Gwynedd Mercy University AY2023-2024 Graduate Academic Catalog and approved no less than one month prior to graduation .
3 . Dissemination of the Dissertation : All students are required to disseminate the results of the dissertation beyond the written dissertation and oral defense . Students may choose one of two modalities for dissemination : presentation or publication . In both cases , the outlet for the presentation or publication must meet the requirements in the Dissertation Handbook and be approved by the dissertation advisor . Students should consult with the advisor prior to submitting their work to any outlet as the outlet must be approved by the advisor . Advisors will also be listed as second author on publications . Students and advisors should consult the Dissertation Handbook for dissemination requirements .
4 . Dissertation and Oral Defense : The doctoral student ’ s dissertation must be formally accepted by all members of the Dissertation Committee through two forms :
• In academic writing style that meets APA requirements .
• Through an Oral Defense of Dissertation . The Oral Defense shall be scheduled after all members of the committee agree that the dissertation is ready to be accepted .
• After acceptance of the dissertation in electronic form and through Oral Defense , the student must submit a bound copy and two electronic copies on flash drives to Keiss Library .
• The student must also submit form IRB 011 , Research Completion Report , to the Institutional Review Board ( IRB ). After receiving form IRB 011 , the IRB will issue a letter of receipt to the student for presentation to the Dissertation Advisor .
When the student has met all of the above requirements , the Program Director shall submit a written statement to the Dean attesting that the student has done so and is eligible to graduate . The student must formally apply for graduation with the Office of the Registrar . At graduation , a Doctoral Hood is conferred , pursuant to centuries-old tradition .
Course of Study and Curriculum Sequence for All Leadership Options : See Program Handbook for course of study and suggested curriculum sequence for each concentration .
Option for the All But Dissertation ( ABD ), Doctoral Candidate , or Advanced to Doctoral Candidacy Student
Overview : 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 for up 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 . For such students , typically designated as ABD ( All But Dissertation ) or Advanced to Doctoral Candidacy , this option may be a viable alternative for doctoral degree completion .
Eligibility : Through this option , students ’ prior learning will be assessed through a two-part process . First , the student ’ s application materials will undergo a preliminary assessment to determine if the ABD demonstrates currency through prior coursework , work experience , and scholarship sufficient to warrant a more extensive review of prior learning . A rubric will be utilized by a team of two faculty members for that review .
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