Program Overview
Are you a working professional in K-12 schools, higher education, government or human service organizations? Do you strive to be a catalyst for positive change?
The interdisciplinary Doctorate in Leadership Studies prepares transformative professionals to provide equitable, ethical and socially just leadership in a variety of organizational settings within a diverse society. Ashland University’s program is designed to enhance your leadership capacity. It combines theory and practice with individual mentoring and applied research to train you into a reflective, ethical and effective leader for maximum effectiveness in your chosen career path.
What to Expect
Institutions and organizations around the world need individuals who understand not only how to encourage and lead others, but also how to effectively manage other essential components of leadership – ethical, political and cultural.
In this 59-credit-hour program, you’ll experience high-quality academic content paired with individualized mentoring, both on and off campus. You’ll engage in a rigorous process of research, inquiry and site-specific practice to develop your skills within the context of organizational renewal.
Program Features
Sample Curriculum
View the Academic Catalog for complete degree requirements.
Total Coursework
- Research (16 credits)
- Organizational Leadership (15 credits)
- Cognate (15 credits)
- Proposal and Dissertation (13 credits)
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
*Hybrid courses meet face-to-face & online (participate in online sessions when it’s convenient for you).
^Cognate courses can be taken any time after admission to the program. The schedule indicates recommended, but not required, times.
Graduate Outcomes
Knowledge
- Demonstrate knowledge of professional organization structures, policies and procedures, as well as the application of leadership strategies in various organizational cultures.
Leadership
- Demonstrate the ability to formulate, articulate and implement an ethical vision.
- Identify and describe the skills of fellow professionals within an organization and empower them through intrinsic and extrinsic motivators to achieve their full potential.
Organizational Dynamics
- Demonstrate the use and benefits of open communication across an organization.
- Understand the political, economic, social and legal aspects that can affect an organization.
Scholar-Practitioner
- Integrate professional experience with scholarly research to bridge theory with practice.
- Appreciate the benefits of reflective practices and scholarly activities, as well as personal and professional growth experiences.
Action Research
- Effectively apply various quantitative and qualitative techniques to design and implement a study.
- Collect and evaluate data to inform and, when possible, improve upon, the policies, procedures and practices of an organization.
Solidifying Success
Graduates have continued their careers in a variety of areas, including superintendents in school districts of all sizes, college deans, college professors and business executives.
“The doctoral program at Ashland taught me so many things, but the most important was the ability to have a critical eye. Ashland really helped me think differently about my leadership, specifically who I want to be for others.”
- Bruce Willingham, Jr. '14