Policy Number: 4.70.3
Contact Officer: Director, Academic Administration
Date Approved by Senate: 18/9/2008
Date last Amended: 18/7/2002
Date for Next Review: 18/9/2011
Related Policies: 3.20.3, 4.60.3

Overview

1.Introduction

1.1 The Professional Doctorate is a postgraduate coursework and research program designed to improve knowledge, expertise and skill relating to applied research and professional practice within a discipline. Professional Doctorates serve to generate advanced competency in the application and generation of knowledge in the professional context.

1.2 The University’s rules that govern the development and administration of Professional Doctorates can be found in Part 5 – Professional Doctorates, of the General Award Rules.

Description

2. Principles to Guide Program Development

2.1 The skills and knowledge taught within a Professional Doctorate should have clear relevance to a specific profession (and in some instances more than one profession), with an identifiable career outcome for each program.

2.2 Professional Doctorate programs emphasise advanced professional practice and are considered a substantial advance in terms of depth and breadth of knowledge and skills, over and above Masters coursework programs, with content that is clearly distinct from Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Research/Coursework Masters programs. Where relevant, Professional Doctorates may build on strong and focused Masters coursework programs in the same discipline(s).

2.3 All Professional Doctorate programs must have a set of graduate attributes that build on the University’s graduate attributes for postgraduate coursework programs and map onto the four program components: (i) basic knowledge of the discipline, (ii) advanced knowledge in a focused area, (iii) professional skills and practice, and (iv) research. The graduate attributes from the research component should be at least equivalent to those for the MPhil degree (as specified in HUPP 4.60.3 Statement of Postgraduate Research Student Attributes).

2.4 Professional Doctorates should be available on either a full-time or equivalent part-time basis as candidates for Professional Doctorates typically include a significant percentage of professionals practising within their disciplines.

3.Oversight of Candidature

3.1 Candidates in the Professional Doctorate program would benefit from having a senior member of academic staff, possibly the Program Coordinator, appointed to provide oversight of their entire program of study.

3.2 This academic staff member will provide guidance and advice about the structure of the program designed for the individual needs of the candidate, as well as act in a monitoring role to ensure progress is satisfactory within the context of both the program rules and University policy more broadly.

3.3 The senior academic staff member appointed in this role may act as advisor for the research component of the program or an additional person may be appointed to the research advisor role.

4. Program Approvals Process

4.1 The approval of proposals for the introduction of new Professional Doctorate programs follows the process identified in HUPP 3.20.3 Academic Program Approval.