Doctor of Philosophy

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded to those who attain a high level of scholarship in a selected field, as well as the ability to conduct research.

Admission

Students not only must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study, but also must have demonstrated in their undergraduate courses, and in all work beyond the baccalaureate level, scholarly potential and notable intellectual ability. Admission will require the concurrence of the graduate program director and the Graduate School. A standardized appropriate measure is required and specified by all departments. Some departments specify additional skill, performance, or aptitude requirements.

Program Requirements

Period of Study

The equivalent of three academic years of full-time study beyond the bachelor’s degree and the completion typically of twelve semester hours of dissertation research constitute the minimum requirements for degree completion. The majority of all course work toward completion of the Ph.D. degree must be taken at Baylor. The doctorate is not based on a number of courses or time units, but rather on the demonstrated ability to be a contributing scholar. Consequently, an individual may spend more than the minimum time earning the degree. Students may not use a course to meet more than one degree requirement.

Foreign Language Requirement

The prerogative of requiring a foreign language for the Ph.D. degree rests with the degree program. For those programs requiring foreign language, the requirement will consist of one or more languages approved by the degree program in consultation with the Graduate School. English may not be used as a foreign language. Intermediate proficiency in a foreign language may be demonstrated via any one of the options below:

1. Presenting an official undergraduate transcript from Baylor University or another regionally accredited institution of higher learning showing that while enrolled the student received a grade of “B” or better in the Baylor University 2320 course or its equivalent course in the foreign language taken at another institution. Note: This option is valid if the above course was taken not more than five years before the student matriculates into the Baylor graduate program.
2. After matriculation into the graduate program at Baylor University, and after having satisfied the necessary prerequisites, enrolling in 2320 and receiving a grade of “B” or better.
3. Enrolling in French, German, or Spanish 5370/5371, or Latin or Greek 5321/5322 and receiving a grade of “B” or better in French, German, or Spanish 5371 or Latin or Greek 5322. These are reading courses designed specially for graduate students; no previous experience with the language is necessary. The Graduate School must receive a petition requesting the foreign language course be accepted as completion of the language requirement. These courses may not be audited, or taken Pass/Fail or Credit/Non-Credit.
4. Taking the reading examination offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, or another modern language approved by the candidate’s department), Department of Classics (Greek and Latin), or the Institute of Biblical and Related Languages (Hebrew and related Semitic Languages).
5. Presenting a degree from a foreign university. This procedure is valid if the student’s native language is not that of the country in which the degree has been obtained.

The language requirement must be met before the form for application for admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is filed. The student is responsible for securing proof of having satisfied the language requirement. Deadlines for meeting the language requirement may be found on the Graduate School website (www.baylor.edu/graduate) and additional information regarding foreign language test preparation can be found on the Modern Languages and Cultures website (www.baylor.edu/MLC). 

Major and Minor

A student’s major field of study is determined by the program to which a student is admitted. At the option of the department, students may be required to select one or two minor fields in a department(s) other than the major. Should the department not require a minor, the student may declare a minor with the consent of the departments involved.

Departmental Supervision

Graduate Program Directors are entrusted with the responsibility for the initial supervision for the student’s program of study. A research professor or committee, with the approval of the Graduate Program Director, assumes responsibility for supervising the student’s academic performance until the time of the preliminary examination.

Preliminary Examination

This examination is designed to test the student’s knowledge in the discipline or field(s) of study. It is either a written examination, or a combination of written and oral parts, and is given under the direction of both the graduate program director and a committee designated by the director. Incomplete grades must be removed prior to the preliminary examination.  If the student does not pass the preliminary examination, a second one may be given no sooner than four months after the first examination. After two failures, no further examination is permitted.

Admission to Candidacy

Students are recognized as candidates for a doctoral degree only after they have met the foreign language requirement (if required), passed the preliminary examination(s), completed all departmental requirements including all coursework (except the dissertation), and received approval by the Graduate School of their formal application for admission to candidacy. An application for admission to candidacy form must be filed with the Graduate School upon successful completion of the above requirements, and prior to a student registering for dissertation hours.

Dissertation Supervision

This committee is appointed by the major department typically no later than the student’s third semester of graduate study. The committee is entrusted with the responsibility of general supervision of the student’s program of study, research, and dissertation. The committee will consist of three Graduate Faculty members: the chairperson who mentors the research and dissertation, and at least two others.

Dissertation

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must present an acceptable dissertation on a problem in the field of their major subject. The dissertation must give evidence that the candidate has pursued a program of research, the results of which reveal scholarly competence and a significant contribution to knowledge.

Candidates should acquire the Guidelines for Preparing the Dissertation and Thesis and other necessary materials at the beginning of the semester in which graduation is expected. The most recent edition of Guidelines is available on the Baylor homepage www.baylor.edu/graduate/degree. Additional degree completion instructions are provided to students when they file for graduation. The Guidelines contain the directions for the procedure to complete the dissertation, an explanation of forms necessary, the semester calendar, and an explanation of fees associated with the process.

Final Examination

This oral examination is conducted by an examining body appointed by the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the graduate program director only after all courses, research, and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled. The dissertation research committee is an integral part of the examining committee.

See Dissertation Examining Committee Composition for additional information.

Candidates who fail this examination may take a second one only upon the recommendation of the graduate program director and the approval of the Graduate School. In no case will this examination be given until an interval of at least four months has elapsed. After two failures, no further examination is permitted.

No longer than ten days after the oral examination, but no later than the “last day” deadline posted in the Graduate School Academic Calendar for the semester of graduation, an electronic pdf copy of the dissertation in its final departmentally approved form should be submitted to the Graduate School. With the dissertation copy, the student should also submit the appropriate forms required, as stated in the Guidelines. A student is certified for graduation once the pdf copy of the dissertation is submitted electronically and approved, and all remaining steps, as stated in the Guidelines, have been completed.

Doctor of Education

Through the School of Education, Baylor University offers two Doctor of Education degrees.  In the department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change prepares students to apply essential principles of teaching and learning to manage the dynamics of organizational change. In the department of Educational Leadership, the degree program’s emphasis prepares graduates for competent professional performance in executive leadership roles.

Curriculum and Instruction

Admission

Applicants to the online Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change program must hold a master’s degree with a GPA that demonstrates strong academic success, which is 3.0 or higher, and at least two years of professional experience. The online Ed.D. program starts three times per year — in January, May, and August. The admissions team accepts and reviews applications year-round on a rolling basis. Successful applicants possess backgrounds that demonstrate an ability to excel in a doctoral program and a strong desire to have a positive impact in their field. GRE test scores are not required to apply to the online Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change program. All applicants must submit the online application, a resume/curriculum vitae, official transcripts of baccalaureate and master’s degrees from accredited institutions, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a video introduction.

Program Requirements

Transfer Credit: No transfer credit is allowed in this program.

Foreign Language: The Doctor of Education program has no foreign language requirement.

Admission to Candidacy: Admission to doctoral courses is not equivalent to admission to candidacy. Students are admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Education degree only after they have passed EDC 6392 Problem of Practice Phase Two during their fifth term in the program.

Major and Minor: In this program, there is a specific sequence of courses that provides students with a foundation in Learning and Organizational Change, so this is the major. No minor is available for this program.

Faculty Advisors: Faculty Advisors are assigned to each student at the time they enroll in EDC 6391 Problem of Practice Phase One and EDC 6392 Problem of Practice Phase Two. These faculty are the designated instructors for the Problem of Practice courses and mentor students in the development of their Problem of Practice during these courses.

Problem of Practice/Dissertation: The Problem of Practice is a comprehensive and ongoing written product that is completed throughout the program. Traditionally crafted as a “dissertation,” the Problem of Practice for this Ed.D. program will be organized and completed in three distinct phases, with designated benchmarks in the Problem of Practice courses. Students will work with faculty members to design and complete their Problem of Practice, formally presenting their ongoing progress throughout the program. The final written product will be submitted and presented to faculty during the final Problem of Practice course.

On-Campus Immersions: Ed.D. students come to campus for two days twice during the program to experience Baylor campus, interact with faculty and other campus leaders, and engage in collegial discussions to further develop their academic experience and the Problem of Practice.

Educational Leadership

Admission

The Doctor of Education degree requires a minimum of sixty-five semester hours beyond the master’s degree, and an adequate background in teaching pedagogy, school administration, elementary education, secondary education, educational psychology, the history and philosophy of education, educational statistics, and educational measurement.

Students must meet not only the general requirements for admission to graduate study, but must have demonstrated in their undergraduate courses and in all work above the baccalaureate level a scholarly interest and ability considerably beyond the average. Students desiring to work at the doctoral level must apply, even though another graduate degree may have been earned at Baylor University.

Admission to the Ed.D. Degree program is based upon student vocational aspirations as well as a variety of background, skill set/aptitudes and dispositions that project potential for successful completion of the program and subsequent success as a transformational K-12 leader. Applicants are sought who are already addressing educational/professional issues or who have a strong passion to gain skills and knowledge to address any number of pressing issues and problems faced in K-12 education systems. Specific factors considered in admission decisions include:

• Professional aspirations consistent with purpose of Baylor leadership preparation program
• Promising academic/professional aptitude for advanced study
• Successful teaching/administrative experience in a appropriate educational setting
• Personal/professional qualities and dispositions consistent with advanced study and an ethically-principled leadership
• Strong interpersonal and foundational communication skills
• Past academic performance
• Reasonable fit with available Baylor faculty and site-based mentor resources

In considering an individual’s program application, the following sources of information are required to complete the admission review process:

1. Letter of Application,
2. Three Professional Reference Letters,
3. Current Professional Resume, 
4. Certified University Transcript/s and professional certifications,
5. Professional Writing Sample,
6. Structured Interview,
7. Other Evidentiary Documents, such as portfolio of products that show leadership expertise, testimonials, performance evaluations, or sample innovations from teaching, leadership or writing experience.

Each of the above admission factors has associated with it one or more criteria intended to guide students in preparing applications and to aid the program in selecting students who demonstrate the high promise for a successful completion of the program and achieving the professional purpose for which the program is designed. In particular, the Baylor program seeks individuals as students who have a strong passion to gain skills and knowledge to provide ethical leadership and address any number of pressing issues and problems faced in K-12 education systems.

These criteria should not be viewed as individual requirements to be demonstrated, but rather as indicators that represent program planners’ judgment about how each factor might best be demonstrated by individuals approaching this program from a traditional K-12 educational background. Applicants may, and are encouraged to, consider addressing other criteria/indicators that address the identified admission factors to persuade the admissions committee of the relevance of their aspirations, experience, and aptitude for this program.

Program Requirements

Transfer credit. The policy concerning transfer, extension, and workshop courses is the same as that listed under the General Degree Requirements for Doctoral Degrees. The work must have been completed within five years prior to matriculation into the doctoral program.

Admission to candidacy. Admission to doctoral courses is not equivalent to admission to candidacy. Students are admitted to candidacy for the Doctor of Education degree only after they have passed the preliminary examination. Students pursuing the program for the Doctor of Education degree will be permitted to take the preliminary examination for admission to candidacy after they have completed thirty semester hours of program-approved graduate study beyond a master’s degree. This preliminary written examination should be a test of competence in the basic areas of study in education and should include general subject matter over the basic areas of educational leadership and support areas. The preliminary oral examination should be taken after students have passed the preliminary written examination. Admission to candidacy occurs after the student passes these two examinations. The preliminary examinations will be given each semester. They must be completed at least two semesters prior to the date the degree is conferred. In this case, the summer session may count as one semester. If any part of the written examination is failed, the examining committee may recommend reexamination. This may be permitted provided at least one-semester lapses between examinations. No more than two failures are permitted. An application for admission to candidacy form must be filed with the Graduate School upon successful completion of the above requirements, and prior to a student registering for dissertation hours. Students must be registered for at least one semester hour of graduate credit during the semester of intended graduation.

Supervisory committee. The major department appoints this committee typically no later than the student’s third semester of graduate study. The committee is entrusted with the responsibility of general supervision of the student’s program of study and dissertation. The committee will consist of three Graduate Faculty members: the chairperson who mentors the research and dissertation, and at least two others.

Dissertation. Candidates will be required to take courses in the methods and techniques of statistics, methods and techniques of research, framing and describing problems of practice as outlined in the degree plan. The dissertation must give evidence of student’s ability to treat and conduct research, analysis, and writing about an educational problem of significance. The Graduate School provides a range of helpful resources including Guidelines for Preparing the Dissertation and Thesis, a UMI document on copyrighting, and degree certification deadlines.

Foreign Language. The Doctor of Education program has no foreign language requirement.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The Doctor of Education program has no GRE requirement.

Final Examination. This oral examination is conducted by an examining body appointed by the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the graduate program director only after all courses, research, and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled. The dissertation research committee is an integral part of the examining committee.

Student will present results from dissertation to the superintendent of schools or agency head, and executive leadership team including original design team, and the governance board for the participating institution. Student may also be required to present findings and recommendations to other groups as requested by the superintendent or agency head, such as committees of teachers or principals, and/or the elementary, middle or secondary principals.

See Dissertation Examining Committee Composition for additional information.

Candidates who fail this examination may take a second one only upon the recommendation of the graduate program director and the approval of the Graduate School. In no case will this examination be given until an interval of at least four months has elapsed. After two failures, no further examination is permitted.

No longer than ten days after the oral examination, but no later than the “last day” deadline posted in the Graduate School Academic Calendar for the semester of graduation, an electronic pdf copy of the dissertation in its final departmentally approved form should be submitted to the Graduate School. With the dissertation copy, the student should also submit the appropriate forms required, as stated in the Guidelines. A student is certified for graduation once the pdf copy of the dissertation is submitted electronically and approved, and all remaining steps, as stated in the Guidelines, have been completed.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is offered by Baylor University through the Louise Herrington School of Nursing. The emphasis of this clinical doctorate is to prepare nurses in an advanced practice role such as nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, nurse executive leader and nurse anesthesia to become scholar‐practitioners to function in service‐related areas. The Post Master’s NP/NM DNP Program is designed for nurses who already hold a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner or nurse midwife. The Post Master’s DNP-ENL program is designed for those nurses who already hold a master’s degree in a non-nursing health related field and certification in executive nursing practice. The Baccalaureate to DNP (BSN to DNP) Program is designed to educate nurses in the advanced practice roles of adult gerontology acute care, family, neonatal, pediatric nurse practitioner or nurse midwife in order to provide evidence based, comprehensive healthcare to individuals and populations. The focus of the program is centered on the mission and values of service to under-served and global communities.

The U.S. Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing (USAGPAN) is a BSN to DNP US Army affiliated program. The USAGPAN information and admission requirements are located in the “Affiliated Programs, Nursing Anesthesia” section.

Admission

For admission to the Nursing Graduate Program, applicants must meet the general requirements set forth by the Graduate School and the Louise Herrington School of Nursing. Admission and degree requirements are located in the “Curriculum, Nursing” section of this catalog.

Program of Study

The baccalaureate to NP/NM DNP program consists of 75-89 credits and may be completed over 8 years. Length of time varies between specific roles, however the average time for a full-time student is 10 semesters. An example of program plans can be found under the LHSON section of the catalog.

Advanced practice nurses seeking a post-master’s DNP without a role change will have a 33-48 credit program of study. The average length of time for this post-master’s is 5 semesters. The program is built upon AACN’s Master’s Essentials. This program does not accept any transfer credit. Students will need to complete clinical hours to achieve a total of 1000 hours from BSN-DNP.

Post-Master’s students seeking a new Advanced Practice Role will be considered transfer students and be in the BSN-DNP program. This program consists of 75-89 credits and is built on AACN’s Baccalaureate Essentials. It may be completed over 8 years. The number of credits will vary depending on specific role as well as type of master’s degree. Transfer of credit for graduate courses is possible but must be equivalent to the courses offered at Baylor University and the student must have achieved a grade B or higher in the course. At a minimum student will need to complete 38 credits at Baylor University in addition to the master’s credit hours (up to 37 hours transferred from master’s work). However, the school of nursing reserves the right to add courses as needed to meet the licensure requirements of the LACE Consensus Model (advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment).

Advanced residency hours are performed under the supervision of qualified graduate nursing faculty and are arranged in conjunction with the student. The advanced residency is designed to meet the DNP competencies while focusing on the student specialty interest of practice.

The DNP Project is a three course, 6 credit hour evidence-based practice project developed, implemented, evaluated, and disseminated under the supervision of a DNP Project Advisor. The final completed project is formally presented to the faculty of the LHSON prior to graduation.

The baccalaureate to DNP graduate is prepared to sit for the national board examination required in each specialty. The post-master’s APRN DNP graduate is expected to maintain national certification in the specialty throughout the program.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree is offered by Baylor University in three distinct programs through the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.

Baylor University offers an Entry-Level OTD degree program using an accelerated, hybrid-learning curriculum. This program is 24 months in length and includes a blend of online coursework (synchronous and asynchronous), face-to-face lab immersion instruction, and clinical education. This program develops future Doctors of Occupational Therapy who are skilled, compassionate, and evidence-based clinicians; passionate in their pursuit of knowledge and professional development; and servant leaders to their community and profession.

The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD) degree is offered by Baylor University through the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences. The program is 16 months in length and is delivered fully online. The PP-OTD program prepares currently licensed occupational therapists who hold a master’s degree for continued professional development, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership roles by integrating evidence-based practice.

The OTD degree is also offered through an affiliation with the Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE), located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The program is 30 months in length and includes 18 months of didactic coursework, and 12 months of two level II fieldwork clinical affiliations and a doctoral capstone experience and project. Students are commissioned in the U.S. Army. Due to the students’ active duty obligation and association with the uniformed services, certain policies and procedures governing students are unique to this program and may be found in the most current Program Manual or the individual student assessment plan (ISAP) published by this graduate program. For a description of the admission requirements, prerequisite course information, curriculum, and graduation requirements, see the “Affiliated Programs” section of this catalog.

Doctor of Psychology

This professional degree is offered by Baylor University through the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. The emphasis in this degree program is on the training of clinical psychologists as scholar-practitioners to function in applied-service situations.

Admission

Students not only must meet the general admission requirements for graduate study, but must have demonstrated in their undergraduate and any postgraduate courses a scholarly and professional interest considerably above the average. Twelve hours of undergraduate psychology courses and a GRE general exam score that is predictive of success in this program are required. In addition, an autobiography, a record of relevant experience, a statement of research interests, and three letters of recommendation are required as a part of the completed application. Direct clinical or practicum-oriented experience in a closely related field is one of several major criteria used to evaluate applicants for the program. In addition, experience with and interest in clinically applied research is desired in successful applicants. Admission to this program is made only at the beginning of the second six weeks of the summer session each year, and all application materials must be received on or before December 1 of the year prior to beginning the program. Admission will require the concurrence of the chairperson of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Graduate School. Students must apply to this doctoral program even though another graduate degree may have been earned at Baylor University.

Program Requirements

Period of study. The Doctor of Psychology degree is a five-year program. Four years, including summers, consist of campus residency, including didactic and clinical practica and research totaling 115 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. These courses follow a sequence established by the program faculty; a student may not alter this sequence or omit courses from the specified program without written approval by the program director. The fifth year is an internship program.

Time limitation. The maximum time limit for the doctoral degree is eight years from the time the student first matriculates into the doctoral program. After this time the student may request a one-year extension. Once a student’s time limit expires, any student wishing to return to complete their degree after a one year absence, must reapply for admission to graduate school. The student would enter under the current catalog and the appropriate course work for degree completion may be revalidated or not, according to the policy of the individual program in consultation with the Graduate School.

Foreign language requirement. There is no requirement for competency in a foreign language for the Psy.D. program.

Residency. At least twelve consecutive semesters of residency are required.  Summer school may count for no more than four of the semesters. Students must be registered for at least one semester hour of graduate credit during the semester of intended graduation.

Supervisory committee. The full-time clinical faculty of the Psy.D. Program, approved by the Graduate School, is entrusted with the responsibility of general supervision of the student’s program of study, clinical practica, and internship. The Graduate Program Director chairs this committee.

Qualifying and comprehensive examinations. There are two qualifying written examinations, one in January of the second year and the other at the end of the third year. Students must pass the qualifying examinations prior to approval for internship. If any part of the qualifying examination is failed, the examining committee may recommend reexamination. No more than one failure per examination is permitted, and at least four months must elapse between examinations. A new comprehensive examination structure will be in place for students who begin the program in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Admission to candidacy. Admission to the doctoral program is not equivalent to admission to candidacy. Students are admitted to candidacy after successful completion of at least seventy-one semester hours of residency, and after satisfactory performance of the written qualifying examination.  Formal application for admission to candidacy is made through procedures established by the Graduate School.

Clinical practicum. At least thirty semester hours of practicum training are required of all students.  Practicum hours must be completed prior to the internship year.

Dissertation and research practicum. In the fourth year of study, each student will complete a clinical research practicum. This practicum requires six semester hours of Dissertation research and must result in a completed Dissertation in Clinical Psychology.

Dissertation supervision. A committee is designated by the graduate program director. This committee may be the same committee that assumes responsibility for the initial supervision, or it may be newly appointed. The committee that provides initial supervision is five readers, including the chairperson, all members of Graduate Faculty. The student’s mentor is the chairperson of the committee.

Dissertation. Candidates for the Doctor of Psychology degree must present an acceptable dissertation on a problem in the field of their major subject. The dissertation must give evidence that the candidate has pursued a program of research, the results of which reveal scholarly competence and a significant contribution to knowledge.

Candidates should acquire the Guidelines for Preparing the Dissertation and Thesis and other necessary materials at the beginning of the semester in which graduation is expected. The most recent edition of Guidelines is available on the Baylor Graduate School website. Additional degree completion materials not available on the homepage are provided to students when they file for graduation. The Guidelines contain the directions for the procedure to complete the dissertation, an explanation of forms necessary, the semester calendar, and an explanation of fees associated with the process.

Dissertation Examination. This oral examination is conducted by an examining body appointed by the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the graduate program director only after all research and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled. The dissertation research committee is an integral part of the examining committee.

The dissertation examining committee will include a minimum of five members, including the chairperson. At least two members, including the chairperson, will be Baylor Graduate Faculty from the degree-granting program. At least one member must be a member of Baylor’s Graduate Faculty whose primary appointment is from a program other than the one conferring the degree. This non-program member helps to ensure a consistent level of quality, rigor, and fairness across all graduate programs at Baylor University. The committee may also include one member from outside of Baylor with approval of the candidate’s Graduate Program Director. Non-Baylor committee members are not eligible to serve as the dissertation chairperson. The Graduate Program Director is responsible for ensuring the relevant expertise of the non-Baylor committee member and notifying the Graduate School through the Announcement of Doctoral Oral Examination form. The candidate’s dissertation director will serve as the chairperson of the committee and ensure that formal announcement of the examination is made, that the exam is conducted fairly, and that it is open to the faculty. The committee may include additional members beyond the required minimum of five. Preferably, the student and the examiners will be present in person, but in certain cases (e.g., online degree programs, extenuating circumstances, etc.) this may not be logistically possible. A Graduate Program Director may approve alternative formats for examination, including virtual, video-conferenced participation of one or more examiner(s).  Such approval needs to be accompanied with justification to the Graduate School. 

Candidates who fail this examination may take a second one only upon the recommendation of the graduate program director and the approval of the Graduate School. In no case will this examination be given until an interval of at least four months has elapsed. After two failures, no further examination is permitted.

No longer than ten days after the oral examination, but no later than the “last day” deadline posted in the Graduate School Academic Calendar for the semester of graduation, an electronic pdf copy of the dissertation in its final departmentally approved form should be submitted to the Graduate School. With the dissertation copy, the student should also submit the appropriate forms required, as stated in the Guidelines. A student is certified for graduation once the pdf copy of the dissertation is submitted electronically and approved, and all remaining steps, as stated in the Guidelines, have been completed.

Predoctoral internship. Each student is required to complete a predoctoral internship in the fifth year of the program at a site accredited by the American Psychological Association. Students on internship must enroll in PSY 6V01 Clinical Internship each term while on internship.

Other requirements. Each student is required to comply in full with all additional policies and rules specified in the Psy.D. Program manual. This manual is distributed to all students enrolled in the program.

Additional information. See “Psychology and Neuroscience” in the courses section of the catalog.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is offered by Baylor University in two distinct programs through the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.

Baylor University offers a DPT degree program using a hybrid learning curriculum. This program is 24 months in length and includes a blend of online coursework (synchronous and asynchronous), onsite lab immersion instruction, and clinical education. This program graduates Doctors of Physical Therapy who are skilled, compassionate, and evidence-based clinicians; passionate in their pursuit of knowledge and professional development; and servant leaders to their community and profession.

The DPT degree is also offered through an affiliation with the Army Medical Department Center and School, Health Readiness Center of Excellence located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The program is 30 months in length and includes 18 months of didactic coursework, a clinical affiliation during Semester II, and 12 months of clinical internship. Students are commissioned in one of three of the uniformed services: Army, Navy, or Air Force. Due to the students’ active duty obligation and association with the uniformed services, certain policies and procedures governing students are unique to this program and may be found in the most current Program Manual or the individual student assessment plan (ISAP) published by this graduate program. For a description of the admission requirements, prerequisite course information, curriculum, and graduation requirements, see the “Affiliated Programs” section of this catalog.

Doctor of Science in Occupational Therapy

Baylor University offers the Doctor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy (D.Sc.O.T.), in affiliation with the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE). This degree is an advanced-practice post-professional clinical doctorate designed to meet Army occupational therapists’ professional development and specialty needs. The program’s didactic, clinical, and research components are presented at Brooke Army Medical Center and additional facilities at Joint Base San Antonio, Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The program is designed for active duty Army and Navy occupational therapy personnel possessing a master’s degree in occupational therapy. For a description of the prerequisites and degree requirements, refer to the “Affiliated Programs” section of this catalog.

Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy

Baylor University offers the Doctor of Science degree in Physical Therapy (D.Sc.P.T.), major in Orthopaedics, in affiliation with the U.S. Army, at two locations. The concentration for the program offered at Brook Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, is Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy. For the program offered at Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, the concentration is Sports Medicine and Primary Care.

The program mission is to produce active duty, post-graduate-level specialty trained physical therapists who provide state-of-the-art advanced care and clinically relevant research to benefit the Military Health System. Further information is presented in the “Affiliated Programs” section of this catalog.

Doctor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

Baylor University offers the Doctor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies (D.Sc.P.A.S.), major in Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, and Orthopaedics, in affiliation with the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School. The program is designed for active-duty personnel who already hold the master’s degree in physician assistant studies. The curriculum provides advanced education and training to further enhance the abilities of clinicians to save soldiers’ lives on the battlefield and to serve Military Health System beneficiaries. For a description of prerequisites and degree requirements, refer to the “Affiliated Programs” section of this catalog.