An EdD in Organizational Leadership program can help prepare you for influential work as a leader in a diverse range of industries.
Graduates of organizational leadership programs often go on to careers in which they work to motivate employees, collaborate with stakeholders, and increase corporate efficiency. You may be drawn to a career in leadership if you are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable work environments and love to develop creative solutions to company problems.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Earning an EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership may be a great opportunity for you if you are eager to create lasting change and develop managerial skills.
EdD in Organizational Leadership Programs Online
Earning a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership can help you grow your career as an educator and leader.
Studies in for this degree typically center around building an understanding of different organizational structures in order to become a strong leader. In addition to exploring the social and ethical responsibilities of different organizations, you can learn how to build healthy cultural and economic environments within a business.
The curriculum for an organizational leadership doctoral program may cover topics such as:
- Leadership theory and practice
- Global policy
- Organizational change, innovation, and creativity
- Qualitative research
- Inferential statistics
- Ethical leadership
- Social justice
- Organizational behavior
- Economic impact on higher education
You will likely be required to complete a dissertation as well. To support students who are conducting research for their dissertation, many programs offer specific courses to work through questions and receive feedback from faculty advisors. Some programs also offer the option to select a concentration that aligns with your professional goals.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Typical concentrations include:
- Strategic Leadership
- Talent Development
- Workplace Learning
- Higher Education Leadership
- Adult Learning
- K-12 Leadership
Selecting a concentration can help you narrow down your studies and build a strong foundation in a specific and personal area of interest.
After graduating with a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, individuals often pursue management roles in a wide variety of organizations and companies. With this degree you might become an education administrator, a superintendent, a high school principal, a dean of a college, a chief operations officer, or an HR manager.
An EdD in Leadership online program can help you develop excellent managerial skills and the ability to oversee operations while simultaneously engaging and inspiring stakeholders.
Common Online Organizational Leadership EdD Program Concentrations
A concentration is a specific area of study within a larger academic field. Selecting a concentration in an organizational leadership doctoral program can help you tailor your education to align with your professional aspirations.
Common concentrations in organizational leadership include:
- Learning and Instruction: This concentration focuses on exploring principles and theories related to learning, motivation, and cognitive development in students of all ages.
- Conflict Management: This concentration covers collaboration, inclusivity, and resiliency and provides opportunities to learn how to build effective strategies for navigating conflict as a leader.
- Teacher Leadership: Centered around building a foundation in college and university leadership, this concentration explores the elements which influence student learning and success.
- Positive Leadership: This concentration examines diverse methods of positive leadership, including how to develop trusting and organic relationships with employees and encourage growth and creativity.
- Leadership in the Community: This specialization examines the role of leaders in relation to whole communities, covering topics like global leadership, fostering diversity, and different leadership styles.
Selecting a concentration that matches your personal interests can also help motivate you throughout the course of your doctoral program.
Organizational Leadership and Development Careers & Salaries
Earning a doctorate degree in organizational leadership often leads graduates towards managerial roles in a variety of companies and organizations.
Strong leadership often includes overseeing day-to-day operations, fostering and encouraging innovation, implementing structural changes, and supporting the well-being of employees. Industries across the board are looking for talented and dedicated leaders who can help them grow their companies and build community.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, individuals with a doctorate in organizational leadership may pursue the following roles:
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Human Resources Managers | $126,230 |
| Training and Development Managers | $120,130 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,340 |
| Top Executives | $98,980 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $98,420 |
| Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals | $98,420 |
| Postsecondary Education Administrators | $96,910 |
| Management Analysts | $93,000 |
| Postsecondary Teachers | $79,640 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,000 |
Selecting a concentration that aligns with your professional goals can also help you in your job search after graduation. For example, someone interested in becoming a postsecondary education administrator might enroll in a teacher leadership concentration program.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
As you work towards earning your doctorate, it is important to remember that completing a program does not guarantee a specific income or title. While obtaining an advanced degree can help you stand out as a dedicated and knowledgeable leader, there are several factors that can impact the post-graduation job search. Some of these are professional experience, geographic location, and the specific industry you want to work in.
Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership Curriculum
A typical curriculum for a doctoral program in organizational leadership will combine information from several fields, including data analytics, psychology, and entrepreneurial studies.
While courses vary between schools, a typical curriculum may include:
- Leadership Theory and Practice: This course explores different leadership theories and their applications in a variety of professional environments.
- Global Policy: This course introduces students to global policy systems and leaders in a variety of sectors, including public and private.
- Organizational Change, Innovation, and Creativity: This course focuses on creative and innovative methods of implementing organizational change, covering topics such as managing change and collaboration.
- Qualitative Research Design: This foundational course in qualitative research design teaches how to analyze and interpret data.
- Inferential Statistics: This foundational course in inferential statistics covers topics like statistical methods, data analysis software, and presentation of findings.
- Ethical Leadership and Social Justice: This course explores ethical and responsible leadership in diverse communities with a focus on ethical decision-making, cultural proficiency, and equity.
- Organizational Behavior: This course examines the structure of different organizations as well as how these organizations interact with employees, addressing topics like cross-cultural communication and organizational learning.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: This course examines the current theories and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the organizational level and explores topics like microaggressions, intersectionality, and hegemony.
- Storytelling for Change: This class examines the value of narrative in motivating and inspiring employees and teaches how to use storytelling to create organizational change.
- Dissertation Research: This course is intended to support students as they work to develop a dissertation proposal, conduct research, and present their findings to a committee of faculty.
In addition to general courses in organizational leadership, students may also take courses specific to their chosen concentration.
Admissions Requirements
While admissions processes vary between doctoral programs, most schools will likely request that you submit the following items:
- GRE or GMAT scores (only when required)
- Statement of intent
- Letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- Resume or CV
Along with your application materials, most schools will ask that you pay a small application fee as well. In addition to application items, many doctoral programs require a minimum GPA (usually 3.0) from an accredited master’s degree program.
Accreditation
To ensure that a college or university offers programs and resources that meet high educational standards, an institution can choose to be reviewed by an accrediting agency.
If the team of assessors determines that a school offers educational programs which meet or exceed the national guidelines for quality, that institution will earn accreditation. It’s important to check if an institution has regional accreditation before applying.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Attending a regionally accredited doctoral program can be a determining factor in your eligibility for federal financial aid, the education and training you receive, and your job prospects.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many individuals and families rely on financial aid and scholarship programs to be able to attend the college of their choice.
Federal and state financial aid opportunities are available for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds throughout the course of their academic journeys. To determine how much financial aid you qualify for, you can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is a free form which calculates how much aid you are eligible to receive.
Federal financial aid typically comes in the form of loans, grants, or work-study opportunities. State aid opportunities vary between locations but may also be granted in several different forms, similar to federal aid. Scholarship opportunities are also available to enrolled students based on a diverse range of application criteria, including GPA, community service contributions, and cultural background.
What Is an EdD Degree in Organizational Leadership?
A Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership is an advanced degree dedicated to preparing professionals for leadership roles in companies or organizations.
Programs for this degree focus on understanding organizational structures and the social and behavioral psychology principles that impact employee well-being and production. The curriculum for this degree typically provides opportunities to learn how to implement changes, tackle organizational issues, and create equitable working environments.
Many graduates come away from online EdD in Leadership programs with strong communication, collaboration, and team-building skills.
What Can I Do with an EdD in Organizational Leadership?
With a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, you can pursue work in many different fields, including human resources, administration, and non-profit organizations.
According to the BLS, individuals with a degree in organizational leadership often find positions as education administrators, training and development managers, or human resources managers. Others choose to work as elementary, middle, or high school principals, creating inclusive school communities.
The combination of educational and professional experience may also lead to top executive roles, such as chief academic officers, chief operations officers, and chief learning officers.
Can I Get an EdD in Organizational Leadership Degree Online?
Yes, a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership degree can be earned online. Online organizational leadership degree programs may be completed from the comfort of your home, without having to travel to and from a college campus.
Most online educational programs offer a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (pre-recorded) courses. This is the case whether it’s an organizational leadership certificate online or an EdD online. Understanding your personal learning styles and preferences can help you select a doctoral program that offers learning experiences that best align with your needs.
How Long Does It Take to Get an EdD in Organizational Leadership Online?
In general, most individuals can complete their doctoral studies in 3 to 5 years when enrolled full-time. The exact length of time depends on the number of credit hours required, which varies between programs.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
If you enroll in school part-time, it may take you longer to finish your doctoral degree. Additionally, a dissertation requirement can extend the length of a program. Programs without dissertation requirements tend to have shorter timelines than those with them.
What’s the Difference between an EdD vs. PhD in Organizational Leadership Program?
Doctor of Education programs tends to focus on the bigger picture of organizational leadership strategy, while Doctor of Philosophy programs usually focus on conducting original research.
| EdD in Organizational Leadership | PhD in Organizational Leadership |
|
|
An EdD degree typically prepares you for professional roles in management and leadership, while a PhD typically prepares you for work in research or academics. Like with EdD programs, a growing number of universities offer online PhD in Organizational Leadership programs.
Is an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Worth it?
Yes, an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership is worth it for many professionals. Many of the professional roles available for individuals with an EdD in organizational leadership to pursue are experiencing steady employment growth.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
The BLS states that human resources managers, for instance, have a projected employment growth rate of 9%, which is as fast as the national average for all other occupations. Additionally, many organizational leaders can implement changes that improve company efficiency, motivate and inspire employees, and create culturally responsive work environments.
Universities Offering Online EdD in Organizational Leadership Degree Program
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
American University offers a Doctorate in Education Policy and Leadership. The program seeks to equip graduates with skills in instruction, leadership, and policymaking so they can create positive social change in the field of education. The program requires the completion of 40 credits. Courses are completed primarily online but 3 in-person residencies are required. The degree can typically be earned in 3 years.
American University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Benedictine University’s Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Development program utilizes the scholar-practitioner model. It seeks to encourage students to take on hands-on roles in the teaching field and help them gain valuable experience that will drive their research and scholarship goals. On average, students can complete the program’s 72 required credits in just 3 years.
Benedictine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Boston University offers a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. The program is designed for students wishing to pursue leadership positions within the field of education. The curriculum is made up of collaborative courses and hands-on field experiences. The program consists of 17 required course that are made up of a combination of weekend classes and intensives at the summer institute.
Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
California Baptist University offers a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Administration that is designed to teach research and management skills. It is often suitable for organizational administrators, executives in business, and leaders across a variety of fields. This 56 credit program typically spans 3 years of full-time study and dissertation work, with classes held entirely online in accelerated, 8 week sessions.
California Baptist University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Chaminade University of Honolulu offers a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change. This is an interdisciplinary program that blends principles and skills from academic, business, and psychology fields. The program requires the completion of 60 credits and is housed entirely online. The required coursework and culminating dissertation can potentially be finished in just 36 months.
Chaminade University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
City University of Seattle offers a Doctor of Education in Leadership. The program’s curriculum includes specialized studies in leadership for educational, innovative, nonprofit, global, and entrepreneurship settings.
While courses are mostly held online, the program complements the flexibility of virtual learning with collaborative and interactive residencies. These residencies can be attended at the university’s Seattle or San Diego campuses.
CityU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Students looking for leadership training that factors in socially-just practices may find an ideal next step in the Doctorate in Educational Leadership program at Eastern Washington University. This program offers concentrations in PK-12 and Higher Education. The curriculum for either concentration consists of hybrid courses in data-informed decisions, ethics and equity in leadership, and partnerships in systemic change.
Eastern Washington University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Louisiana State University—Shreveport offers a Doctor of Education in Leadership Studies. The program aims to prepare students for advanced leadership roles across as broad spectrum of industries. The program can be completed online and typically takes 2 years to finish. Graduates often become executive directors, nonprofit leaders, program administrators, and research directors.
Louisiana State University – Shreveport is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Marymount University offers a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Organizational Innovation. The program boasts an accelerated and renowned program of study with valuable connections in the community for its students. This fully online degree program covers topics like research methods, organizational change, ethical leadership, and social justice in business.
Marymount University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
New York University offers a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation. The program is designed based on the belief that all successful leaders are lifelong learners. Its curriculum aims to deepen students’ critical thinking, communication, and adaptive skills. The program features an entirely online learning format and can potentially be completed in just 24 months of full-time attendance.
New York University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Saint Elizabeth University offers a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. The program is often a good fit for students eager to learn the theories and skills needed to enact organizational change in their field. The program utilizes synchronous and asynchronous online learning to help provide busy working professionals with the flexibility needed to take the next step in their education.
SEU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers a Doctor of Education in Leadership. The program seeks to teach students how to communicate effectively, foster learning, lead organizational change, and work from a lens of justice, empathy, and compassion. Students can choose to complete their 61 credits via in-person or online delivery options.
The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
South College offers a Doctor of Education program. Students may specialize in Adult Learning and Development, Higher Education Leadership, Teaching and Learning, or Organizational Leadership. The program is offered online and can typically be completed in 2 years of full-time attendance or 3 years of part-time attendance.
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Individuals in leadership positions in business or educational fields may find an excellent next step in the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at Southeastern University. This hybrid learning program aims to teach qualitative and quantitative research methods, advanced communication and analytic inquiry skills, and interdisciplinary leadership strategies. To graduate, students must complete 54 credits.
Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Southern Nazarene University’s Doctorate in Administration and Leadership program is intentionally designed for working professionals. It seeks to foster networking opportunities between students as they mutually gain experience and insight from hands-on work in the field. This 57 credit, online program offers six start dates each year, 6 week terms, and a curriculum that can typically be completed in 32 months.
Southern Nazarene University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Spalding University offers a Doctor of Education in Leadership program. It aims to graduate students who can address modern issues in the workforce using research-informed decision making, organizational innovation, and culturally sensitive perspectives. On average, this fully online program’s 60 required credit hours can be completed in just 2 years of full-time study.
Spalding University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Massachusetts—Lowell offers an online program for a Doctor of Education in Leadership in Schooling that can typically be completed in 3 years of full-time attendance. To graduate, students must complete 42 course credits, two comprehensive exams, three on campus summer residencies, and a culminating dissertation and defense.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The Doctor of Education in Learning and Leadership program at the University of Tennessee—Chattanooga uses a convenient hybrid learning model. The majority of the coursework is housed online in virtual classrooms, but a handful of face-to-face meetings are required each semester. The curriculum covers topics such as research methods, organizational theory, innovative technology, and data-informed decision making.
The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Students with a passion for improving education in underserved areas may find an ideal fit in the Doctorate in Rural Education program at the University of West Alabama. This program offers numerous concentrations, including Organizational Change, Counseling, and Teacher Leadership tracks. Each course in this 66 credit program is 8 weeks long, and the full degree can typically be completed in 3 to 4 years.
The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Winona State University offers a Doctor of Education with several specializations to choose from. Options are Organizational Leadership, Special Education, Multicultural Leadership, Instructional Technology, Educational Leadership in K-12, and Curriculum and Instruction. The program can typically be completed in 2 years and uses a low residency model. Courses are primarily completed online, but two on-campus residencies are required.
Winona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Earning Your EdD in Organizational Leadership Online
Earning an EdD in Organizational Leadership has the potential to set you apart from the crowd and help you qualify for leadership positions within your field.
Many graduates of advanced organizational leadership programs go on to influence and shape company culture and production in industries like education, government, and nonprofits. In addition to learning the strategies and tools needed to become an effective, empathetic leader, you can also develop strong problem-solving, data analysis, and communication skills.
You can start the application process today by conducting a search for regionally accredited online Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership programs.
