Global Doctor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership
Lead Change. Drive Impact. Advance Your Legacy.
At SU Global, we empower senior professionals to lead in complex, fast-evolving environments. The Global Doctor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership (GDOL) is an applied, executive doctoral program designed for experienced leaders who are ready to drive transformation, manage organizational complexity, and lead sustainable growth in a global context.
Why Choose the GDOL?
- Executive-Style Learning: Flexible, hybrid delivery combining asynchronous and synchronous online study with periodic in-person residencies and dissertation workshops.
- Global Focus: Bilingual instruction (Mandarin and English) tailored for Mandarin-speaking global executives, with cross-border collaboration and networking opportunities.
- Applied, Practice-Based Dissertation: Tackle real-world organizational challenges and develop actionable, evidence-based solutions with measurable business impact.
- Strategic Peer and Industry Networks: Access global leaders, alumni, and strategic partners through our Asia-Pacific network and U.S. immersion experiences.
- Student-Centered Experience: A supportive, inquiry-driven learning ecosystem that prioritizes professional application and leadership development.
Program Structure
- Degree: Doctor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership (60 credits)
- Duration: Typically 30-36 months, designed for working professionals
- Delivery Mode: Hybrid (Online + Face-to-Face Seminars)
- Language: Bilingual (Mandarin-English)
Who Should Apply
- Senior executives managing change, complexity, or growth
- Entrepreneurs scaling organizations across markets
- Experienced leaders seeking to enhance their strategic and leadership capacity
- Professionals aiming to translate leadership experience into scholarly and practical contributions
Admission Requirement: Master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution, plus demonstrated professional leadership experience.
Now Accepting Applications!
Join an elite community of global leaders. Transform your career—and your organization
Core Courses
There are five four-credit courses in total, 8 weeks for each unit. Each course contains 50 hours of learning, which is structured as below:
- 50% Zoom classes
- 40% distance learning
- 10% self-direct study
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit |
| LST 835- GDOL | Foundations of Study in Organizational Leadership: Applications and Research | 4 |
| LST 845-GDOL | Organizational Change and Transformation Analysis and Leadership | 4 |
| RST 830-GDOL | Understanding Quantitative and Qualitative Research | 4 |
| RST 840-GDOL | Applying Quantitative & Qualitative Research Methods in Understanding the Field | 4 |
| LST 855-GDOL | Synthesis and Integration of Content | 4 |
Concentrations
There are 18 credits in total for concentration, or restricted electives. Students graduated from regionally accredited universities can waive 9 credits of concentration. The remaining 9 credits can be selected from the following list of management courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit |
| MKT 511-GDOL | Marketing Management and Strategy | 3 |
| MGT 513-GDOL | Organizational Structure & Behavior | 3 |
| FIN 517-GDOL | Financial management | 3 |
| ECN 521-GDOL | Topics in Global Economy | 3 |
| MGT 535-GDOL | HR, Law and Social Responsibility | 3 |
Residency
The program residency consists of in-person seminars, lecture series, and presentations by industry leaders. Based on individual interests and logistics, students can select the classes that work best for them. Students can participate in residency any time during their study. See below for a sample curriculum:
| Curriculum | |
| 1 | Enterprise Competitive Advantage |
| 2 | Organizational Change and Development |
| 3 | Human Capital Management |
| 4 | Applied Business Ethics for Leaders |
| 5 | Branding Strategy |
| 6 | Merger and Acquisition |
| 7 | Innovation Management |
| 8 | Impact of AI on Productivity |
Dissertation
The dissertation represents the final phase of the Global Doctor of Professional Studies in Organizational Leadership (GDOL) program. This stage begins with the development and formal proposal of a research topic and culminates in the completion of the dissertation, following a successful oral defense and any required revisions.
Students in this phase will be enrolled in the following courses:
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit |
| LST 890-GDOL | Capstone Research Proposal (Dissertation Proposal) | 3 |
| LST 899-GDOL | Capstone Research (Dissertation) | 15 |
Each student is paired with a faculty mentor midway through the program. This faculty member serves as the student’s dissertation advisor, guiding the development of the research topic, supervising the research process, and providing ongoing consultation throughout the dissertation journey.
The dissertation process involves:
- A comprehensive literature review
- The development of a conceptual or applied model
- Rigorous qualitative or quantitative data collection and analysis
- Practical applications with demonstrable impact on the student’s professional field
Dissertation topics must be aligned with the student’s professional context and intended to contribute to organizational or industry-specific improvement.
A dissertation committee, composed of at least three faculty members—including the student’s advisor—oversees the process. Candidates must successfully defend their dissertation proposals before proceeding with full research implementation. Upon nearing completion of the dissertation, the candidate will deliver an oral defense before the committee. The committee will then vote to determine whether the dissertation fulfills the academic and professional standards required for graduation.
Established in 1875, Shenandoah University is a Virginia top-tier private national university in rankings included in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges edition. Shenandoah, with a main campus located just 75 miles west of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctorate degrees. With approximately 4,000 students enrolled in more than 150 programs of study, seven schools, and six locations throughout Northern Virginia, the university educates and inspires individuals to be critical, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners and ethical compassionate citizens who are committed to making responsible contributions within a community, a nation and the world.
The university comprises the following schools and colleges:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- School of Business
- Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing
- Shenandoah Conservatory
- Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy
- School of Health Professions
- Division of Education and Leadership
About the School of Business
Shenandoah University’s School of Business is an AACSB International-accredited business school. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation is the oldest and most recognized in the world, and it has been synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916. Fewer than 5 % of universities in the world have obtained this accolade. The mission of the School of Business is to educate successful, principled leaders with a global perspective. Hallmarks of the business school include its caring and academically accomplished faculty and its wealth of real-world experiences. The School of Business offers the following programs: Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA); BBA to MBA fast track; MBA; Doctor of Pharmacy with MBA (PharmD/MBA); as well as the MBA Essentials Certificate and the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management. The Byrd School also boasts an executive-in-residence and an entrepreneur in-residence, as well as the Leadership and Mentoring Program (LAMP), which creates platforms for students’ professional growth and merges theoretical constructs with business and industry.
Notable people who have graduated from or attended Shenandoah
Justin Wright
Global Head of Innovation, Novartis
Risa Imai Cox
Kaizen Institute
John Milleson,
President and CEO of Bank of Clarke County
Carl Tanner
Operatic tenor
Chris Collins
Virginia House of Delegates member (29th District)
Wendy Gooditis
Virginia House of Delegates member (10th District)
J. Robert Spencer, Kathy Voytko, Laura Woyasz, Peter J. Herber, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Richard F. Costa, Garrett Elise Long, and Jessie Hooker Bailey
Broadway performers past and present
SU Global Office 雪兰多全球办公室
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Shenandoah University
1460 University Drive
Winchester, VA, 22601
Email 邮箱: GDOL@su.edu
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U.S. Phone: +1 (540) 773-1206
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