Courses Leadership & Organizational Management

Courses 

Total program credits needed for graduation: 72 quarter credits

One academic quarter is three months. You will have a three-week break between each quarter.

Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work. For more information, see the Licensure section for this program on Capella’s website (www.capella.edu).

Keystone

Your doctoral program includes a keystone course which is intended to help you develop a strong foundation for your doctoral capstone topic. In this course, you’ll work with a faculty member who is an expert in the capstone process, examining the key supporting elements of your capstone topic. You’ll synthesize the knowledge and skills needed to prepare to complete your capstone project successfully. In addition, the faculty member in the keystone course will help you identify strategies to secure a project site to help complete your project. This experience will help you hit the ground running when you move into your doctoral capstone base as you near completion of the doctorate in human services.

Capstone

The doctoral capstone is the culminating activity for the Doctor of Human Services program. The doctoral capstone requires a minimum of 4 quarters to complete. The capstone project will demonstrate your use of evidence to improve outcomes or resolve a gap in the field. As you develop your project, write your findings using an evidence-based approach, and complete your work, your experience will give you the skills and knowledge to practice at the top of your profession.

There are two approved options for your final capstone project: research paper or professional product

RESEARCH PAPER: This is defined as a publishable scholar-practitioner analysis based on research about a specific problem or issues appropriate to your specialization. The paper can take the form of an action research monograph or program description/analysis of an ongoing human services agency.

PROFESSIONAL PRODUCT: This is defined as an application of research to create a specific arrangement of materials and activities to bring about improvement in human service practice at a specific organizational setting. The product takes the form of program plan to help meet a need or goal within an organization or a change management plan that entails a set of processes, policies, and materials needed to help your selected organization meet objectives.