Ph.D. in Leadership Studies

This course provides students with valuable information to assist in their transition to the Ph.D. program in Leadership Studies. Students gain an understanding of the doctoral requirements, process, and policies; who to call for assistance; technology and library use; and student services and support.

Students explore global studies through an introduction to intercultural leadership theories using multiple lenses: society, organization, and individual. The course lays a foundation by identifying dimensions of culture with a focus on understanding how participants in other cultures see the world, think, make decisions, view leadership, communicate, and lead.

Students develop understandings of the concept of leadership historically, philosophically, theologically, psychologically, and morally, testing these understandings against their own values and experiences. The course emphasizes issues of contemporary leadership in times of organizational and societal turmoil.

This course focuses on the person of the leader, including the nature of human understanding within its philosophical and theological dimensions, knowledge construction, identity and spiritual formation, and transformation. Students gain a clearer understanding of one’s true location, how one best leads, and the ability to lead oneself in an increasingly multicultural and complex world.

Students examine classical and contemporary organizational theories, viewing organizations as living, dynamic systems. They explore organizations through the frames of structure, human resources, politics, symbols, chaos and complexity, and appreciative inquiry. The course highlights the importance of culture in influencing organizational effectiveness and efficiency, variables impacting and included within organizational culture, organizational structure and its relationship to its culture, and the leadership role and responsibilities related to organizational culture.

Students explore socio-cultural and critical perspectives on identity, language, and how they intersect in diverse cultural communities. Topics include the philosophical and theological dimension of worldview and how one’s worldview translates into behavior, intercultural communication with a focus on what happens when people from different cultures interact, and interactions within organizational contexts. Students define cultural intelligence and explore existing literature on leadership competencies related to intercultural leadership.

Students develop a solid understanding of concepts linking leadership to global and social systems, giving special attention to the role of policy analysis as a critical connection between leadership and systems. They apply philosophical and theological perspectives to issues raised in the course.

Students consider leadership from the perspective of the personal character of leaders and their ability to make decisions and take actions considered good and right. This course includes examination of the foundation, purpose, and methodology of various ethical systems, approaches to ethical decision-making, and applications to leadership issues.

Students consider a variety of moral dilemmas that prevail in societies and organizations. They gain a deep understanding of the complexity of such moral dilemmas by establishing and applying ethical principles derived from philosophical and theological perspectives on how humans can and should interact ethically and morally.

Students learn research processes and principles of research design, including both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Ph.D. students produce a 25+ page integrative Candidacy Paper and presentation, which must be approved by faculty. The Candidacy Paper demonstrates the student’s ability to produce and defend scholarly work, which qualifies them to proceed through the remainder of the doctoral program.

Ph.D. students continue the project begun in Candidacy. Click here to learn more about continuation courses.

This course develops proficiency in quantitative analysis for interpreting social and organizational data. Topics include experimental, quasi-experimental, and multivariate designs; critical analysis of quantitative studies; and the ethics involved in research. Students discuss, critique, and apply appropriate statistical techniques, demonstrating the ability to recognize valid data and valid evidence for decision-making within organizations.

Students develop qualitative research skills while gaining familiarity with related theories, issues, and problems. The course provides multiple opportunities for practicing research skills, analyzing data, and writing the results.

Doctoral students develop an appreciation for the transition from coursework to research, including an understanding of the process and research proposal content areas. The course assists students in conceptualizing the themes and primary focus of their topic by providing a structure for searching supporting literature, writing draft purpose and questions, and preparing a preliminary conceptual framework from which they can then design a research agenda that will support their capacity to prepare a research proposal at the end of year 3. (Chapter 1 of the doctoral dissertation includes the research proposal, which identifies the research purpose, research questions, and need for the research. Chapter 2 consists of a literature review. Chapter 3 discusses research methodology.)

Five classes in your chosen concentration. Concentration options for the Ph.D. in Leadership include Educational Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Ministry Leadership, Missional Leadership, Philosophy of Leadership, and Theology of Leadership. Under faculty supervision, doctoral students earn elective credits through a variety of means, including standard coursework, Directed Independent Studies (DIS), Directed Field Studies (DFS), and transfer courses from other institutions (limit 9 semester credit hours). Ideally, students’ Elective Concentrations arise from their personal research questions and flow directly into their dissertations.

Students develop a dissertation research proposal according to Johnson University standards.

Students continue the project begun in Proposal Seminar. Click here to learn more about continuation courses.

The proposal defense includes review and approval of the dissertation research proposal by the Advisor, Committee, and Institutional Review Board.

Students prepare a formal research study that meets Johnson University standards and makes an original contribution to the body of knowledge.

Doctoral students continue the project begun in Dissertation. Click here to learn more about continuation courses.

Students defend the formal research study developed in Dissertation and Dissertation Continuation.

Students continue the Dissertation Defense. Click here to learn more about continuation courses.