Leadership Studies, Ed.D

Please note: The EdD Program is no longer accepting inquiries or processing applications

Consistent with Xavier University’s Jesuit Catholic tradition, the Leadership Studies Doctoral Program is designed to develop authentic leaders who use their expertise and skills to promote social justice and organizational change. The program emphasizes cultivating the whole person and his/her role in facilitating change and building leadership capacity within individuals, organizations and communities.

Graduates of this program will be transformative leaders in all types of profit and non-profit organizations, including educational and health care institutions, corporate and community service settings, and governmental agencies.

Accordingly, this degree is awarded to the candidate who has demonstrated a capacity for:

Leadership and change that is ethical, reflective, scholarly and effective in a variety of organizational arenas
Designing and conducting scholarly research
The application of content knowledge in Specialized Cognate areas relating to Human & Organizational Development, Community & Non-profit Leadership, K-12 Education, Higher Education and Health Services Administration

Program of Studies

The Ed.D. in Leadership Studies is a 60-semester hour program. It includes;

15 semester hours from the Leadership Core
15 semester hours from the Research Core
15 semester hours of Dissertation
15 semester hours Cognate

Leadership Core

LEAD 880 - Comparative Leadership Theory
LEAD 881 - Leading Organizational Culture & Change
LEAD 882 - Psychosocial Dimensions of Leadership
LEAD 883 - Ethical, Spiritual & Character-Based Leadership
LEAD 884 - Developing Leadership Capacity

Research Core

LEAD 870 - Fundamentals of Doctoral Research Methods in Leadership Studies
LEAD 871 - Doctoral Statistics I
LEAD 872 - Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methodology
LEAD 873 - Doctoral Statistics II
LEAD 874 - Developing Effective Research Proposals

Dissertation Advisement

A dissertation is required consisting of 15 semester hours. Students who are in the dissertation phase must take a minimum of 1 credit hour each semester to remain in the program.

LEAD 890 - Dissertation Design

Cognate

Multiple cognates available; choose 15 semester hours from a growing list of courses and internship experiences in multiple content areas: Contact the Program Director for latest information.

Note:

Students who have completed post-master’s coursework equivalent to a doctoral program at accredited institutions may receive some credit toward fulfillment of a portion of the cognate credits required for the Leadership Studies Ed.D. Courses graded on a pass/fail basis or the equivalent will not be accepted as transfer credit. Petitions for transfer of credit will be evaluated individually and will only be granted with the recommendation of the Program Director and approval of the Department Chair and Dean or Associate Dean.

At the appropriate time in the program, student performance will be evaluated according to standards established for qualifying to commence Dissertation Advisement. Those students not automatically qualifying on the basis of academic performance alone may be required to take one or more qualifying exams before beginning work on their dissertation.

Suggested Course Sequence:

Students may take up to 6 credits each semester, consisting of a combination of leadership, research and cognate courses until they have met the core and cognate requirements. After qualifying for doctoral candidacy, students are required to enroll in at least 1 credit of dissertation advisement each semester in order to maintain continuous enrollment in the program until their dissertation is completed and they have met the 15 credit hour requirement for dissertation advisement.

Admission Requirements:

To be considered for admission as a degree-seeking Leadership Studies Ed.D. student, you must first submit the following to the Office of the Graduate School:

Completed application. Apply online at https://admit.xavier.edu/apply where you can register for an account. Start your application by selecting ”Leadership Studies Doctorate Program (Ed.D).”
One official transcript of all undergraduate and graduate work from accredited colleges or universities
Graduate Record Examination (GRE), GMAT, LSAT or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) score. (You do not have to re-take an admissions test if you have a copy of your previous test score.)
A 1,000-word minimum statement of how you believe the Leadership Studies Ed.D. program will help you reach your short- and long-term professional goals
Resume of work and volunteer experience
Three letters of reference from individuals addressing your academic/professional potential for doctoral study

Applicants must have an advanced degree (i.e., Master’s degree, J.D., or Ph.D.) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution, without exception. Applicants whose prior study was outside the United States must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree. International students must submit additional documentation attesting to degree equivalency and/or language proficiency facilitated through the Center for International Education.

There are no set prerequisite courses or majors, and prior coursework in leadership is not required for admission to the program. The committee reviews performance in all prior post-secondary coursework.

To ensure consideration, applications should be submitted by:

Summer semester: April 1
Fall semester: April 1
Spring semester: October 1

Following these deadlines, all applicants are invited to an on-campus interview to continue the application process. Applicants are encouraged to attend an information session or contact the Program Director prior to completing the application process. Dates and times for information sessions are available on the Graduate Admissions website, https://www.xavier.edu/graduate-admission/.

Students have 9 years following matriculation to complete the doctoral degree program, with a possible 1-year extension upon approval of the Dean of the College of Professional Sciences.

Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Assistance serves as a central clearinghouse for all funding programs available to assist graduate students with financing their doctoral education. The office helps graduate students determine their eligibility for various funding opportunities including Federal loans, grants and assistantships. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the office to discuss their particular circumstances and submit required applications for assistance: www.xavier.edu/financial-aid . Deadlines may apply to specific funding programs, so it is best to contact the office even before being accepted into the program.

Please contact the program at https://www.xavier.edu/doctor-of-leadership-studies/ for current admission and program information.