Dissertation Completion
Pathway
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Complete Your Dissertation and Earn Your Degree
Break free from ABD. You’ve already put so much time, energy and effort into earning your doctoral degree, why stop now? At NU, an ABD status doesn’t prevent you from moving forward in your studies. In fact, we understand the challenges you’ve faced and have designed a program to help you break free from ABD.
Our Dissertation Completion Pathway (DCP) is an innovative way to get back into class, complete your dissertation and graduate with the degree you’ve been working toward.
How it Works
DCP is a structured pathway that recognizes your past academic coursework while providing the guidance you need to complete your dissertation. This approach provides ABD students the individual support and attention they deserve, including uniquely designed bridge courses and a faculty-led approach that features weekly objectives and deliverables.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
What is Dissertation Completion Pathway?
- Dissertation Completion Pathway (DCP) is a pathway to completing a doctoral degree.
- DCP serves students who come to NU as “All But Dissertation” (ABD).
- The pathway consists of 3 required “bridge” courses. Successful completion of these DCP courses is required before entering a doctoral program.
- DCP-8001: 12-weeks (online)
- DCP-8002: 12 weeks (online)
- DCP-8003: 6 weeks (online, required Intensive component).
- DCP-8003 is typically taken along with DCP-8001 or DCP-8002.
Successful completion of these 3 DCP courses leads to entry into one of the following traditional or applied doctoral programs:
- Current PhD program for DCP students:
- PhD-Education
- PhD-Educational Leadership
- PhD-Psychology
- PhD-Technology Management
- PhD-Cyber Security
- PhD-Data Science
- PhD-Business Administration
- PhD-Instructional Design
- PhD-Organizational Leadership
- PhD-Human Resource Management
- Current applied program for DCP students:
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD-EdL)
- Doctor of Education in Instructional Design (EdD-ID)
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)
- Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ)
- Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)
- Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT)
Degree and Course Requirements
If you’re an All But Dissertation student that has completed your coursework, achieved doctoral candidacy and left your program in good academic standing, we can help you finish what you started.
DCP Eligibility Criteria
- Dissertation Completion Pathway application.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in previous doctoral program.
- Must have completed all required doctoral program coursework and/or achieved candidacy at another institution.
- Cannot be academically dismissed from previous doctoral program.
- Previous doctoral program must academically align with a doctoral degree program and specialization offered by National University.
- 7-year maximum for transfer credit from a regionally accredited institution. An exception by the dean may be granted for credits aged between 8-15 years.
*Additional admissions requirements may apply
Learn how we can help you finish your dissertation.
Admissions
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.
To speak with our admissions team, call (855) 355-6288 or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply start your application today
National University Doctoral Student Podcast
The DCP team has created a series of videos to help you navigate NU’s Dissertation Completion Pathway, these videos feature subject matter experts that share crucial information and cover a variety of topics to provide the guidance you are looking for.
- Dissertation Completion Pathway Student Graduate Testimonial – Xavier IrAal, EDD EDL
- Scholarship Recipient Testimonial, Doctoral Student – Michael Arrigoni, EDD Special Education
- Dissertation Bootcamp Doctoral Student Graduate Testimonial – Mary Duggan, EDD General Education
- Dissertation Bootcamp Doctoral Student Graduate Testimonial – Jacqueline Lewis, PhD E-Learning
- Dissertation Completion Pathway Student Graduate Testimonial – Elsa Kortright -Torres, EDD EDL
- The main difference between theoretical/traditional research (PhD) and applied research (e.g., EdD, DPA, etc.) lies in their focus.
- While a traditional dissertation strives to produce new knowledge about an existing problem, an applied doctoral project will typically address a specific practical or professional problem within a field.
- Theoretical/traditional (PhD) research: aimed at developing new, fundamental knowledge and a theoretical understanding of humans in the broad disciplinary context without a particular application in mind.
- All PhD programs are considered theoretical/traditional.
- Current PhD program options for DCP students:
- PhD-Education
- PhD-Educational Leadership
- PhD-Psychology
- PhD-Technology Management
- PhD-Cyber Security
- PhD-Data Science
- PhD-Business Administration
- PhD-Instructional Design
- PhD-Organizational Leadership
- PhD-Human Resource Management
- The culminating deliverable is a 5-chapter dissertation.
- For more information, please review the DSE Handbook in the Dissertation Center.
- Applied research: practice-based investigation to acquire new knowledge to address practical and professional objectives.
- Current applied programs for DCP students:
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD-EdL)
- Doctor of Education in Instructional Design (EdD-ID)
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)
- Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ)
- Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)*Coming Soon
- Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT)*Coming Soon
- The culminating project for applied programs depends on the specific program.
- The following applied programs have a 5-chapter dissertation as the final deliverable:
- Doctor in Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor in Public Administration (DPA)
- Doctor of Criminal Justice (DCJ)
- For more information, please review the DSE Handbook in the Dissertation Center.
- The following applied programs have a 3-section applied doctoral project as the final deliverable:
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD-EdL)
- Doctor of Education in Instructional Design (EdD-ID)
- Doctor of Health Administration (DHA)*Coming Soon
- Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT)*Coming Soon
- For more information, please review the ADE Handbook in the Applied Doctoral Center.
- The following applied programs have a 5-chapter dissertation as the final deliverable:
- Current applied programs for DCP students:
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Dissertation Completion Pathway (DCP) download a detailed PDF with information here or please contact the Office of Graduate Studies at graduatestudies@nu.edu.
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