Online doctoral degrees without a dissertation

By: The Capella University Editorial Team

Reading Time: 6 minutes  

If you’ve been researching doctoral degrees, then you already know that most PhD programs require a dissertation. 

That requirement can be a sticking point for working adults who want to deepen their expertise. 

A doctoral program with a capstone project may be a better fit if your goal is to apply advanced knowledge in real-world settings. Capstones focus on solving practical problems, usually within a professional context, and can align more closely with the work you already do.

Capstone-focused doctorates may also feel more manageable alongside full-time work. While still rigorous, capstones are often more structured and defined in scope than dissertations, which typically involve extended, open-ended research. 

Explore what a capstone is, how it differs from a dissertation and what options Capella University offers for online doctoral degrees with a capstone.

Find the best doctoral program for your career. Explore our online doctoral degrees.  

What is a doctoral capstone?  

A doctoral capstone is the final project required in many professional doctoral degree programs. It demonstrates doctoral-level expertise through practical application rather than original theoretical research.  

A capstone is also referred to as an applied research project or a doctoral study.

During a capstone at Capella, you complete a project in a professional setting and offer solutions or improvements to a real-world problem relevant to your field of study.

The final deliverable can take many different forms depending on several variables, including your program, specialization or area of interest. 

For example, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at Capella requires a doctoral study, while the Doctor of Education (EdD) requires a portfolio containing all the assignments of your doctoral project. 

Doctoral capstone projects involve critical analysis and scholarly writing. Unlike a dissertation, which can involve collecting extensive original data, they typically rely on existing research and evidence-based practices.  

For working professionals who want to advance their skills but aren’t interested in academic research roles, a doctoral capstone offers many benefits. 

The features of a doctoral capstone

There are several reasons why working adults may find the capstone model more approachable and career-friendly. 

• Direct workplace relevance: Capstone projects are frequently tied to your current job or organization, so you can find solutions to real challenges. 
• Immediate practical impact: Capstones may produce outcomes such as improved processes, policies, programs or organizational performance. 
• Demonstrated expertise: Capstone projects can directly show your expertise at work, which could allow you to pursue to management, practitioner and leadership opportunities. 

For professionals seeking efficiency, relevance and real-world value, the doctoral capstone can be a better choice over an academic-focused dissertation. 

What is a dissertation?

To understand why capstones feel different, it helps to know what dissertations are designed to do. 

A dissertation is a formal doctoral research project, usually required to complete a PhD and other research-focused programs. It demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct independent scholarly research and contribute new knowledge or original insights to a specific field. 

Doctoral research projects focus heavily developing and proving theories. 

The Capella dissertation is a traditional five-chapter research document. During the dissertation process, you will work with a faculty mentor and dissertation committee members who will help during topic selection, research design and proposal development. 

Once your proposal is approved, you will conduct your research and present your findings in a written dissertation that follows a standard format. For many PhD programs, the final step is an oral defense of the dissertation in front of committee members. 

What are some key differences between a dissertation and a doctoral capstone?

Both a dissertation and a doctoral capstone require intense preparation and a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking. Both culminate in a final report, document or study that demonstrates a broadened knowledge of relevant theory and practice. 

However, there are important differences between the two final projects. 

Project focus

• Dissertation: Advancing theory and knowledge through original, in-depth research
• Doctoral capstone: Solving a real-world, practice-based problem using existing research

Degree type

• Dissertation: PhD and other research-focused doctorates
• Doctoral capstone: Primarily professional doctorates

Main goal

• Dissertation: Contribute new knowledge or address a research problem in one field of specialization
• Doctoral capstone: Provides a solution to a problem within a specific organizational setting

Research style

• Dissertation: Involves either quantitative or qualitative research methods for original data collection and hypothesis testing
• Doctoral capstone: Applied research, quantitative or qualitative research, program evaluation, quality improvement, or strategic analysis 

Deliverable format

• Dissertation: Scholarly manuscript with five chapters that follows a set format
• Doctoral capstone: Flexible formats such as paper, product or portfolio 

Career path alignment

• Dissertation: Academia, research institutions and policy research 
• Doctoral capstone: Leadership, executive roles, consulting and advanced professional practice 

Options for doctoral degrees with no dissertation

Professional or applied doctorates are a popular option for people looking for a doctoral degree without a dissertation requirement. Even with a capstone, a doctoral degree can be challenging if you’re juggling many professional and personal commitments.  

Pursuing your doctorate online has certain advantages that help minimize these challenges and open the doors to higher education. For instance, you can complete your theoretical education from home, so you don’t need to relocate or commit to on-campus study. Capella also offers some doctoral programs in the FlexPath learning format, a self-paced learning option that allows you to fit your studies around your schedule. 

Let’s look at five professional doctoral degrees you can pursue at Capella and the kind of final project each requires. 

• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): In DBA programs, your final submission is a detailed study. This study explains the topic, research methodology and results of the quality improvement project you carried out. 
• Doctor of Education (EdD): In the EdD degree program, you will complete an applied improvement project at an approved project site. You demonstrate your skills in educational leadership, curriculum design and more by addressing a real issue and presenting your findings in a portfolio. 
• Doctor of Health Administration (DHA): In the DHA program, you will complete an applied doctoral project to improve healthcare delivery or solve a problem within a healthcare organization.  
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): In the DNP program, you must complete a practicum in a real-world healthcare setting. During this experience, you implement a research project that addresses a gap in clinical practice. At the end of your practicum, you present your findings in a manuscript.
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW): In the DSW program, your final project will be either an action research study or a program evaluation related to a social work issue. This program also includes two virtual residencies to help you plan and complete your research.

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which confirms the rigor and quality of the institution, its student support and the programs available. 

Doctoral students at Capella get early guidance from expert faculty and academic coaches to help them plan and complete their capstone projects. 

Explore no-dissertation doctoral degrees with Capella

A doctoral program’s final project is meant to demonstrate the high level of expertise gained during the experience. While some students prefer research and theory-focused dissertations, capstone projects are a great option for those who want to build practical experience. 

Capella University offers doctoral programs across business, healthcare, education and more, where you can complete your degree without a dissertation. These online programs help you develop career-focused skills and knowledge by learning from real-world experts in your field.

Find the right doctoral degree for your career goals by speaking to our enrollment specialists today.

Ready to take the next step? Explore our online doctoral degrees.

FAQs

Can you get a doctoral degree without a dissertation?

Many professional doctoral degrees require a capstone or applied research project instead of a dissertation. These applied projects focus on solving real-world problems rather than producing original academic research.

Are there universities that offer an online doctoral degree (DBA) without a dissertation?

Many universities offer online DBA programs that use an applied research project or business capstone instead of a dissertation, allowing students to work directly on organizational challenges. Capella University is an accredited institution that offers a career-focused online DBA degree. 

Which is harder, a PhD or a doctorate?

Neither degree is universally harder than the other. They differ in structure and focus, so the difficulty depends on your goals and strengths.