Candidacy Guidelines

What is candidacy?

Advancement to candidacy is a very important part of the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. Candidacy is designed to reaffirm the appropriateness of the program relative to the needs and abilities of the student. Application to candidacy is made upon successful completion of the core courses: Leadership Theory (DPLS 700), Organizational Theory (DPLS 701), Policy and Global Systems (DPLS 703), and Principles of Research (DPLS 720). Application for candidacy is to be made before completing 22 credits in the Doctoral Program. The student must be advanced to candidacy before completing 28 credits or the student can expect to be blocked from taking classes until candidacy is completed. When a student is advanced to candidacy, it means they are a CANDIDATE for the Ph.D., signifying the Doctoral Faculty’s confidence in the student’s ability to successfully complete the program, including the dissertation.

Contents

What does it mean to "achieve Candidacy"?

The method of achieving candidacy is the written response on a topic that is determined jointly by the student and his or her pre-candidacy advisor. The candidacy topic is to align with the core curriculum framework. One or more of the program dimensions, personal, organizational, or global systems, is to provide the conceptual framework for the paper. The paper must be of the quality acceptable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The paper is to be submitted to the journal for review, although advancement to candidacy is not contingent upon the paper being accepted. However, proof that the paper was submitted to a peer-reviewed journal will be required to enroll in DPLS 730: Proposal Seminar. The journal to be used as a reference point is selected by the student and approved by the pre-candidacy advisor.

Candidacy Paper

The maximum length of the paper is 20 pages, double-spaced (including the reference list). A title page and abstract of no more than 150 words needs to be included but are not part of the 20 page limit. A template for the candidacy paper is provided and should be used. Students are strongly urged to use a reference data base system such as RefWorks for their references. See Using Refworks.

Candidacy Paper Process

  • 12-22 credits. Students may apply for candidacy upon completion of the core courses and must apply before completing 22 credits.
  • 22 credits. Students who have not applied for candidacy by the time 22 credits are completed can expect to be blocked from taking additional classes until application is made.
  • 28 credits. Students who have not been advanced to candidacy by the time 28 credits are completed can expect to be blocked from taking additional classes until a determination of advancement or non-advancement to candidacy is made.

The student submits The First Submission within three months from the receipt of the Candidacy Approval. If needed, the student submits the Second and Third Submissions within two months of the return of their earlier submission. Failure to submit by the due dates will result in the student being blocked from taking additional courses. The process is not complete until the final clean copy has been submitted and the student has received the Advancement to Candidacy letter from the Program.

Applying for Candidacy

To begin the Candidacy process, the student first reaches general agreement with his or her advisor and then submits to their advisor the “Request to Begin Candidacy Process” along with a short statement, the “Candidacy Paper Synopsis.” The student will receive a Candidacy Topic Approval memo/letter with the Candidacy Paper Synopsis showing changes made by the advisor attached. The student then registers on Zagweb for DPLS 738, Candidacy (a zero credit, no-cost course).

Candidacy Paper Synopsis

1. Proposed title.
2. Proposed purpose of the paper.
3. Explicit statement on how the paper aligns with Program curriculum
4. Description of how the student plans to organize the paper such as the main sections or outline.
5. Where the student plans to submit the paper for publication.

First Submission

 

  • Two manila file folders containing:
    • Candidacy paper identified as “Candidacy Paper First Submission” and dated when submitted
    • Candidacy Paper Synopsis
    • Candidacy topic approval letter/memo

Second Submission

 

  • Two manila file folders containing:
    • Candidacy paper identified as “Candidacy Paper Second Submission” and dated when resubmitted
    • Candidacy Paper Synopsis
    • Candidacy topic approval letter/memo
    • Response from the advisor with recommendations, copies of the Rubric by all readers, and copies of the earlier submission showing written comments of all readers. (Note, folders contain the Rubric and the hard copy from all the readers, sorry about the photocopying).

Third Submission

  • Three manila file folders containing all the previous submissions and the material required for the Second Submission

Final Submission

  • One manila file folder with the final clean copy, copies of the last submission showing edits, and the advisor letter/memo indicating that only edits are required for the final submission.

Journal Submission

 

The candidacy paper must be submitted to one peer-reviewed journal. While the paper does not have to be accepted for publication, the student must provide proof that it has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal in order to receive permission to enroll in DPLS 730: Proposal Seminar. The process of receiving feedback from a journal helps to prepare for the experience of working with colleagues (the dissertation committee) in the dissertation writing phase.

Time Required for Completing the Process

If the Candidacy Paper goes through three rounds, this process can take up to one year. Typically, the paper goes through two rounds of submission before Advancement to Candidacy is recommended. Two rounds on the Candidacy Paper will take approximately six months to complete if the student uses the full 3 months for Round One and the full 2 months for revision in Round Two.

Review and Feedback

The pre-candidacy advisor and one other doctoral faculty member will review the paper. The two readers will make a determination if the paper needs to be rewritten and the student will have two months to resubmit. Almost all students are asked to rewrite the First Submission. Students may be asked to wait a minimum of 30 days before resubmission. If the readers determine the Second Submission needs to be rewritten, the student will have two months to resubmit. For the Third Submission, a third faculty member will be added as a reader. Any student who has difficulty writing an acceptable 20 page paper on her or his third attempt and after feedback on the first two attempts, will want to carefully consider whether the completion of a dissertation is something he or she wants to attempt. Failure to be advanced to Candidacy on the Third Submission will result in the student’s separation from the Program. Students who are not advanced to candidacy may choose to apply for the Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies.

After each submission, the student will receive a memo/letter from the advisor on the changes to be made, the date by which the revision should be submitted, a copy of the Candidacy Paper Rubric, and the marked-up copies of the paper. The Candidacy Paper Rubric will focus on thought and expression such as thoughtfulness of analysis and clarity of expression and technicalities will focus on grammar, punctuation, APA style, etc. A copy of the Rubric is available on the doctoral website. Students should receive a response to their submission within 15 working days of submitting it. If a response is not received within 15 days (excluding faculty down-time), it is the responsibility of the student to contact the advisor and to follow up weekly thereafter.

When the Candidacy Paper is acceptable to the readers, the readers will make recommendations on edits required for final, clean copy. Only one copy of the final clean copy for the student file is needed and should be dated when the final copy is submitted. Students are not advanced to Candidacy until the final clean copy has been submitted.

Faculty Availability

When classes are in session, all faculty members are available and meet with students by appointment. During certain other times that coincide with breaks in the schedule for students, faculty members are not available to meet with students or to read Candidacy Papers, Proposals, and Dissertations. During these breaks, faculty members engage in professional development and personal renewal.

  • May 1 to the beginning of the 6-week Summer Session.
  • The end of the Summer session to September 1.
  • December 1 to the beginning of the Spring semester.
  • Regular Gonzaga holidays.

Students need to keep these times in mind as they plan their schedules. If a student submits a Candidacy Paper or Proposal at the end of the Summer Session, he or she should not expect feedback until early in the Fall Semester.

Timelines for the Candidacy Process

  • General Agreement on Topic. The student first reaches general agreement with an advisor.
  • Applying for Candidacy. The student submits to their advisor the “Request to Begin Candidacy Process” along with a short statement, the “Candidacy Paper Synopsis.”
  • Candidacy Topic Approval. The student will receive a Candidacy Topic Approval memo/letter with the Candidacy Paper Synopsis showing changes made by the advisor attached.
  • First Submission. Upon receipt of the Candidacy Topic Approval, the student has up to 3 months to write and submit the paper.
  • Feedback from the Advisor, First Submission. When submitted, the student can expect to receive feedback within 15 working days (excluding faculty down-time). It is the responsibility of the student to contact the advisor and to follow-up weekly thereafter. (end of Round One)
  • Second Submission. The student has up to 2 months to revise and resubmit the paper.
  • Feedback from the Advisor, Second Submission. When submitted, the student can expect to receive feedback within 15 working days (excluding faculty down-time). It is the responsibility of the student to contact the advisor and to follow-up weekly thereafter. (end of Round Two)
  • Third Submission. The student has up to 2 months to revise and resubmit the paper. The Third Submission is the final round.
  • Feedback from the Advisor, Third Submission. When submitted, the student can expect to receive feedback on whether he or she will or will not be advanced to Candidacy within 30 working days (excluding faculty down-time).
  • Submission of the Clean, Final Copy. The process is not complete until the final clean copy has been submitted.
  • Receipt of the Candidacy Approval Letter. Begins the dissertation process and allows the student to choose her or his dissertation chair.

Writing Resources

This section discusses APA, introduces academic writing and provides links to rubrics, templates and guides designed to improve student effectiveness.

Use of APA

  • APA Style Guide. The Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies uses the format of the American Psychological Association (APA) as included in the Publication Manual, Fifth Edition. The APA Home Page provides additional information. A Sixth Edition is scheduled for release July 1, 2009.
  • DPLS Style Variations. The Program has adopted several changes in APA that are documented in The Guide to Style and Mechanics, also referred to as the Red Book. A spiral-bound hard copy can be purchased by contacting the program coordinator at 509-313-3485.

Academic Writing

Doctoral students are expected to demonstrate excellence in academic writing. Gocsik and Becker provide practical guidelines.

  • What is a Scholarly Paper? Based on the work of Karen Gocsik, Darmouth and adopted for the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies.
  • Becker, H. (1986) Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press (available GU Bookstore or BookFinder.com)

Rubrics

Papers are evaluated using three standard rubrics. Students must understand and master the competencies described in the rubrics to excel at scholarly writing.

Templates

Templates are MS Word files with about 25 predefined styles for headers, lists, references, block quotes, etc. Use of styles for headers makes it possible to automatically generate a Table of Contents.

Guides for Academic Papers and Dissertation
  • The Paper Format is a guide to the format of an academic paper and is an example of what an Academic Paper or Candidacy Paper should look like.
  • But I've Never Written A Dissertation Before: A User-friendly Guide for the Preparation of the Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation (November, 2008). Referred to as the The Blue Book.
Other Resources
  • Gonzaga University Writing Center The Writing Center strives to serve all writers in the academic community at Gonzaga University. The website of the Writing Center has excellent additional resources.
Last update: September 28, 2009