Doctor of Professional Practice
The Doctor of Professional Practice is designed for experienced practitioners to develop advanced knowledge and skills relevant to their professional context. It equips mature professionals to develop their research competency and their critically reflective practice, and to further develop their theoretical knowledge.
Candidates undertake advanced coursework and independent supervised research, integrating critical thinking, spiritual awareness, and theological engagement with a body of knowledge and lived experience through enquiry-based research to address complex problems and initiate positive and sustainable change in their professional context. By engaging with theory and practice, candidates contribute in significant ways to the application of knowledge and/or practice within diverse professional contexts.
Candidates then complete a research project of not more than 65,000 words and submit at least one article or equivalent to a peer-reviewed publication.
Graduates of the program are strategically innovative and collaborative practitioners who integrate understandings of self, profession, systems, and context.
Course outcomes
Graduates of the Doctor of Professional Practice
- Critically analyse existing knowledge and practice to develop new solutions and concepts for advancing professional practice.
- Integrate insights into self, profession, systems and context with theoretical, ethical and theological understanding to empower critically reflective praxis.
- Evaluate, design, and justify the choice of appropriate research and investigative approaches to examine and solve issues of professional practice.
- Communicate and disseminate research data and findings to peers and diverse professional bodies with sensitivity and spiritual awareness.
- Exhibit autonomy, considered judgement, and thought leadership in professional practice.
Coursework (Year 1)
Candidates must complete Year 1 before proceeding to Year 2. This requires:
- successful completion of the eight core units with a credit (65-74%) or above grade average prior to progressing to a confirmation panel.
If a candidate has passed all coursework units but not achieved a credit or above average, the Doctor of Professional Practice Director can apply to the Dean of the School of Graduate Research for permission to allow the candidate to proceed to confirmation panel if one of the following criteria are met:
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- evidence of improvement in grade average in the last four units in the coursework sequence (i.e. PPX104Z, PPX105Z, PPX106Z and PPX108Z) such that the credit average is met across these units; or
- evidence that the omission of the grade from one unit that has significantly impacted the grade average would result in the candidate’s achievement of a credit average; or
- demonstration of exceptional circumstances that impacted the candidate’s ability to maintain the required credit average.
- successful application for confirmation of candidature, including approval of the proposed research project.
Research (Years 2 and 3)
Students complete a research project of not more than 65,000 words (inclusive of all elements except the bibliography) and undergo independent examination by at least two external expert examiners of international standing, including an Oral Examination.
The research project constitutes an advancement of knowledge in the context of professional practice through systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialised, independent research skills.
Research projects may be presented in one of the following forms:
- a thesis of 65,000 words
- an exegeted research project or report
- a publication portfolio and meta-analysis
- an exegeted non-traditional research output (NTRO).
Students who do not complete the course of study within the maximum time and whose candidature lapses in good standing may be permitted to submit a research project for examination within two years of the date on which candidature lapsed.
Entry requirements
Applicants may only be admitted by the School of Graduate Research Committee. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission. The Committee takes into consideration the applicant’s potential to undertake research, quality and feasibility of the research proposal, availability of appropriate supervision, and employer or referee reports.
Minimum Academic Requirements
Applicants for the Doctor of Professional Practice must have:
- completed four years of full-time tertiary study or part-time equivalent relevant to their professional practice
- five years’ work experience in the chosen field of professional practice
Other Requirements
- Applicants are only admitted to the Doctor of Professional Practice if they satisfy the School of Graduate Research Committee that they have the professional and academic experience to undertake research which contributes to knowledge in an area of professional practice.
- Admission is by written application and interview with the DPP Coordinator, and one other research active University faculty member designated by the School of Graduate Research Committee.
Applicants must provide:
- details of two referees who know the applicant’s professional practice and/or academic ability
- a letter of support from their employer, where relevant/appropriate
- a statement (1000–1500 words) written by them that outlines their professional experience, general area of research interest and how the DPP might help them develop their career and make an impactful contribution to knowledge and practice in their field
- a portfolio of three substantial pieces of their own work (including writing of approximately 5000 words or equivalent combined)
- their CV (no more than 5 pages in length)
Key admission policies
Where the first language is other than English, please see the English language proficiency requirements in the Admissions Policy.
ALC operates with a policy of credit transfer and recognition of prior learning (RPL); see the Credit Policy.
Study modes
- The course work units in the DPP are a mixture of online units and units with a compulsory face-to-face intensive.
- Supervisor meetings can be held using electronic means where required.
FEE-HELP
- Yes—this course is registered for FEE-HELP.
Accreditation
- The Doctor of Professional Practice is an accredited AQF level 10 course of the University of Divinity (UD).
- For further information, see UD course information for Doctor of Professional Practice.
