Gwynedd Mercy University 2025-2026 University Catalog 187
these programs. Continued enrollment in these programs is limited to persons who are advanced in their professional careers and have exercised significant professional responsibility. Furthermore, programs are considered“ executive” in that faculty and staff are expected to treat doctoral and advanced certification students as the executives they are. As developing scholars, most of whom are also employed in professional capacities, students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to communicate with faculty, staff, and peers respectfully, courteously, and considerately at all times. An executive program student who does not adhere to generally accepted professional conduct may be referred to the Vice President for Student Affairs and may be removed from the program.
Professional Practice Portfolio: Doctoral students must create a Professional Practice Portfolio representing their best work in doctoral courses. It shall include examples of superior research, writings, and presentations they have produced during their course of studies. The Portfolio is documentary evidence that they have mastered the Program Learning Outcomes( PLOs) of their program.
Graduation Requirements: In addition to successful completion of all course requirements, students must complete dissertation research, dissemination requirements, and the oral defense of dissertation, as described in the Program Handbook.
Option for the ABD: For this degree, a Doctoral Degree Completion Option is offered to those who are ABD( All But Dissertation) from other universities. This option, which utilizes a structured and rigorous Prior Learning Assessment( PLA) process involving comprehensive portfolio assessments of the level, quality and quantity of student competencies mastered through prior coursework, experiential learning, and scholarship, may permit a doctoral student to provide evidence of learning equivalent to 27 credit hours in a 54-credit hour doctoral program. This option is available only to applicants who have demonstrated competence by satisfactorily completing all coursework in a doctoral program in education at an accredited college or university but have not completed the dissertation.