Summer: two courses including DPLS 700, Leadership Theory and DPLS 720 Principles of Research. Most students are advised to begin with only two courses for the first summer and to consider three courses in subsequent summers.

Fall or Spring Semester: one independent directed course for three credits.

Summer: three courses including the remaining two Core courses (DPLS 701 and DPLS 703) and either an elective or other required course. Application for candidacy and agreement with advisor on candidacy topic before the end of the summer term.

Fall or Spring Semester: one independent directed course for three credits. Completion of the Candidacy paper. Candidacy before the next summer term begins.

Summer: Three courses, ensuring that Quantitative and Qualitative research methods courses have been completed.

Fall or Spring Semester: one independent directed course for three credits.

Summer: Three courses, ensuring that all required courses, including the 4 credits of ethics, have been completed.

Fall and Spring Semesters: Independent directed course for three credits and Literature Review for the Dissertation for three credits.

Summer: two courses, including Proposal Seminar. Defense of the Proposal. If the proposal is not defended by the end of the summer, trip during the school year for proposal defense may be needed.

Fall and Spring Semesters: research and writing of the dissertation, six dissertation credits.

Optional return to campus for Graduation.