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Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership (PhD)

Be the leader our world needs

The online Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is highly sought after by individuals aiming for senior executive roles in organizations. This academically rigorous program prepares graduates to excel as leaders, researchers, and practitioners. Graduates are also well-positioned for higher education roles such as faculty members, Deans, Provosts, and University or College Presidents.

This program provides a deep understanding of knowledge creation in the leadership field through its research-based curriculum. It hones leadership skills, enabling graduates to apply their expertise across various industries, including higher education, the private sector, non-profits, and government organizations. The Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at William Woods University stands out as one of the few regional programs offering an advanced curriculum that addresses the trends shaping modern organizations in the 21st century.

Next Start Dates:

  • Jan. 13, 2025
  • Feb. 17, 2025
  • Mar. 31, 2025
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Total Credit Hours
54

Cost Per Credit Hour
$780

Estimated Completion 
Minimum 2 Years*

Average Effort 
22-23 Hours per Week


*Students have the flexibility to extend studies up to 7 years.

Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Services report, training and development managers earned a median $111,340 annual salary in 2018, with jobs in the field expected to grow 8% from 2018 to 2028.

The median annual wage for chief executives was $189,600. Overall employment of top executives is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028.

Administrative service managers earned a $96,180 median annual wage in 2018, which is expected to grow 7 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.

The average compensation range for business school faculty in the United States ranges between $70,000 and $215,993, with the median income being $125,440.

The overall employment outlook is expected to grow 12% between 2020 and 2030. Academic Deans, Provosts, and College/University President compensation ranges are $90,859, $148,783, and 150,143, respectively.

Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership Curriculum

The PhD program requires 45 credit hours of core and elective courses and a minimum of 9 credit hours for the dissertation.  

View Curriculum Dissertation Guidelines

 

Course Code Course Description Credit Hours Required / Elective
LDR 705 Organizational Leadership - Theory and Practice 3.00 Required
LDR 715 Culture and Leading 3.00 Required
LDR 720 Ethical Leading 3.00 Required
LDR 725 Strategy and Execution 3.00 Required
LDR 735 Communication for Impact 3.00 Required
LDR 740 Coaching & Talent Management 3.00 Required
LDR 745 Management Concepts for Leaders 3.00 Required
LDR 750 Decision Making and Analytics 3.00 Required
LDR 760 Interpersonal Dynamics 3.00 Required
LDR 775 Ph.D. Resident Seminar 0.00 Elective
LDR 785 Organizational Environment 3.00 Required
LDR 780 Special Topics 3.00 Elective
RSH 715 Research Methods 3.00 Required
RSH 720 Quantitative Analysis 3.00 Required
RSH 740 Exploration of Qualitative Research 3.00 Required
DIS 780 Dissertation I 3.00 Required
DIS 781 Dissertation II 3.00 Required
DIS 790 Dissertation III 3.00 Required
DIS 791 Ph.D. Dissertation Continuation 1.00 Elective

Credit Transfer Considerations and Requirements

Credit for prior learning or experiential learning are not eligible for transfer credit into doctoral programs at William Woods University.

International students must have their foreign degrees evaluated for the US equivalency. Student's transcripts must be evaluated by recognized agencies such as WES (World Education Services) or IERF (International Education and Research Foundation USA) to determine if their qualifications are equivalent in level, purpose, and depth to those from regionally accredited colleges and universities in the USA.

International candidates are expected to get their qualifications evaluated by a suitable agency and ask the agency to send the evaluation report to the WWU Registrar's Office.

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Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions

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References