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Executive PhD in Leadership Degree Requirements

The Executive PhD track in leadership is generally seen as more theory and research intensive than a practitioner’s degree such as an EdD; students pursuing the executive, doctoral in leadership degree must complete the curriculum established for the EdD in educational leadership plus six additional hours distributed as follows: one executive graduate level course in which leadership theories and concepts in a non-academic environment is a central theme and one course in which non-academic statistics or research methods is the focus. The international, Executive PhD in leadership, therefore, requires a minimum of 66 hours beyond the master’s degree. Although an executive  PhD student may pursue applied research as a dissertation topic, it is expected that an approved dissertation will be built upon a more thorough theoretical foundation than a similar project that culminates in an EdD dissertation.

Leadership Core Courses – 24 Credit Hours Required

Professional Research - 24 Credit Hours Required

Specialty Area Content - 18 Credit Hours Required

Criminal Justice

Education

Education courses EdD and PhD students may enroll in.

Some courses require field/clinical hours that students must complete to earn a passing grade. Some courses listed may have prerequisites and may not be available to students who have not previously completed the prerequisites

English

Health Professions

Required:

Electives: 

History

Mathematics

Nursing

Religion/Ministry

Approved electives

     One of the following 600-level courses:

Student Personnel Services

Business

Courses in the following Masters will matriculate as the Doctoral specialty if the program is completed as a second Masters:

  • MBA
  • Master of Science in Global Blockchain Tech.
  • Master’s in Project Management
  • Master’s in Strategic Management
  • Or other approved electives

Information Systems

Courses in the following Masters will matriculate as the Doctoral specialty if the program is completed as a second Masters:

  • MSDF
  • MSIT
  • MSISS
  • Or other approved electives

Instructional Technology

Required: 

Elective (Select one):

For a full list of course offerings or more program specific information, visit our Academic Catalog page.