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Program Overview

The Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University is a doctoral program that follows the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person. The program is designed to inspire individuals to consider, confront, and actively address the questions of humanity with critical thought and moral conviction. It explores relationality through a transdisciplinary lens, centering on three key aspects of leadership: the leader as individual, organizational complexities, and global mindset.

Program Details

• The program is a hybrid Ph.D. program designed for working professionals, welcoming students from a broad range of professions who desire to create positive change in their communities and organizations.
• The program includes education, business, not-for-profit, healthcare, government, military, law enforcement, first responders, and social sciences.
• Students develop and sustain a learning community with faculty and other student colleagues, nurturing personal qualities such as self-knowledge, self-acceptance, avid curiosity, respect for human diversity, and a call for justice.

Curriculum

Overview

The curriculum is interdisciplinary, focusing on personal systems, organizational systems, and global systems. It is designed to support a wide variety of research and dissertation topics, allowing students to explore emergent topics related to the growing field of leadership studies.

Course Structure

• Total credits: 60
• Core credits: 21
• Dissertation credits: 21 (including independent study)
• Elective credits: 18
• Courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

Core Courses

• DPLS 700: Leadership Theory
• DPLS 701: Organizational Theory
• DPLS 703: Global Issues & Policy Analysis
• DPLS 720: Principles of Research
• DPLS 722: Quantitative Data Analysis
• DPLS 723: Qualitative Research Theory & Design
• DPLS 745: Ethics & Leadership Studies

Dissertation Related Courses

• DPLS 730: Proposal Seminar
• DPLS 735: Proposal Defense
• DPLS 736: Dissertation

Independent Study

• Up to 12 credits of independent study are available, intended to expand upon the dissertation topic.

Elective Courses

• DPLS 705: Leadership & Social Justice
• DPLS 706: Leadership & Diversity
• DPLS 707: Leadership & Technology
• DPLS 708: Leadership, Forgiveness, & Restorative Justice
• DPLS 709: Leadership & Spirituality
• DPLS 711: Organizational Culture
• DPLS 714: Writing for Completion
• DPLS 716: Social Construction of Leadership
• DPLS 717: Leadership & Film
• DPLS 718: Ways of Knowing: Teaching, Learning, Leadership
• DPLS 719: Emergent Organizational Change
• DPLS 726: Advanced Qualitative Research
• DPLS 727: Complexity & Leadership Studies
• DPLS 728: Conceptual Framework & Research Design
• DPLS 729: Computer Analysis of Qualitative Data
• DPLS 741: The Art & Practice of Dialogue
• DPLS 743: Leadership & Consulting
• DPLS 744: Leadership, Language, & Culture
• DPLS 746: Leadership & Applied Ethics
• DPLS 747: Leadership & Classical Ethics
• DPLS 748: Leadership & Feminist Ethics
• DPLS 749: Leadership & Ecology Ethics
• DPLS 750: Leadership & Post-Modern Ethics
• DPLS 751: Leadership & History
• DPLS 755: Leadership & Communications
• DPLS 756: Leadership & Psychology
• DPLS 757: Power & Influence in Leadership
• DPLS 777-779: Special Topics
• DPLS 780: Servant Leadership
• DPLS 781: Listen, Discern, Decide
• DPLS 782: Foresight & Strategy
• DPLS 783: Seminar in Servant Leadership

The PhD Process

Stage One: Admission to Doctoral Program

The first step in earning a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies is gaining admission to the program.

Stage Two: Achieve Candidacy

Students undergo a process of writing and submitting their candidacy paper, an original, high-quality theoretical/conceptual piece, after completing specific core courses.

Stage Three: Proposal Seminar

The doctoral candidate works with their dissertation chair to discuss the research topic, research question(s), and conceptualize the research proposal.

Stage Four: Dissertation Proposal Defense

The candidate defends their dissertation proposal with their committee and, once successful, begins the research study.

Stage Five: Complete Dissertation

The candidate completes data collection, analysis, and writes the final chapters, defending the findings and conclusions with their committee.

Stage Six: Graduation

After completing the dissertation and all program requirements, the doctoral candidate is eligible to graduate, receiving a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies.

FAQs

Program Details

• Approximately 150 students are enrolled in the doctoral leadership program at any given time.
• The average class size is 12-15 students.
• Most students complete the program in 5-7 years.
• The program does not require students to live in Spokane, offering flexibility for working professionals.

Immersions

• The program includes a 3-day interactive classroom experience on the Gonzaga campus in Spokane, WA.
• Students are required to attend six immersions, with the option to select one from the Contemporary Leadership Studies list.

Online Courses

• The majority of the program can be completed online, mostly asynchronously.
• Six courses require 3-day immersions on campus.

Travel Accommodations

• Students are responsible for all travel accommodations when attending immersions.

Time Commitment

• Students dedicate approximately 15-18 hours per week, per course, to be successful in the program.

Start Dates

• The program allows admitted students to begin during the fall, spring, or summer terms.

Tuition

• Tuition is $1,205 per credit.

Financing Options

• Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)
• Employer financing or reimbursement
• External scholarships
• Payment plans
• Graduate Assistantships

Research Interests

• The transdisciplinary nature of the program supports a wide variety of research and dissertation topics.
• Faculty specialize in different research areas, including servant leadership, organizational evaluation, global leadership, leading in complexity, and feminist leadership.

Faculty Advising

• Upon admission, each student is assigned an advisor.
• After passing candidacy, students choose a dissertation faculty advisor who works with them to complete their requirements for graduation.

Non-Matriculated Students

• Students can register as non-matriculated students to take courses before or during the application process.
• Up to 12 credits from non-matriculated courses can be applied to the degree if the student is accepted into the program.

Transfer Credits

• Applicants can transfer up to 12 PhD-level credits from another college or university for coursework in which a grade of "B" or higher was awarded.

Student Resources

• Graduate Student Services
• Career & Professional Development Center
• Center for Cura Personalis
• Center for Student Academic Success
• Health & Counseling Services
• Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center
• Rudolf Fitness Center
• Transfer, Veteran & Returning Adult Services
• Unity Multicultural Education Center
• University Ministry