As a requirement for graduation from the University of Arizona Global Campus with a degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), each student must complete and successfully defend a Dissertation. As a requirement for graduation from University of Arizona Global Campus with a degree of Doctor of Psychology(PsyD), each student must complete and successfully defend either an Applied Doctoral Project or a Dissertation. The Doctoral Research phase begins after successful completion of the Doctoral Capstone Seminar and includes: Dissertation Planning I/II or Applied Doctoral Project Planning I/II, and Dissertation or Applied Doctoral Project courses.
Dissertation
The purpose of the Dissertation is to ensure that the student has mastered the ability to pursue a systematic investigation, which examines significant issues or problems in applied psychology. The Dissertation requirement is also designed to contribute to the student’s knowledge, skills, and research expertise in psychology. Students choose a topic that addresses carefully chosen research questions that the student then investigates with quantitative or qualitative research, with a meta-analysis, or with a program design or program evaluation.
Students are enrolled in Dissertation for five credits. Students satisfactorily progressing through the Dissertation course requirements, but not meeting the required milestones within the designated timeframe, will need reenroll in the corresponding Dissertation course. Students needing more than two re-enrollments in any Dissertation courses will be dismissed from the program and will need to appeal in order to reenroll in the program.
Prerequisites, timelines for completion, and attendance requirements for Dissertation, as well as a detailed explanation of each step in the process, are described in the Dissertation Handbook.
While it is not required, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) students may choose to complete a Dissertation instead of an Applied Doctoral Project. Students interested in completing a Dissertation must submit a change request to the Office of the Registrar.
Applied Doctoral Project
Consistent with the philosophy and purpose of a PsyD degree, the Applied Doctoral Project (ADP) will demonstrate a student’s mastery of a particular topic of relevance and the application of scholarly knowledge and skills. Given the broad diversity of topics, fields, methodologies, settings, and applications relevant to students’ chosen careers within the University’s PsyD programs, the nature and format of the ADP is by necessity flexible, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, action research, historical analysis, observational studies, theoretical inquiries, case studies, program evaluations, and other research methodologies.
Students are enrolled in Applied Doctoral Project for a minimum of five credits (RES 8981-8985). Students satisfactorily progressing through the ADP course requirements, but not meeting the required milestones in the designated timeframe, will be required to reenroll in the corresponding ADP course. Students needing more than two reenrollments in any of the ADP courses will need to appeal in order to reenroll in the program.
Prerequisites, timelines for completion, and attendance requirements for Applied Doctoral Project, as well as a detailed explanation of each step in the process, are described in the Applied Doctoral Project Handbook.
Student Portfolio
Students are encouraged to create portfolios during the course of their program to showcase their best work and to have a document to utilize and submit when applying for internships, post-doctoral programs, or for employment.
Doctoral Candidacy
Students in all Doctoral Programs, will be conferred Doctoral Candidacy following their Doctoral Research committee approval of:
- For Dissertation: Letter of Intent, or
- For Applied Doctoral Project (ADP): Project Justification Template
Candidacy is officially conferred by the Office of the Registrar following confirmation of progress by the student’s Dissertation Specialist. Prior to Doctoral Candidacy being conferred, the student should be referred to as a doctoral student; following being conferred, the students can be referred to as a doctoral candidate.
Program Time Limits
Doctoral Programs
All Doctoral programs have a seven (7) 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 Dissertation or 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.