phd in executive leadership

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phd in executive leadership

Doctor of Executive Leadership

Online (annual one-week residence)

Program Overview

This program is for those seeking to maximize their executive value to organizations, communities, and institutions. The goal of the Doctorate of Executive Leadership (DEL) program is to educate the next generation of senior-level leaders as scholars and practitioners who can integrate theory and practice into the discipline of leadership.  This rigorous program develops the skills needed in aspiring mid- and senior-level leaders who can then integrate theory into practice and apply their knowledge in a wide variety of industries or sectors.

The Doctor of Executive Leadership program is distinct from other graduate degrees in leadership due to its specialized focus on preparing experienced leaders for executive roles, its advanced and applied curriculum, and its emphasis on research and practical experience.

It’s designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in high-level leadership positions within organizations.

phd in executive leadership

Here’s what graduates are saying | Program Testimonials 

phd in executive leadership

To be eligible for admission to the DEL, you need to have completed a master’s or first professional degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.

In addition to the  application  (including a nonrefundable $75 application fee) prospective DEL students must submit:

  • Licensure or Credential, Career Focus, Personal Skills Assessment
  • A discussion paper of approximately 1,500 to 2,500 words (about five to seven double-spaced pages of 12-point type) in which you reflect on your motivation for pursuing the DEL and explain how the degree will help you explore your academic and professional interests and goals. You should also address the qualities and experiences you would contribute to a doctoral leadership cohort. The paper is an important part of the admission committee’s decision-making process.
  • A résumé or curriculum vitae. Your current résumé should include your education and work history, honors and awards, publications and presentations, research experience (if any), and participation in professional and community organizations.
  • Official transcripts. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended must be sent directly to UC Admissions either via mail or electronic delivery. If your degree is from a college or university outside of the United States, you should first contact the DEL program coordinator to determine whether a transcript evaluation is needed. If you are not a native speaker of English, you may also be required to submit a score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
  • Two confidential recommendations, one personal and one professional. Download the application reference form Professional references can be from supervisors, colleagues or professors.

An interview with the admissions committee, conducted in person or via phone/video call, is required of all applicants. Once your application materials are received, a representative from the UC School of Leadership will contact you for an admission interview.

Program Highlights

Program is designed to be widely applicable to those who want to maximize their executive value. Online format with web conferencing and five-day annual residency at UC in Charleston, WV. A professional research doctorate designed to develop senior-level leaders.

Understanding changes in leadership in an organization. The Doctor of Executive Leadership program will provide insight around change management and equip you with the knowledge and tools to lead organizations through periods of transformation and adaptation.

A program grounded in ethical leadership. You’ll develop a strong foundation in ethical leadership, learning how to make principled decisions and navigate ethical dilemmas in the workplace.

Program Outcomes

Learn how to lead.

You’ll be equipped to ethically lead organizations to greater effectiveness and sustainability by understanding and implementing change, utilizing resources effectively, encouraging innovative solutions to problems, making timely judgments, developing collaborations and networks, and facilitating team building for maximum effectiveness.

Additional Information

What makes the Doctor of Leadership degree different from other graduate degrees focused on leadership?

A Doctor of Executive Leadership (DEL) degree is a relatively specialized program that focuses specifically on preparing individuals for high-level leadership roles in organizations, often at the executive or C-suite level. DEL programs are designed for individuals who already have significant leadership experience and are seeking to further develop their leadership skills specifically for executive roles.

What is unique about the curriculum I will experience in the Doctor of Executive Leadership program at UCWV?

Our program will delve deeply into advanced leadership theories, strategies, and practices that are directly applicable to executive roles. These programs often include coursework in areas like strategic leadership, organizational change, executive coaching, and global leadership.

How is the Doctor of Executive Leadership degree different from an MBA or DBA degree?

The primary goal of the program is to prepare individuals for top-level executive positions, whereas MBA programs often focus on providing a broad business education, and DBA programs can have a wider range of career outcomes. It is also common for many students in the DEL program to have several years of senior leadership experience whereas an MBA can admit students with a wider range of professional backgrounds.

What are the advantages of completing a Doctor of Executive Leadership in an online environment?

The Doctor of Executive Leadership degree being online offers several benefits you should consider before enrolling into a program that include:

  • The program being online offers greater flexibility for those needing to balance current career and personal commitments while still pursuing their degree.
  • The Doctor of Executive Leadership leverages technology to enhance learning experiences. This includes using innovative tools for collaboration, data analysis, and simulation exercises that can be highly relevant for executive leadership development.

Download the Course Descriptions

Meet the Team

UC Faculty Staff

Dean School of Leadership Associate Professor and DEL Program Director

Senior Graduate Admissions Coordinator

Administrative Assistant

Academic Advisor, MSSL

phd in executive leadership

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Clemson rolls out South Carolina’s first Executive Leadership PhD program

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Clemson University is launching a brand-new program targeting full-time, working professionals – the Executive Leadership PhD Program .  

Through its Department of Management , the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business is launching a unique three-year, AACSB-accredited program that will allow candidates to earn their PhD while working in their full-time careers. Inaugural applicants will participate in a research boot camp this October and begin the program in July of 2022. 

phd in executive leadership

“This new offering at Clemson will take a deep-dive into leadership that will allow participants to pursue a research agenda in academia or significantly expand their skillset for growth in the business world,” said Kristin Scott, director of the Executive Leadership Ph.D. program. “Graduates of our program will be qualified for faculty positions or be armed with advanced research techniques they can utilize in transforming organizations.”

Clemson’s Executive Leadership Ph.D. program is different from the handful of other advanced executive PhD programs that exist nationwide in that students are exposed to and will need to demonstrate mastery of leadership literature, advanced analytical techniques, and research methodology.

“Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Management’s internationally recognized faculty in research practicums and completing a dissertation, students will gain the necessary skills to lead rigorous and meaningful research projects that will qualify them to pivot to an academic career or provide rocket fuel to accelerate an existing business career,” said Craig Wallace, Department of Management chair.

phd in executive leadership

Applications for the program, which will utilize distance and face-to-face learning, will begin being accepted in August 2021. Applicants will need a master’s degree and have successful leadership experience of preferably a decade, or more.

“Candidates will experience a small and selective cohort that will create a high-touch program. In addition to lasered-in focus on leadership, the program will provide them with deep analytical skills,” Scott said. “Clemson’s world-class management faculty will be joined by global scholars who will be guest faculty throughout the three-year program.”

The Executive Leadership PhD Program is offered in a hybrid format with virtual class meetings and three-day residencies three times per semester (nine per year) and is designed to be completed in three years over nine semesters while attending fall, spring, and summer terms.

Other features of the program include:

•            Core curriculum covers organizational behavior, strategic management, entrepreneurship, and a comprehensive spectrum of research methods courses that are taught by senior researchers in these fields.

•            Leadership curriculum covers individual, team, cross-cultural and strategic leadership theory, content, and application.

•            Students complete a year-long research practicum with the intent to publish research at the practicum’s conclusion.

•            Doctoral dissertations are conducted one-on-one with a faculty research advisor.

“This advanced program removes the rigidity of traditional PhD offerings so executives can elevate their understanding of leadership without leaving the workforce,” added Wallace. “Our faculty is comprised of accomplished researchers and mentors who will deliver an innovative portfolio of courses that will take a leader’s career to the next level.”

The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business is taking applications now. Further information on the Executive Leadership PhD Program can be obtained by contacting Kristin Scott, professor of Management and director of the program at [email protected] .

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Executive Leadership Development

Choose a session:, 22 apr 2024 – 10 may 2024, 21 jul 2024 – 26 jul 2024.

Learn to lead with confidence in this rigorous, general management program for executives on the verge of achieving even greater things.

Executive Leadership Development is a comprehensive, experiential program that encompasses analysis to action — with an emphasis on the action. It’s a unique blend of intensive learning, immersive lectures, on-the-job challenges, and personal leadership development. You will be able to apply what you learn to real-world business challenges and put new leadership skills into practice.

You will begin developing your leadership style and effectiveness with Stanford’s proprietary 360º leadership assessment. Throughout the program, you will hone your personal leadership skills with three coaching sessions that will keep you engaged and accountable long after you complete the program.

The carefully developed curriculum follows Stanford’s MBA Program across three key themes: business acumen, innovation, and leadership. You will work closely with Stanford GSB faculty, and collaborate in small groups with highly motivated global peers to share business challenges, gain relevant insights, and develop a valuable network that extends far beyond the classroom.

Key Benefits

Strengthen your management acumen and interpersonal skills to successfully navigate challenges.

  • Practice and improve your leadership with a personalized coaching plan.
  • Develop greater awareness of your leadership style and how it’s perceived by others.
  • Improve core analytical skills required for approaching business challenges holistically and making better executive decisions.
  • Enhance your understanding of the critical interface between execution issues and internal and external strategic challenges to the organization.
  • Learn design thinking principles to solve business problems — learn effective ways of designing teams, business operations, change management initiatives, and organizational structures and culture.

Who Should Attend?

  • High-potential leaders on the fast track who are poised and motivated to take on significant managerial responsibility in their organizations
  • Mid-level executives with at least 10 years of work experience and a minimum of three to five years of management experience — from any size company, any industry, and any country
  • Individuals who are eager, engaged, and inspired to make a positive impact in this program and in their organizations
  • Senior executives and high potential leaders interested specifically in power and influence may want to consider Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power

At-a-Glance

phd in executive leadership

Application Requirements

Qualified candidates are admitted on a rolling, space-available basis. Early applications are encouraged.

Payment Information

Payment is due upon admission. Your space is secured upon receipt of full payment.

Awarded Upon completion

The program fee includes tuition, private accommodations, all meals, and course materials.

​Video Introduction

Learn more about the program.

Explore our carefully designed curriculum, and go deeper with select course descriptions or a sample schedule.

Learn more about our past participants, and find out if the program is right for you.

Faculty Leadership

Explore related programs, stanford executive program: be a leader who matters.

21 Jun 2024 – 03 Aug 2024 In-Person

Executive Program in Leadership: The Effective Use of Power

10 Nov 2024 – 15 Nov 2024 In-Person

Black Leaders Program

22 Sep 2024 – 27 Sep 2024 In-Person

Associated program Topics

  • General Management,
  • Organizational Leadership,
  • Personal Leadership,

Program dates, fees, and faculty subject to change. Consistent with its non-discrimination policy, Stanford’s programs are open to participants regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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Executive Management

Phd in executive management.

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“Knowledge is different from all other resources. It makes itself constantly obsolete.” – Peter Drucker

What comes after success.

In today’s fast-paced world, accomplished executives like you must continuously evolve to stay ahead. That’s why our groundbreaking PhD in Executive Management (EPhD) program has been reinvented to cater to a new generation of leaders. With a 40-year history of providing doctoral education to executives, the EPhD empowers you to build on your accomplishments and experience by delving into personally relevant questions facing business, management, and society. By joining our trailblazing program, you become part of a special cohort of forward-thinking professionals dedicated to transforming business and society. Guided by Drucker’s enduring philosophy and supported by our world-class faculty, you will explore transformative ideas that can create a lasting impact.  

A Unique Learning Experience Tailored for You

The Drucker School and its programs, including the EPhD, are grounded in the philosophy of Peter F. Drucker, widely regarded as the father of modern management. Distinct among business schools, the Drucker School views management as fundamental to human achievement and emphasizes the importance of good management for a functioning society. The EPhD embodies this philosophy by blending theory and practice, aimed at studying a business, management, or social issue in-depth. You will receive personalized guidance from dedicated faculty advisors, ensuring a unique and unparalleled learning experience tailored to your individual goals.  

The Next Journey for Visionary Leaders

A doctorate from the Drucker School represents excellence in leadership and management research and practice. As an academic, writer, and scholar, Peter Drucker’s work has left an indelible impact on the field of management. He joined the Claremont Graduate University in the early 1970s, and for nearly 20 years, he and CGU faculty offered the EPhD program, with the first students graduating in 1984. Although many business schools offer similar programs, such as the “DBA,” the EPhD at Drucker has a distinguished and unique history as the oldest program of its kind. The newly reimagined program is tailored to meet the needs of today’s top executives, providing the Drucker Edge and empowering you to join the distinguished ranks of visionary leaders who have shaped the future of business and society.

Program Highlights

  • The Drucker Edge: Building on Peter Drucker’s management principles and his legacy of innovation, the EPhD is tailored for visionary leaders seeking to make a lasting impact by shaping contemporary business management practices.
  • Flexible and Customized The newly reimagined EPhD is a hybrid program tailored for experienced executives working full time with completion within 3 years.
  • Real-World Impact: The EPhD, in contrast to traditional PhD programs focused on the advancement of theory, seeks to advance the practice of management. World-class faculty with extensive academic and practical expertise guide top executives to address important practical issues with rigorous research.
  • Your degree is AACSB accredited —the highest standard for business education.

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Program At a Glance

UNITS 48-64 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME 3 years

COURSE MODALITY Hybrid

COURSES BEGIN Fall | Spring

The EPhD program at the Drucker School of Management offers a holistic educational experience for seasoned managers and leaders:

  • Comprehensive understanding of advanced leadership and management principles, including the philosophy of Peter Drucker
  • Apply advanced leadership concepts, theories, models, and tools for practical and creative problem solving
  • Completion of a high-quality doctoral project that addresses an important business, management, or social problem with rigorous research methods and of relevance to the doctoral student
  • Personal growth and preparation for new career paths, including teaching at a university, consulting, governance boards, and executive leadership roles

The Dissertation Reimagined

This doctoral program requires a minimum of 48 units of coursework and a dissertation designed to be completed within 3 years, with a curriculum tailored to each executive’s unique needs.

Leadership Core (6 units)

  • Drucker Philosophy (2 units)

Choose two of the following:

  • Leadership Practicum (2 units)
  • Designing the Future (2 units)
  • The Practice of Self-Mastery (2 units)

Doctoral Core Seminars (6 units) Seminar topics vary year to year, example topics include:

  • Drucker’s work
  • Customer Behavior
  • Leadership and Organizational Behavior
  • Societal Impact

Doctoral Methods Core (8 units)

  • Survey of Quantitative Methods (2 units)
  • Survey of Qualitative Methods (2 units)
  • Foundations of Research (4 units)

Intensives Courses in Claremont (two 2-unit courses)   Transdisciplinary Course (4 units)   Electives or Independent Studies (4 units)   PhD Completion Courses (16 units)

  • Dissertation proposal
  • Written dissertation and oral defense

Optional Global Experiences (2-4 units)

  • Global Immersion (Drucker School typically offers multiple international trips each year that doctoral students can participate in)

Who Should Apply

The ideal candidates for the EPhD are seasoned managers, leaders and executives with significant leadership experience in business, non-profits, and public sector organizations. These candidates should possess the following qualities:

  • Leadership Experience: Ideal candidates are senior leaders from various types of organizations. The Drucker School values the practice of management, therefore ideal candidates for the program should have experience managing and leading groups of people and organizations. As a School of Management we welcome people from all kinds of organizations, including non-profits, NGOs, for-profit firms, and governmental organizations.
  • Research Interest: Applicants should be able to submit a preliminary project proposal that aligns with the Drucker School faculty’s research interests and expertise. Ideal candidates should demonstrate a genuine passion for understanding a significant business, management, or social problems through rigorous research.
  • Commitment: The program is designed to be completed within three years, so candidates should be prepared to dedicate the necessary time and effort to their studies.
  • Motivation: Ideal candidates are motivated by self-enhancement, learning, and the potential for new career paths, such as teaching at a university, consulting, governance boards, or executive leadership roles in companies led by scientists and technologists with PhDs.
  • Engagement: Candidates should be active in their fields or professions, attending industry-relevant events, executive leadership/coaching programs, or participating in business professional organizations, such as those related to their industries or professions.

Faculty & Research

David Sprott profile image

David Sprott

Henry Y. Hwang Dean, Drucker School of Management Professor of Marketing

Research Interests

Retailing, branding, influence strategies, marketing public policy

Vijay Sathe profile image

Vijay Sathe

C.S. & D.J. Davidson Chair and Professor of Management

Family business, Mindful revitalization, Creative economy, The Effective Executive, Managing Change

Jay Prag profile image

Clinical Full Professor Academic Director Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts

Corporate Finance, Investments, Economics of Strategy, Macroeconomics

Hideki Yamawaki profile image

Hideki Yamawaki

Ito Chair of International Business and Professor of Management

Design Thinking, Competitive Strategy, International Business, International Trade, and Foreign Direct Investment

Bernie Jaworski profile image

Bernie Jaworski

Peter F. Drucker Chair in Management and the Liberal Arts

Client Management, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Strategy

Jeremy Hunter profile image

Jeremy Hunter

Associate Professor of Practice Founding Director, Executive Mind Leadership Institute

Mindfulness, Self-management, Executive mind

Munirpallam A. Venkataramanan profile image

Munirpallam A. Venkataramanan

University Professor

Supply Chain Management, Decision Support Systems, Optimization Techniques

Katharina Pick profile image

Katharina Pick

Clinical Associate Professor

Organizational behavior, Teams, Organizational theory, Leadership, Corporate governance, Power and influence

Kristine Kawamura profile image

Kristine Kawamura

Clinical Professor of Management

Responsible management, Care (as a strategic resource), Values-based management systems, Leadership, Organizational strategy and culture, Cross cultural competence, Human performance and resilience

Stephen Gilliland profile image

Stephen Gilliland

Organizational Justice, Employee Attitudes and Motivation, Leadership

Becky Reichard profile image

Becky Reichard

Full Professor

Development of those not typically represented in leadership roles (e.g., women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+), Psychological mechanisms underlying the process of leader development (e.g., feedback, goal striving, self-views, implicit theories, leader development readiness), Development of leadership through experiences outside of the work context (e.g., global, sports, volunteering, crisis)

Paul J. Zak profile image

Paul J. Zak

Professor of Economic Sciences, Psychology & Management Director, Center for Neuroeconomics Studies

Neuroeconomics, Neuroscience of Narratives, Neuromanagement

Michelle Bligh profile image

Michelle Bligh

Interim Executive Vice President & Provost Professor of Organizational Behavior

Leadership, Organizational Culture, Charismatic Leadership

Request information about the Executive Management program

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Adriana Leake

Assistant Director of Admissions T: 909-607-3310 E: [email protected]

Michael Mirabella

Director of Recruitment for the Drucker School of Management T: 909-607-9049 E: [email protected]

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phd in executive leadership

Executive PhD & DBA Programs in Values-Driven Leadership

Doctoral program for executives in chicago and around the world.

Think deeper and lead stronger with our premier Ph.D./D.B.A. program, designed specifically for senior executives.

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Phd programs.

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Executive PhD in Business

Deadline approaching.

The final deadline for students looking to join the Fall 2024 cohort is March 13, 2024. Please e-mail Jill Brown if you have questions about the application process.  Apply

A part-time, accelerated PhD program that combines real-world business with world-class research

Today's business executives face unprecedented challenges that require uncommon leadership and the ability to gain deep insight into the issues that define the global economy.

Bentley's part-time Executive PhD in Business delivers an intellectually rigorous and critically relevant academic opportunity for seasoned professionals. The program develops a new breed of high-achieving industry leaders who combine business acumen with a research-driven mindset. Graduates will earn more than a valuable credential. They will gain the rare ability to identify the most consequential of challenges, the analytical toolset to reach data-driven decisions, and the insights to manage change in any business or organization. 

Program Attributes

Earn your PhD on a schedule that allows you to maintain your high-powered career and busy life.

Accelerated

Graduate in three years, far faster than traditional five-year PhD programs.

Virtual classes can be taken from home, the office, or anywhere you want. Face-to-face sessions bring students and faculty together twice each semester.

Cohort-Based

Grow your network by studying with the same dedicated group of peer business leaders over the course of your program.

Learn more and take the next step

Why an executive phd.

Three PhD students graduating from Bentley

Relevancy and Rigor

Bentley's Executive PhD provides an unparalleled opportunity to access the doctoral study of business, separating accomplished professionals and strong performers from their peers. The Executive PhD program offers industry leaders access to an enriching academic experience, provides the  tools and skills to claim greater agency over future opportunities, dedicates meaningful time to reengage in learning and researching, and culminates with the unique opportunity to create new knowledge through a formal dissertation. 

Growth and Opportunity

Graduates will leave Bentley with an enhanced ability to identify and address the most consequential of challenges, the analytical skills that will help executives to quickly reach informed decisions, and the advanced management skills needed to effectively implement critical change in an evolving, dynamic, global organization .

women business leader shaking hands with partner

Why Bentley?

Proven reputation.

A history of educating and elevating business leaders who make an immediate and lasting impact across all industries.

Expert Faculty

World-class researchers in fields such as leadership, experience design, business analytics, accounting, entrepreneurship and more.

Leading Technology

Access to an unmatched collection of learning labs, where you will leverage the latest data, research and modeling tools.

Program Structure

executive education phd program structure

Program Information and Details

The Executive PhD in Business is a part-time, accelerated and flexible three-year program that will allow you to earn a doctorate while continuing to grow your career. 

To learn details of the program, view our curriculum map, and learn about the program's three focus areas (Leadership, Business Analytics, and Experience Design), please visit the curriculum page .

  Learn More about the Curriculum and Focus Areas

Admission Requirements

  • Master’s degree required
  • Minimum eight years work experience
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in business

Application Requirements (Application Opens on October 2, 2023)

  • All academic transcripts
  • GMAT or GRE scores (optional)
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Application fee ($150)

Following the initial application:

  • Finalists will be invited to participate in a research webinar and asked to submit an 8 to 10 page research proposal. This research proposal will serve as an early preview of a dissertation topic.
  • Early admission deadline of January 4, 2024
  • Final deadline of March 13, 2024
  • Finalists will be notified of advancing to the next round on a rolling basis.
  • The program is designed to be completed in three years over the course of nine semesters. The total cost of the three-year program is $153,000, or $17,000 per semester.
  • The program cost includes tuition, books and software.
  • Students are responsible for the cost of travel and lodging associated with attending the required immersion weekends. 

Learn more about Tuition and Fees, Refund Policy, Payment and Financing Options

How does this program differ from Bentley’s PhD in Business and PhD in Accounting?   This program allows students to maintain their career while earning their PhD in a flexible, accelerated, part-time format. 

What are the on-campus requirements? In years one and two of the program, there are a pair of two-day residential immersion experiences on Friday/Saturday each semester, including summers.

How do I find a faculty adviser? Students will meet a variety of faculty during their orientation and will be matched with faculty advisers in their first semester.

How do the three focus areas work with the PhD? Students will pick one of these areas (Leadership, Business Analytics, Experience Design) for course work and research leading toward their dissertation. 

What is the deadline to apply?  The application process for this program extremely competitive. We encourage all students to complete their application as early as possible. The early admission application deadline is January 4, 2024. All other applications are due by March 13, 2024.

Why an Executive PhD in Business?

Program Director Jill Brown covers some of the ways an Executive PhD could help advance students in their careers and academic pursuits. 

Work With World-Class Experts

Bill Gribbons

Dr. William Gribbons

Teaching interests include: Human Factors; Product Strategy and Innovation; Design Ethics  

Dr. Tatiana Manolova

Dr. Tatiana Manolova

Teaching interests include: Competitive Strategy; Global Strategy; International Entrepreneurship

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Dr. Mingfei Li

Teaching interests include: Applied Statistics; Applied Game Theory; Health and Business Analysis

for more information

Jill Brown

Jill A. Brown (PhD, University of Georgia) is the Hieken Professor of Business Ethics and Professor of management at Bentley University. Her scholarly interests include ethics, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, corporate governance and strategic leadership. Prior to her career in academia, Brown was a commercial banker and consultant.

Please email me to schedule a one-on-one meeting .

Learn More about our Executive PhD Program

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  • Program Cohort: 20
  • Months to Completion: 28
  • Alumni Network: 500+

Education Doctorate in Executive Leadership (Ed.D.)

Develop critical community leadership skills for education, health care, business, public administration, and other human service sectors.

Obtain your doctoral degree for advanced leadership positions through our accelerated, rigorous, multidisciplinary, and highly supportive program of study that incorporates cutting-edge learning technologies, innovative teaching, applied research, and customized student services.

Ed.D. Program Overview

Fisher's Education Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Executive Leadership prepares you for executive leadership roles within the context of a diverse, information-driven, and increasingly global society. Through critical and applied research, you will develop strategies to solve complex challenges and improve organizational environments. 

Courses focus on leadership competencies, organizational development, strategic planning, public policy, and data-driven decision-making. Customized learning includes field experiences, guided dissertation seminars, and your dissertation committee aligned with your leadership research interests.

Ed.D. Program Highlights

The education doctorate at St. John Fisher University allows working professionals to advance their executive leadership skills through a rigorous program featuring:

  • Hybrid instruction that combines the flexibility of digital learning with the depth of in-person learning.
  • Convenient in-person classes that meet Friday evenings and Saturday (every 4 to 5 weeks) to fit the demands of working professionals.
  • Accelerated format with only 28 months to completion, which includes writing and defending your dissertation.
  • Access to an alumni network of more than 500 executive-level leaders serving across the state and beyond.

Join Us for an Information Session

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Join us for an information session to learn more about the Ed.D. program. Learn about prerequisites, program requirements, and get your questions answered.

Sessions are scheduled throughout the year to learn about the Ed.D. program at Fisher and at our extension site.

In-Person Information Sessions

Rochester campus location.

  • Wednesday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Roswell Park Main Campus, Buffalo, N.Y. | Register for the 3/13 session
  • Wednesday, March 20 at 5:30 p.m. at St. John Fisher University | Register for the 3/20 session

Virtual Information Sessions

Virtual Information Sessions are held on Zoom.

  • Thursday, March 21 at 5 p.m.| Register for the 3/21 session
  • Tuesday, April 16 at 5 p.m. | Register for the 4/16 session

Westchester Campus Location

  • Wednesday, April 17 at 3 p.m. | Register for the 4/17 session

Ed.D. Program Outcomes

By the end of the program, candidates will successfully demonstrate the following learning outcomes through a critical and equitable lens:

  • Apply knowledge and dispositions required for effective leadership.
  • Design and conduct research.
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform decision-making in an organization or community.
  • Plan strategically to advance an organization’s mission and goals using effective communication and collaboration.
  • Evaluate implications and sustainability of public policies and practices within social systems.
  • Identify and evaluate ethical or moral dilemmas with tools that can lead to beneficial outcomes for individuals and organizations.
  • Articulate strategies and practices to apply culturally relevant frameworks and theories in organizations.
  • Demonstrate the leadership practices needed to appreciate, retain, and maximize the talents of a diverse workforce.
  • Apply or practice introspective and reflective leadership practices using personal strengths and coaching to advance personal and professional goals.
  • Synthesize and apply research, knowledge, and skills to inform change and increase organizational capacity.

Ed.D. Extension Site in Westchester County

Fisher's Ed.D. in Executive Leadership program is also offered at the Iona University campus in Westchester, affording executives and managers in other parts of New York state the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership degree.

Please keep in mind that Ed.D. candidates at Iona University are required to take one course on Fisher's campus. This course is typically completed in one block session (e.g., Wednesday – Sunday).

For more information regarding application and admission to the Ed.D. program at Iona University, please contact Fisher's Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8064 or [email protected] .

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Iona University

715 North Ave New Rochelle, NY 10801 www.iona.edu Iona Campus Map

“  The new hybrid model has been working really well from my experience. I have enjoyed balancing my work life and school life while still enjoying meeting in person with the rest of the cohort and faculty. It is so much more conducive to living two hours away from campus. ”

Jack Steger

  • Jack Steger ’25
  • Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement at St. Bonaventure University
  • Ed.D. Advantages

“  This program is a game changer. It opens doors to possibilities and opportunities. It is intense, but I would do it all over again. ”

Sean Davenport

  • Dr. Sean Davenport ’18
  • Community Superintendent at NYC Department of Education

“  I have learned to become a better leader. I am a better educator because of the Ed.D. program. ”

Mike Seils

  • Mike Seils, PT, DPT, Ed.D. '22
  • Assistant Professor at Daemen University
  • Executive Leadership (Ed.D.)

“  The new hybrid model has allowed me to advance my education, continue on my career path, and balance a family with three little people. It IS possible. ”

Katrina Wojciechowski

  • Katrina Wojciechowski ’25
  • Service Line Manager for Advanced Practice Providers

Education News

Makenna King

03/11/2024 - The next student to be featured in our “Countdown to Commencement” series is Makenna King, an inclusive adolescence education and mathematics major. King was nominated by Dr. Susie Hildenbrand, associate professor in the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education.

03/05/2024 - Have you ever wondered what an ePortfolio is and why it matters? With your electronic portfolio, you can demonstrate what you have learned during your time at St. John Fisher University, creating a living document you can share with potential employers.

02/19/2024 - St. John Fisher University recently announced the Dean’s List honorees for the Fall 2023 semester, which includes more than 1,400 undergraduate students.

Aerial view of St. John Fisher University's campus in the fall.

02/07/2024 - Two online graduate offerings at St. John Fisher University were recognized in the U.S. News 2024 Best Online Programs ranking. The rankings evaluate online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in seven disciplines offered by regionally accredited institutions.

Fisher students in Washington, D.C. during Fisher Flight Plan 2023.

12/01/2023 - This April, students will have a unique opportunity that requires a boarding pass, a stack of business cards, and 48 free hours. Fisher Flight Plan, an immersive career networking and exploration experience, will once again take off to a new city, and applications are now being accepted through Friday, Jan. 26.

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11/10/2023 - The Teacher Education Student Association (TESA) at St. John Fisher University is holding a school supply drive throughout the month of November to benefit Pencils & Paper.

A wall of books.

11/01/2023 - Four St. John Fisher University faculty members will share insights and summaries of their recently published books during Fresh Ink, scheduled to be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the lower level of Lavery Library.

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10/26/2023 - During its annual celebration, the Rochester Education Foundation (REF) honored three St. John Fisher University alumni, including Dr. Marlowe Washington ’19 (Ed.D.), senior diversity officer at the University.

A student shares research with an attendee at the 2023 Fisher Showcase.

10/20/2023 - Did you know? The Center for Student Research and Creative Work supports student attendance and participation at professional meetings and competitions held during the academic year.

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10/04/2023 - Tackling a research project or writing a paper and need assistance? Look no further than the librarians at Lavery Library.

  • 15 > >>

Ambra BOCCACCINI - Paris Campus - ESCP Business School

Ambra BOCCACCINI

Global Executive Ph.D. Recruiter Schedule a call +33 (0)6 78 44 12 62

Global Executive Ph.D. , ESCP Business School

  • Global Executive Ph.D.

October 2024

Language of instruction

Where you study

  • Executive Education
  • Fees & Financing

Global Executive Ph.D. Designed for an executive audience

Information Coronavirus:

Despite the situation related to Covid-19, we continue to accompany you with your professional development project.

The ongoing recruitment process: Application files to be completed online and selection interviews conducted remotely. Our team is always ready and available to listen to you.

Doctoral-level Qualification

The world we are living in is facing profound evolution and relentless change. In this environment, we need visionary leaders who are capable of adapting, learning and inspiring others. Our programme enables senior executives and business leaders to act as reflective practitioners and to conduct valuable, doctoral-level research on a part-time basis over three to four years. You will benefit from the expertise of ESCP’s international world-class faculty.

Participants are expected to remain in employment and leverage their professional and personal experience throughout the programme.

Overview of ESCP Global Executive Ph.D.

Research method modules.

Develop methodological and theoretical skills at a doctoral level

Advanced Specialisation Modules

Develop field-specific expertise

Modules delivered over 3 residential sessions

Research paper.

Apply the skills you have acquired to a concrete industry-relevant problem. Participants who successfully complete this paper and all courses from year 1 will be awarded an Executive Masters in Management Research from ESCP Business School.

Ph.D. Dissertation

Complete a publishable-level research work in your chosen field of expertise. The dissertation can take the form of three publishable papers or a monograph.

Why choose ESCP's Global Executive Ph.D. programme?

A unique opportunity.

The ESCP Global Executive Ph.D. represents a unique opportunity to enhance, validate, and leverage your professional expertise within a rigorous academic framework.

Stimulates your Intellectual Expertise

Whether your goal is to enhance your knowledge and expertise in a given operational area, enhance your industry practice with academic experience, or continue your lifelong appetite for learning, the ESCP Global Executive Ph.D. is for you. The programme will enable you to combine the most advanced academic research findings with the "hands-on" experience of experts and apply your conclusions to complex management paradigms.

Your Benefits

Company benefits, key facts of the global executive ph.d..

  • 86 executive participants
  • 2020 inaugural cohort
  • 33 nationalities represented
  • 44 year old, on average
  • 16 average years of work experience
  • 12 average years of managerial experience
  • 30% C-level, owners, and partners

Satisfaction rating  (2023) 3,7/4

Webinar Elevate Your Expertise: Becoming a Thought Leader Through Research

Thursday, 7 march 2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. (cet), [on-demand] webinar the impact of ai on research, thursday, 1 february 2:30 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. (cet), [on-demand] webinar the future of management, tuesday, 12 september 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (cest), [on-demand] webinar unlock your research potential with the global executive ph.d.: the power of a strong advisor-advisee partnership, your resources white papers, discover the entire series of white papers: leaders for the future., global executive ph.d. academic research & a hands-on approach, programme structure, stage 1 18 months.

Coursework and First Research Paper

Stage 2 18* or 30 months * 18 months for accelerated participants

  • 6 Research methods modules
  • 4+ Advanced Specialisation modules
  • Research Paper 2 (RP2)
  • Research Paper 3 (RP3)
  • 2 Research Bootcamps

The Ph.D. dissertation can take the form of three publishable papers or a monograph.

Following Stage 1 and the successful completion of required courseworks and Field Research Paper 1 (RP1), you will be awarded an Executive Master in Management Research.

Following Stage 2 and the successful completion of your Ph.D. dissertation, you will be awarded an Executive Ph.D. (ESCP degree). ESCP Business School is a founding member of the Sorbonne Alliance.

For more details, contact your programme advisor .

Innovative Learning Model

  • A combination of academic, managerial teaching and reading materials will allow you to see how theoretical insights can be immediately translated into business outcomes.
  • An adapted learning methodology enables participants to combine their career experience with a Executive Ph.D. including assignments that help you master new knowledge in detail.
  • In-depth specialisation seminars allow you to acquire cutting-edge skills and to reflect on current and future trends in management.

International Standards

The courses adhere to the highest international standards. You will be taught research methodologies and benefit from specialisation courses linked to your dissertation project. Assignments will be given after each module to allow you to better integrate both the fundamentals and advanced concepts. You will also have a dedicated supervisor as well as coaching sessions to guide you towards the successful completion of your dissertation.

RESEARCH METHODS MODULES (Methodological and theoretical skills development)

  • Research Methods: Theory and Practice
  • Art Thinking and Research Creativity
  • Theory Building in Management Science
  • Design of Field Research Methods
  • Reading Seminar
  • Quantitative Methods: Empirical Methods and Causal Inference
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Applied Econometrics* * Participants who choose this module will have three specialisation modules instead of four.

SPECIALISATION MODULES (Field-specific expertise development) Below are examples of specialisation modules offered in alternate years.

Some advanced specialisation modules will be available and delivered online. Please contact the Global Executive Ph.D. office for the course schedules.

  • Management of Innovation
  • Advanced Topics in the Future of Work (Diversity, Inclusion and Global Leadership)
  • Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Social Media
  • Advanced Topics in Consumption in New Digital Age
  • Advanced Topics on Finance and Society
  • Advanced Topics in Behavioral Finance and Tech-driven Financial Services

Information & Operations

  • Advanced Topics in Big Data and Digital Transformation
  • Advanced topics in the Future of Supply Chain and Operations Management
  • Advanced Topics in the Robot and AI wave: business implications

Entrepreneurship

  • Advanced topics in Entrepreneurial Decision-making under Uncertainty

Accounting & Management Control

  • Advanced topics in Accounting and Boundaries of Organizations in the Digital Economy

Economics & Public Policy

  • Advanced topics in Real Estate and Public Policy

Sustainability

  • Advanced Topics in Sustainability

Ph.D. dissertation

Participants are required to write a Ph.D. dissertation , which takes the form of a monograph or three publishable papers. The Ph.D. dissertation defence is oral and open to the public.

Students are expected to complete the Ph.D. programme in 3-4 years in total.

Participants will be guided by their dissertation advisors all throughout this intellectual journey and supported through coaching and the “research bootcamps” which will help orient and adjust their work.

Global Executive Ph.D. Work closely with world-class faculty and benefit from their cutting-edge expertise and research

Prof. Argyro Avgoustaki

Professor Avgoustaki's interests lie at the intersection of human resource management and industrial relations. Her work has been published in Industrial and Labour Relations Review, Human Resource Management, and Economic and Industrial Democracy. Her work has been covered in media outlets such as The Financial Times, FT China, Business Insider UK, Le Monde, Le Figaro, The Daily Mail, Insider, CNBC, Le Soir, The Guardian, Women’s Health, New Scientist, Entrepreneur, MDR Radio, CNBC, and the World Economic Forum.

Prof. Argyro Avgoustaki

Professor Becker's research focuses on econometric modelling of marketing decisions, particularly advertising and its effectiveness. Maren’s work has been published in the Journal of Marketing and Journal of Marketing Research and was featured in press outlets such as die Zeit, Markenartikel, and Harvard Business Manager.

Prof. Pramuan Bunkanwanicha

Professor Bunkanwanicha's research lies research lies at the intersection of family business, political connections, and finance. Published in top-tier finance and economic journals, namely the Review of Financial Studies, the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, the Journal of Comparative Economics, his research has been also presented in major academic conference such as the American Finance Association (AFA), the Western Finance Association (WFA), the European Finance Association (EFA).

Prof. Sylvain Bureau

Based on Professor Bureau's research on creative practices, he created the Art Thinking : a method to create the improbable with certainty. He teaches this method in unique locations like Centre Pompidou. He has been a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and City University of New York. Sylvain is also the co-founder of Storymakers, an app to make pitches people remember, and co-author of Free Your Pitch (Pearson, 2018).

Prof. Almudena Cañibano

Almudena Cañibano holds a PhD in Employment relations and organisational behaviour from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research seeks to understand the changing nature of work and its impact on employee well-being and organisational outcomes. She has looked at work practices such as flexible working and the digitalisation of work. Her work has been published in outlets such as Human Relations, Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Management Decision and the Oxford Handbook of Participation in Organizations .

Prof. Valentina Carbone

Areas of expertise : Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, Circular Economy transition.

Recent publications : Carmagnac, L., Carbone, V. and Touboulic A. (2022) “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: The Ambiguous Role of Multistakeholder Meta-organisations in Sustainable Supply Chains”, Management, in press.

Prof. Regis Coeurderoy

Areas of expertise : strategic innovation, entrepreneurship, international business, market strategies.

Recent publications : BRIDOUX, F., COEURDEROY, R. and R. DURAND Heterogeneous social motives and interactions: The three predictable paths of capability development, STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, 2017

Prof. Alberta Di Giuli

Professor di Giuli was a research assistant at the London School of Economics and a visiting fellow at Harvard Business School. Her research focuses on corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, mergers and acquisitions and family firms.

Prof. Frédéric Fréry

Frédéric Fréry is a Professor of Strategic Management at ESCP. He is author or co-author of 40 books, among which Stratégique, the most widely used strategy manual in the French-speaking world. He is also honorary professor at CentraleSupélec and expert for the Association Progrès du Management. He has been a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University and a Visiting Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. His research and teachings focus on strategy, organization and management of innovation.

Prof. Isaac Getz

Professor Getz is a former Visiting Professor at Cornell and Stanford. His book Freedom, Inc. has been published in 14 countries and won the Best Business Book award. His other book L'entreprise liberée has also won the Best Business Bookaward. Isaac has studied over 300 organizations on four continents and has published extensively.

Prof. Michael Haenlein

Professor Haenlein is the most cited researcher in the field of Word-of-Mouth, among the top three in the field of Customer Relationship Management and among the top ten in the field of Social Influence. Since May 2019 Michael is part of the Executive Committee of EMAC where he serves as Vice President Corporate Relationships.

Prof. Héctor Gonzalez Jimenez

Héctor González Jiménez has worked on projects for small to medium sized businesses as well as large international companies such as Pepsi or Ford. He is interested in interdisciplinary research that addresses phenomena on the self and consumption as well as human-robot interactions.

Prof.Paul Karehnke

Professor Karehnke's work has been published in Management Science (Spanning Tests for Assets with Option-Like Payoffs: The Case of Hedge Funds) and the Review of Finance (Time-varying state variable risk premia in the ICAPM) among others.

Prof. Daniela Lup

Professor Daniela Lup produces research, teaches, and consults in areas related to organizational behaviour, with a focus on practices related to decision making during transformation, negotiations, diversity & inclusion, creativity & teamwork. Her work is published in internationally renowned journals such as Organization Science, Journal of Business Ethics, Work Employment Society , and has been featured in Harvard Business Review and LSE Business Review .

Prof. Jaime Luque

Jaime P. Luque is Associate Professor of Economics at ESCP Business School, where he holds the BNP Paribas Professorship in Real Estate and serves as Director of the Monaco Real Estate Tech Innovation program. He is the Academic Director of the MSc in Real Estate and the Institute of Real Estate Finance and Management . Prior to joining ESCP in July 2018, he was Real Estate faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business. Jaime’s research interests include real estate finance, real estate technology and housing. He has published in the Journal of Economic Theory, Journal of Public Economics, Economic Theory, Real Estate Economics, and Regional Science and Urban Economics.

Prof. Valérie MOATTI

Professor Moatti's current work focuses on the sustainable dimension of supply chain management, as well as innovation strategies in the fashion industry. She is the author of articles (published in Strategic Management Journal, European Management Journal, and International Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications, and Management, Business Strategy and the Environment, Supply Chain Forum – An International Journal…).

Prof. Wei Zhou

Professor Zhou received the Shanghai 1000-Talents Award (2018) and consequently leads the multi-disciplinary and multi-country research in the field of big data analytics, artificial intelligence, IoT, cryptography, and transportation engineering.

Guest Professor

Amy C. Edmondson Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School

Prof. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society. She has been recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers since 2011, and most recently was ranked #3 in 2019; she also received that organization’s Breakthrough Idea Award in 2019 and Talent Award in 2017.

Join A Dynamic Ecosystem Of Corporate And Academic Research Leaders

Be a part of the ESCP global knowledge community. Benefit from the latest research at the highest level linked to companies and business and share your knowledge with colleagues from a large variety of academic specialisations and institutions around the world.

Global Executive Ph.D. candidates will be immersed in a world of knowledge:

  • Participants can attend research seminars, conferences and colloquia organized by ESCP's full-time Ph.D. programme,
  • Benefit from all the ecosystem of ESCP Chairs and Professorships.

Discover our multiple chairs and professorships on significant topic: Chairs & Professorship

Global Executive Ph.D. Admission

Admission requirements, a previous university degree.

A previous university degree: Masters (MBA or equivalent Masters). Non-management Masters holders are required to take additional management courses from the ESCP Executive MBA programme.

A minimum of ten years’ professional experience

A minimum of 10 years’ professional experience (at least 3 years at managerial level).

English proficiency (C1 level)

English proficiency (C1 level): courses are taught in English and all coursework must be submitted in English. IETLS: 7; TOEFL: 100 or In-house English Test (free) provided by British Council: CEFR c1*.

Admission Process

Application deadlines, for the 2024 intake.

Additional selection juries may take place should spaces be available.

Individual assessment meeting with the admissions department (initial discussion in person, by phone or visio-conference, with your programme advisor or another member of the admissions team).

Applications are made online. The applications file will be made available to you following your initial discussion with your programme advisor. Please note that only complete applications will be reviewed:

  • Your personal details: name, address, e-mail, telephone number
  • Degree certificates or grade transcript
  • Up-to-date CV
  • Two reference letters, ideally one from an individual who knows you in a professional context (e.g. current or former manager) and the other by a person of your choice, if possible from an academic context (e.g. a university professor)
  • English language certificate (for non-native English speakers), TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS
  • Copy of passport or ID
  • Application fee of €350
  • Statement of purpose: 1500 - 2000 words

Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Following a successful review of your application, an online admission interview with the Academic Admissions Jury (Executive Ph.D. Committee) will be organised.

Admission decision

Confirmation of enrolment and payment of tuition fees (You will be asked to pay a deposit to secure your place).

Statement of purpose

Your statement of purpose should address the following questions: Why do you want to do a Global Executive Ph.D. at this point in your career? What do you expect to acquire from the programme? What are your career aspirations following the Global Executive Ph.D.?  Please describe your previous research experience, if any. What area of research are you interested in at this stage?

This programme is accessible to people with a disability

Global Executive Ph.D. Fees & Financing

Tuition fees for the 2024 intake, scholarships.

For more details, you can contact your programme advisor .

ESCP has partnerships with banks in several countries around the world. Loans at reduced rates are available for admitted candidates (final decision with the bank).

Funding may also be available in the form of scholarships or government loans in your country. Our Admissions Officer will be happy to advise you about funding opportunities.

Our on-campus teams are available to discuss tailored instalment schedules and flexible payments.

Global Executive Ph.D. Meet Us

Events - europe, fairs - america, fairs - africa / middle east, fairs - asia.

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Executive Ph.D. in Business

Gain the skills needed to make an impact through research, teaching, and leadership in the global business landscape.

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Programs & Requirements

Executive student resources, mission & goals.

  • Career Outcomes
  • Request Info

Push the boundaries of your career. Change the business landscape. Be impactful.

Nobody makes it as far as you have in the business world without having drive and determination. An executive Ph.D. in business management couples that tenacity with advanced business knowledge and skills, giving you the chance to push beyond your career's current boundaries and create brand-new expectations for yourself and your organization.

An executive Ph.D. degree in business management is the highest academic credential attainable in the field of business. The degree is typically designed to prepare candidates for careers in academia, research, and other roles that require complex problem-solving. To that end, our hybrid-format online Ph.D. in business program at Cumberlands focuses on original research and developing new theories to further the body of knowledge in your discipline. If you think you have what it takes, and if you want to advance your business career even further, take this as your sign to consider pursuing an Executive Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management at University of the Cumberlands.

By the Numbers

Executive doctor of philosophy in business management.

The Executive Ph.D. Business Management from University of the Cumberlands will impart the skills you need to stay at the cutting edge of innovations in business, along with the tools you need to teach at postsecondary institutions. In this Ph.D. program you’ll learn the business philosophy, critical thinking skills, and evidence-based practices necessary to excel in any teaching, research, or business roles.

This hybrid Ph.D. graduate degree in business builds on your undergraduate and graduate work and your practical, real-world business experience. Along with professional research courses, you’ll take core business courses in areas ranging from comparative economics and corporate finance to managerial ethics and social responsibility.

Curriculum for this Executive Ph.D. Business Management program — including all coursework and field and clinical experiences — will engage you in the theories, strategies, and tactics you need to:

  • Research and attain business discipline-specific knowledge and competencies
  • Develop business-related professional skills—from communication to collaboration
  • Assess your personal values, connecting them with ethical business and research behaviors

Course Requirements

  • BACC 731 Advanced Managerial Accounting
  • BADM 733 Strategic Marketing: Research and Practice
  • BADM 734 Corporate Finance: Fiscal Management in a Global Climate
  • BADM 735 Comparative Economics
  • BADM 737 Managerial Ethics and Social Responsibility
  • BADM 838 Strategic Thinking, Decision-Making, and Innovation
  • DSRT 734 Inferential Statistics
  • DSRT 834 Advanced Statistical Applications
  • DSRT 837 Professional Writing and Proposal Development
  • DSRT 850 Qualitative Research
  • DSRT 736 Dissertation Seminar
  • DSRT 839 Advanced Research Methods
  • DSRT 930 Dissertation
  • DSRT 931 Dissertation

A content specialty area of at least 24 hours must be earned in one of the following disciplines:

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Project Management
  • Strategic Management

For a full list of course offerings or more program specific information, visit our Academic Catalog page. 

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. 

Executive students walking toward graduation ceremony

UC's Department of International Graduate Services enjoys providing support resources for our international students. Find tutorials and information regarding offices and policies for the International Graduate Students and programs.

  • View Executive Student Resources

Executive Program Format

Our Executive Programs include hybrid course days designed for international graduate students studying in the U.S., or domestic students seeking a hybrid-format program.  We strive to incorporate professional experience and real-world application of course curriculum into our programs to enhance the learning experience.  Practical Training is an integral part of program coursework and available to all students.  At the University of the Cumberlands our degree programs focus on quality education at an affordable price.

Executive Program students take three (3) courses per semester.  The program semester is based on the existing UC semester calendar, with three (3) annual semesters: fall, spring, and summer.  Two of the courses each semester focus on the specific program content.  Additionally, students will be required to attend an intensive residency weekend as part of their course enrollment each term.  The third class includes an Applied Learning Practicum, in which students apply what they are learning in their other two courses to the real world via work or internship experiences.

Residency FAQs

Residency Session dates are determined by the course that you are registered for. It is very important that you make note of the class you registered for, as well as the designated residency weekend for that course as each course will only meet one weekend for the duration of the semester.

Even though we will only be meeting one weekend per semester, we will have the same number of contact hours with you. This will enable the instructors to make residency weekends much more valuable. This change will allow us to have meaningful projects on residency weekends.

You can view your semester schedule in your self-service portal in your Student Profile. Once you log into your MyUC account, click on Academics, then click on Current Schedule. Your schedule details will indicate the date and location of your residency weekend.

You can find information on the residency site locations on our website.

Yes, all three days are mandatory, and requests to arrive late or leave early will not be approved. Should you not be in attendance for the full session, you will be counted absent for the entire session. Please plan travel accordingly!

Attendance to each executive residency class session is mandatory. Students may make up no more than one (1) residency session throughout the duration of their academic program. Missing a second residency will result in the student being dismissed from the university.

A missed session will result in the student attending a make-up session, and paying a $300 residency make-up fee. In addition, the student may be asked for documentation from the program department providing an explanation as to why the scheduled residency session was missed. Make-up sessions must be completed prior to the end of the term. Noncompliance with this policy will result in dismissal from the executive program.

Make-up residency sessions will be held at our campus in Williamsburg, KY. You will be contacted with the time and dates after your absence is reported. There will only be one (1) residency make-up session offered each semester. Failure to attend all days of the makeup session will result in receiving a failing grade for the course, as well as potential dismissal from the University, and SEVIS termination. 

If you cannot be in attendance for all three days then you will be counted absent for the entire residency weekend and be required to attend the make-up residency and pay the $300 make-up fee.

The Department of International Graduate Services will contact you via your UC student email as registration for the next term approaches. Please remember that you are required to register for (one) main class, (one) online class, and Applied Learning Practicum each semester in order to maintain your F1 status – late registration will not be accepted and can result in the termination of your student status. 

Once you register for a class you will want to make note of the residency weekend that your class is scheduled, as that is the only session for that class that will be scheduled for the semester. You will need to be sure to plan your travel accordingly to ensure that you are in attendance for the full residency session.

Registration is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once a course is full, there will not be additional seats added, as we cannot exceed classroom seating capacity; therefore, it is advised that you register for classes as much in advance as possible. As a reminder, students cannot register for future semesters until their current tuition balance is paid in full.

*Please note all times are in local time zone*

Facility will open at 4:00 p.m.

Facility will open at 7:00 a.m.

We ask that you please take note of the above-mentioned times and schedule your travel accordingly.

*These dates have been set; however, if any changes are made, they will be made prior to registration for that semester. Not all dates are available at each residency location.

Fall 2023 (August 28 – December 15)

  • September 29 – October 1
  • October 6 – 8
  • October 13 – 15
  • October 20 – 22
  • November 3 – 5
  • November 10 – 12
  • November 17 – 19

Spring 2024 (January 8th – April 26th)

  • February 9 – 11
  • February 16 – 18
  • February 23 – 25
  • March 1 – 3
  • March 8 – 10
  • March 15 – 17
  • March 22 – 24
  • April 5 – 7

Summer 2024 (May 6th – August 23rd)

  • May 31 – June 2
  • June 14 – 16
  • June 21 – 23
  • June 28 – 30
  • July 12 – 14
  • July 19 – 21
  • July 26 – 28
  • August 2 – 4

Fall 2024 (August 26th – December 13th)

  • September 27 – 29
  • October 4 – 6
  • October 11 – 13
  • October 18 – 20
  • October 25 – 27
  • November 1 – 3
  • November 8 – 10
  • November 15 – 17
  • November 22 – 24 

Take the Next Step

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In harmony with the overall purpose of University of the Cumberlands, the structured curriculum offers you a personalized path for research and administration or for service and practice.

Business Management Careers & Outcomes

All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Top Executive $100,090

Top executives plan strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. 

Finacial Analyst $92,220

Financial analysts guide businesses and individuals in decisions about expending money to attain profit.

Marketing Manager: $138,730

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services.

Management Analyst: $95,290

Management analysts recommend ways to improve an organization’s efficiency.

Business Professor: $80,840

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Project Management Specialist: $95,370

Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule, staffing, and other details of a project.

Common Questions

An executive Ph.D. in Business is the highest academic credential attainable in the field of business. The degree is typically designed to prepare candidates for careers in academia, research, and other roles that require complex problem-solving. To that end, the program focuses on original research and developing new theories to further the body of knowledge in your discipline. Doctoral candidates pursue interdisciplinary coursework to gain a strong professional foundation. They also take courses on research skills in preparation for completing an original dissertation. 

While both are doctoral degrees, these programs differ in a few ways — most notably, in their approach to research. Because an executive Ph.D. is traditionally intended for those pursuing careers in academia, this program emphasizes original rather than applied research. Therefore, executive Ph.D. candidates focus on making contributions that advance the field of business. Meanwhile, executive DBA programs also require research, but the focus is on applying existing theories to real-world business problems. 

Executive Ph.D. and executive DBA programs may also lead to different professional outcomes. Many students pursue an executive Ph.D. in Business because they intend to teach in a postsecondary setting or work as researchers. An executive DBA, on the other hand, is designed for business practitioners who hope to attain advanced leadership roles in their organizations. That said, after earning an executive Ph.D., many graduates pursue a business career outside the realm of academia. With a doctoral degree under your belt, you’ll be ready to choose your own path.

Earning your executive PhD in business in a flexible yet practical hybrid format could unlock a range of management and leadership career paths. There are many lucrative fields that offer room for growth as you pursue your business leadership aspirations.

After earning an executive PhD in business, you could pursue career paths such as:

  • Financial Manager
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Project Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Management Analyst

All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation – and we even include free textbooks through our One Price Promise! For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.

Among other things, by the time you complete your hybrid-format executive PhD in business management at Cumberlands, you will be able to:

  • Research and attain business discipline-specific knowledge and competencies,
  • Develop business-related professional skills—from communication to collaboration, and
  • Assess your personal values, connecting them with ethical business and research behaviors.

A group of Graduate students entering during the processional at Commencement.

Executive Program Admission Requirements

All students in our executive programs are required to meet a standard set of admissions requirements for graduate students.

Faculty Experts

Get to know more about the UC professors you'll interact with.

Dr. Karina Kasztelnik

Dr. Karina Kasztelnik

Contact information.

Dr. Tom Javarinis

Dr. Tom Javarinis

Vanessa Ann Claus

Dr. Vanessa Claus

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Executive PhD in Business

Why earn a phd.

A doctoral degree can help you join the academic world, either full or part time. But it can also make you a game-changing performer in your current field.

You’ll become a more skilled and confident executive, facing your company’s challenges with high-quality research approaches empowering you to identify inventive, evidence-based solutions. Or you can branch out as a consultant and guide other businesses to success.

Why the Daniels College of Business

  • Perform research in the specialty of your choice.
  • Learn through a blended format that includes distance learning and two on-campus immersions per quarter.
  • Grow through Daniels’ unique approaches of ethical leadership and real-world, challenge-based learning.
  • Work closely with faculty who are top researchers in their fields of expertise.
  • Enjoy not only the benefits of the Rocky Mountains, but close ties to Denver, a thriving and highly entrepreneurial business community.

Qualified PhD Candidates

  • Are established business leaders with a master’s degree and at least 10 years of substantial experience *
  • Have demonstrated leadership experience necessary to identify and research relevant and timely business issues
  • Are high performers with experience integrating research into real-life challenges
  • Are driven by intellectual curiosity about complex problem-solving
  • Want to approach business issues more systematically, making decisions based on research and data

*Applications that do not meet our minimum requirements will be considered based on tenure, educational history, work experience and previous accolades.

For More Information

Contact us if you have questions, want to discuss your research interests or would like to learn more about the Executive PhD.

Dan Baack, PhD

Director, Executive PhD

Melissa Akaka

Associate Dean for Research

Email Melissa

Perform in-depth research in the specialty of your choice.

Bridging The Gap Between Academia And Industry

Student and alumni news.

Neil Pollard Cohort 5 Was one of 20 doctoral students nationally accepted into the 2024 USASBE Doctoral Consortium for Teaching and Learning in Entrepreneurship. Each participant will work with a team on an entreprenurship education project with one of the editors from Entrepreneurship Education & Pedagogy.

Cynthia Arthur Cohort 4 Had her article “Technological Acquisitions: The Impact of Innovation on Stock Performance,” written with Teaching Associate Professor Irina Khindanova, PhD, accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Business and Economics .

Marilyn Brock Cohort 4 Has accepted a position as lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she teaches courses on music business and entrepreneurship.

Gregory Kuppenheimer and Stuart Shelly Cohort 4 Published “Can Machine Learning Identify Sector-Level Financial Ratios That Predict Sector Returns?” written with Professor Jack Strauss, PhD, in Finance Research Letters . 

View All Student Profiles

Daniels Grad ‘Pays It Back’ With Executive PhD

Research: why aren’t more native american students attending college, research: why do some resist microaggression training, daniels students advance their careers through alumni advisory board endowed scholarship, increasing empathy through technology, immersed in the business of wellness, hotel executive returns to du to pursue teaching dream, the next smart step, an evolution in business education, the executive ph.d..

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Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)

Transfer credits, next start date, lead your business to success with our doctor of strategic leadership (dsl) program.

If you are a leader in business, you know that building a strong team starts with you. You have the experience, the skills, and the work ethic to help your team push through barriers to success. However, with business changing every day, you need new tools, skills, and strategies to make sure you stay ahead of the curve.

Our 100% online Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree is designed to give you both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in leadership. Our Doctor of Strategic Leadership program focuses on a variety of leadership principles essential to effective business management, with courses culminating in an applied doctoral research project. In our doctorate of strategic leadership degree program, you can learn the skills you need to excel in the top tiers of the corporate world.

Our online Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree can equip you to lead as a business management professional. Through our doctorate in strategic leadership, you can learn how to direct organizational change, become an effective servant leader, and implement principles of executive management theory. With Liberty’s mission to Train Champions for Christ , you will also learn new strategies for integrating a Christian worldview into your business practices.

Why Choose Liberty’s Doctor of Strategic Leadership Degree?

Your success matters to us. That’s why we’ve designed our Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree to meet your needs as a professional, a student, and an individual. Our doctorate of strategic leadership degree is offered in a 100% online flexible program format and has no set login times. This format means you can complete your DSL online classes without having to travel to a campus.

Our online format gives you the freedom you need to complete your coursework when and where you want – without disrupting your current lifestyle and responsibilities. With our 8-week courses and summer semester, you will have the ability to maximize your time and finish your online doctor of leadership degree sooner than you would in a traditional, on-campus program.

When you choose to pursue your online Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree with us, you are choosing a program from a school that constantly pushes for quality. Liberty University is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges ( SACSCOC ). This accreditation means that Liberty University’s doctoral programs meet high standards for academic rigor and quality that can help you stand out in the field.

Military Tuition Discount We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour . Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work towards your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession — for less.

Common Questions

While researching doctorate degrees in strategic leadership, you may have questions about how this program can help meet your goals. Here are some common questions about Liberty’s DSL program.

What is a Doctor of Strategic Leadership? What is a DSL degree?

Liberty University’s Doctor of Strategic Leadership or DSL degree is a practical doctorate focused on applying effective leadership skills to solve business problems. Unlike many PhD programs, a DSL degree is a professional doctorate focused on applying your experience to real-world problems in business leadership. If you want to retool with new skills and strategies to apply your experience in new and effective ways, then Liberty University’s leadership program will help you get the training you need.

Is a doctorate worth it?

With a masters degree alone, you may run into limitations of where your skills and education can take you. You have the experience and the knowledge from years in the field, but you may struggle to demonstrate your expertise in a way that helps you stand out. With a doctorate, you can develop those skills further into a more effective toolset that can help you tackle even more difficult and important business problems, all while demonstrating that you are a top expert in your field.

A doctorate can also help you achieve your highest pay potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with doctorates made 21% more in salary than their counterparts with only masters degrees.* This data shows that not only can a doctorate help you show your expertise, but it can open doors to new opportunities as well.

Can you teach with a professional doctorate?

As a practical, results-based doctorate, Liberty University’s online Doctor of Strategic Leadership program is designed to help you show that you are an expert in the field of business leadership. While this degree is a practical, professionally focused program, it still provides the opportunity to teach at the college level.

Most universities require that you have a doctorate in order to teach masters or even some bachelors courses. This requirement means that earning your doctorate in leadership and management online can help you take advantage of teaching opportunities as well as increase your potential in the field. You may also be eligible for educational leadership roles with your specialized skills and doctorate.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, at Education Pays, 2019 (viewed online February 20, 2020). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

What Will You Learn in Our Online Doctor of Strategic Leadership Degree Program?

When you choose our Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree program, you will be provided with a challenging and rewarding curriculum that seeks to hone your leadership skills. In our DSL program, you can learn how to apply biblical servant leadership principles to business management. You will also develop skills in the analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation of both the social and technical systems of business organizations. Here at Liberty, we can give you the education you need to be a Champion for Christ as you lead in the business world.

Liberty’s online doctorate in leadership and management is designed to give you new skills and strategies to use with your experience and knowledge to solve real-world problems in the field. As such, your final doctoral project will focus on applying what you’ve learned to a specific problem in your industry that you can approach with your new skills.

Featured Courses for Our Online DSL Degree Program

  • BMAL 702 – Leadership Theory
  • BMAL 714 – Risk Management Process and Practice
  • BMAL 720 – Leveraging Data for Decision Making
  • BMAL 727 – Leading Effective Teams

Degree Information

Our Online DSL Degree Program Highlights

  • We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility . Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America . Earning your online Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
  • Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
  • You will be granted access to a wide variety of online resources through Liberty University’s library portal.
  • You can complete the Doctor of Strategic Leadership program in about 3 years.

Our Online Doctor of Strategic Leadership Degree Information 

  • The DSL program falls under our School of Business .
  • Download and review the Degree Completion Plan .
  • View the Graduate Business Course Guides (login required) .
  • Review the  Doctor of Strategic Leadership Handbook  for details on the DSL degree program’s mission and foundational values. 

Apply Now    Request Info

Potential Careers with a Doctor of Strategic Leadership Degree

  • Company executive
  • Management analyst
  • Management consultant
  • Training and development specialist

Admission Requirements for Our Online Doctor of Strategic Leadership Degree Program

A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA is required for admission in good standing. Please visit our  admission requirements page for more detailed admissions-related information.

All applicants must submit the following:

  • Admission application
  • Application fee*
  • Official college transcripts
  • Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose native language is other than English)

If you have further questions about admissions requirements for this program, please contact [email protected]

*There is no upfront application fee; however, a deferred $50 application fee will be assessed during Financial Check-In. This fee is waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required.

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, Non-Degree Seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and Certificates.

Apply FREE This Week*

Other programs you may be interested in

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Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)

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Strategic management ph.d., earn a ph.d. in business and a major concentration in strategic management to prepare for a career at top academic institutions.

The Ph.D. in Business and a Major Concentration in Strategic Management provides course work in the base theories in strategic management. The field of strategic management studies big picture issues facing managers of firms, such as deciding what markets and industries to enter, how to enter and exit various markets, how to position the firm in the market in order to gain competitive advantage, and the timing, sequencing, and orchestration of competitive initiatives. Topics in strategic management include: Competitive strategy, resource allocation and corporate strategy, strategic decision processes, international and emerging market strategies, knowledge and innovation management, strategic entrepreneurship, corporate governance, and environment and non-market strategies.

The main goal of the strategic management doctoral program is to train students to do high-quality research in any of these areas and to prepare them for careers as mainstream professors of strategic management at top academic research institutions. To achieve this goal, Ph.D. students are required to take courses in strategic management, research methods and statistics, as well as possible disciplinary elective courses in economics, psychology and political science, and to write research papers examining important and relevant issues in strategic management. The program also has a teaching requirement to the extent that teaching opportunities are available.

Interested in Rice Business?

Program information.

Rice Business offers an outstanding program for doctoral students interested in strategic management.

In addition to the requirements described in Chapters 1 and 6 of this guide, doctoral students who have chosen strategic management as their area must satisfy the following requirements for a Ph.D. degree.

Course, Research Work and Dissertation Advisor

  • The student’s course work must be approved by the area faculty advisor.
  • During the student’s first two years, he or she must take a minimum of 12 hours of approved graduate level courses per semester.
  • Course work includes a combination of required and elective courses. The required courses are listed in the attached course sample sequence.
  • The student is expected to attend all research seminars organized in the strategic management area during the student’s tenure in the Ph.D. program. Moreover, during the second and third years, the student must formally register for the strategic management research seminars and attend presentations of SE faculty as well as those of faculty members from other business schools who visit the SE area to present their research.
  • Students are expected to be fully engaged in research during the Ph.D. program, especially during all the summers, including the summer after the first year of their residency in the Ph.D. program.
  • Students must have a Jones School SE faculty member who has agreed to serve as their dissertation advisor by the end of the spring semester of their third year in the program.
  • From the second year onwards, students are required to give at least one research presentation every year in front of faculty and other doctoral students. Such presentations should demonstrate that the student is making adequate progress in his/her research. The presentation requirement may be fulfilled in the fall of the second and third years by presenting the required research paper and other research projects. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule this yearly presentation, together with his/her advisor and/or the strategic management area advisor.
  • Having teaching experience is important for doctoral students to perform well in the academic job market. As such, we require students in the SE area to have a teaching experience. In the third year of the program, all students receive an opportunity to be a teaching assistant for SE faculty in strategic courses at the Jones School. Moreover, to the extent that teaching opportunities are available, we require students to teach at least one semester course as the primary instructor before entering the job market.

Exam Requirements

Students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam administered by the SE faculty at the end of the second year. The exam is administered and graded by SE faculty, under the supervision of the strategic management area advisor or special committee set up for this purpose. The exam includes two parts:

  • Part I focuses on the coursework taken in strategic management and measures the student’s knowledge of the area as a whole including base theories, main strategy research topics, and research methods.
  • Part II requires writing a paper as a take-home exam (generally within 48 hours) on a topic jointly discussed between two SE faculty and the student; it focuses on the student’s ability to write a research paper establishing a contribution to the designated literature and also includes research methods and study design.

A successful performance in the exam demonstrates the student’s solid training in strategic management and provide the foundation from which he or she begins the research that forms the basis of the dissertation.

Research Paper Requirements

Students are required to write one major paper in their first two years, either sole-authored or coauthored with a faculty member(s) in the SE area.  This paper is proposed in the spring semester of the second year and completed at the beginning of the fall semester of the third year. The bulk of the work on the paper is intended to be done in the summer. The paper is intended as (1) a developmental vehicle for the student and (2) that will result in publications in top quality journals (although credit is not dependent on publication).

The student is expected to take the lead on the project (in the manner of a lead author) and should individually decide (perhaps in collaboration with an SE area faculty member) on what topic the student will work. The paper must be approved by two tenure-track SE faculty members (one is typically the student’s adviser). The student is expected to present the paper in a faculty workshop at the beginning of the fall semester of the third year. Failure to complete the Research Paper Requirements, as outlined above, will mean that the student is not making satisfactory academic progress in the Ph.D. Program. See Appendix B for research paper approval and evaluation forms.

The course curriculum is designed around a challenging course of study in both the theory of strategic management and in innovative empirical design.  The sample course sequence is typical although the students might choose different courses across disciplines to structure a specific degree plan. Besides the required 1st and 2nd year Strategic management basic and advanced courses, students are required to take a microeconomics course as well as statistic and methodology courses. Doctoral students may continue taking courses beyond their second year.     Sample Course Sequence in Strategic Leadership (Psychology Oriented)

Year 1 (Fall)

BUSI 540        Strategy Management Theory (3.0)

BUSI 549        Strategy Pro-seminar (3.0)

POLI 504        Methodology and Data Analysis (or equivalent-e.g., ECON 510)

PSYC 507       Research Methods (or equivalent)

Year 1 (Spring)

BUSI 541      Strategic Management Research (3.0)

BUSI 5XX      Advanced Topics in Strategic Management (1.5 hours see courses below)

POLI 505      Topics in Political Methodology (or equivalent-e.g., ECON 511)

 Elective

Year 2 (Fall)           

BUSI 5XX      Advanced Topics in Strategic Management (1.5 hours)

PSYC 601     Multivariate Statistics (or equivalent)

ECON 501     Microeconomic Theory I (or equivalent)

 Year 2 (Spring)

 BUSI 5XX      Advanced Topics in Strategic Management (1.5 hours-see courses below)

 BUSI 5XX      Advanced Topics in Strategic Management (1.5 hours see courses below)

Examples of elective courses are:

BUSI 503        Econometric Models in Marketing

BUSI 504        Game Theory

BUSI 530        Introduction to Accounting Research

BUSI 531        Empirical Methods in Accounting

BUSI 522        Corporate Finance

BUSI 523        Empirical Methods in Finance

ECON 504      Advanced Economic Statistics

ECON 510      Econometrics I

ECON 510      Econometrics II

ECON 514      Industrial Organization and Control

ECON 523      Dynamic Optimization

STAT 522       Advanced Bayesian Statistics

STAT 541       Multivariate Analysis

STAT 606       SAS Statistical Programming

STAT 621       Time Series Analysis

STAT 622       Bayesian Data Analysis

PSYC 502       Advanced Psychological Statistics I

PSYC 503       Advanced Psychological Statistics II

PSYC 507       Research Methods

PSYC 601       Multivariate Statistics

PSYC 637       Meta-Analysis in Psychological Research

PSYC 550       Foundations of Social Psychology

PSYC 636       Organizational Psychology

PSYC 639       Groups and Teams: Advanced Topics in I/O

POLI 503        Topics in Methods and Data Analysis

POLI 504        Advanced Topics in Methodology and Data Analysis

POLI 505        Topics in Political Methodology (Panel Data or Time Series)

POLI 511        Measurement and Research Design

POLI 527        Institutional Analysis and Design

POLI 576        International Political Economy

POLI 575        Game Theory

BUSI 540:  Strategic Management Theory This seminar covers foundational as well as contemporary theories in strategic management. The course draws upon foundational theoretical perspectives from economics, sociology and organization theory to supplement more traditional strategy approaches towards understanding firm performance and related issues. Potential topics on contemporary theories may include: behavioral theory of the firm, transaction cost economics, agency theory, behavioral agency theory, structural contingency theory, theories of cooperative strategy, organizational networks, the resource-based view of the firm and upper echelon theories or theories regarding top management teams, theories of opportunity recognition and new venture creation, resource dependence theory, and theories of organizational evolution.

BUSI 541: Strategy Management Research This seminar examines the effectiveness of corporate and competitive strategy in creating and maintaining competitive advantage. Topics may include firm resources and sustained competitive advantage, dynamic capabilities and knowledge-based theories of competence, strategy as real options, and cooperative strategy including strategic alliances and joint ventures. Topics may also include corporate diversification strategy, international diversification and entry into emerging markets, corporate governance, management of diversified business groups, strategic entrepreneurship, and management of innovation.

Advanced Topics in Strategy (1.5 credit course modules)

Required Advanced Strategy Electives (They take two per semester after the first semester in the program)

BUSI 515 Micro foundations of organization & management (1.5)

BUSI 542 Organization change (1.5)

BUSI 543 Executive leadership & corporate governance (1.5)

BUSI 544 Contemporary management thought (1.5)

BUSI 547 Innovation & knowledge management (1.5)

BUSI 551 Strategy research in corporate development (1.5)

BUSI 550 Corporate social responsibility (1.5)

BUSI 552 Design of business research (1.5)

Other topic are likely to be developed in the future.

Certification of Candidacy indicates that a student has reached the advanced stage of the Ph.D. Program, permitting him/her to devote full time to writing a dissertation. At least eight months must elapse between admission to candidacy and conferral of the degree. The requirements for candidacy are:

  • Successful completion of the course work requirements.
  • Successful completion of the research paper requirements.
  • Successful completion of the comprehensive examination requirements.

Strategic Management Area Advisor

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Executive doctorate in higher education management, doctor of education (ed.d.), you are here, an ivy league doctoral program  tailored for experienced leaders in higher education..

This executive program in higher education management brings together cohorts of senior leaders from higher education, government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to study with a world-renowned faculty – all without career interruption. In just two years, you will earn an Ivy League Ed.D. by completing all coursework and dissertation requirements in an intensive professional learning community. The intellectually rigorous program is a springboard for career advancement and access to a lifelong professional learning community. Our alumni are senior leaders shaping the future of higher education.

What Sets Us Apart

About the program.

The executive format pedagogy is designed for senior working professionals, featuring convenient scheduling, highly-specialized course offerings, and research projects that are directly tied to a student’s professional life. The cohort-based model allows students to develop diverse and collaborative learning communities as the cohort moves through the program together. The program provides a structured and systematic approach to the curriculum and dissertation, enabling students to complete their work and earn their degree within two years.

Culminating experience Dissertation 

Experiential field research 2-week immersive international experience

  • Executive-Style

This program focuses on the core issues and challenges facing higher education, and the skills and knowledge required to effectively lead higher education institutions. Our philosophy is that leaders of dynamic organizations must innovatively practice data-driven decision making within a complex social, political, and economic environment. Distinguishing features of the program are the development and application of strategic management skills, evidence-based decision making, and a scholarly dissertation.

Course Structure

The curriculum is structured into three strands—evidence based management, higher education contexts, and institutional leadership classes. The first year curriculum places a greater emphasis on coursework, providing a practical, theoretical, and methodological foundation for designing a dissertation. The second year continues with a similar focus but coursework is lightened, as students concentrate on independent investigations and analyses for their dissertations. 

The Executive Doctorate is a residential program, where students travel monthly to Penn from across the United States and internationally. Executive Doctorate students are senior higher education professionals from academia, government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. They reflect the broad diversity of higher education, by race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and religious affiliation, as well by the type of higher education institution and roles within those institutions.

Our admitted student cohorts are purposefully diverse in terms of their professional and institutional backgrounds. Each class brings together senior leaders of two- and four-year campuses, public and private, for-profit and faith-based, historically black and Hispanic serving, elite and open enrollment. Represented in the room are presidents, vice presidents, deans, and our senior managers in the areas of finance, advancement, planning, student affairs, enrollment management, and virtually every segment of the enterprise. 

For more information on courses and requirements, visit the  Higher Education Management Ed.D. program in the University Catalog .

This is a full-time Ed.D. program delivered in an executive-style format which allows you to keep your full-time job while in the program. Cohort members take classes together; there are no electives. Due to the fast pace of the program, attendance at all course sessions is mandatory.

In the first year, you begin with a weeklong session in August. For the subsequent ten months, you come for monthly course sessions that take place over two and a half days. The second year begins with the international experience, typically for two weeks in July. Coursework continues in the second year, though at a lighter course load to allow students time to complete their research and dissertation drafts. In the weeks between monthly class meetings, you can expect 15 or more hours of assigned or independent work each week. The final program milestone is an oral dissertation hearing, typically held in April, and the completion of a book-length research study.

Course sessions take place monthly in Philadelphia, with the exception of the International module and one other cohort weekend. The program consists of six consecutive terms, beginning with a later summer term and culminating in a spring term two years later. Tuition is inclusive of all books, meals, and on-campus hotel accommodations. All admitted students transfer the equivalent of a year of graduate coursework from a previous master’s degree, first professional degree, or other doctoral degree as part of the credit requirements of the program.

Dissertation

A cornerstone of a doctoral education is the development of an independent research project leading to a dissertation. The Executive Doctorate approach focuses on scholarly inquiry as a management tool. These dissertations, on a diverse variety of topics, are frequently recognized by professional associations for their outstanding contributions to the literature, and many have been published as books or articles in scholarly or professional journals. 

Executive Doctorate dissertations meet the same standards as all Penn GSE Ed.D. degrees. A committee chair and a second reader are assigned in the first year to provide guidance to students throughout the process. All full-time faculty and several committed practictioner-faculty serve as readers and chairs, and are assigned to student committees based on their subject and methodological expertise. A third committee member is selected, often from outside of Penn, in consultation with the student.

Executive Doctorate dissertations explore a broad range of research questions. While students do not need to define their specific research interest at the start of the program, most have identified several potential areas of inquiry. Topics are generally chosen by the end of the first fall term, then developed over the subsequent spring term, at the end of which an oral hearing is held with the committee to review the dissertation proposal. Data collection then takes place during the summer and early fall, followed by analysis and drafting. Oral defenses of the final dissertation are held toward the end of the spring term of the second year.

Our Faculty

The curriculum is taught by core Penn higher education faculty and nationally recognized practitioners.  Each student is assigned and works with a Penn GSE faculty member on the development of a scholarly dissertation.

Penn GSE Faculty Rachel B. Baker

Affiliated Faculty

Our affiliated faculty of notable practitioners, leaders of higher education associations, and international scholars bring extraordinary experience and knowledge to the classroom. As integral contributors to the Executive Doctorate curriculum, these instructors present curriculum with practical applications in management.

Peter Garland Executive Vice Chancellor, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Ph.D., Penn State University

David Grossman Adjunct Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Ira Harkavy  Associate Vice President and Founding Director, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania   Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania   

Mary Hinton  President, Hollins University Ph.D., Fordham University   

Kedra Ishop   Vice President for Enrollment Management, University of Southern California Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin   

Larry Moneta Adjunct Professor, Penn GSE Ed.D., University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Jason A. Presley Vice Dean, Finance and Administration, Penn GSE Ph.D., New York University

Ann E. Tiao Assistant Dean for Student Services Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Our Graduates

Most students are seeking career advancement that would be facilitated by a terminal degree or advanced study in the field of higher education management. According to our alumni, the program provides unparalleled preparation for senior leadership positions, supplying them with dynamic tools for surmounting campus-wide challenges. Graduates from the program are college and university presidents, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, deans, state and federal policy leaders, and nationally recognized academic entrepreneurs.

This program plays a pivotal role in the professional lives of our alumni well beyond the end of our two-year program. The strong network built within and across cohorts provides a constant resource for exploring ideas, finding solutions, and enabling career changes. From an annual Alumni Conference at Penn that addresses key issues in the field to receptions, seminars, and continued virtual interactions, the connection to our program continues to reward our students long after they’ve graduated.

Alumni Careers

  • Assistant Provost and Chief of Staff, Fordham University
  • Dean, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
  • Deputy Chair, National Endowment of the Humanities
  • Head of School, Girls Preparatory
  • Policy Advisor, U.S. Congress
  • President, Whittier College

Admissions & Financial Aid

Please visit our Admissions and Financial Aid pages for specific information on the application requirements , as well as information on tuition, fees, financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships.

Contact us if you have any questions about the program.

Graduate School of Education University of Pennsylvania 3700 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 898-6415 [email protected] [email protected]

(215) 746-6401 [email protected]

Diane Eynon, Ed.D., M.B.A. Program Director and Senior Fellow [email protected]

Laura Stern Program Coordinator [email protected]

Please view information from our Admissions and Financial Aid Office for specific information on the cost of this program.

Most students in this program fund their degree through a combination of personal resources, employer benefits, and student loans.

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PhD in Global Leadership and Change

The Doctor of Philosophy in Global Leadership and Change degree program prepares students to become visionary leaders and agents of change in strategy and policy for nonprofit, government, for-profit, and academic institutions.

Pepperdine University's selective Global Leadership and Change PhD program employs the researcher-scholar model of doctoral training, in which academics and research are conjoined. Three years of rigorous coursework incorporate national and international trips, providing students with a global perspective on leadership and policy and access to prominent global experts, followed by a one-to-two-year dissertation process*, where each student will contribute new knowledge to the field of their selected topic of research.

Program Benefits

Global access format.

This highly selective doctoral program's hybrid format, which is 60% face-to-face and 40% online, is formatted to be ideal for working professionals.

Values Centered

Students are empowered to make a lasting impact through GSEP's core values of academic excellence, social purpose, and meaningful service.

Quick Facts

Cohort model.

Enables students to build upon leadership skills while forging valuable relationships with colleagues.

Outstanding Faculty

Scholar-practitioners with exemplary academic achievements and professional expertise. Direct and personalized feedback from PhD faculty mentors.

Comprehensive Curriculum

Incorporates core courses shared between all doctoral offerings, program-specific classes, and elective options to customize your learning experience.

Reputable Program

Highly selective doctoral program at one of the top universities in the US, committed to the highest standards of academic excellence.

AACSB Certification

In cooperation with a partner institution if requested.

Small Class Sizes

Provide an environment for faculty mentorship

Scholarships Available

Policy Trip

International Trip

Course Format

Take the Next Step

Reach out to us to learn more about Pepperdine's PhD in Global Leadership and Change program.

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Fill out the Request Information form to learn more and get in contact with an enrollment officer.

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Program deadline.

Fall 2024: Priority Application Submit  - Submit the application form . You may be eligible to receive an additional $3,000 scholarship.

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Program Details

  • Offering the Global Access Hybrid format, this PhD in Global Leadership program is ideal for working professionals to take advantage of the best features of both face-to-face and online modalities. The online portion provides flexibility, while the classroom component offers an enhanced experience, a personalized/hands-on approach, relational interaction with peers, and increased quality of learning.
  • Robust online modules feature engaging synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences.

Face-to-Face classes are conveniently located on our West Los Angeles Graduate Campus, close to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and just off the 405 freeway.

  • Cohort model designed to build upon leadership skills, peer support, and lifelong relationships with colleagues.
  • Small class sizes and a low faculty: student ratio provides a supportive learning environment, meaningful student-faculty interactions, and long-term professional and personal relationships.

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Curriculum Overview

This doctoral program includes 66 units of coursework and a dissertation. You will experience a curriculum focused on preparing leaders with well-rounded and unparalleled global leadership theory and practice courses, research, policy development, funding, economics, entrepreneurship, and many others. Research methods and applications are accomplished through both coursework and a final dissertation. To gain an international perspective on policy development, students will visit an international location, meet local and national leaders, and observe and examine industries and organizations.

leaders conversing

Program Learning Outcomes

GSEP is committed to a learner-centered approach in the programs we offer. Each program has a set of objectives that a student graduating from the program is expected to achieve. The knowledge and skills taught in the program might be introduced in some courses. In other courses, students are asked to apply knowledge by practicing skills and demonstrating their abilities. Within the program, the values and dispositional attributes important for individuals entering the profession are emphasized. Graduates of the PhD in Global Leadership and Change program.

students studying outside

International Student Opportunities

  • This program is approved for international students perusing an F-1 or any other type of visa.
  • A dedicated Enrollment Services Officer will make your admissions process easy and comfortable with experience in supporting both international and domestic students.
  • Integration of domestic and international students across campuses. Dedicated support for international students is provided through the Office of International Student Services (OISS) .
  • Opportunities to participate in university social, sporting, cultural, and spiritual events.
  • Robust alumni network.
  • Partnerships with professional networks and conferences.

female leader at global meeting

Career Outcomes

This PhD from Pepperdine provides a strong opportunity for employment growth and earning potential. As a graduate, you will be prepared to increase your earning potential and help make a lasting difference in a variety of business and academic roles.

scholarship form

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Pepperdine GSEP generously offers over $6,000,000 in scholarships every year, with the majority of students receiving financial assistance . There are numerous scholarship opportunities that are both merit and need-based in addition to discounts for meeting application deadlines .

GSEP welcomes federal and state aid eligibility and veteran benefits which may further reduce tuition cost.

The Financial Aid Office is available to answer questions and help you navigate funding your education at GSEP through numerous scholarship, grant, loan, and other opportunities. 

To help determine your total cost of tuition and living expenses for this specific program, please refer to our GSEP tuition calculator . 

Alumni and Faculty Spotlight

"What led me to Pepperdine was initially the face-to-face. I really enjoyed being able to start off by coming in every week to class and meeting with my peers and my professors, and building a camaraderie. Being able to connect with everybody, knowing that there’s such a huge diversity, I think that really exceeded my expectations." - Dr. Asia Ghazi, Alumni

What Our Alumni Are Saying

Frederique Covington headshot

"I have become a better leader and help people on my team lead better, which is the greatest joy I derived from the program."

- Frederique Covington Corbett, PhD in Global Leadership and Change '21

Victoria Brown headshot

"I enjoyed the setup of the cohort system implemented in the program because it was an extra layer of accountability, which helped all of us get through the program."

- Victoria Queen Brown, PhD in Global Leadership and Change '21

Why Pepperdine

Passion and purpose driven, reputable university, distinguished faculty, alumni network, student and career support, veteran and military support.

Since our founding in 1937, Pepperdine University has had one mission: to strengthen students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in a learning environment where academic excellence is rooted in a Christian faith and values.

Our graduate programs empower students to transform into the best possible expression of themselves for meaningful work and purposeful lives. That legacy is alive today more than ever, as we help students all over the world gain the skills they need to achieve personal fulfillment, lead with purpose, and make a lasting impact in the lives and communities they serve.

GSEP offers prestigious programs at one of the top universities in the US, committed to the highest standards of academic excellence. Consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful places to study, Pepperdine is where you're inspired to learn as you learn to inspire.

Best-Value Schools

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  • GSEP faculty are nationally-recognized scholar-practitioners with exemplary academic achievements, industry expertise, educational experience, and scholarly credentials.
  • Professors are accomplished professionals who balance theory and real-world application in a practitioner-based curriculum informed by their desire to prepare students to make a difference.
  • Average class size of 14 students and a 12:1 faculty-student ratio provides a supportive educational setting, meaningful interactions, and long-term professional and personal connections.
  • Extensive Pepperdine alumni network creates influential business connections with more than 110,000 professionals. Our alumni network has 32 chapters and affinity programs in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Pepperdine alumni, faculty, staff, and parents make themselves available to offer the resources you need and help graduates build professional, personal, and purposeful relationships with Pepperdine people all over the world.
  • As a Pepperdine alumnus, you have exclusive access to the PeppConnect Mentoring Program, a global network of alumni who are willing to mentor and offer career or industry advice.
  • GSEP Student Services supports our rigorous curricula through academic advising, records, writing support, library, student groups, and much more.
  • Students are further supported through our Office of Student Accessibility, world-class facilities, and highly competitive programs, all of which contribute to our exceptional programs and rankings.
  • GSEP Career Services operates from an innovative model of career education and holistic career counseling for today's rapidly changing job market helping students and alumni construct their career narrative, build lifelong employability skills, and connect with alumni and industry leaders.
  • The Office of International Students Services (OISS) values our international students for what they bring to our campus—diversity, global perspective, cultural respect, determination, and a wonderful sense of adventure. We welcome students from all nationalities, faiths, and education systems, as they provide a diverse perspective in our classrooms.

Pepperdine has served veterans and their family members for over 75 years and is proud to support nearly 500 enrolled veterans, service members, and dependents. 

As an active participant in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program , we proudly offer tuition support to Yellow Ribbon-eligible students. Pepperdine invests almost $3M annually to help cover 100% of tuition costs for eligible students.

Under the Yellow Ribbon program, Pepperdine in the VA matches all remaining tuition costs. Pepperdine also does not limit the number of eligible students who can utilize the Yellow Ribbon program. 

Accreditations and Recognitions

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Inva Lumi Enrollment Officer Pepperdine GSEP

310.568.5532 Email   Schedule an Appointment

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  • EdD in Organizational Leadership
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A world-class city filled with art and culture and an incredible campus that offers cutting edge resources–that’s what students receive at Penn Nursing. And that’s just the start. Penn Nursing and the wider university offer something for everyone, as well as a lifelong community.

phd in executive leadership

Penn Nursing is globally known for educating dynamic nurses—because our School values evidence-based science and health equity. That’s where our expertise lies, whether in research, practice, community health, or beyond. Everything we do upholds a through-line of innovation, encouraging our exceptional students, alumni, and faculty share their knowledge and skills to reshape health care.

phd in executive leadership

Penn Nursing students are bold and unafraid, ready to embrace any challenge that comes their way. Whether you are exploring a career in nursing or interested in advancing your nursing career, a Penn Nursing education will help you meet your goals and become an innovative leader, prepared to change the face of health and wellness.

phd in executive leadership

Penn Nursing is the #1-ranked nursing school in the world. Its highly-ranked programs help develop highly-skilled leaders in health care who are prepared to work alongside communities to tackle issues of health equity and social justice to improve health and wellness for everyone.

phd in executive leadership

Penn Nursing’s rigorous academic curricula are taught by world renowned experts, ensuring that students at every level receive an exceptional Ivy League education . From augmented reality classrooms and clinical simulations to coursework that includes experiential global travel to clinical placements in top notch facilities, a Penn Nursing education prepares our graduates to lead.

phd in executive leadership

Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership

Our online DNP in Executive Leadership program develops master’s-prepared nurses who already have leadership experience with the executive-level skills to lead systems and organizational change.

phd in executive leadership

About the Program

phd in executive leadership

All of Penn Nursing’s programs are accredited. To learn more about the accreditation and pass rates, please visit our Accreditation page .

Program Information

Program Length

Financial aid available?

Start Semester

Learning Format

Program Details

Offered online with a one-week on-campus intensive during which students attend the Wharton Nursing Leaders Program , the DNP-EL can be completed while working full-time from any location. Students will complete a DNP project, which can take place at their own site of employment, bringing additional value and impact to their own institution. For more information about the DNP Scholarly Project, please consult the DNP Handbook or view previous DNP Scholarly Projects .

An unparalleled advantage, this interdisciplinary curriculum incorporates content from Wharton Executive Education , Wharton Online , and the Perelman School of Medicine Health Care Innovation Graduate Program . Situated within a resource-intensive university, students avail of online library services, and take courses taught by faculty with vast healthcare leadership experience. Synchronous online engagement provides students with networking opportunities, individualized faculty mentorship, and access to executives from our world-class academic health system.

The DNP-EL includes coursework in strategic planning and execution, value-based healthcare innovation, advanced healthcare economics and finance, and transformative executive-level leadership competencies. Upon completion of the program, students achieve outcomes informed by the American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) Nurse Executive Competencies .

Click the link below to view the curriculum for this program in the University catalog or download a sample plan of study .

View the curriculum

Requirements

Minimum qualifications for the program.

BSN and MSN or Masters degree in a related field, e.g., Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA), Master’s in Public Health (MPH), etc. with a GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Prerequisites

Graduate-level Research Methods Course with a grade of B or higher.

Two years leadership and fiscal management experience (or formal graduate coursework in finance/accounting) required but greater than 5 years preferred.

RN and APRN (if applicable)

International Applicants

Click here for additional requirements

Application Deadlines

Fall 2024 enrollment.

Priority Deadline: November 1, 2023 Final Deadline: February 1, 2024 Latest Decision Notification: mid-February

*Dates subject to change without notice.

Costs & Tuition

The estimated total cost (tuition and fees) of the 2023 DNP in Executive Leadership program (11 CUs) is $74,995.

Your program costs will depend on your individual plan of study. Tuition is charged per CU based on your semester enrollment.

Discount available for employees of our Academic Practice Partners. Click here to learn more.

Summer 2023 - per course unit (CU): $6,542

Fall 2023 or spring 2024 - per course unit (cu): $6,658, program outcomes.

At completion of the DNP program, a student will demonstrate the competency to effect advance high-quality, equitable and accessible healthcare by:

  • Developing ways to improve health and healthcare outcomes through translating research, evaluating evidence-based practice, and implementing innovative ideas.
  • Applying project management acumen and data analytics to improve outcomes for patient/family, systems, or community-based care.
  • Disseminating practice knowledge that contributes to nursing and interprofessional scholarship.

The DNP in Executive Leadership aims to graduate nurses for middle- or executive-level leadership roles including those in clinical operations or project/program leadership at a departmental or systems level.

Portrait of James Ballinghoff

James Ballinghoff, DNP, MBA, RN DNP Program Alumnus

“Since this program is designed for working professionals, I could balance my studies with the demands of my Chief Nursing Officer position.”

April 24 | 1:00pm - 2:30pm

2024 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Showcase

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding the different programs, what is the difference between a phd and a dnp, what is the difference between the post-master’s dnp and the dnp in executive leadership tracks, program, plan of study, and cohort, is the program fully online are the online classes held live or asynchronously.

Yes, the program is fully online with   synchronous, with the exception of limited synchronous online sessions and one 5-day in-person intensive for the Executive Leadership track .   Course content is delivered asynchronously; individual courses may have a limited number of synchronous requirements to facilitate specific course learning objectives that are also made available in asynchronous format. Every course offers virtual, synchronous office hours with course facult y.  

I only see a Plan of Study with 2 courses per semester. Can I just take 1 class a semester?

We encourage all students to take 2 courses/term   to   remain within your cohort which is known to   improve   adult le arners’   outcomes and supports   networking and teamwork, but we understand that life circumstances can be unpredictable. If you have questions about a different pace of study, please contact your respective   track   director.

Can I take electives or online classes at other Penn graduate schools?

Penn students are encouraged to explore opportunities to learn in courses offered across the University. There are no required electives in the DNP Plan of Study. If students want to consider additional course work outside the DNP Plan of Study, consultation with an academic advisor is strongly recommended before registering for any additional/extra coursework.

Do I need to know my DNP project topic before I apply?

It is not necessary to know your DNP project topic before you apply and, in fact, we expect this to be an iterative process. As you engage in coursework and explore   the literature , we encourage you to be curious and think critically about potential areas for practice change in your organization or specialty.  

How will I be matched with a Faculty Mentor for my DNP Project and who comprises my DNP Project Team?

DNP faculty collaborate with students throughout the program but particularly in the project courses to mentor them through various stages of the DNP project including development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Students also work with respective institutional site leaders who guide them in identifying organizational needs and working with key stakeholders. For more information about the DNP Scholarly Project, please consult the DNP Handbook .  

Can I work while in the program?

Yes, in fact we encourage you to work while in the program as your practice can inform your learning and scholarship. Students often complete their DNP project (usually a quality improvement/practice change initiative) at their site of employment which not only benefits their institution but also showcases your scholarly work.

What are the program intensives?

The DNP in Executive Leadership program hosts an all-day synchronous online intensive for first year DNP students at the end of August, at the onset of year one. This is an important, required event that helps DNP students to become familiar with University of Pennsylvania and School of Nursing education resources, develop specific insights for educational expectations of the DNP program, meet DNP faculty, and build relationships and network amongst your cohort. In addition, students participate in workshops that address evidence translation, leadership, and scholarship, including scholarly writing. A second all-day synchronous online intensive for second year DNP students is positioned at the end of August, prior to year two to prepare students for project development. During this intensive, you will meet with course faculty and participate in data analytics and project proposal planning activities to launch the second year Fall semester coursework. Additionally, DNP-EL students meet on-campus for five days during the first Fall semester in December for the Wharton Nursing Leaders Program.

How many students are in a cohort?

For the DNP-EL, there are approximately 10-20 students in a cohort.

Tuition & Financial Aid

What is the cost per cu.

For program costs, please visit our website .

What financial aid is available?

Please visit the Penn Nursing Financial Aid for information on financial aid options and external scholarships , including the Nurse Faculty Loan Program.

I am an employee with one of Penn Nursing’s academic practice partners. Is there a discount or scholarship available to me?

Yes! Please please visit this page to learn more and apply.

Program Activities

Promising approaches.

Influencing health care and health care workplaces through leadership, policy implementation, and patient care takes incredible skill and thoughtfulness. Penn Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is an example of how to do it right.

phd in executive leadership

Ready to take the next step?

See yourself here.

Congratulations, #PennNursing Class of 2023! Your dedication, compassion, and resilience have paid off.

Executive Doctoral Program in Health Leadership (DrPH)

Quick links.

The Executive Doctoral Program in Health Leadership (DrPH) Program is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals who seek the skills to assume greater leadership roles in either public or private sector settings at the local, national and international levels. Our program enables students to learn – from anywhere in the world — how to shape public health policy, lead and effect change in a wide range of organizations and institutions, and conduct and capitalize on practice-based research. Our small, diverse cohorts, renowned faculty and innovative teaching and learning environments create a rewarding and stimulating student experience. This three-year distance program, with six five-day on campus sessions over two years, confers a DrPH in Health Leadership.

The Program seeks individuals working full-time in the U.S. or internationally with substantial leadership responsibilities in communities, organizations and institutions. Examples include domestic or international health directors, managers in government agencies or foundations, leaders within nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, program officers and other mid-level or senior managers, and others working within the health field, including entrepreneurs and individuals working in nontraditional settings affecting the health of the public.

With the exception of three on-site visits/year, students work from home and offices as they complete their degrees. Students are expected to come to campus three times/year during the first two years. One of the six on-site visits over the first two years may be to an international site or to another location in the United States. Students complete their coursework in the first two years, followed by one-to-three years to complete their dissertation.

Students connect to faculty and peers mainly via computer, making substantial use of technology that allows students and faculty to interact productively and which supports live video, audio, and data sharing.  Additional details about the curriculum, dissertation, admissions criteria and instructional delivery are available at the links at the top of the page.

CAHME serves the public interest by advancing the quality of healthcare management education.

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education.

The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Serving patients at the N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital, UNC Lineberger is the only public comprehensive cancer center in the state of North Carolina.

New scholarship honors community health pioneer John Hatch

Information for:.

College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Education policy and leadership - executive PhD cohort program

This doctoral program focuses on leadership of educational systems and is specially designed to meet the needs of mid-career educational leaders. The curriculum establishes foundational understandings of educational systems, leadership dynamics and the realities of power and politics in schools, as well as the role of research in educational innovation and improvement. Students will learn to examine multiple dimensions of PK-12 educational systems, including their cultural and historical contexts, policies and mandates that shape practice, and strategies to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.

  • Course content is relevant to the needs of experienced educational leaders.
  • Courses are taught by OLPD faculty and faculty from across the University who are experts in educational policy and research, educational politics, leadership, organizational theory and practice, systems thinking, and research methods. They are widely recognized for their scholarly work and are excellent and committed teachers and advisors.
  • A cohort-based program comprised of diverse education professionals provides a robust learning community in which members support and learn from each other.
  • Courses are offered on the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities campus during a 3-4 week summer session and in full-day meetings held twice a month during the academic year.
  • It is possible to remain fully employed while completing requirements for this degree.
  • Department of education executive level superintendent
  • School district director of human resources, special education, community education, or equity
  • Director of curriculum, teaching and learning, or staff development
  • Philanthropic of non-profit executive leader or education program officer
  • Superintendent or assistant, associate, area, or deputy superintendent
  • Non-profit or philanthropic executive leader
  • Assistant, associate, area, deputy superintendent
  • Chief of schools
  • District administrator

Quote from Melissa Schaller

This program provided professional growth that elevated the way I practice as a school administrator. It challenged me academically, required me to think differently and more critically, and provided me with a cohort of other learners that expanded my network outside of those I typically interact with. The program has made me a better administrator and created significant opportunities to contribute to the field of education. Melissa Schaller Executive Director of Student Services ISD 917, (2020 graduate)

Quote from Cedrick Baker

I am in the second year of this program, and it's an amazing experience. I've enjoyed the great teaching, meaningful discussions from cohort members, and the level of rigor in assignments intended to assist me in my dissertation journey. I feel that this program understands the demands of a working professional and receives feedback to enhance the course offerings. I continue to believe that I made the right decision in applying for this program. Cedrick Baker Chief of Staff McKnight Foundation (and current student)

70 credits completed in 3-5 years for full time students. 48 of these credits consist of coursework examining system leadership and focusing on:

  • Systems thinking and the interdependent structures of organizational systems
  • Theory and practice of leading complex learning systems
  • Organizational culture and change
  • Analysis of education policy and practices and their influence on student learning
  • Politics of decision making and communication
  • Public engagement and cross-sector partnerships
  • Global innovations in educational leadership and school effectiveness
  • Evaluation of program effectiveness
  • Analysis and application of research

Students also take courses in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed/complementary research methods. For the culminating Ph.D. dissertation, students identify a researchable problem, process, or topic of interest, carry out original research, and disseminate findings to relevant audiences.

How to apply

Admission deadline.

Application deadline: March 1, 2023 for a Fall 2023 semester start.

Fall semester start only. Cohorts begin every other year; the next cohort will begin in Fall 2025 with a likely application deadline of March 2025.

Applicants may only apply to one OLPD track.

Applications are not complete until ALL required materials and fees have been received. If anything is missing, your application may not be considered. It is strongly recommended to apply at least two weeks before any submission deadlines.

Applications are processed by the Graduate School. A decision for admission notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department's admission committee and your transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by Graduate School officials.  

Admission Requirements

Degree: Master's degree or equivalent

GPA: Undergraduate 3.0; Graduate 3.5

Note: Applicants should not submit GRE scores, as they will not be considered in the review process.

TOEFL/IELTS Scores (Not required for U.S. students):

  • TOEFL: Internet based = 79 or above (21 writing/19 reading)
  • IELTS = 6.5

Experience: At least 3 years of experience working in education or related organizations

File PhD Application Instructions.pdf

Tuition and funding

Tuition information: CEHD | OneStop

Financial aid: CEHD | OneStop

Readmission

If a graduate student in an OLPD program has become inactive they must follow the readmission procedures .

Whether you seek reactivation after accidentally being discontinued this term or want to return after a long absence these are the steps needed to re-apply.

  • Complete the proper online readmission application . If you have been away from the program less than five years use the Express Readmission Application and email it to [email protected] . All others must submit the Online Application for Readmission  
  • Once received, the department will forward your application to the appropriate admissions committee. Readmission decisions are normally determined by the program’s admissions committee, not any one individual faculty member. Readmission is never guaranteed. Decisions for readmission are based on a review of previous progress toward degree completion, the proposed timeline for completion, the availability of faculty resources, and/or any additional application materials they may request from you. Individual programs/tracks reserve the right to readmit students under the current graduate program requirements, rules, and guidelines. They may also request an applicant to provide additional information prior to making a decision.  
  • Once the committee makes their recommendation, the department’s DGS will sign off on the decision and forward the result to the central Graduate Admissions Office for processing. Once processed, you will be notified of the decision.

Individual department programs and tracks reserve the right to require readmitted students to retake coursework if they deem it appropriate. Readmitted students are also required to abide by current time-to-degree policies as determined by the University, which may differ from the policy in place when they first started the degree program.

Individuals seeking readmission to the Ph.D., Ed.D., and M.A. program tracks in the former EDPA, WHRE, and WCFE majors can only reapply to the appropriate program track under the Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) major name.

Quote from Peter Olson-Skog

This program is rigorous and engaging. It is designed from the bottom up for working professionals. While still holding a demanding job, the program's schedule, caring and knowledgeable faculty, and embedded networking all work together to create a path to achieving your Ph.D. that actually works. Peter Olson-Skog Superintendent ISD 197, (2022 graduate)

Quote from Nasreen Fynewever

The program experience meaningfully interlocks everyday practitioners with becoming scholarly leaders; distinctly bringing together a unique and diverse community of encouragers, leaders, and researchers to contribute to education and liberation. Nasreen Fynewever K8 Administrator Roseville Area Schools (and current student)

We’re here to help. Simply complete this form or reach out directly to Katie Pekel , Faculty Coordinator of the EPL Executive Cohort program.

More From Forbes

Mastering your executive presence.

Forbes Coaches Council

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Martha Jeifetz : Maximizing Executive Leadership and Teams Effectiveness. Shaping LeadHERship. Creating Inclusive Cultures.

Executive presence is that unique quality that sets exceptional leaders apart. It's the ability to command attention, inspire confidence and drive success. Through my experiences in global organizations and working with executive clients, I've seen how impactful executive presence can be in leadership.

Early in my career, I faced a pivotal moment that underscored the significance of this quality. Leading a challenging global project, I embraced my executive presence, working on exuding confidence and clarity in my communications. This took courage, focus and clarity. My shift bolstered my team's morale and also instilled trust and credibility among stakeholders, ultimately leading to the project's success.

My interactions with mentors and leaders in different companies have provided me with invaluable insights into the nuances of executive presence.

One mentor, renowned for her commanding presence, emphasized the importance of authentic leadership. She taught me that true executive presence is not about putting on a show but rather about embodying your values and convictions with unwavering authenticity.

Working with a senior executive I admire highlighted the impact of executive presence on career advancement. Despite possessing exceptional skills, he struggled to progress in his career until he honed his executive presence. By refining his communication style and demeanor, he was able to secure key leadership roles, achieve successful results and drive significant organizational change.

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Executive presence is not just a buzzword; it's a critical element of effective leadership. These real-life examples underscore its transformative influence. A strong executive presence can have a profound impact on your leadership effectiveness and career success. A leader with a strong executive presence is perceived as confident, credible and trustworthy—qualities that are essential for inspiring and motivating others. Additionally, a strong executive presence can enhance your personal brand and reputation. It can open doors to new opportunities, such as leadership roles, speaking engagements, board of directors seats and partnerships.

Below are some of the lessons I've learned on how to master executive presence in the workplace.

3 Ways To Master Your Executive Presence

Own your story: embrace your character and build credibility.

Owning your story is not just about sharing your experiences; it's about embodying your character and building credibility as a leader. Your character, which encompasses your values, integrity and authenticity, is the foundation of your executive presence. By owning your story, you demonstrate transparency and honesty, which are essential for building trust and credibility with your team and stakeholders.

To own your story effectively, reflect on your values and how they guide your actions as a leader and as an individual. Share stories that highlight your character strengths, such as times when you demonstrated integrity, vulnerability or courage in challenging situations. By aligning your actions with your values, you can strengthen your character and inspire others to do the same.

Communicate With Impact: Develop Your Communication Style And Gravitas

Effective communication is a hallmark of executive presence, but it's not just about what you say—it's also about how you say it. Your communication style, which includes your tone, body language and choice of words, plays a significant role in how others perceive you as a leader. To communicate with impact, develop a communication style that is clear, confident and authentic.

Gravitas, often described as the "weight" or "presence" a person exudes, is another critical aspect of effective communication. Gravitas is about projecting confidence, authority and credibility in your interactions. To develop gravitas, focus on speaking with conviction and calmness, maintaining eye contact and using confident body language.

Cultivate Your Tribe: Build Authentic Relationships And Establish Influence

Building a strong professional network can bolster your executive presence. The relationships you form can provide support, mentorship and opportunities to learn and grow. Actively engage with colleagues, mentors and industry peers. It's not just about the quantity of connections—it's about the quality of relationships. Your tribe should consist of people who not only support you but challenge you to grow and improve as a leader. Cultivate authentic relationships built on trust, respect and shared values.

Seek out opportunities to connect and collaborate, and be sure to maintain and nurture your network over time. Networking can not only expand your knowledge and resources but also enhance your reputation as a leader. People with strong executive presence often have influential networks that help them navigate challenges and seize opportunities.

To cultivate your tribe effectively, invest time in getting to know your colleagues, mentors and industry peers on a personal level. Show genuine interest in their lives and career goals, and offer support for their development and guidance when needed. By building authentic relationships, you not only strengthen your executive presence but also establish influence and impact within your professional and even personal network.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Leadership Impact

Mastering your executive presence is a transformative journey, not a destination; it transcends mere leadership skills—it's about embodying the essence of leadership itself. By honing your executive presence, you can not only enhance your personal brand but also inspire those around you to reach new heights of success.

As you embark on this journey, remember that authenticity is key. Your executive presence should reflect your true self, aligned with your values and beliefs. Embrace your story, communicate with impact and cultivate your tribe with sincerity and purpose.

In doing so, you will not only elevate your leadership impact but also create a ripple effect of positive change within your organization and beyond. So seize this opportunity to own your story, communicate with gravitas and cultivate your tribe. The world is waiting for your leadership.

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?

Martha Jeifetz

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The No. 1 trait bosses look for when promoting employees, says ex-CEO and Harvard expert

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Sometimes, exceeding your goals and having a great attitude is enough to get a promotion . But often, bosses look for something more subtle, says Harvard Business School executive fellow Bill George .

People who "focus on doing an outstanding job in leading [their] team" are in the "best" position to get promoted, says George, the former head of health care company Medtronic. In other words , CEOs and other leaders may want to see you guiding and inspiring the rest of your team.

Great employees — the ones managers tend to see as worth promoting — don't just boss their co-workers around. They excel at building trust with the people around them, which requires a certain amount of self-awareness to achieve, George says.

"Many people do not know who they are," George wrote in his book, " True North: Emerging Leader Edition ," which published in 2022. "They are so focused on trying to impress others that they let the world shape them rather than shaping themselves into the kind of leaders they want to be."

The more self-aware you are, the more "your leadership will be authentic and people will naturally want to associate with you," he added.

Why leadership and self-awareness can help you get a promotion

When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can use them more effectively in the workplace. Traits like emotional intelligence, adaptability and mindset particularly matter, because they can help you navigate challenges and make a lasting impact on your team, research shows .

You can start cultivating your self-awareness with a three-part exercise, Juliette Han, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, told CNBC Make It last year:

  • Reflect on your interests and skills, so you can specifically define your strengths and the job responsibilities you'd enjoy. What are you good at? What do you like doing?
  • Ask for feedback from your managers and co-workers. The way they describe you and your work can help you learn a little more about how other people see you.
  • Use all of those takeaways to figure out which skills you want to hone or incorporate more into your work.

"You can have all the technical skills and charisma in the world, but if you're completely oblivious of yourself, how you come across and interact in the world, it's a lot harder to build strong relationships, interact with your boss and co-workers and deepen the friendships you need to truly succeed," Han said.

You may discover that guiding and inspiring others isn't your strongest suit, pushing you to leverage other leadership skills — like critical thinking, decision making or conflict resolution — to be a better candidate for promotion.

How to make your case

Even if you deserve a promotion, you might be roadblocked by other factors like your company's budget. Or, your boss could be totally unaware that you feel ready to move up the ladder.

Try sitting down with your manager and making your case. If they say no, ask them why — and use their response to come back with a stronger argument, or create a plan to meet their expectations, OpenTable CEO Debby Soo told Make It in 2022.

Don't let a "no" keep you from asking again, said Soo: "Oftentimes, a no isn't a hard no, it's a 'not yet' or 'no, but how about this?'"

If you work to meet their expectations, ask your boss again and they still don't seem to understand or appreciate what you bring to the table, it may be time to look for new opportunities elsewhere, she added.

Want to land your dream job in 2024?  Take CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay. CNBC Make It readers can save 25% with discount code 25OFF .

Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

Knowing your audience is key to success, says former accountant turned coach

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