Summer Only Option

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-WWW 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. Illustrative Four and Five years programs are outlined below.

+Summer schedules

Summer terms are very intense and students are expected to have completed a significant part of the assigned reading and in some cases specific assignments before the first class of the session. During the regular six week summer term (Summer II on the Gonzaga Calendar) classes meet seven times, and each class session is four hours. Most classes are offered during the evening between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm with classes occassionally offered during the day.

Gonzaga offers a limited number of one-credit and three-credit courses during the two weeks immediately prior to the beginning of the regular six week summer term. Three-credit courses will meet eight times, Monday through Thursday, over two weeks, generally between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Special one-credit courses are also offered during the summer session and meet for eight hours on two consecutive days.

+Non-summer courses

Students are expected to integrate academic study during the rest of the year with the courses they take during the summer. To support these activities, the Program provides forseveral types of credit that can be earned by students without being present on the campus.A total of 21 credits can be completed off-campus (12 individualized study or transfer, 3 on-line or internship/mentorship, 6 dissertation).

+Communications and the special needs of students during the summer terms 

Access to and familiarity with the Internet-WWW and e-mail are especially critical for all students during the summer terms. Syllabi for courses will be available on the Web at least six weeks prior to the first class. Syllabi for courses will include details on advanced assignments and a list of books and other reading materials. Books can be ordered from the Gonzaga Bookstore . In some cases, additional course materials are mailed to students prior to the start of classes. Students should plan to be admitted to the program at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the term and to register for classes when registration begins in March. As soon as students are admitted to the program, they will receive information needed for class registration. Information on subscribing to the Doctoral listserver is available on-line . The listserver allows the faculty (and other students in the program) to communicate by e-mail to everyone in the program who has subscribed to the listserver by sending an e-mail message to one address. The listserver is used for communicating information on changes in courses, schedules for special orientation program, updates on housing and special events in the Spokane area, and times and places for socials. E-mail provides the primary means for communication between students and their advisors and for students to get answers to their questions both before and after they start the program. Prior to arriving for the summer term, e-mail provides a way for communicating with the mentor. Computer files attached to e-mail messages (or transferred using FTP in situations where files can not be sent as attachments to e-mail) can be used to submit advanced assignments, written requirements for independent credits, the candidacy paper, and draft chapters of the dissertation proposal and dissertation. Registered students can request a Post Office Box on campus by contacting Mail Services (509) 323-5694. They can also request their MSC number (student mail addresses at Gonzaga University do not use the word BOX in the address) prior to their arrival on-campus. There is a small fee and key deposit for the mail services.

+Illustrative Five Year Program

The five year program assumes that students attend only the regular six-week summer term.

Year One.

Year Two. Year Three Year Four Year Five Year Six Summary: Illustrative Five Year Program.

	Summer	Regular School Yr	Cumulative	Notes
Year One	6	3	9
Year Two	9	3	21	Candidacy
Year Three	9	3	33
Year Four	9	6	48
Year Five	6	6	60	Proposal Seminar

+Illustrative Four Year Program

The five year program assumes that students attend both the regular six-week summer term and the two-week summer term.

Year One.

Year Two. Year Three Year Four Year Five Summary: Illustrative Four Year Program

	Summer	Regular School Yr.	Cumulative	Notes
Year One	9	3	12
Year Two	12	6	30	Candidacy
Year Three	12	6	48
Year Four	6	6	60	Proposal Seminar

+Summer Environment for Graduate Students

Gonzaga University and Spokane, Washington offer several options for housing and food services during the summer. Dussault and Burch Apartments, located on the Gonzaga campus, offer newer, spacious, and semi-private accommodations. Units are two-bedrooms in size, with each bedroom having its own separate lock, cable jack, computer network jack, phone extension, bed, dresser, and desk. The units also contain a furnished living room, a kitchen (pots, pans and microwave are not provided), a bathroom, and a balcony or patio. Summer students have their own bedroom and can request a preferred apartment-mate by name or by category such as another doctoral student. Units in Burch are air-conditioned. Students living in these units generally do not enroll in University sponsored food plans. Instead, they cook or eat-out at any of the numerous nearby (15-minute walk or less) or downtown (20-25 minute walk) establishments. Weather during the summer in Spokane is generally warm and dry. Gonzaga University and Spokane, Washington provide a wide range of cultural and recreational opportunities during the summer. Summer students report that a private car is not necessary, but a bicycle would be useful.

The Ministry Institute offers housing as well.  Just a few blocks from campus, you may reserve space as availble during your stay.

Last update 27 Mar 2006 mbeattie

Summer schedules
Non summer courses
Communication via computer
Illustrative five year program
Illustrative four year program
Summer environment for graduate students