Ph.D. in Leadership Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership, which is 100% online, is designed to equip individuals for the highest level of scholarship and performance across a wide range of professions including business, ministry, government, and non-profits.

This program is designed to prepare working professionals to understand the complexities and challenges of leading change within organizations with the purpose of leading and creating transformative organizations and communities. This interdisciplinary program provides students with opportunities to engage in scholarship and research and develop professional competencies related to:

• Organizational structures
• Leadership strategies
• Analyzing organizational culture
• Team and workplace culture development
• Leading organizational change
• Responding to the workplace and cultural dynamics in an increasingly technological and global society

The PhD in Leadership provides two distinct pathways that enable you to align the program to your own goals and research interests.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate how to lead change in organizations.
2. Apply leadership principles and practices to improve personal and organizational performance.
3. Analyze the cause(s) of an organizational issue to develop leadership recommendations.
4. Synthesize and evaluate current theory and apply appropriate methodologies to conduct meaningful research in the field of leadership development.

Admission requirements

Applicants are required to provide the pertinent admission information in order to be considered for admission into the PhD Leadership program. The Deans/Associate Deans in the respective colleges will make final decisions regarding the acceptance of applicants. In some cases, the Deans/Associate Deans may ask for further information or a personal interview prior to a decision regarding admission into the program.

Applicants for admission into the PhD Leadership program at Anderson University must meet the following academic prerequisites: 

Academic Prerequisites for the Business Concentration

• Master’s Degree from accredited institution w/ 3.0 GPA (minimum)
• Graduate Writing Sample
• Application  (https://link.andersonuniversity.edu/apply) 
• $40 application fee

Deadline: 1 month before each semester

Academic Prerequisites for the Christian Ministry Concentration

• A Master’s degree (36 or more hours) in a field of theological/ministry studies from a regionally or nationally accredited university or seminary.
• Graduate Cumulative GPA requirement: 3.0
• Graduate writing sample
• Current role in some area of ministry service within a church, denomination, educational institution, parachurch organization, mission agency or similar organization
• Minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper), 220 (computer) or 75 (internet) will be required if English is not the student’s first language, and proof of current Visa for International students. International candidates will need to have an interview via Skype with the Program Director before being accepted. International students receiving their graduate degrees from institutions abroad must submit their transcripts to be evaluated by WES, who will then transmit the results to Anderson University.

Transfer credits:

A student can transfer up to 12 credit hrs. Transferability of hours will be determined by the Dean of the program in consultation with the University Registrar.  Research courses will not transfer for Business.

Program Requirements

Ph.D. in Leadership Minimum GPA: 3.0 Cumulative GPA

Dissertation

Students must develop new knowledge and add to existing knowledge through the dissertation. Students will form a dissertation committee, submit a dissertation proposal, and received IRB approval before initiating dissertation research. There is a dissertation handbook outlining the expectations for the quality of the dissertation, and the requirements for each chapter and formatting. There will be an oral defense of the dissertation.

The Business Leadership dissertation format must be in compliance with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), Seventh Edition, 2019 and also with ProQuest Dissertation Publishing. The Christian Ministry Leadership dissertation format must be in compliance with the latest version of Turabian.

Dissertation Topics

• Clamp Divinity School approves each topic and abstract prior to the student working on a proposal for Christian Ministry Leadership concentration. The College of Business approves each topic and abstract prior to the student working on a proposal for the Business Leadership concentration.
• At the completion of LEAD 836 the Nomination of Dissertation Committee form should be signed by all prospective committee members and submitted to the Director of the PhD in Leadership Program for final approval in either the College of Business or the Clamp Divinity School.

Dissertation Continuous Enrollment (LEAD 839 dissertation course)

 It is recommended that students review the fee structures for continuous enrollment.  If you are unable to complete your dissertation in one semester, you may enroll in LEAD 839 to complete your dissertation.