Charles Sturt University appears to have developed Doctorates that do not require the traditional thesis. I believe that there is room for both. One to interpret and apply the pure research of the other. http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/postgraduate/police_leadership/course_struct.html This programme has a very limited pool of potential students and could be classed as a specialist niche market, but, perhaps, it is a beginning of a new direction in Doctorates that seems to be intended for those interpreting and applying the research of others, not actually contributing directly to research itself. Are there others? Who may follow? Will this be the commencement of a new academic product?
There are now Doctorates that are reliant on the production of a portfolio of work, rather than the traditional thesis. It is accepted that these extend beyond the master's level. There are also Doctorates that can be earned by the production of published articles. It just depends on how the word "thesis" is defined. http://mams.rmit.edu.au/2d09ov1r9xwy.pdf http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/docs/RHDpolicy&procedure.pdf The Doctorate would appear to market linked and, while the traditional Phd will remain for academia, a new product is moving forward for industry. A differentiated product range may keep academia connected to the demands of industry.
