EdD Organizational Leadership

Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership

The Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership provides learners with insights on the application of organizational and leadership theory to organizations of public trust, broadens learners' perspectives and leads to a more comprehensive approach to ethical leadership and mission-driven organizations.

The Doctor of Education (EdD) degree (a practitioner's degree) is a 60-credit (minimum) program of study. The program is organized around a core of leadership and research courses (both theoretical and applied), complemented by courses in the learner's concentration. This program is unique among doctoral programs in its emphasis on the application of theory to real-world problems and lived experiences. This is a student-centered, inquiry-driven and problem-oriented program of study. What does this mean?

  • Student-Centered: Learners applying to the program should have some general area of interest in which to ground their studies. We do not prescribe an interest or topic; instead, we work with individuals to shape and examine a particular interest as it relates to administration and leadership in an individual's life.
  • Inquiry-Driven: Learners are expected to use a learning model that emphasizes question-asking and synthesis rather than knowledge-acquisition and the mere accumulation of facts. The topic or general area of interest brought to the program will be explored systematically, thoughtfully and deeply, under the guidance of faculty members who share a vision of graduate education.
  • Problem-Oriented: Topics are usually grounded in the lived experiences of real people in a real place. We do not ask the learner to apply theory to cases alone, but to the lived experience as well. Success in this approach to learning is established early with the idea that problems are opportunities where learning can occur. In this sense, a problem is the difference between what is and what should be.

Advanced study in Organizational Leadership at Shenandoah University offers learners the opportunity to think deeply, examine thoughtfully and understand theoretically the challenges and problems facing organizations today. Graduates of this program hold positions in schools, colleges and universities, community-based organizations and security services.

Program Core
Leadership
Governance
Societal Factors
Contemporary Issues
Organizational Theory and Behavior

Research Core
Introduction to Research Methods
Advanced Statistics
Advanced Multivariate Statistics
Advanced Quantitative Methods or Advanced Qualitative Methods
Advanced Research Methods
Quantitative Methods Proposal & Pilot
Qualitative Methods Proposal & Pilot

Concentration (no fewer than 12 credits)

Dissertation (15 credits minimum)

Doctor of Education: Organizational Leadership Program Core (15)

Course Title Hrs.
LST 710 Leadership 3
LST 720 Societal Factors 3
LST 735 Organizational Theory & Behavior 3
LST 740 Governance 3
LST 750 Contemporary Issues 3
Research Core (15)
RST 681 Locating and Examining the Research Literature* 1
RST 682 Evaluating the Research Literature* 1
RST 683 Writing a Review of the Literature* 1
RST 761 Research Methods I 1.5
RST 762 Research Methods II 1.5
RST 782 Advanced Research Methods 2
RST 777 Advanced Quantitative Methods Lab 1
or
RST 778 Advanced Qualitative Methods Lab 1
RST 775 Advanced Statistics 3
RST 776 Advanced Multivariate Statistics 3
Applied Research (6)
RST 771 Quantitative Methods Proposal 1.5
RST 772 Quantitative Methods Pilot 1.5
RST 773 Qualitative Methods Proposal 1.5
RST 774 Qualitative Pilot 1.5
Concentrations (9)
K-12 Administration (Superintendent Licensure)
EDU 642 Philosophy of Education 3
PSYP 520 Advanced Educational Psychology 3
EDU 646 International Education 3
Curriculum Leadership and Supervision (Principal/Supervisor Licensure)
EDU 623 School Law 3
EDU 624 School Finance Theory & Practice 3
EDU 641 Supervision and Evaluation of Instruction 3
Individualized Concentration
Approved graduate level (500-700) courses 9-12 9-12
Dissertation**
RST 799 Dissertation (minimum) 15

*Other courses may be substituted with the permission of the program director.

** Students who do not complete the dissertation after earning 15 credits of RST 799 will be required to remain continuously enrolled in ED 799 (one credit hour each term) until the dissertation is completed.

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