7 Best 18-Month Doctorate Without Dissertation

Are you looking to go for a doctorate degree program that you can complete faster? Then you should consider going for an 18-month doctorate without dissertation and earn your degree much quicker. This blog post offers you options for such programs so you can make a decision on which one to go for.

The major reason for a doctorate degree is career advancement. Earning a Ph.D. in any field gives you the opportunity to take up senior roles in an organization, thus, there is a higher salary and more doors of opportunities will open for you. Depending on the program you wish to go for, it takes between 3-7 years to complete and earn your doctorate degree but an accelerated one, like the accelerated DPT program, can take about 2 years.

The duration it takes to complete a doctorate degree has discouraged many from pursuing this academic path and one of the significant things that make it take so long is dissertation work. One of the requirements to earn a doctorate degree is to complete a dissertation.

This dissertation is basically a research project on a particular topic that the student may choose on their own or their professor may pick it out for the student to work on. This usually takes a long time to complete. While some students enjoy writing a dissertation, others do not, especially those who want to quickly complete the degree and put their career in full gear.

If you fall into the category of those who do not like dissertations or those who want to quickly earn the degree, or if you’re busy with work and other family responsibilities and want to earn a Ph.D. degree that won’t take long, I have good news for you lot.

And here comes the good news…

I found out that dissertations aren’t required by every school and for all doctorate programs. That’s not all. There is an 18-month doctorate without dissertation program that you can complete while studying on your own schedule. Also, these programs cut across disciplines like nursing, education, business management, and physical therapy.

An 18-month doctorate dissertation gives you the opportunity to earn a Ph.D. in 18 months or less in an in-demand field. The programs are offered by some of the top universities in the US in online and hybrid formats.

18-month doctorate without dissertation

Best 18-Month Doctorate Without Dissertation

Here is a list of doctorates without dissertation programs that can be completed in 18 months or less. Those who want to earn a doctorate degree faster and in a flexible manner now have options to choose from and by the end of this blog post, be able to make a decision on which program to go for.

Without any further ado, let’s dive into the main topic.

The 7 best 18-month doctorates without a dissertation are:

  • Education & Leadership in Healthcare Online Doctorate (EdD)
  • Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree
  • Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in General Management
  • Ed.D. In Educational Leadership
  • Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (T-DPT) Program
  • Online Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice

1.     Education & Leadership in Healthcare Online Doctorate (EdD)

Healthcare practitioners looking to take up leadership roles in the healthcare field to advance their careers can consider taking the Education & Leadership in Healthcare Online Doctorate program. The program is offered by Nebraska Methodist College, has no dissertation, and takes 24 months to complete.

The program is offered online which gives you the flexibility you need to balance your education with your personal life and professional life. The EdD program focuses on developing your abilities in education, organizational awareness, relationship building, reflection, and transforming organizational culture. The program does not require GRE and has full and part-time study formats available.

Link to Program

2.     Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree

Here is another doctorate without a dissertation program that you can complete in as little as 18 months. The program is offered by Boston University and is open to all students, both domestic and international students, with an accredited master’s degree. The program consists of 33-37 credits.

There are three entry points into the program per year; January, May, and September. Application requirements include a master’s or bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, unofficial transcripts, two recommendation letters, essays, a CV or resume, English language proficiency test scores for international applicants, and an application fee.

Link to Program

3.     Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in General Management

Capella University is offering an online DBA General Management program that will help you develop skills to address challenges and opportunities in managing, organizing, and structuring organizations. The program is available in two pathways; FlexPath and GuidedPath learning formats for students to choose a track that fits them best.

FlexPath consists of 45 program points while GuidedPath consists of 90 program credits to complete. The cost of the program is also based on which of the learning formats you go for.

Link to Program

4.     Ed.D. In Educational Leadership

Those in the education sector like teachers and principals who want to transform their careers and take up higher positions can go for this program. The program is offered by the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education & School of Criminal Justice under Nova Southeastern University located in Florida. The course does not have a dissertation and you can complete it in as little as 18 months.

Classes are 100% online and to earn the degree, you must complete a minimum of 55 credits. Graduates from this program are equipped with expert skills in problem-solving, navigating education trends in a changing world, and discovering ways to book administrative competencies. The cost of the program is $1,505 per credit hour.

Link to Program

5.     Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (T-DPT) Program

A transitional DPT is usually offered online or hybrid blended learning and takes 2 years to complete. However, there is a duration difference for this tDPT program offered by the College of Scholastica. This program gives students to complete the program between 18-24 months and, of course, there is no dissertation.

The degree is designed for practicing licensed physical therapist who wants to learn new skills and knowledge, broaden their expertise, and earn a doctorate degree. You can be working while studying for this program since it is offered online which offers flexibility.

Link to Program

6.     Online Doctor of Nursing Practice

This is a doctorate degree program that takes just a little above 18 months to complete – it requires 20 months to complete – and no dissertation is required. This online DNP program from Maryville University is designed for professional nurses who want to advance their careers by earning the highest credential in nursing practice education.

This program is 100% online with no physical presence required, clinical hours are completed in a place of your choosing. When you earn this degree, you can become a nursing professor, director of nursing services, chief nursing officer, hospital CEO, medical and health services manager, and health policy analyst. Salaries range between $90,000 to $135,000 for these senior positions.

Link to Program

7.     Doctor of Nursing Practice

This program is similar to the one above with a slight difference in the duration and the school offering it. This DNP is offered by Frontier Nursing University, offered 100% online, and takes exactly 18 months to complete the 30 credit hours program and no dissertation. This makes it one of the 18-month doctorate without a dissertation.

Link to Program

18-Month Doctorate Without Dissertation – FAQs

Can you get a doctorate without doing a dissertation?

Yes, you can get a doctorate without a dissertation, instead, you will complete a capstone project to show you have knowledge of that field and offer new contributions.

What is the fastest way to get a doctorate degree?

The quickest way to get a doctorate degree is to apply for accelerated doctorate programs.

What is the shortest doctorate program?

The shortest and fastest doctorate program is the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offered by Chatham University which takes as little as 12 months to complete.

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