ABD isn’t an actual title but instead somewhat construction people use to explain a condition that lots of graduated pupils finish up in. I believe that you could honestly call yourself ABD for those who have completed all the needs of the PhD except for an authorized dissertation and/or dissertation defense.

This is a very incomplete lists needs that PhD programs may include and which an ABD candidate could be assumed to possess finished:

• Effectively finishing needed course work and/or resident semesters/quarters
• Passing general examinations and/or qualifying examinations
• Fulfilling language and/or fieldwork needs
• Getting written and/or defended a dissertation prospectus or proposal
• Maintained a gpa over some threshold.

Obviously, there are lots of other needs such as this that programs require which an ABD student would need to have satisfied. For those who have done these, except the dissertation, you are able to call yourself ABD. Should you unsuccessful to accomplish the non-dissertation needs, you aren’t yet ABD.

clarified Marly 3 ’15 at 1:59

(edits elsewhere lately bumped this towards the first page, and that’s why this comment is almost 1.five years after the way to go) For which it’s worth, where Sometimes (not academic) we frequently get applications to job postings which include ABD. These are generally people 10+ years from graduate school without any aim of coming back to academics, as well as their utilization of ABD serves (properly) to differentiate them from Masters only applicants (e.g. MFA degree is typical here). Frequently, they are individuals humanities disciplines who spent many years focusing on a Dissertation and lastly left academics. Dave L Renfro August 30 at 14:39

For academic jobs it is important in your application to point that you’re publish-comps or “ABD”. Many institutions won’t think about your application with no associated ABD if you’re working towards finishing the PhD (usually early in the year following Fall applications).

To be sure. There are more methods to indicate your status within the program, as jakebeal has recommended. And putting ABD after your company name is frequently viewed as simply foolish. I understand somebody that stored it mounted on his reputation for his 30+ year academic career (he never was around the tenure track), also it was regarded as silly. ewormuth August 25 ’15 at 22:10

Formally, you’re whether PhD student or perhaps a PhD candidate, and there’s no among. I, however, do prefer to tell potential employers which i have finished my coursework. Which makes obvious that i’m advanced PhD student, although I’m not yet an applicant, and avoids the connotations of failure that include ABD. SigmaX Jan 27 at 20:28