There has been so a lot of discussions about writing a dissertation and the possible ways to do it faster and better, that it’s time to answer one interesting question. The question is whether it’s possible to get a Ph.D. degree without writing one. Imagine how great it would be to reach the desired goal without experiencing constant nervous breakdowns and suffering from regular sleep deprivation. Is it a dream or a Ph.D. without dissertation is a possible option?
No!
There is no point in beating around the bush, so we’ll just say it. No, it’s impossible to get a Ph.D. without getting involved in a massive research project. There are widely accepted educational standards and you can’t change them. You’ll have to prove your competency by making an intellectual contribution to one of the chosen disciplines. The terminology may differ and some schools may ask you to submit a research project, final project or thesis. The conclusion is the same – you’ll have to sweat conducting a research and writing. But…
There is always a “but”. If we are talking about getting a doctorate, there are some ways of escaping the inevitable. Let’s consider some of them.
Online universities. Some of the subject areas may not require writing a dissertation. Courses like International Education, Psychology, Counseling are among them. Some of the online universities won’t ask you to go through the hell of doing a research project. However, you have to make sure it’s an accredited school and is recognized worldwide. Otherwise, your degree won’t have much value.
Become an authority. After your scientific articles get published in the renowned magazines and you your book is published, it will be much easier to establish your expertise without earning a Ph.D. degree.
Take some time. Getting a Ph.D. is a respectable goal. Don’t rush into the process and try to find the easy ways to make your dreams come true. If you don’t have a clear idea of what you want to explore, just wait. Deciding what topic to choose is a significant step as you’ll have to spend a whole year (or maybe even more) investigating it. Wait until you come up with a profound and relevant idea for a dissertation. You might even enjoy writing it, who knows.
Be careful and don’t purchase your degree just to have it. The desire of acquiring that title is a good thing but one has to earn it. The degree indicated your professionalism and gives other people an idea of how hard you’ve worked to get it. It has to mean something for you as well. This is the kind of achievement that gives you the right to be proud of yourself.
The real value of your degree is the efforts you’ve spent on making a scientific discovery. It’s in the benefits our society gets after your contribution. Don’t chase after titles, spend your time wisely and try to make this world a better place.