All but dissertation

{{Short description|Stage in earning a research doctorate}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}

"'''All but dissertation'''" ('''ABD''') is a term identifying a stage in the process of obtaining a [[research doctorate]], most commonly used in the United States.

In typical usage of the term, the ABD [[graduate student]] has completed the required preparatory coursework and passed the required [[Prelims|preliminary]], [[comprehensive examination|comprehensive]], and doctoral qualifying examinations or [[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 [[Thesis or dissertation|dissertation]] (or thesis) and the final defense at the end of a PhD program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schuman |first=Rebecca |date=1 August 2014 |title=ABD Company |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/08/abds_all_but_dissertation_ph_d_candidates_who_can_t_quite_finish.html |work=Slate |access-date=14 May 2019}}</ref> Formal usage of the term "Ph.D. (ABD)" can be seen as unethical or deceptive.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Novotney |first=Amy |date=September 2016 |title=The misuse of PhD(c) |url=https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/misuse-phd |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260420014050/https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/misuse-phd |archive-date=April 20, 2026 |access-date=May 25, 2026 |work=American Psychological Association |language=en}}</ref>

Some universities, including [[Columbia University|Columbia]], the [[Graduate Center, CUNY|CUNY Graduate Center]], [[George Washington University]], [[The New School]], [[New York University]] and [[Yale University|Yale]] regularly award a formal [[Master of Philosophy]] (MPhil) degree for these achievements, while a number of campuses of the [[University of California]] award a [[Candidate of Philosophy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Master of Philosophy |url=https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/programs/doctoral-program/academics/degree-requirements/master-philosophy |website=Columbia Business School |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University |access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Doctor of Philosophy Program |url=http://architecture.yale.edu/school/academic-programs/doctor-philosophy-program#Master%E2%80%99s%20Degree |website=Yale School of Architecture |location=New Haven, Connecticut |publisher=Yale University |access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PhD Requirements |url=https://economics.columbian.gwu.edu/phd-requirements |website=Columbian College of Arts and Sciences |location=Washington |publisher=George Washington University |access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref>

== Dissertation completion pathway programs == As of 2026, several universities in the United States offer paths to complete a PhD or [[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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-17 |title=Marywood University Offers Accelerated Path to Doctoral Degree Completion {{!}} Marywood University |url=https://www.marywood.edu/news/phd-completion-program |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=www.marywood.edu |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Antioch University]] offers a PhDLC completion pathway.<ref>{{Cite web |last=University |first=Antioch |date=2025-08-06 |title=Antioch University Launches PhD in Leadership and Change Degree Completion Pathway - Common Thread |url=https://commonthread.antioch.edu/antioch-university-launches-phd-in-leadership-and-change-degree-completion-pathway/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=commonthread.antioch.edu |language=en-US}}</ref> Institutions with an EdD completion pathway include [[Carson–Newman University|Carson-Newman University]], [[D'Youville University]], [[Manhattanville University]] and [[National University (San Diego, California)|National University]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dissertation Completion Pathway (Ed.D) {{!}} DYouville |url=https://www.dyu.edu/academics/schools-and-departments/center-doctoral-studies-research/dissertation-completion-pathway |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=www.dyu.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manhattanville University |url=https://metatags.io/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=metatags.io |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dissertation Completion Pathway |url=https://www.nu.edu/dissertation-completion-pathway/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=National University |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed.D. Completion Pathway |url=https://www.cn.edu/programs/abd-completion-pathway/ |access-date=2026-05-26 |website=Carson-Newman University |language=en-US}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name="novotney">{{cite magazine |last=Novotney |first=Amy |date=2016-09-01 |title=The Misuse of PhD(c): Why a Designation Used by Some Students Is Seen as Unethical |url=http://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/09/misuse-phd.aspx |magazine=Monitor on Psychology |volume=47 |issue=8 |page=36 |access-date=2019-05-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Chinn |first=Peggy L. |date=29 June 2011 |title=How to List Your Credentials and Title When You Publish |url=https://ansjournalblog.com/2011/06/29/how-to-list-your-credentials-and-title-when-you-publish/ |work=ANS: Advances in Nursing Science Blog |publisher=Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins |access-date=2017-08-27 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Technology (QUT) |first=Queensland University of |title=Study a PhD |url=https://www.qut.edu.au/research/study-with-us/phd |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=QUT |language=en}}</ref>

Even in the US, candidacy and ABD are not always synonymous. For example, in the [[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.<ref name="stanford-phd-cs">{{cite web|url=https://cs.stanford.edu/academics/phd/phd-requirements|title=PhD Requirements | Stanford Computer Science|publisher=[[Stanford University Computer Science|Computer Science Department, Stanford University]]|accessdate=2022-01-18}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|25em}}

[[Category:Doctoral degrees]]