What is National Dissertation Day?
On April 26th, continuing education students will be reminded every year to maintain their attention and complete the pinnacle of their education.
In Paris in the mid-12th century, the first doctoral degree was awarded in Paris. Multiple research-based doctoral degrees are offered in Germany some 500 years ago, and it is the direct precursor to the modern Ph.D. Many of those degrees are devoted to a field of study. For example, the D.B.A (business), Ed.D. (education), D.N.P. (nursing), and Psy.D. (psychology) are all very popular among professionals in industry, industry, and private practice as opposed to traditional academia, for example.
However, one thing these degree programs have in common is the doctoral dissertation. The dissertation is the pinnacle of the doctoral process, born of the master-apprentice relationship of the medieval trade guilds. Any doctoral student must complete an independent study proposal and write a dissertation, a book-length paper outlining every aspect of the program.
Over 50,000 people earn their doctoral degrees in the United States each year, with some completing the lengthy dissertation process. However, only about half of those who enroll in doctoral programs ever graduate. Meanwhile, another 50,000 students are dropped from their doctoral programs each year without finishing their dissertations, leaving another 50,000 students each year.
Tuition for most doctoral programs around the country exceeds $20,000 per year and can be much higher. Students complete their doctoral degrees in 5-7 years, and often much more. In addition, the money spent on tuition pales in comparison to the costs associated with postponing the increased earning potential enjoyed by doctoral graduates. Individuals with doctoral degrees typically make more money per year than those with master's degrees.
