Common Framework
Students in the Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs form a Doctoral Capstone Committee upon advancement to candidacy. The Doctoral Capstone Committee oversees the student's Applied Capstone Project from proposal through final defense.
The Doctoral Capstone Committee minimally consists of:
- Committee Chair — A Reinhardt University faculty member who holds the Doctoral Capstone Chair designation in accordance with faculty credentialing policies
- Methodological Expert — a Methodological expert will review the manuscript at various milestones in the process (prior to the proposal defense and final defense) and provide feedback as well as approval of the data collection and analysis plan. The Methodological Expert should be a faculty member or qualified professional with demonstrated expertise in the research methodology employed by the student's Applied Capstone Project
Additional committee members may be appointed beyond this minimum at the discretion of the program director and with appropriate approvals.
The EdS program does not require a Doctoral Capstone Committee. EdS students are supported through faculty advising only. See the EdS program page.
Committee Chair Eligibility
The Committee Chair must hold the Doctoral Capstone Chair designation as governed by Reinhardt University's faculty credentialing policies. The designation criteria, review process, and maintenance requirements are administered by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Methodological Expert Eligibility
The Methodological Expert must demonstrate expertise in the specific research methodology employed in the student's Applied Capstone Project. Qualified temporary graduate faculty may serve in this role subject to program director approval.
Student Role in Committee Selection
The student will complete a form at the start of their Capstone journey outlining their intended study. On that form, the student will list 3-4 eligible faculty who they would like to serve as their chair. The program coordinator will review the list and engage faculty to determine who is available to serve as chair.