Gonzaga University and Spokane, Washington provide a superb environment for summer classes. The Doctoral Program in Leadership allows students to complete their required on-campus course work during summer terms, but assumes that academic studies will be a year-round activity. Careful planning on the part of the student is needed to make the most of the summer terms and to integrate summer terms with credit that does not require the student's presence on campus. Computer-based telecommunication such as e-mail and the Internet are especially relevant to summer-only students.

A flexible program NOT based on cohorts required to take courses together, sequencing of courses, or traditional residence requirements allows a student to work with the faculty to design a program of study that responds to the student's individual needs. Students can complete all requirements for the Ph.D., including the Dissertation, within four years. However, most summer-only students will take five or six years. Like all students in the program, summer-only students have seven years to complete the degree from the time they are admitted.