Applied Doctoral Project II: Defense

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Applied Project I: Submission Course (CSL8010)

Students will defend their final ADP. This course supports students in implementing their approved applied project, collecting and analyzing data, presenting results in Chapter 4, and developing conclusions, implications, and recommendations in Chapter 5.

Please note: The distinctions between course competencies at the Master’s and Doctoral levels reflect the differing expectations for depth and breadth of knowledge required in each program.

UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, THE STUDENT WILL BE COMPETENT IN:

• Executing the approved applied project plan, including interventions, evaluations, or data collection activities, within organizational and time constraints.
• Collecting and managing quantitative and/or qualitative data using secure, organized, and ethically sound practices.
• Applying appropriate analytic techniques (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed) to answer the project’s research questions or objectives.
• Interpreting analytic results accurately, distinguishing between data-based conclusions and unsupported inference.
• Presenting findings clearly and systematically, organized around research questions/objectives or project outcomes.
• Using tables, figures, and narrative descriptions effectively to convey key results to academic and practitioner audiences.
• Connecting findings back to the original problem of practice, purpose statement, and literature review.
• Demonstrating coherence between the implemented methods and the results obtained.
• Drawing evidence-based conclusions that are logically derived from the findings.
• Articulating practical implications and actionable recommendations for relevant organizations, stakeholders, or the broader field.
• Critically evaluating the limitations of the project’s design, implementation, and data.
• Proposing realistic directions for future improvement, follow-up projects, or additional research.
• Upholding ethical standards in implementation, data handling, reporting, and communication with stakeholders.
• Addressing confidentiality, consent, and organizational sensitivities in the dissemination of project results.
• Producing a polished, integrated written report (Chapters 1–5) that meets graduate-level standards for clarity, organization, and technical accuracy.
• Applying required style and formatting guidelines consistently across the complete manuscript.
• Delivering a clear, concise oral or visual presentation that summarizes the problem, methods, findings, and implications for practice.
• Responding to questions and critiques, demonstrating ownership of the project and readiness to act on feedback.

Important Documents:

Applied Doctoral Project Handbook

Doctoral Program – Student Handbook