Program Overview

Program Overview

The Online Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Adler University is designed to prepare students to become innovative and socially conscious leaders in both academic and professional settings. This fully online program allows working professionals to complete their degree from anywhere in the world without sacrificing academic rigor and personalized attention.

Student Outcomes

Graduates of the Organizational Leadership Ph.D. program will be equipped to foster healthy working environments and create engagement and empowerment. They will understand how to best support teams and other leaders, and will be prepared to become innovative leaders in both academic and professional settings.

Careers in Organizational Leadership

Graduates of the program can pursue careers in:

• Chief of Staff
• Management Consultant
• Executive Administrator
• Vice Presidents / C-Suite Positions
• Vice President of Human Resources
• Leadership and Management Coaching
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Professional Development & Training

Curriculum

The Online Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organizational Leadership is a 66 credit-hour post-bachelor’s program. The curriculum is designed to create stronger, well-rounded leaders through courses that cover subject matters ranging from communication strategies, to innovative leadership, to analyzing and interpreting research with the ability to understand findings within an ethical context.

Core Courses

• OL 700 - Contemporary Perspectives in Leadership Theory (3 cr.)
• OL 701 - Followership (3 cr.)
• IOP 716 - Advanced Group Dynamics (3 cr.)
• OL 702 - Organizational Culture & Climate (3 cr.)
• OL 703 - Advanced Leadership Communication Strategies (3 cr.)
• IOP 701 - Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues (3 cr.)
• OL 704 - Diversity & Inclusion (3 cr.)
• OL 705 - Leading Innovation (3 cr.)
• IOP 708 - Advanced Research Methods and Design I: Qualitative Methods (3 cr.)
• IOP 709 - Advanced Research Methods and Design II : Quantitative Methods (3 cr.)
• OL 706 - Analyzing & Interpreting Research (3 cr.)
• OL 710 - Building Agility and Resilience (3 cr.)

Electives

• IOP 702 - Advanced Organizational Theory (3 cr.)
• IOP 706 - Advanced Consulting Skills (3 cr.)
• IOP 711 - Assessment of Individual Differences (3 cr.)
• IOP 714 - Advanced Performance Appraisal (3 cr.)
• IOP 712 - Advanced Talent Management and Motivation (3 cr.)
• MAMP 501 - Operational Psychology (3 cr.)
• MAMP 503 - The Psychology of Conflict & Operations Other than War (3 cr.)
• MAMP 504 - Ethics, Morality, & Social Justice in Military (3 cr.)
• MAMP 506 - Psychological Resilience and Positive Psychology (3 cr.)
• MAMP 508 - Culture & Diversity Military (3 cr.)
• MIO 507 - Consumer and Employee Attitudes (3 cr.)
• MIO 509 - Group Dynamics (3 cr.)
• MIO 523 - Coaching and Consulting (3 cr.)
• MIO 524 - Training Theory (3 cr.)
• MPA 610 - Advocacy Strategy & Tactics for Social Change (3 cr.)
• OL 502 - Leading High Impact Teams (3 cr.)
• OL 503 - Innovation Process (3 cr.)
• OL 504 - Leadership Assessment & Feedback Coaching (3 cr.)
• OL 505 - Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
• OL 508 - Systems Thinking (3 cr.)
• OL 709 - Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
• OL 710 - Building Agility & Resilience (3 cr.)
• PACC 503 - Organizational Theory and Public Personnel Management (3 cr.)
• PPAC 502 - Ethics in Public Service (3 cr.)
• PACC 507 - Public Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
• PPCC 507 - Business and Government Policy (3 cr.)

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to this program are required to have:

• A master’s degree, by the date of matriculation, in industrial and organizational psychology, psychology, business, or a related discipline.
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) in their master’s degree.
• Two letters of recommendation from an individual who can speak to the applicant’s likelihood of success in a doctoral program.
• A writing sample (e.g., a publication, report, or an essay or paper previously submitted as an assignment).
• An admissions interview.

Program Requisites

Applicants are expected to have adequate coursework in the areas listed below. Applicants who did not graduate from Adler University’s Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, or an equivalent program, will be assessed to determine whether they have adequate coursework in the following master’s-level course areas, with a letter grade of B or better.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition for Adler University’s programs is charged each term according to the number of registered academic credits. The number of credits a student will register for varies by academic program and by term. To estimate the amount of tuition and fees that would be charged in a given term, please use our Tuition Estimator tool.

Faculty

Marianne Cabrera, Ph.D., Program Director, Organizational Leadership programs, integrates academic and practitioner-related concepts into the learning experience to help students best understand and apply what they are learning in both the classroom and in their everyday life.

Online Learning Format

Adler University approaches online learning with the same commitment to academic excellence and student support that has been the hallmark of our 65-year history. Our innovative online graduate courses deliver an engaging, interactive learning experience designed to accommodate your busy schedule.

Social Justice Practicum

A unique and proven program designed to give students real-world experience throughout their time at Adler University, the Social Justice Practicum is a required 200-hour internship that spans four courses (or terms for online programs). Every student is given a number of civic-minded categories to choose from. They submit their desired areas of interest. After which, they are assigned a specific and aligned community outreach site where they will work 8 to 10 hours per week.