Earning a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies
Stage One: Admission to Doctoral Program
The first step in earning a PhD in Leadership Studies is earning admission to the program. Visit the How to Apply page to learn more.
Stage Two: Achieve Candidacy
Unlike other programs, the Ph.D. program does not require comprehensive exams. Instead, students undergo a process of writing and submitting their candidacy paper - an original, high quality theoretical/conceptual piece. While students typically apply for candidacy after completing their first 18-24 credits in the program, they are eligible to apply for candidacy after completing:
- DPLS 700: Leadership Theory
- DPLS 701: Organizational Theory
- DPLS 703: Global Leadership
- DPLS 720: Principles of Research
Stage Three: Dissertation Proposal Defense
After achieving candidacy, a doctoral candidate will choose a core faculty member to chair their dissertation committee. Together, the doctoral candidate and dissertation chair will discuss the candidate's research topic, conceptualize the proposed research, and formulate their dissertation committee. This stage of the PhD process is designed to generate the first three chapters required for dissertation proposal defense:
- The research design
- The literature review grounding the study
- The methodology and methods to conduct the research
- The candidate then defends their dissertation proposal with their committee, and once successful, the research study can begin.
Stage Four: Complete Dissertation
After proposal defense, the next months are filled with data collection, analysis, and writing the final chapters in addition to the three proposal chapters. Most dissertations include five chapters, this can vary. Drafts go from candidate to dissertation chair, as the process is fluid and iterative.
When the dissertation is complete, the candidate meets again with the committee, to defend the findings and conclusions. Revisions may be suggested, and must be submitted in the final copy of the dissertation. The committee must sign-off on the dissertation as complete.
Stage Five: Graduation
A set of paperwork procedures must be completed before the doctoral candidate can be considered finished with the program, after the dissertation and all program requirements are met. Additionally, the Dean of the School of Leadership Studies must read and sign off on the dissertation as complete.
Finally, when all expected criteria are met a completion of the Dissertation is submitted to the Registrar for Graduation permission.
Graduates then are eligible to walk in the Commencement ceremony in May. The graduate will be hooded as a Doctor of Philosophy from the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies.
Questions?
Contact:
Heather Schmitt, Admissions Specialist
Call or Text: (509) 313-6240 or (866)380-5323
Email: schmitth@gonzaga.edu