If you are someone who has been exploring different doctoral degrees, you may notice that all PhD programs require a dissertation virtually, whereas some professional doctorates entail a doctoral capstone project.

So, is there any difference between the two?

Needless to say, earning any kind of professional doctoral degree can aid you to earn over 50% more than those with a master’s degree or something equivalent to that. Professional doctoral degrees are the terminal grades, meaning you have accomplished the uppermost formal degree in your chosen field. As a result, you can suggestively enhance your résumé as well as your career.

But… what is a PhD degree then exactly and how is it different from a professional doctorate? We have explained this in an extensive way, you can read it here!

Core Difference Between A Doctoral Study and A Dissertation

Well, all doctoral programs formulate learners to apply research skills in the workplace as well as in the community. It needs concentrated preparation with a strong foundation in research, writing, and critical thinking.

The professional doctoral capstone project is planned to encompass or apply exploration to provide a solution directly to an issue within a real-world situation. Hence, unlike the dissertation, the doctoral capstone project is deliverable and can take on numerous different forms. It may be the writing of software to resolve a precise technical problem, or a curriculum planned to solve a precise educational problem.

On the other hand, a dissertation is an innovative contribution to the body of academic literature and theory in the arena. It talks about a research problem, or a break in existing research, that will contribute to the knowledge base of the subject matter.

Usually in the US, a thesis is the concluding project for the master’s degree and a dissertation leads to a doctoral degree.

In a nutshell, a dissertation is an extensive document received from a doctoral candidate. Sometimes, it consists of hundreds of perfect pages, reporting innovative research with statistical approaches, signifying a strong understanding of the field of knowledge. Earlier, it was called a thesis, if the candidate did not already have a master’s degree including a published thesis from that program.

A researcher earns the doctoral degree after submitting and defending his/her dissertation. It embraces all the crucial information about the original research or prolonged research on a new or prevailing topic conducted by the doctoral candidate.

The main difference between a thesis and a dissertation is the time of when they are accomplished. Typically, a dissertation delivers a prospect to the researcher to contribute new theories as well as information to the current literature in the research field. Furthermore, the major purpose of a dissertation is to develop an exclusive concept by defending it on the basis of theoretical as well as practical results.

Similarities Between Dissertation vs. Thesis

Here are some similarities between Dissertation vs. Thesis ---

  • The thesis and dissertation both need a deep and precise understanding of the research problem.
  • Both a thesis and a dissertation are measured as a final project and required to graduate individual programs.
  • Both the pieces must address explicit research questions.
  • Both require good academic writing skills.
  • Both entail analytical skills to support the findings.

The Final Thoughts

Needless to say, there are some major yet crucial differences between Doctoral Study and Dissertation. Online Professional Doctoral Degrees in Business is something that you can think about if you are looking for opportunities to optimize your career in business.

What are the other differences associated with Doctoral Study and Dissertation? Let us know in the comments!


Written By : Elizabeth Garcia