# All but dissertation > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/All_but_dissertation > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/All_but_dissertation.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_but_dissertation > Source revision: 1356169368 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Stage in earning a research doctorate "**All but dissertation**" (**ABD**) is a term identifying a stage in the process of obtaining a [research doctorate](/source/Research_doctorate), most commonly used in the United States. In typical usage of the term, the ABD [graduate student](/source/Graduate_student) has completed the required preparatory coursework and passed the required [preliminary](/source/Prelims), [comprehensive](/source/Comprehensive_examination), and doctoral qualifying examinations or [PhD](/source/PhD) candidacy examination. After the graduate student has successfully passed this examination stage, they are referred to as a "**PhD candidate**." The informal ABD designation indicates that graduate student has met all program requirements except for writing of the [dissertation](/source/Thesis_or_dissertation) (or thesis) and the final defense at the end of a PhD program.[1] Formal usage of the term "Ph.D. (ABD)" can be seen as unethical or deceptive.[2] Some universities, including [Columbia](/source/Columbia_University), the [CUNY Graduate Center](/source/Graduate_Center%2C_CUNY), [George Washington University](/source/George_Washington_University), [The New School](/source/The_New_School), [New York University](/source/New_York_University) and [Yale](/source/Yale_University) regularly award a formal [Master of Philosophy](/source/Master_of_Philosophy) (MPhil) degree for these achievements, while a number of campuses of the [University of California](/source/University_of_California) award a [Candidate of Philosophy](/source/Candidate_of_Philosophy).[3][4][5] ## Dissertation completion pathway programs As of 2026, several universities in the United States offer paths to complete a PhD or [Doctor of Education](/source/Doctor_of_Education) degree for those that completed coursework and qualifying exams at another insitution but ultimately did not complete the dissertation. Marywood University offers sucha program leading to a PhD in Strategic Leadership and Administrative Studies.[6] [Antioch University](/source/Antioch_University) offers a PhDLC completion pathway.[7] Institutions with an EdD completion pathway include [Carson-Newman University](/source/Carson%E2%80%93Newman_University), [D'Youville University](/source/D'Youville_University), [Manhattanville University](/source/Manhattanville_University) and [National University](/source/National_University_(San_Diego%2C_California)).[8][9][10][11] ## Criticism The use of *ABD* or the similar *PhD(c)* for PhD candidate (also *PhD-c* or *PhDc*) as a credential has been criticized as misleading as these terms are not widely understood outside of US academia.[12][13] The term ABD has no equivalent meaning in PhD programs outside of the US, in particular those without a requirement for a formal candidacy examination (e.g., Australia). According to the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Higher Degree by Research Course Regulations, graduate students enrolled in a PhD program who have not completed a dissertation or other requirements are simply referred to as "PhD candidates" prior to completing any mandatory PhD coursework or examinations.[14] Even in the US, candidacy and ABD are not always synonymous. For example, in the [Stanford](/source/Stanford) PhD program in computer science, a student may declare candidacy after settling on a permanent advisor and completing a number of breadth area requirements, but must pass a further qualifying exam, testing knowledge in greater depth, before being considered ABD.[15] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Schuman, Rebecca (1 August 2014). ["ABD Company"](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/08/abds_all_but_dissertation_ph_d_candidates_who_can_t_quite_finish.html). *Slate*. Retrieved 14 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Novotney, Amy (September 2016). ["The misuse of PhD(c)"](http://web.archive.org/web/20260420014050/https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/misuse-phd). *American Psychological Association*. Archived from [the original](https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/misuse-phd) on 20 April 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Master of Philosophy"](https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/programs/doctoral-program/academics/degree-requirements/master-philosophy). *Columbia Business School*. New York: Columbia University. Retrieved 26 August 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Doctor of Philosophy Program"](http://architecture.yale.edu/school/academic-programs/doctor-philosophy-program#Master%E2%80%99s%20Degree). *Yale School of Architecture*. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University. Retrieved 26 August 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["PhD Requirements"](https://economics.columbian.gwu.edu/phd-requirements). *Columbian College of Arts and Sciences*. Washington: George Washington University. Retrieved 26 August 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Marywood University Offers Accelerated Path to Doctoral Degree Completion | Marywood University"](https://www.marywood.edu/news/phd-completion-program). *www.marywood.edu*. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** University, Antioch (6 August 2025). ["Antioch University Launches PhD in Leadership and Change Degree Completion Pathway - Common Thread"](https://commonthread.antioch.edu/antioch-university-launches-phd-in-leadership-and-change-degree-completion-pathway/). *commonthread.antioch.edu*. Retrieved 26 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Dissertation Completion Pathway (Ed.D) | DYouville"](https://www.dyu.edu/academics/schools-and-departments/center-doctoral-studies-research/dissertation-completion-pathway). *www.dyu.edu*. Retrieved 26 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Manhattanville University"](https://metatags.io/). *metatags.io*. Retrieved 26 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Dissertation Completion Pathway"](https://www.nu.edu/dissertation-completion-pathway/). *National University*. Retrieved 26 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Ed.D. Completion Pathway"](https://www.cn.edu/programs/abd-completion-pathway/). *Carson-Newman University*. Retrieved 26 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-novotney_12-0)** Novotney, Amy (1 September 2016). ["The Misuse of PhD(c): Why a Designation Used by Some Students Is Seen as Unethical"](http://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/misuse-phd.aspx). *Monitor on Psychology*. Vol. 47, no. 8. p. 36. Retrieved 14 May 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Chinn, Peggy L. (29 June 2011). ["How to List Your Credentials and Title When You Publish"](https://ansjournalblog.com/2011/06/29/how-to-list-your-credentials-and-title-when-you-publish/). *ANS: Advances in Nursing Science Blog*. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved 27 August 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Technology (QUT), Queensland University of. ["Study a PhD"](https://www.qut.edu.au/research/study-with-us/phd). *QUT*. Retrieved 13 November 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-stanford-phd-cs_15-0)** ["PhD Requirements | Stanford Computer Science"](https://cs.stanford.edu/academics/phd/phd-requirements). [Computer Science Department, Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University_Computer_Science). Retrieved 18 January 2022. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [All but dissertation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_but_dissertation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_but_dissertation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.