What is an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership?
Organizational Leadership applies fundamental principles of social & behavioral psychology to the gray-flannel world of organizational management. In an Ed.D. program, the first part of the definition is widened to include principles of education & adult learning.
Training in organizational leadership provides a way for leaders to understand the strengths & weaknesses of their workforce. An education doctorate in organizational leadership may be a good choice if you wish to:
- Create organizations that foster social justice, diversity, and sustainability
- Transform your organization through research-based learning approaches
- Implement innovative solutions to business & organizational challenges
- Help your workforce adapt quickly & effectively to cultural, economic, and technological changes
- Develop & deepen your leadership practices
Professionals in this kind of Ed.D. program come from all kinds of fields, including K-20 administration, non-profits, human resources, corporate training & development, education consulting, government, and the military.
Types of Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Programs
Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership: Primary Major
Our program database contains more than 80 Ed.D. programs in Organizational Leadership. Within these listings, you’ll find all kinds of unique doctoral programs, including degrees that encompass areas like innovation, learning, development, and strategic change.
Since every organizational leadership program is different, it pays to do a little research into the School or College of Education. What business leaders will be teaching the courses? Is the curriculum relevant to your career goals? Is there an internship? Can you customize electives? You’re looking for practical learning.
Ed.D. in Leadership: Organizational Leadership Concentration
A number of education doctorates in the listings offer organizational leadership as a concentration within a broader leadership or educational leadership program. In this structure, you’ll take a core set of credits in leadership (e.g. ethical leadership, strategic thinking, etc.) and concentration courses in more specific areas (e.g. organizational design & culture, managing complexity, global leadership, etc.).
Examples of this phenomenon include City University of Seattle’s Online Ed.D. in Leadership – Organizational Leadership and Fielding University’s Ed.D. in Leadership for Change – Organization Development.
Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership & Educational Leadership: Hybrid Major
In some cases, organizational leadership and educational leadership have been blended into a hybrid major. Examples include the University of Illinois’s Ed.D. in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership and the University of Louisville’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development. These programs may be best-suited to leaders in K-20 education and related fields.
Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Specializations
In addition, more & more universities are offering interdisciplinary concentrations in organizational leadership. For instance:
- Barry University’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership includes concentrations in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, and Human Resource Development.
- Abilene Christian University’s Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership offers tracks in Learning with Emerging Technologies, Positive Leadership, Higher Education, and Conflict Management.
Ed.D. vs. Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership
There are several key differences between the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership.
- Degree Focus: The Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is tailored to academics and researchers who are interested in studying the intersection of psychology and management. The Ed.D. is much more concerned with applied research & practical leadership concerns. Ed.D. students are almost always exploring ways to implement their coursework into their workplace.
- Academic Requirements: Both the Ph.D. and Ed.D. are research-focused doctoral programs. Having said that, the Ph.D. deals with original insights—students are expected to conduct research that advances the understanding and practice of leadership. An Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership may have more real-world courses, an internship or practicums, and a practice-based dissertation or capstone project.
- Career Aims: Ph.D. graduates often go on to jobs in academia or research institutions, although there are some who choose to become C-level executives and administrators. Ed.D. graduates typically seek high-level leadership & management positions within their field.
Earning an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership
Organizational Leadership Prerequisites
- Master’s Degree: Generally speaking, universities are looking for Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership candidates who hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The major isn’t usually specified—your master’s degree can be in a wide range of fields.
- Work Experience: Some schools don’t specify a work experience minimum; others may ask for a certain number of years in a leadership position (e.g. 2+ years). Anything you can do to show your interest in management & leadership is obviously going to improve your application.
- Minimum GPA: This will vary from university to university. The standard minimum is 3.0, but a highly regarded school may raise the stakes to 3.25-3.5.
- Additional Materials: Schools may also ask to see 2-3 professional letters of recommendation, a current résumé, a personal statement, and/or a writing sample. GRE scores are often not required or optional.
Organizational Leadership Curriculum
An Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership has a few key differences to an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Doctorates in organizational leadership do not usually deal with K-20 concerns. Instead, core coursework will focus on areas such as:
- Organizational Learning Theory, Culture & Practice
- Research Trends in Organization and Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Change Management
As you dig down into the curriculum, you’ll often be able to focus on particular aspects of the field, including:
- Diversity Initiatives
- Global Leadership
- Collaborative Coaching
- Organizational Design & Culture
- Communication and Effective Leadership
- Leadership Ethics
All doctoral programs in Organizational Leadership will also contain a substantial number of credits in advanced research methods & topics. Most programs take 3-5 years to complete.
Organizational Leadership Internship
Some—but not all—Ed.D. programs in Organizational Leadership contain an internship or practicum requirement. As long as the internships are well-run, we tend to favor these kinds of doctorates. Professional internships will give you a chance to apply your learning amid a constant stream of feedback and guidance.
Examples of organizational leadership programs with this kind of element include the Field Consulting Experience in Wilmington University’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, Learning & Innovation and the 3-course internship process in Oakland City University’s Ed.D. – Option III Organization Management.
Organizational Leadership Dissertation
The Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership will always contain a large research-based project. This can take the form of a traditional 5-chapter dissertation (like the Ph.D.), a Dissertation in Practice (DiP), or a capstone project. We talk more about the differences between these options in our guide to No Dissertation Ed.D. Programs.
A number of highly regarded schools lean toward the DiP or the capstone for the Ed.D. For example, Nova Southeastern University’s Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership contains a Strategic Research Project (SRP) that allows students to solve problems in a real-world setting. And Vanderbilt’s Online Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning Organizations includes a standard capstone project.
Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Programs
Are Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Programs Offered Online?
Several dozen regionally accredited Ed.D. programs in Organizational Leadership in our program database can be completed mostly or entirely online. Among them are the prestigious Vanderbilt University program listed above, as well as education doctorates at respected brick-and-mortar institutions like the University of Illinois, the University of Minnesota, and Baylor University.
Do Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Programs Contain Residencies?
Most Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership programs will contain short, on-campus residencies (e.g. 2-3 days); these are often called intensives. For example, universities may wish to see you for an initial orientation, your dissertation proposal, and your dissertation defense. Other schools may want you to collaborate with your peers on leadership projects.
Having said that, there are 100% online doctoral programs in organizational leadership. For example, Abilene Christian University’s Online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership has no on-campus requirements. Some universities also make residencies “optional,” with online participation available for distance learners who can’t afford the trips to campus.
Organizational Leadership Careers
Graduates of an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership pursue a wide range of careers. Examples of job titles include:
- C-Level Executive
- Non-Profit Executive Director
- Policy Director
- Program Director
- Vice President of Organizational Development
- Healthcare Executive
- HR Vice President
- Career Coach
- Business Consultant
- Entrepreneur
Is an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Worth It?
The answer will depend on your long-term career goals. Because an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership can be applied to a wide range of job settings, especially outside of K-20 education, it’s important to have a direction before you commit to 3-5 years of a doctorate.
Examine current job listings that appeal to you. Talk to your mentors. Contact recent Ed.D. & Ph.D. graduates on your shortlist of programs. You need to know whether the investment will pay dividends in the future. A major in organizational leadership has become a relatively common specialty for business degrees, so you should find plenty of opinions.
Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership Resources
- Center for Organizational Leadership: Hosted by Rutgers University, the Center provides useful resources for those who are studying organizational leadership principles or want to more effectively integrate it into their work.
- Change Management Institute (CMI): CMI is a global, not-for-profit association of change management professionals. It runs a global accreditation program, offers change management courses, and provides access to best practice events, professional development workshops, and networking sessions for its members.
- International Journal of Organizational Leadership: This peer-reviewed, open-access journal provides years of articles reflecting recent research in the field.
- International Organization Development Association: IODA attempts to make organizational development and organizational change principles more globally accessible.
- Organization Development Network: The Organizational Development Network connects organizational leadership professionals from a variety of disciplines.
School Listings
43 Schools Found
Alabama
University of West Alabama
College of Education
Livingston, Alabama
Arizona
Grand Canyon University
College of Education
Phoenix, Arizona
Northcentral University
School of Education
Prescott Valley, Arizona
California
Brandman University
School of Education
Irvine, California
Fielding Graduate University
School of Leadership Studies
Santa Barbara, California
National University
Sanford College of Education
La Jolla, California
Pepperdine University
Graduate School of Education and Pschology
Malibu, California
University of La Verne
Graduate School
La Verne, California
University of San Francisco
School of Education
San Francisco, California
University of Southern California
Rossier School of Education
Los Angeles, California
University of the Pacific
Benerd School of Education
Stockton, California
Colorado
Aspen University
School of Education
Denver, Colorado
Delaware
Wilmington University
College of Education
New Castle, Delaware
Doctor of Education in Organizational, Learning, Leadership and Innovation - Strategic Leadership
Offered Online
Doctor of Education in Organizational, Learning, Leadership and Innovation - Talent Development
Offered Online
District of Columbia
George Washington University
Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Washington, District of Columbia
Florida
Barry University
School of Education
Miami, Florida
Nova Southeastern University
Fischler College of Education
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Southeastern University
College of Education
Lakeland, Florida
Georgia
University of Georgia
Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy
Athens, Georgia
Valdosta State University
College of Education and Human Services
Valdosta, Georgia
Illinois
Concordia University-Chicago
College of Education
River Forest, Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department of Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership
Champaign, Illinois
Ed.D. in Learning Design and Leadership - New Learning
Offered Online
Indiana
Oakland City University
School of Education
Oakland City, Indiana
Kentucky
University of Louisville
School of Education
Louisville, Kentucky
Western Kentucky University
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Massachusetts
Northeastern University
College of Professional Studies
Boston, Massachusetts
Michigan
Cornerstone University
Adult & Graduate Studies
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Oakland University
Department of Organizational Leadership
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Minnesota
Winona State University
College of Education
Winona, Minnesota
New Jersey
Stockton University
School of Education
Galloway, New Jersey
North Carolina
Gardner-Webb University
School of Education
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
North Dakota
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
School of Education
Fargo, North Dakota
Ohio
Franklin University
School of Education
Columbus, Ohio
University of Dayton
School of Education and Health Sciences
Dayton, Ohio
Wright State University
College of Education and Human Services
Celina, Ohio
Oregon
University of Portland
School of Education
Portland, Oregon
Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Converse College
Department of Education
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Tennessee
Lipscomb University
College of Education
Nashville, Tennessee
Vanderbilt University
Peabody College of Education
Nashville, Tennessee
Texas
Abilene Christian University
School of Education Leadership
Abilene, Texas
Baylor University
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Waco, Texas
Washington
City University of Seattle
School of Applied Leadership
Seattle, Washington
Seattle Pacific University
School of Education
Seattle, Washington