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PhD in Leadership Studies

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The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Leadership Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed for those who have advanced to more complex leadership positions. Emphasizing the study of research methodology, ethics, teamwork, communication and strategy, the program will help you develop into an extremely sophisticated leader ready to assume executive-level responsibility and strategic visioning roles.

The PhD in Leadership Studies enhances the leadership skills of dedicated professionals in a wide range of fields, including education, business and health care administration. The program combines theory and application in order to graduate "practitioner-scholars" who can provide enlightened leadership in communities and the workplace. 

Available Programs

This program is designed as a four- to five-year sequence, which begins with intensive coursework and culminates with the dissertation. Courses in the program reflect the emerging new knowledge and skills and are taught as interdisciplinary, thematic units. 

PhD Leadership Studies degree plan and course descriptions

Students in the PhD program may choose to also earn an MBA in management. This can be accomplished by taking an additional 18 hours of coursework in the MBA program. All students seeking to earn an MBA must meet the admission requirements for the MBA program. 

PhD/MBA degree plan and course descriptions

Areas of Study

The sequence of courses is designed around four broad areas. The four-course leadership sequence progresses from theories of leading individuals and small groups and small groups through leadership in international organizations. The applied courses improve practitioner skills in the areas of communication, management and legal/ethical issues. The policy development courses introduce students to seminal arguments for and against a variety of societal issues. The leadership research sequence provides students the needed skills to conceive, design and conduct their doctoral dissertation. The leadership electives are taken in the last year of study concomitant to work on the dissertation. The areas of study include:

The Complexity of the Leadership Task

  • Leadership Theories
  • Intra-organizational Leadership
  • Inter-organizational Leadership
  • Global Leadership
  • Synthesis of Leadership and Research Theories
  • Leadership Theories Synthesis for Leadership
  • Readings in Leadership

Applied Courses for Leaders

  • Communication
  • Management
  • Legal and Ethical
  • Policy Development at the Leadership Level

The Complexity of Leadership Research

  • Intermediate Research Methods
  • Advanced Research Methods
  • Experimental Design and Statistics I
  • Experimental Design and Statistics II
  • Research Synthesis for Leadership
  • Applied Leadership Research

Leadership Electives

  • Special Topics

Cohort Model

The PhD program is a cohort program, which includes approximately 15-25 participants taking courses together. The cohort model provides individuals with opportunities to work collaboratively to meet the demands of the program.

Accreditation

This  program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education, supporting, celebrating and rewarding excellence on a diverse global scale.

Leadership Studies Department

The Leadership Studies Department at OLLU is an active and dynamic community. The department publishes an online magazine, features student and alumni profiles, and holds regular workshops and information events. The department also sends out weekly short emails to leaders interested in brief, researched-based leadership topics. Learn more about the activities of the department, read the “Lamp Lighters” online magazine and sign up for the “Take 1 Minute to Think About Leadership” weekly email. Learn more .

Faculty

All of the full-time leadership studies faculty members hold doctoral degrees. In addition, they have extensive professional experience from the business, public service, military and nonprofit fields. They bring the combination of academic and professional experience to the classroom to develop leadership skills in students that carry across all disciplines. View School of Business Faculty.

Admission and Academic Requirements

The PhD in Leadership Studies program admits new students in the fall.
To be considered for priority admission, all application materials must be submitted by May 15.

  • Completed OLLU application
  • No application fee
  • Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended at the master's degree and undergraduate level
  • A master's degree with a minimum of 36 credit hours in an appropriate field from a regionally accredited college or university. Leveling work may be required
  • Preferred GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale in all previous master's degree work
  • At least three letters of professional recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's leadership qualities and potential
  • A complete résumé
  • A personal statement
  • Interview with Leadership Studies Department Faculty arranged by the Department. By appointment only
  • Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), as stipulated in the OLLU admission information for international graduate applicants
  • All completed admission files will be submitted to the PhD Admission Committee who will review the completed applications
  • All applicants will be notified of their admission decision no later than two weeks after the admission deadline date

Conditional acceptance is granted on the merits of each case. In some circumstances, applicants who do not meet all of the requirements for regular admission may be admitted conditionally, providing they fulfill the conditions listed in their letters of conditional acceptance within the period of specified time. If conditional acceptance is given because of missing official credentials, the period of time to provide those documents will not extend beyond of the first term of attendance.

Doctoral students will be expected to complete the following requirements in addition to required coursework:

  1. Comprehensive examinations — each student is required to pass successfully all written and oral comprehensive examinations. The first comprehensive exam occurs after 18 credit hours. Students may not continue beyond 30 semester hours until they have passed this exam. The candidacy comprehensive exam is taken after 48 semester hours. Upon passing the candidacy exam, students may form a dissertation committee and register for dissertation credits.
  2. Dissertation — a dissertation is required as part of the doctoral program. A student must register for at least nine semester hours of dissertation courses. If a student has not completed the dissertation by the end of the three-course sequence, the student must register for one credit hour of dissertation credit for each semester until completion.
  3. Time limits — the interdisciplinary program is designed as a four-year cohort experience. Students are expected to complete the doctoral program in the time limit prescribed. Exceptions may be approved by the chair of the Department of Leadership Studies. Students will not be permitted to complete the program after 10 years from the time of first enrollment. Students who take longer than seven years from time of first enrollment to complete all coursework and the dissertation may need to repeat some of their courses.

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