Ph.D. in Leadership Studies

Don’t just earn a Ph.D., become a Ph.D.!

Our fully online, cohort-based Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies develops scholar-practitioners who advance leadership knowledge and practice through rigorous, faith-informed scholarship, preparing them to lead with excellence and integrity in diverse contexts. As a Ph.D. student, you will develop critical thinking and analysis skills, scholarly credentials, and practical wisdom to address complex organizational leadership challenges in educational, congregational, business, and nonprofit contexts.

What are the benefits of pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies

• Executive Leadership Opportunities: Ph.D.s are recognized as experts in their field, opening doors to senior-level roles and executive positions.
• Advanced Research and Analytical Skills: Students develop expertise in research, critical thinking, and data analysis, enabling them to make data-informed decisions and implement best practices.
• Ethical Leadership Foundation: Ethical principles are addressed throughout the curriculum, enabling you to ground organizational strategies and decision-making in values informed by the Christian faith.
• Employability: Ph.D. holders experience low unemployment (1.2% as of 2024) and opportunities for consulting, coaching, and thought leadership.

 Key Program Features:

• Scholar-Practitioner Approach: Coursework integrates theory and real-world application, with faculty who are both rigorous scholars and effective practitioners in the field.
• Faith-Informed: Our curriculum is grounded in a Christian worldview, equipping students to integrate faith-informed perspectives into their leadership practices and research.
• Designed for Working Adults: Courses are asynchronous, allowing students to coordinate their weekly assignments with their work and personal schedules. Learning activities are based on adult learning theory, embracing dialogue and incorporating one’s organizational experiences.
• Global, Cross-cultural Perspective: With faculty and students from a variety of cultural and national contexts, course discussions, readings, and activities expose students to a broad array of voices and insights.
• Research Flexibility: With six concentrations, students can pursue research relevant to leadership in various areas, including education, ministry, missions, nonprofits, and the church. You will be able to pursue a research agenda aligned with your interests and contexts, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Supportive Community of Scholars: Our cohort model, with small classes and supportive faculty, fosters a strong community. While the program is fully online, our annual, optional Ph.D. Student-Faculty Summit brings the community together in person to foster relationships and support students on their Ph.D. journey.
  
  

Career Outcomes: Where Our Graduates Serve:

Graduates of the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies serve as nonprofit executives, organizational consultants, college and university faculty, ministry leaders, senior pastors, multicultural program directors, international education administrators, leadership development trainers, and civic leaders. Alumni lead organizations across sectors including higher education, church ministry, nonprofit management, international missions, community development, organizational consulting, and public advocacy. Graduates have launched consulting firms, expanded institutional programming, presented at national and international conferences, mentored emerging leaders, and pursued publication in scholarly and professional outlets. The program’s alumni represent a global community, with graduates serving in the United States, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Whether leading a major urban nonprofit, pastoring a local church, directing multicultural initiatives at a college, or building leadership development platforms across continents, Johnson University Ph.D. graduates are applying rigorous research and faith-informed leadership to advance organizations and communities around the world.

Admissions Requirements

• Applicants must hold an earned master’s degree from an accredited academic institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4-point scale for their master’s-level coursework.

 Application deadline

• July 15 for Fall (August) enrollment
• November 15 for Spring (January) enrollment.

 Tuition & Financial Aid

Johnson University strives for affordability while offering strong programmatic quality. For 2025-26, Ph.D. tuition is $675 per credit hour, plus fees.

Limited scholarships are available to Ph.D. students and are considered semi-annually in July and November, one month prior to the start of a new cohort. Scholarship information is available at https://johnsonu.edu/scholarships/graduate-scholarships.

Interested? Contact: 

• 865-251-2171
• [email protected]
• Schedule an Appointment

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges