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USF & UST Doctoral Program Information
Course of Study

The Ed.D. Program in Leadership coursework has been developed to meet your scheduling needs and provides working professionals with the opportunity to obtain this doctoral degree while maintaining a reasonable work-life balance.

The program’s four components are core, research, collateral, and dissertation coursework. Over a three year period, students attend core courses with their cohort. Core courses are the heart of the doctoral program, focusing on ideas and issues central to leadership. While pursuing the core component, students may concurrently take collateral and research courses. A faculty chairperson and two committee members mentor each doctoral candidate’s research and writing every step of the way as they develop their dissertation.


Open Cohort Model

The program’s cohort component fosters respectful and critical conversation, a diversity of perspectives and camaraderie among learners. Because members of each cohort come from a variety of backgrounds, discussions are rich and experiences are deep. Welcoming, comfortable learning spaces, meals together and time away from other responsibilities help the cohort come together as a group. For many, the cohort is one of the most meaningful elements of the program, connecting personally, intellectually and professionally for a lifetime.

The non-cohort element of the program incorporates an array of elective (24-30 credits) and research (24 credits) coursework in addition to the dissertation. This unique blend of cohort and elective courses enables students to benefit from the best aspects of a traditional doctoral program while gaining the supportive community provided by the cohort model.

Leaders Across Disciplines

The Doctoral program in Leadership welcomes all professionals who are committed to better understanding the relationship between leadership and context. Graduates serve in leadership positions in a variety of organizational settings.

Arts
Community
Corporate
Engineering
Government Agencies
Health Care
Higher Education
K-12 Schools
Ministry
Nonprofit
Technology

Beyond the Classroom

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of conferences and other events hosted by the university. The Department of Leadership, Policy and Administration sponsors one such event, the annual Midwest Qualitative Research Conference, a gathering of people who use a variety of qualitative research methods to better understand the world in which they work and live. In addition to listening to national scholars, the conference offers an important opportunity for doctoral students and alumni scholars to present their research. Doctoral students gain the invaluable experience of presenting at a professional conference, in a familiar, supportive and comfortable setting.