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College of Doctoral Studies

Applied Dissertation Pathway

Welcome to your doctoral journey and the Applied Dissertation Pathway! We’re so proud that you’ve decided to take this step in your career. Our mission is to develop doctoral leaders who conduct research for creative action and provide guidance to diverse organizations through effective decision-making.

Effective August 1, 2026, the College of Doctoral Studies will offer two dissertation pathways: the Traditional Dissertation and the Applied Dissertation. As you progress through your coursework, your doctoral faculty will provide detailed information about each pathway along with guidance to help you determine which option best aligns with your goals.

The Applied Dissertation Pathway (ADP) is specifically designed for professionals seeking to use research to improve organizations, solve complex challenges, and inform evidence-based decision making. The Applied Dissertation Pathway provides a structured, rigorous doctoral journey focused on understanding real-world problems of practice within professional and organizational contexts. While the academic expectations, milestones, and degree requirements remain consistent with the traditional dissertation, the ADP emphasizes how research is applied, communicated, and used to inform decision-making and practice.

Students progress through clearly defined dissertation phases supported by dedicated faculty, dissertation chairs, and committee members, ensuring consistent academic guidance, methodological rigor, and progress toward completion.

Each phase builds intentionally, moving from early research planning to applied inquiry, culminating in a set of scholarly and practice-focused deliverables that demonstrate both academic rigor and real-world relevance.Ìý

Five Phases. One Goal. Real-World Impact.

Phase 1

Research Plan

Phase 4

Applied Research Methods Package

Phase 2

Applied Research Plan

Phase 5

Applied Dissertation Deliverables and Oral Defense

Phase 3

Concept Manuscript

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Understanding the Applied Pathway

The Applied Dissertation Pathway differs from the traditional pathway not in rigor, but in purpose and format:

  • Focuses on a defined problem of practice in a real-world setting
  • Produces research-informed deliverables designed for both academic and professional audiences
  • Emphasizes application, feasibility, and organizational context
  • Maintains full requirements for research design, IRB approval, and oral defense
  • Research findings often generate recommendations and insights that can be useful to organizations, communities, and professional practitioners.

Bottom Line:

Students complete a full doctoral research study while developing the ability to translate findings into meaningful insights that can inform leadership, strategy, and practice.

The Dissertation Process

The Applied dissertation pathway (ADP) process occurs in five phases. Students should use the courses in each phase to build upon each phase deliverable and can dovetail course materials from content and research courses.ÌýÌýStudents should view the for further alignment support.

The five phases are:

  • Phase 1: Research Plan
  • Phase 2: Applied Research Plan
  • Phase 3: Concept Manuscript
  • Phase 4: Applied Research Methods Package
  • Phase 5: Applied Dissertation Deliverables and Oral Defense

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Select the phase you would like to review

Role Of Doctoral Student

Doctoral students are accountable for writing all chapters of the proposal and dissertation while enrolled in dissertation classes and independently outside of designated dissertation courses. Students select dissertation topics that reflect gaps in the literature or problems identified from their practitioner experience. Students must choose dissertation topics aligned with their degree programs.

Doctoral students rely on committee feedback to build robust, cohesive, and quality research projects aligned with the CDS’s mission to enhance their positions as Scholar-Practitioner-LeadersSM (SPL) in their industries.

Dissertation Committee Roles

Students enrolled in the College of Doctoral Studies at the °®ÎÛ´«Ã½ are expected to be dedicated, self-motivated, responsible, and independent learners accountable for the development of their dissertation. Doctoral faculty members are dedicated to supporting and guiding students to the completion of the doctorate.

Doctoral seminar courses are writing-intensive classes for students. The faculty provides guidance, review, and feedback on dissertation deliverables to support the student in building a quality, robust dissertation. Students should be in doctoral seminar classes for full reviews.

The Commitee Includes:

  • Dissertation Chair – Provides primary academic leadership, methodological guidance, and oversight
  • Committee Members (University Research Methodologist (URM) and Panel Validator (PV))ÌýÌý– Contribute subject matter expertise and support research quality and alignment

Key Responsibilities:

  • Guide development of the research plan and applied design
  • Ensure alignment between problem, purpose, and methodology
  • Support ethical research practices and IRB compliance
  • Provide feedback on deliverables and applied outputs
  • Evaluate readiness for final defense
Back to phase selection

Phase 1: Research Plan

Establishes alignment among the problem of practice, purpose statement, research questions, design selection, theoretical or conceptual framework, and feasibility within the organizational context.

Purpose:

  • Establish alignment between problem, purpose, and research questions
  • Confirm feasibility within an organizational setting
  • Build methodological clarity and ethical awareness

Key Milestones:

  • Research Plan (Draft and Revised)
  • Organizational Acknowledgment (initial and alignment confirmation)
  • Organizational Alignment Plan
  • Researcher Reflexivity Analysis

Courses

  • BUS/700, EDD/700, DHA/700 (8 weeks)
  • LDR/711A (8 weeks) Leadership Theory and Practice
  • RES/709 (8 weeks) Research Conceptualization and Design
  • DOC/714S (8 weeks) Symposium I - Deliverable: Research Plan

This phase emphasizes early alignment with real-world conditions, ensuring the study is both academically sound and practically executable.Ìý

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Phase 2: Applied Research Plan

Defines and defends a coherent, feasible applied study grounded in a specific problem of practice, organizational context, aligned inquiry, research design, and data/evidence strategy. The initial Organizational Acknowledgment and Preliminary Approval Form must also be submitted.

In this phase, students deepen the scholarly foundation of their study while refining the applied focus.

Purpose

  • Establish scholarly and theoretical grounding
  • Demonstrate the significance of the problem of practice
  • Confirm continued organizational relevance and feasibility

Key Milestones

  • Concept Manuscript
  • Updated Organizational Acknowledgment

Courses

  • RES/724 (8 weeks)
  • RES/710 (8 weeks)Ìý
  • Program Content Requirement Course (8 weeks)
  • Program Content Elective Course (8 weeks)
  • DOC/715 (8 week) Doctoral Seminar I - Deliverable: Applied Research Plan

Students connect research literature to real-world challenges, strengthening the bridge between theory and application.

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Phase 3: Concept Manuscript

Positions the problem of practice within broader professional, disciplinary, and systemic contexts. Conceptual in nature and does not include organizational data, methods, procedures, or local analysis.

This phase finalizes the study design and ensures ethical readiness for data collection.

Purpose

  • Demonstrate methodological completeness and coherence
  • Ensure ethical compliance and participant protection
  • Prepare for applied data collection within organizational settings

Key Milestones

  • Applied Research Methods Package
  • IRB Application and Approval
  • Reflective Research Log (initiated)

Courses

  • Two Content Program Courses (8 weeks each)
  • DOC/723 (8 weeks) Doctoral Seminar II

Students must show that their research design is both rigorous and feasible within real-world constraints.

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Phase 4: Applied Research Methods Package

Consolidates finalized methodological components and demonstrates methodological completeness, ethical soundness, and feasibility in preparation for IRB submission.

Purpose

  • Present research findings with scholarly rigor
  • Translate insights into accessible, practice-oriented formats
  • Demonstrate the ability to defend the study and its applied contribution

Key Milestones

  • Applied Research Report
  • Executive Summary (practice-facing)
  • Publication and Dissemination Plan
  • Final Reflective Research Log
  • Oral Defense Presentation

Courses

  • Two Content Program Courses (8 weeks each)
  • DOC/741 (8 weeks) Doctoral Seminar III - Deliverable: Applied Research Methods Package

Unlike the traditional five-chapter model, this phase produces a set of integrated scholarly artifacts designed for multiple audiences.Ìý

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Phase 5: Full Dissertation Deliverables and Oral DefenseÌý

This final phase focuses on conducting research, analyzing findings, and producing applied, practice-facing deliverables.

Purpose

  • Present research findings with scholarly rigor
  • Translate insights into accessible, practice-oriented formats
  • Demonstrate the ability to defend the study and its applied contribution

Key Milestones

  • Applied Research Report
  • Executive Summary (practice-facing)
  • Publication and Dissemination Plan
  • Final Reflective Research Log
  • Oral DefenseÌý

Courses

  • IRB Review and Approval (occuring concurrently)
  • One Content Program Course (8 weeks)
  • DOC/719S (8 weeks)
  • DOC/742 (8 week) Doctoral Project IV Applied Dissertation Deliverables and Oral Defense

Unlike the traditional five-chapter model, this phase produces a set of integrated scholarly artifacts designed for multiple audiences.Ìý

Back to phase selection