Prepare for a Successful Future with a Doctoral Residency

Doctoral student in graduation gown holds GCU diploma folder

If you are a doctoral learner, attending residency may be a requirement for your degree program. A residency will provide you with the ideal opportunity to advance your skills as you collaborate with faculty, other doctoral learners and your doctoral graduation team in a week-long program. Continue reading to learn about how a doctoral residency at Grand Canyon University can prepare you for a successful future:

Residency Program Objectives

Your doctoral residency can help to ensure the success and timeliness of your dissertation journey. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn more about the steps in the doctoral journey and the role of your committee.
  • Learn about the doctoral resources available to you.
  • Work with expert faculty and staff members who are knowledgeable about research and the dissertation process.
  • Create a network of peers for collaboration and support.

In addition to these opportunities, you will benefit from special speakers, professional exchange forums, elective sessions and the opportunity to worship and attend Chapel when on campus. As a result, you can find spiritual balance while you are on your doctoral journey.

Residency Locations

When it comes to accommodations, doctoral learners can choose from several locations for their residency. Phoenix residencies will be held at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort or GCU’s main campus, and Phoenix residents will be able to stay at the brand new GCU Hotel. For transportation, a shuttle will be available to and from the hotel to provide the ultimate convenience.

In addition, learners can also attend a residency in other locations as specified each year. No matter where you choose to attend residency, you will have access to resources to equip you for the future. With these different options, you can choose the location that works best for you.

How to Prepare for Residency

Wondering how to prepare for your residency? It is important to take the necessary steps beforehand so that you can benefit the most from your experience. If you are looking to get a head-start, do your research and find dissertations and empirical articles on your topic to bring to residency. In addition, spending time on the pre-assignment can help you as you go through the research process.

You may also want to consider signing up for the Dissertation Intensive Seminar, which gives you the opportunity to evaluate and assess the practicality of your prospectus, proposal or final dissertation. Though this component costs extra, you will receive personal feedback from faculty members through this optional seminar.

Furthermore, completing other coursework before your residency can help you to focus and get the most value out of the week. Also, by using your downtime to apply what you have learned, you can work on developing your proposal.

Finally, be sure to engage with others during your residency. Making an effort to meet and talk with others, whether they be faculty or other learners, can provide you with valuable opportunities to build your network.

Grand Canyon University’s College of Doctoral Studies offers a variety of resources to assist you in your doctoral journey, including doctoral residency programs. To learn more about doctoral degrees at GCU, visit our website or contact us today using the Request More Information button at the top of the page. If you are a current doctoral learner, RSVP for your residency at gcu.edu/doctoral-rsvp.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.

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