What is a Dissertation?
Topic 1: Types of Dissertations

The dissertation is the capstone, or culminating, event of the Ed.D. and the PhD. As a work product, the dissertation represents a synthesis of your skills, knowledge and abilities related to leadership, learning, diversity and accountability in the form of problem solving. It is always accompanied by an oral “defense” of that work – which serves several purposes. It allows you to demonstrate your abilities to communicate your learning verbally, and gives you and your dissertation committee an opportunity to refine the final product through a discussion.