Convenient Schedule

Heidi Davidson

One day, Thailand. The next, Belgium. When you travel 80 percent of your time as a Vice President of Public Policy for MasterCard International, you never know where you're going to be from one day to the next.

That's exactly why Heidi Davidson loves the flexibility of Pace's doctoral program.

"Wherever I am, at the end of my day I can go back to the hotel and catch up with what's going on in the course discussion boards," says Davidson, who also earned her MBA from Pace. "Having the flexibility to work when my schedule allows me to work is the only way I could have ever imagined taking on this program."

While the online component is essential to her schedule, Davidson also appreciates the real-world knowledge her classmates share during their monthly classroom component and online.

"My classmates are an impressive group of people," says Davidson, whose doctoral thesis will consider the effect of financial education on consumers' ability to handle debt. "We've got everyone from lawyers to forensic accountants to CEOs, and their real-world insight adds a whole other facet to the education. After seven hours of that, I walk out feeling jazzed and recharged."
Connected Online and on Campus

Even if you are a working professional with a demanding career and a powerful role in business, you can complete the DPS degree in 3 to 5 years without abandoning your responsible position and attractive income. To accommodate your busy schedule, the unique and convenient doctoral curriculum limits the frequency of campus visits while providing continual online communication with the program, its faculty, and other candidates.

Program Schedule

During the first three years of the program, you will visit campus on monthly Executive Fridays and in 2 or 3 semesters you will attend one evening class per week. You will also complete significant independent reading and writing assignments throughout the program.

Executive Fridays

You will complete all doctoral seminars during monthly Executive Fridays from September through May. During typical monthly Executive Fridays, you will participate in seminars from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with breakfast, lunch, and breaks provided.

Asynchronous Learning

Between monthly meetings, you will communicate with other doctoral candidates and faculty several times a week through required threaded discussions organized by the faculty and hosted on the Internet. You may participate from locations and at times convenient to your busy schedule.

Cohort Support

Through these threaded discussions you share ideas and experiences with a learning cohort of candidates with whom you will complete all doctoral seminars. This learning cohort supports you intellectually, professionally, socially, and emotionally throughout the program and beyond.

This format reduces travel time.

This doctorate is rigorous.