduate School  and the  School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Graduate Student Policies ) are as follows:

Course and Credit Hour Requirements

The PhD program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours. 

Generally, coursework is completed in 2 to 3 years. Courses should be selected by the student with the approval of their advisor (or the graduate director for first year students) and vary based on the primary research interests of the student (operations research, human factors, or production systems/manufacturing), and student research interests. Students should insure they take an appropriate set of courses to prepare for the B-exam in one of three areas. 

A minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 credit hours of dissertation research are required. The variable credit dissertation exists to allow students flexibility to take additional content courses. It does not impact the expectations for the scope and effort of the dissertation.

A maximum of 36 credit hours from a Master's degree(s) may be applied toward the 72 credit hour requirement for the PhD degree. Of these, no more than six credit hours may be derived from a master’s thesis. 

This examination tests the candidate’s ability in the core courses and selected elective courses. It is required for formal acceptance into PhD candidacy, and is taken at the end of the first year of study (in May).

The B-exam consists of 5 questions focused on operations research, production systems/manufacturing, or human factors. 

The examination is closed-book. Each questions is allotted 45 minutes. Exam questions are set and graded by the faculty member who most recently offered the course. The department faculty determine a pass/fail/undecided grade for each student. Students in the undecided category are offered an oral exam (either overall, or focusing on specific courses) and a subsequent pass/fail decision is made based on their performance. Students who fail the exam have one opportunity to retake the exam, in August. 

Advisor and PhD Committee

After passing the B-exam, students should select an advisor based on their research interests. The student-advisor match is one of mutual choice: both the student, and the faculty member, must agree. Students work with their advisor to choose at least two additional faculty members to be a part of the student’s committee. The core committee members must be part of the UB Graduate Faculty. Additional committee members beyond three are possible and can be from outside of the University. It is possible to change committee members and advisors during the program. 

Advanced Examination (A-Exam)

The A-exam is scheduled sometime after the majority of course work is completed and the student has selected a dissertation topic (generally before the end of the 3 rd year). Content is based on the student’s dissertation topic to gauge the student’s capability for research in the chosen area. There is a written examination followed by an oral examination. The questions, timing, and format of the exam are determined by the advisor and committee but typically students have 2 to 3 weeks to complete the written portion of the exam. Students can pass, provisionally pass (with requirements for revisions, completion of additional coursework, or other measures set by the committee) or be asked to retake the exam at a later date (only one retake is allowed). 

Application to Candidacy

Students should to complete their Application to Candidacy as soon as possible after forming a committee and completing a plan for finishing coursework and their dissertation. Students should seek assistance from the UB ISE Graduate Studies Coordinator with this form and additional paperwork required.

Dissertation Proposal and Proposal Defense

Students should work closely with their advisor and committee to write a formal dissertation proposal prior to beginning research which the student intends to serve as the dissertation work. The proposal is presented to the committee and defended in through oral examination to determine preparedness and significance of the proposed topic and to insure agreement among the student and committee members regarding the plan of the ultimate dissertation research.

Defense of Dissertation

PhD students are required to defend their dissertation in a seminar attended by the PhD committee and which is open to department faculty, students and the public. Students must notify the academic coordinator a minimum of two weeks prior to schedule the defense and provide an abstract and title.

A Simple Guide to Completing Your Dissertation

It’s a marathon not a sprint, publisher description.

You’re trying to finish your dissertation—would it be helpful to be able to pick the brain of an academic writer? What about a publisher for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)? It would definitely be useful to speak with someone else who’s gone through it, and survived, earning that graduate degree. Now you can, with Bruce J. Carter, PhD, who is all those things as well as, now, author of A Simple Guide to Completing Your Dissertation. This thorough yet easy-to-follow guide encapsulates the process and insights derived from rigorous investigation and the intellectual evolution and growth experienced throughout the research process. From formulating the research question to refining the methodology’s process, every step must be a meticulous dance with academic rigor, punctuated by moments of revelation and contemplation. Perfect for not only graduate students but also the faculty advisors and counselors who mentor them, A Simple Guide to Completing Your Dissertation truly is for anyone working the dissertation arena. Its strength is its focus on diversity: every student has a unique experience, including international students and students from underrepresented communities, and Carter speaks to all of them. 

• GradPost Blog

Applications now open for first session of 2024 Dissertation Write-In

Career & Tools

Are you in the middle stages of your dissertation and running into roadblocks? Do you need some new strategies and habits to help you finish up? Then apply for the first session of the 2024 Dissertation Write-In, which runs from June 17-20! The application deadline is Friday, May 10.

The application period for the first session of the 2024  Dissertation Write-In is now open. This program is open to doctoral students from all disciplines and the first session will take place Monday, June 17 through Thursday, June 20 . Please note that all parts of this session will be facilitated virtually; additional information will be sent to students who are selected to participate.

The Dissertation Write-In is a free, four-day intensive writing workshop aimed at helping Ph.D. students in the middle stages of their dissertation process. Participants will gain strategies and tools to create positive writing habits and thus become more efficient and productive writers.

You are eligible to apply if you are a Ph.D. student who:

• Has advanced to candidacy;
• Has completed a chapter of your dissertation, and;
• Is committed to attending all sessions of the Write-In.

To apply, please complete the online application by Friday, May 10. For more information about the Dissertation Write-In, click here . Please note: The June virtual session is limited to a total of 30 participants. The September session is limited to a total of 20 participants and will be held in person. As part of its efforts to provide financial support for graduate students who are engaged in short-term intensive campus programs that contribute to their development as academic professionals, the Graduate Division will provide a Professional Development Award to the participants of the Dissertation Write-In. A fellowship of $500 will be awarded to students who successfully complete all four days of the program. Note that this fellowship is available to students regardless of P-status and receiving the fellowship funding requires full time registration in the relevant quarter (for Session 1 this would be Spring Quarter and for Session 2 this would be Fall Quarter).

Can't make it to the session in June? Don't worry, there will be another session from September 16-19 Applications for this session will open on August 5. Have questions? You can email Katie Baillargeon (who facilitates the program) or Anna Theogarajan  (who coordinates the program).

Active Campus Alert

For more information visit: emergency.wvu.edu

• News and Events
• In the News

Writing Dissertation Retreat

Grad Ed and Life | Monday, April 29, 2024

Graduate Education and Life and the Eberly Writing Studio are hosting a week-long, in-person writing retreat to help doctoral students.

• Get a jump start on writing.
• Carve out a quiet and focused block of time to write.
• Learn tips such as time management and how to overcome writer's block.
• Get support from people who are experiencing the same challenges of competing demands.
• Devise a realistic schedule for writing after the retreat.

Limited space! RSVP by May 16 to Qazi Area Rahman at  [email protected] .

UC Davis Graduate Studies

UC Davis Doctoral Students Selected as 2024 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellows

• by Graduate Studies
• April 22, 2024

We're excited to announce that three UC Davis doctoral students – Victor Chimaway Lopez (Native American Studies), Stephen Eyman (Linguistics), and David Morales (History) – have been selected as 2024 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellows! The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) launched the program in 2023 with the support of the Mellon Foundation to advance a vision for doctoral education that prioritizes openness to new methods and sources, underrepresented voices and perspectives, and scholarly experimentation. The awards are designed to accelerate change in the norms of humanistic scholarship by recognizing those who take risks in the modes, methods, and subjects of their research. 

The ACLS used a rigorous, interdisciplinary peer review process to select the fellows, who represent a diverse range of research topics. Our scholars were chosen from a competitive pool of over 700 applicants from 125 U.S. universities, reflecting the prestige of this honor. 

Each fellow receives an award of up to $50,000, consisting of a $40,000 stipend for the fellowship year; up to $8,000 for project-related research, training, professional development, and travel expenses; and a $2,000 stipend to support external mentorship that offers new perspectives on the fellow’s project and expands their advising network. With fellows pursuing their research across the country and beyond, ACLS will also provide opportunities for virtual networking and scholarly programming throughout the fellows’ award terms. 

Congratulations to Victor, Stephen and David on this remarkable achievement!

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Bloomington IU Bloomington

The College of Arts & Sciences

• Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine
• Student Portal
• News & Events
• Departmental News + Events
• Dissertation Completion Fellowship for 2024-2025

Cade Marcotte will defend his PhD thesis in August

Friday, April 26, 2024

Cade Marcotte will defend his PhD thesis in August, and has already accepted a plum academic job at   New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, ID, where he will be teaching, among other things, the history of physics.

Congratulations Cade and cheers to your upcoming PhD defense! 

• College of Arts & Sciences

• Medical Humanities Minor
• Scientific Skills and Research Integrity Minor
• Individualized Major Program
• M.A. Degree
• M.A., Studies in Scientific Research Literacy and Responsible Research
• Combined M.A. and M.L.S. Degree
• Qualifications
• Dissertation
• Ph.D. Double Major
• Ph.D. Minor
• Ph.D. Minor (6 credit)
• Funding List
• Travel Policy