Assessment of Progress
Although the screening of applicants is intended to discern their ability to complete doctoral studies successfully, some applicants will find their learning style and/or personal circumstances not amenable to the rigors of doctoral level study.
The Church & Ministry Leadership Department conducts a series of evaluations at key points in the program of study to protect students from investing time and financial resources into a program they are unlikely to complete successfully.
Capital faculty evaluates all doctoral students at the end of the first term of study to determine the feasibility of students being able to complete the doctoral program successfully. This evaluation consists of a review of course grades plus the self-directed learning skills demonstrated by students. Students whose classroom performance indicates they are unlikely to complete the remaining program requirements successfully will not be allowed to continue in the program, and will be encouraged to explore other types of training as appropriate.
Students are re-evaluated at the end of all coursework (the end of year one). Only students who have completed all 6 courses with a B- or higher are permitted to continue into the research phase of the program. At the program director’s discretion, a student who receives a course grade lower than a B- may be permitted to re-take the course. However, due to the “on demand by cohort” model of the program, there may be a significant delay until the course is offered again. Students who receive more than one course grade lower than a B- will be terminated from the program.
The Applied Research Dissertation defense is a natural certification evaluation point in the program of studies. Students who fail to complete the Applied Research Dissertation successfully are automatically terminated from the program of studies.