Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

We require students in the program to familiarize themselves with the academic regulations governing graduate studies at their home universities. The course and research requirements for the degree total a minimum of 10.0 Full Course Equivalent (FCE) credits as follows:

• Doctoral Seminar 1 (first Summer, face to face, rotating sites, 1.0 FCEs)
• The Field of Study Specialization Course (first Fall, via distance, 0.5 FCEs)
• Doctoral Seminar 2 (second Summer, face to face, rotating sites, 1.0 FCEs)
• Specialization Elective (this may be a directed study, 0.5 FCEs)
• Research Proposal Colloquium (Winter or Fall, via distance, 0.5 FCEs)
• Comprehensive Portfolio and Examination of Comprehensive Portfolio (1.5 FCEs)
• Four terms of residency including the two summer Core Courses and two consecutive terms
• The Proposal
• The Dissertation (5.0 FCEs)

Course work is considered complete only when the student has passed the Comprehensive Portfolio Examination successfully. From this point on, the candidate (having passed this examination the student is now referred to as a doctoral candidate) works toward completion of the Dissertation Proposal. When the committee is satisfied that the candidate has completed the Proposal, and committee members and the Supervisor have signed the Approval of the Proposal Form, s/he may move forward to gain ethics approval to conduct his/her research at the home university. After ethical approval is granted by the home university, the candidate must gain ethical approval to conduct research from any other agencies involved in the Dissertation study, such as schools. For completion of the Dissertation and for the oral defense examination of the Dissertation, protocols in place at the home universities apply