The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Organizational Leadership is a 60-hour program with five components:
- core courses
- research
- discipline area electives
- project/dissertation, and
- a comprehensive capstone course.
Each course follows an 8-week format except for anchor research courses. As part of its overall mission to educate persons for service in ministry and marketplace – leaders who are molded by the Word of God, are change agents impassioned to do God’s will, and are characterized by godly lives, with servant hearts, transformed minds, and skilled communication..
The mission of the program is to establish a forum grounded in theoretical leadership principles, biblical foundations, critical thinking and research publication on worldview issues. With an overall goal to influence tomorrow’s organizational leaders globally, and while providing an academically rigorous accelerated program without compromising traditional doctoral program quality. While providing a learning environment fostering innovation and diverse perspectives through the development of knowledgeable scholars.
General Description of the Curriculum
The Ph.D. curriculum will further develop scholars with the desire to build the leadership competencies needed to lead strategically and efficiently within a contemporary society. This program also prepares Christian leaders to transform the world for the glory of God both personally and professionally. With world-renowned faculty mentorship and support cultivating personalized instructional interactions students experience openness and cross-fertilization of ideas.
Program Objectives
- To develop global leaders who are equipped to effectively communicate in broad discussions within community, ecclesiastical, and corporate settings.
- To prepare leaders who promote social justice and social responsibility by increasing understanding of culture and socioeconomic conditions that contribute to various forms of inequities within society and organizations.
- To develop leaders who are adept at analyzing and evaluating leadership theories and their significance for existing and emerging research findings.
- To develop a cadre of talented leaders at the doctoral level who not only desire but are prepared to hold positions with leadership responsibilities in community, ecclesiastical, or corporate organizations.
- To support students in making substantive scholarly contributions to the body of knowledge in their area of concentration through original research that focuses on community, ecclesiastical, and corporate leadership through fundamental, relevant, and quality research.
- To develop scholars who are capable of visionary leadership in the creation of institutional and social policies that acknowledge and respond to the contributions of diversity and multiculturalism.
Program Admissions
Students interested in the PhD in Organizational Leadership must submit an application with the Department of Admissions and meet all general admissions requirements. Completed applications are then reviewed by the PhD department committee for following:
- An official graduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA.
- GRE Report of Scores from the Educational Testing Service not more than five years old.
- A writing sample and interview with faculty committee to discuss proposal of research interest.
- Three recommendation letters1
- Two from former instructor(s)
- One from former supervisor
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Overview of employment history in leadership positions or professional experience in corporate, education, religious or non-profit setting.
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If the applicant has not attended school in the past 5 years then all three recommendations may come from an employer or supervisor.
Transfer Credit Policy
Up to 9 hours of coursework may be transferred and applied to program electives. Credits must have been earned from an accredited institution and meet current program requirements. Coursework considered for transfer may not have been applied toward the completion of any conferred doctoral degree. A grade of B or higher is required and course (s) must have been completed within the past 10 years.
For further details regarding the transfer credit policy refer to the Academic Affairs policy section.
Minimum Acceptable Academic Performance
A student must maintain an average grade of B or better to remain in the Ph.D. program.
A grade of C in any class with a cumulative GPA below 3.0, will result in dismissal from the program. A grade of C in one class, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better will result in probation, and a second C in any succeeding class (even with a cumulative grade of 3.0 or better) is grounds for dismissal from the program.
Program Requirements
All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.
| Requirement | Hours |
|---|---|
| Foundation and Research | 12 |
| Core Curriculum | 24 |
| Discipline | 12 |
| Project and Dissertation | 9 |
| Comprehensive Course | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 |
Foundation and Research
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD 701 | Foundations of Leadership LEAD | 3 |
| LEAD 702 | Research and Design I LEAD 702 | 3 |
| LEAD 801 | Research Design II LEAD 801 | 3 |
| LEAD 901 | Research Design III LEAD 901 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD 703 | Biblical Leadership LEAD 703 | 3 |
| LEAD 704 | The Leader's Role in the 21st | 3 |
| LEAD 705 | Organizational Development LEAD | 3 |
| LEAD 706 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| LEAD 707 | Organizational Change LEAD 707 | 3 |
| LEAD 802 | Strategic Planning LEAD 802 | 3 |
| LEAD 803 | Leadership Values & Ethics LEAD | 3 |
| LEAD 804 | Leadership Policy & Culture LEAD | 3 |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Discipline Electives
This PhD program has outlined a set of discipline electives in a “Contemporary Issues of Leadership” series designed to advance the academic study of leadership with an interdisciplinary approach. This series includes four major areas of Organizational Leadership.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD 805 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| LEAD 806 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| LEAD 807 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| LEAD 902 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Comprehensive Assessment & Examination Course
Communications Skills Assessment must be taken in the first semester of study.
This is a written analysis designed to assess students’ comprehension and vocabulary academic achievement. All PhD students must take the skills assessment unless exempt. Students are exempted if they score a 3.0 or higher on the Analytical area of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD 903 | Doctoral Comprehensive 1 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
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A written comprehensive examination designed to test mastery with the ability to synthesize and apply information gained throughout the program of study. Upon successful completion, Doctoral Candidacy is earned. Course taken upon successful completion of all coursework.
Dissertation Coursework
Doctoral candidates will complete a traditional dissertation alongside a campus-based residency. The following courses will support the three phases of design through defense:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LEAD 904 | Dissertation I | 3 |
| LEAD 905 | Dissertation II | 3 |
| LEAD 906 | Dissertation III | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
The dissertation proposal (LEAD 904 Dissertation I) must be approved by the dissertation chair before the student may submit application to the IRB committee who grants permission to research.
In order to proceed to the research phase (LEAD 905 Dissertation II), the student must have Committee Chair and IRB approval. If the proposal is not accepted the student may apply for up to 3 one-credit hour extensions to develop a proposal to be resubmitted. If after 3 extensions the student cannot write and submit a successful proposal, the student will not be permitted to proceed in the program.
The research phase (LEAD 905 Dissertation II) begins soon after approval. The student then selects or is assigned a full Dissertation Committee which consist of 3 members, Chair, and two Faculty members from the Department of Leadership. The student must produce a satisfactory dissertation with findings sufficient strength to be submitted to the Dissertation Committee then approved. Once approved the Dissertation Chair, will schedule the Dissertation Defense.
The Dissertation Defense must be approved by the Dissertation Committee. If the defense is disapproved, or approved with major corrections the student may apply for successive one-credit hour extensions to complete this phase. A student has up to six (6) years total to complete the dissertation.
Ph.D. Course Sequence
| Year One | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| Term I | ||
| LEAD 701 | Foundations of Leadership LEAD (Hybrid w/Campus Residency) | 3 |
| LEAD 702 | Research and Design I LEAD 702 | 3 |
| Term II | ||
| LEAD 703 | Biblical Leadership LEAD 703 | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| Term I | ||
| LEAD 704 | The Leader's Role in the 21st | 3 |
| LEAD 705 | Organizational Development LEAD | 3 |
| Term II | ||
| LEAD 706 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| LEAD 707 | Organizational Change LEAD 707 | 3 |
| LEAD 801 | Research Design II LEAD 801 (Hybrid w/Campus Residency) | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| Term I | ||
| LEAD 802 | Strategic Planning LEAD 802 | 3 |
| LEAD 803 | Leadership Values & Ethics LEAD | 3 |
| Term II | ||
| LEAD 804 | Leadership Policy & Culture LEAD | 3 |
| LEAD 805 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Term I | ||
| LEAD 806 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| LEAD 807 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| Term II | ||
| LEAD 901 | Research Design III LEAD 901 (Hybrid w/Campus Residency) | 3 |
| LEAD 902 | Contemporary Issues in | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| LEAD 903 | Doctoral Comprehensive | 3 |
| LEAD 904 | Dissertation I | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| Term I | ||
| LEAD 904 | Dissertation I | 3 |
| Term II | ||
| LEAD 905 | Dissertation II | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Term I | ||
| LEAD 905 | Dissertation II | 3 |
| Term II | ||
| LEAD 906 | Dissertation III (Campus Residency) | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year Four Extension | ||
| LEAD 907 | Dissertation Extension 1 | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 69 | |
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LEAD 999E if extension is needed beyond Dissertation Defense.
The dissertation proposal (LEAD 904 Dissertation I) must be approved by the dissertation committee before the student may proceed to the research phase (LEAD 905 Dissertation II). If the proposal is not accepted within the timeframe of the summer semester, the student may apply for up to 3 one-credit hour extensions to develop a proposal to be resubmitted to the committee. If after 3 extensions the student cannot write and submit a successful proposal, the student will not be permitted to proceed in the program.
The research phase (LEAD 905 Dissertation II) must produce a satisfactory dissertation with findings, which the dissertation chair of the student confirms is of sufficient strength to be submitted to the defense committee. The student may apply for successive one-credit hour extensions to complete this phase. A student has up to six (6) years total to complete the dissertation.
The defense phase (LEAD 906 Dissertation III) may only be engaged upon approval of the dissertation chair for the student.