Xavier’s Leadership Studies Doctoral Program is a rigorous, interdisciplinary program open to students with a master’s degree in any field. Courses examine traditional and emerging leadership approaches, change management, organizational culture and ethics, leadership development, and the psychological and sociological factors that influence effectiveness. No prior leadership coursework is required. Graduates are prepared to lead ethical, reflective, and meaningful change in their fields.
To be considered for admission as a degree-seeking Leadership Studies Ed.D. student, applicants must submit the following documentation by the posted deadline, typically March 1:
To be considered for admission into the Master of Science in Water Utilities Management program, you must submit the following materials:
- Completed application.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work from accredited colleges and universities
- Original report of scores from one of the following: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), GMAT, LSAT or Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
- 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 documenting work and volunteer experiences
- Three letters of reference from individuals addressing your academic and/or professional potential for doctoral study.
You are considered for admission into the program once all application materials have been received.
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must have an advanced degree (e.g., Master’s degree, J.D., or Ph.D.) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution
- 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.
- LEAD 880 - Comparative Leadership Theory.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 881 - Leading Organizational Culture & Change.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 882 - Psychosocial Dimensions of Leadership.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 883 - Ethical, Spiritual & Character-Based Leadership.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 884 - Developing Leadership Capacity.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 870 - Fundamentals of Doctoral Research Methods in Leadership Studies.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 871 - Doctoral Statistics I.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 872 - Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methodology.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 873 - Doctoral Statistics II.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 874 - Developing Effective Research Proposals.............3 credit hours
Leadership Studies students complete 15 semester hours from a growing list of courses and internship experiences related to multiple areas of leadership application. Selected courses to not all have to relate to the same area of application. The following is a partial list of Applied Leadership Courses available. Contact the Program Director for the current course offerings.
- LEAD 860 – Organizational Metaphors.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 861 – Organizational Communication Processes.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 862 – Theory and Application of Adult Development & Learning.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 863 – Global Perspectives on National Culture.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 864 – International Business Ethics.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 866 – Leadership Internship I.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 867 – Leadership Internship II.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 869 – Capstone Leadership Seminar.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 854 – Theory & Practice of Higher Education Governance.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 855 – College Student Experience.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 856 – Finance, Economics & Policies in Higher Education.............3 credit hours
- LEAD 885 – Independent Study.............3 credit hours
A minimum of 15 semester hours of Dissertation Advisement courses is required for graduation Once a student has been admitted to the dissertation phase, continuous enrollment in at least 1 credit of Dissertation Advisement is required each semester until their dissertation has been completed and successfully defended. Enrollment in 3 credits of Dissertation Advisement is required to receive a full semester of advising in the summer semester.
- LEAD 890 - Dissertation Advisement
Tuition
- Doctoral Programs..............$937
Fees
- Student ID Fee..............$15
- Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking full-time..............$15 (per semester)
- Graduate Student Association Fee, degree-seeking part-time..............$10 (per semester)
For the full, official listing, please visit xavier.edu/costs.
Xavier University reserves the right to correct any computational or clerical errors.
Why Choose Xavier’s Leadership Studies Doctoral Program?
Our flexible, video-conference format allows mid-career professionals to balance a full-time career with off-campus doctoral study. Enroll in 1 or 2 courses per semester, each meeting one evening a week for 2.5 hours.
Four components work together to cover every aspect of leadership: Theory (Leadership Core), Practice, (Applied Leadership), Social Science Methods (Research Core), and Dissertation (Advisement).
This Leadership Studies program spans multiple disciplines! We target leaders advancing in business, health care, social and public service organizations, non-profits, K-12 and higher education.
Knowledgeable and dedicated faculty enable aspiring leaders to achieve personal and professional goals. Many students realize career advances even before graduating.
From tuition rates to financial aid and graduate assistantships, explore how to fund your doctoral journey at Xavier.
Whether you have questions about the curriculum, the video-conference format or how this program fits your specific career goals, we’re here to help.
We also offer a Post Master's Certificate in Leadership Studies
Complete all the same Leadership Core courses (21 credits) alongside students in the Leadership Studies (EdD) Doctoral Program. You can transfer these credits into the doctoral program later, if you decide you want to continue working toward the EdD degree. Not sure which program is right for you? We’ll help you decide.
FAQ
The study of leadership focuses on the human and organizational dynamics that enable coordinated, goal-oriented initiatives to be carried out successfully in groups, organizations and communities. Topics of study include comparative leadership theory, interpreting organizational culture, leading strategic change, understanding the psychosocial factors that influence leadership effectiveness, and mastering strategies for assessing and developing leadership capacity in individuals, groups, organizations and communities. Emphasis is placed on enhancing individuals' leadership literacy, i.e. their ability to understand and interpret ordinary circumstances with insight into the human qualities and situational contingencies required to produce extraordinary outcomes.
If you are comparing Xavier's Leadership Studies doctoral program to others, you will find we offer a distinctive interdisciplinary social sciences perspective that affords a broader, more diverse and in-depth approach to the study of leadership. In addition, the program permits students to choose a targeted area of disciplinary specialization that aligns with their professional aspirations. The combination of this interdisciplinary core and targeted cognate specialization prepares graduates to respond to, and advance their careers within the complex leadership dynamics they encounter in multiple organizational and community contexts. Finally, consistent with the latest models of leadership development, Xavier's Leadership Studies program combines a dual focus on developing leadership expertise and enhancing leader identity.
The courses in the Leadership Studies doctoral program do not have to be taken in a prescribed order. However, some courses do have pre-requisites, so your academic advisor will help you develop an overall recommended progression of courses based on when you choose to enter the program (Fall, Spring or Summer). It is not expected that you complete all courses in one core in a segregated manner before taking courses in another core area. Rather it is recommended that you intersperse courses from both the Leadership and Research cores throughout your program of study, adding courses from your selected cognate along the way, based on timing, interest and availability. You are expected to meet with your academic adviser to review progress and consider options prior to enrolling each semester. Your adviser will assist you in selecting courses consistent with your overall plan, based on how many courses you are prepared to take and how quickly you want to complete the program.
The Ed.D. degree originated in the early 1900's at a time when other professional degrees such as the J.D. and M.D. also emerged as alternatives to the traditional Ph.D. However, any differences originally intended to distinguish these degrees has largely eroded over the years, both in terms of curricular substance and career implications.
A recent study of higher education institutions in the U.S. found no difference between Ed.D and Ph.D. programs with respect to curricular or dissertation requirements (Shulman, Golde, Conklin & Garabedian, 2006). Similarly, a comparison of the dissertations produced during the same time period found that graduates of Ph.D. programs were no more likely to have conducted basic vs. applied research than were graduates receiving an Ed.D.
What more accurately differentiates the graduates of both types of degree programs is a student's individual professional aspirations, and their success producing a dissertation calibrated to prepare them for their intended career trajectory.
Xavier's emphasis on individual dissertation advisement in the Leadership Studies doctoral program is designed to ensure that each student receives the personalized attention required to achieve this calibration during the dissertation portion of their degree program.
The director of the Leadership Studies doctoral program is eager to answer your questions about the program and discuss how it might help you fulfill your personal and professional aspirations. Dr. Gail F. Latta, Ph.D. can be reached at by phone or email at: lattag@xavier.edu or (513) 745-2986.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr. Latta early in their deliberations to discuss their interest in Leadership Studies, and to maintain contact throughout the application process.
Doctor of Leadership Studies Program at Xavier University
The Leadership Studies, Ed.D. Program is designed to provide mid-career professionals in any field with interdisciplinary, doctoral-level leadership expertise, research competencies, and theory-based practical skills for leading and developing leadership capacity in themselves and the organizations and communities they serve. The program focuses on proven leadership approaches with documented outcomes and social science methods, preparing graduates capable of conducting empirical research and pursuing professional careers in business, community, non-profit, educational, health care, and public service arenas.
Xavier University's College of Professional Sciences prepares undergraduate and graduate students intellectually, morally and spiritually for careers and professions of service. CPS challenges students to strive for academic excellence and life-long learning through promoting collaboration and community partnerships, and incorporating research, scholarship and innovation.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."