Cohort Model and Progression Policy for Doctoral Programs
In a cohort model, students move through the program in a shared sequence with peers, creating opportunities for mutual support, professional relationship-building, collaboration, and learning across diverse perspectives and experiences. Students are expected to remain with their assigned cohort and progress according to the published course sequence.
Students who do not successfully complete a scheduled course may not be able to continue with their original cohort. Circumstances that may interrupt cohort progression include, but are not limited to, course failure, withdrawal, a break in enrollment, or failure to meet a required progression milestone. If cohort progression is interrupted, students will need to wait until the applicable course is offered again and will then be reassigned to a subsequent cohort at the appropriate point in the program sequence. Unsuccessful progression may result in withdrawal from the institution and may have financial impacts. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor before withdrawing, requesting an academic leave, or making any change that could affect cohort placement or progression. To support academic integrity, program quality, and orderly progression through the curriculum, the University reserves the right to determine cohort placement and progression requirements.
Doctoral Program Essentials of Advanced Scholarship
All Doctoral program students are required to successfully complete their first course in their program sequence with a grade of B+ or higher. Unsuccessful completion of that course will result in the rescheduling of the course and revision of future course schedule. Students must achieve the B+ or higher to progress into the next course in the program.
Doctoral Course Academic Requirement
The minimum passing grade for all doctoral courses in the major, research and specialization requirements is a B- or higher. In all applied doctoral project courses, students must achieve a Passing (P) grade to progress to the next course. Students who earn three non-passing grades during the program will be academically dismissed from the doctoral program. Doctoral students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher to remain in good academic standing.
Attendance Policy for Doctoral Courses
The Attendance Policy for Doctoral (Graduate) Courses can be found here.
Synchronous Requirements
Interactive Doctoral Workshops
Students are required to attend virtual Interactive Doctoral Workshops during specific courses. These interactive sessions offer students an opportunity to meet and collaborate with colleagues and faculty. The Workshops further support student success in completion of their program and Applied Doctoral Project.
The Workshops take place in synchronous fashion and are facilitated via a web-based video conference tool. Active engagement is required. Students who do not successfully complete each Workshop during the designated time frame may not be allowed to progress to their next scheduled course, which could result in a substantial delay in progression. The time and duration of each meeting is described below.
The synchronous Interactive Doctoral Workshops occur during these courses:
DOC 700 Essentials of Advanced Scholarship
- Friday of Week 3 – One three (3) hour workshop
- Friday of Week 5 – One three (3) hour workshop
RES 705 Foundations of Applied Research
- Friday of Week 3 – One three (3) hour workshop
Applied Doctoral Project Courses (RES 720, RES 730, RES 740, RES 750, RES 760, RES 770, RES 780)
- Up to three Workshops will be offered during every course associated with the Applied Doctoral Project. These workshops will include interactive sessions as well as Preliminary Oral and Final Oral Defenses that are part of the required milestones for successful completion of the Applied Doctoral Project. Students must attend at least one of these Workshop sessions during each course.
Specific details about each Workshop, including dates, times, and webinar links, will be communicated by the Instructor of each course in the classroom and students will see these courses in their schedule to plan for these sessions.
Program Time Limits
Doctoral Programs
All Doctoral programs have a five (5) year time limit for completion starting from the time a student enters the first term of any Doctoral program. Students who do not complete their degree program within the required time limit may be dismissed from the University.
In some circumstances, Doctoral Degrees may take longer to complete if students do not meet their milestones, maintain full-time status, take an academic leave, retake a course, or fail the Applied Doctoral Project defense. Program completion milestones and deadlines are calculated based on the first date of attendance in the student’s program.
In documented extenuating circumstances, Deans may approve an extension to the maximum time for completion. Doctoral program completion time limits do not supersede the obligation to maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout the student’s program of study. Approved extensions may not exceed the requirements to maintain satisfactory academic progress. For the full Satisfactory Academic Progress policies, please see that policy under in the General Academic Information and Policies section of this Catalog.