Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University's doctoral degree programs provide students with an in-depth application of theory and research, and the opportunity to master investigative skills and data analysis.

CSU accepts up to 40 transfer credit hours into its doctoral programs. All but dissertation (ABD) students, complete your doctoral degree by transferring your previously earned doctoral academic credits, professional licenses, certificates and training programs into your degree program.

Doctoral students complete didactic coursework in preparation for their research study. As they begin their research study, students move to doctoral candidate stage indicating they have begun their research study. Students complete an applied dissertation to fulfill the requirements of their research study phase. College of Safety and Emergency Services students have the option of completing a capstone project in lieu of the applied dissertation. Oral presentations of the applied dissertation or capstone are held virtually through video conferencing. Degrees are awarded through majority committee approval.

The Doctoral Writing and Research Center offers doctoral students high-quality services and support during their doctoral journey including research expertise, writing faculty, milestone mapping, journals and more. While doctoral students at both the didactic and research study phase can utilize these services, as students become doctoral candidates and begin their research study, these services become critical.

CSU’s doctoral academic writing assistance is available through an email review process or one-on-one tutoring for didactic core courses and the research study. Applied dissertation or capstone manuscript editing is also available.

CSU offers a half day onboarding virtual residency to assist students in the first stages of their doctoral programs which provides an understanding of what is required of them as well as support services, tools and programs available to them throughout their doctoral journey. CSU also holds a full-day journeys virtual residency with multiple faculty, staff and research experts providing invaluable assistance with their respective research study.

The Pre-Research Study Mentorship Program, led by doctoral faculty takes place during the last half of didactic courses. Students work in small groups with two faculty members prior to becoming a doctoral candidate. This provides students with a head-start on their doctoral studies, often decreasing overall research study time.

Faculty research experts provide weekly group sessions and one-on-one quantitative and qualitative research support to all doctoral students. This includes insight into current research and analytical software and statistical analysis strategies.