Executive Ph.D. in Leadership Studies

Course Requirements

Strategic Administration & Curriculum and Culture (24 hours)

• LEAS 730 - The Politics of Organizational Decision-Making
• LEAC 731 - Learning in Adulthood
• LEAS 732 - Program Planning and Assessment
• LEAS 830 - Leadership in Theory and Practice
• LEAS 833 - Higher Education in America
• LEAS 835 - The Change Process
• LEAC 834 - Leadership in Historical Context
• LEAS 836 - Current Trends in Leadership

Professional Research (24 hours)

• DSRT 837 - Professional Writing and Proposal Development
• DSRT 839 - Advanced Research Methods
• DSRT 850 - Qualitative Research Methods
• DSRT 734 - Inferential Statistics in Decision-Making
• DSRT 736 - Dissertation Seminar
• DSRT 834 - Advanced Statistical Applications
• DSRT 930 - Dissertation
• DSRT 931 - Dissertation

If the dissertation is not completed at the end of DSRT 931, the candidate repeats DSRT 931 as needed, for three (3) credit hours each term, until the dissertation is completed and defended.

Specialty Area Content (18 hours)

Students pursuing a PhD in leadership studies at Cumberlands are required to complete ONE specialty area.

• Criminal Justice
• Education
• English
• Health Professions
• Health Science
• History
• Mathematics
• Missions and Ministry
• Nursing
• Student Personnel Services
• Instructional Technology
• Public Administration

Courses in the following business department masters programs will matriculate as the Doctoral specialty if the program is completed as a second Masters:

• MBA
• Master of Science in Global Blockchain Technology
• Master’s in Project Management
• Master’s in Strategic Management

Or other approved electives
Courses in the following information systems department masters programs will matriculate as the Doctoral specialty if the program is completed as a second Masters:

• MSDF
• MSIT
• MSISS

Or other approved electives
For a full list of course offerings or more program specific information, visit our Academic Catalog.

Personal Application (1 hour)
INTR 799/899 - Applied Learning Practicum

For executive format students, the applied learning component (internship/practicum) is established as an integral (essential) part of the established curriculum. Due to the applied learning component required for the degree program, executive format students must enroll in INTR every term of enrollment. In addition to the required course enrollment, successful completion of three (3) hours of INTR 799/899 may replace LEAS 836 with approval of the Department Director and/or Chair.