Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership With Christian Ministry

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Degree Level

Doctoral

Class Setting

Online

Area of Study

Teaching

Program

EdD in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Qualitative)

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Citizenship Status

U.S. Citizen

Military Affiliation

No military affiliation

Country

United States

GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.^§

Alumni Doctoral Degree Scholarship

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Overview

Prepare To Lead in Christian Faith-Based Organizations

The Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry at Grand Canyon University offers a qualitative approach to exploring foundational skills and current research in leading ministry and church organizations. This doctoral program allows you to study trends in organizational leadership, conduct original research and contribute to the field of ministry leadership. At our private Christian university, you'll engage in qualitative data collection, analysis and reflection, alongside opportunities to deepen your relationship with God.

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Qualitative Research)

Offered By

College of Doctoral Studies

Class Settings

Evening

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $750 per credit [More Info]

Evening: $750 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 60

Campus: 15 weeks

Online: 8 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 9 doctoral credits

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Doctoral)

Doctoral Degree
3.4+ GPA*

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

Masters Degree
3.4 GPA**

Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA less than 3.4 may be accepted with specifications.
** Degree must be from an institutionally accredited school. Applicants with a GPA between 3.0 - 3.39 may be accepted with specifications. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 will not be accepted.

Why GCU

Advanced Faith-Based Leadership From GCU

Deepen your Christian faith while pursuing academic excellence with a faith-based doctorate. This program, offered by the College of Doctoral Studies, is designed specifically for aspiring and active church leaders who are interested in growing their leadership skills and making an original research-based contribution to the field. You will examine not only theory but also the potential applications of various course topics to modern issues within biblical ministry settings. Knowledgeable professors will encourage you to reflect critically upon what it means to be a biblically principled leader and how to make a positive impact on your community within a ministerial context.

Choose a Flexible Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership

You can earn your doctorate online at GCU with the exception of your residency courses that must be done in person. Our intuitive learning platform fosters optimal collaboration among learners, peers and faculty. Engage with diverse perspectives from peers while learning from instructors who are experienced in their fields. Navigate through a focused curriculum that builds foundational knowledge in biblical stewardship and practical leadership skills.

This Degree Is Offered Online

Coursework

Christian Ministry Courses

The coursework will challenge you to recognize and apply ethical, moral and faith-integrated leadership principles to express aspects of the Christian worldview that affect human values and dignity. From the first course, you will begin working on the integrated dissertation process.

During this doctoral degree program, you will be guided to refine a range of widely applicable soft skills, including the following:

Critical thinking

Ethical decision making

Self-motivation

Research and analysis

Analytical reasoning

Resilience and adaptability to change

Communication and collaboration

A servant leader mindset

Throughout the Christian ministry leadership courses, you will receive ongoing feedback on your dissertation, fostering moral leadership and a commitment to civic responsibility to help shape the overall vision of your project. During the in-person residencies, you will engage in networking with peers, present your progress and provide thoughtful critiques of their work.

While diving into dispositions and techniques for researching and writing, you will be expected to develop a sound dissertation research topic that will guide you through the execution of original research and the development of the doctoral dissertation. You will be required to actively engage with other scholars' input while conducting independent research under the guidance of your dissertation committee.

In addition, you will closely examine the following topic areas:

The role of leadership in the disciple-making process, with a look at the interrelationship of disciples and volunteers
The theories, theorists and theology of leadership, including change management in the ministry
The contextualization of ministry as a means for the Church to remain relevant to the culture and community
The opportunities and challenges facing leaders in the global environment, with a focus on the aspects of leading global and diverse workforces

Accreditation

Take Doctoral Classes From an Institutionally Accredited University

At GCU, we’re proud to be an institutionally accredited university that prioritizes the quality of our Christian education. With degree programs rooted in the Christian faith, GCU strives to graduate the next generation of faith-centered leaders. In addition, the Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968. The College of Doctoral Studies shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.

FAQ

Christian Ministry Leadership FAQs

Some questions may occur to you as you reflect upon your intended career path and advanced degree options. GCU has compiled the following frequently asked questions and answers to guide your decision-making process.

You might find an online doctorate in organizational leadership to be valuable. An online doctorate in organizational leadership can offer significant value. This program offers the chance to deeply explore leadership competencies and techniques, refine your own leadership style and apply theoretical insights to everyday situations. Through conducting original research, you can also contribute to the field. If you’re eager to enhance your leadership skills and confidence, pursuing an EdD in Organizational Leadership can be worth it for you.

This doctoral degree is a terminal degree aimed at helping you enhance your effectiveness as a leader. It can equip you to navigate a complex landscape while encouraging team members to achieve their full potential. An EdD degree that focuses on Christian ministry leadership is designed to challenge current and aspiring Christian leaders to refine their ministerial leadership style and lead faith-based organizations with integrity and in accordance with biblical principles.

Both an EdD and a PhD in organizational leadership for faith-based settings will focus on topics of relevance to current and aspiring Christian leaders. However, they aren’t quite the same degree. The PhD focuses predominantly on theoretical research, making it ideal for those who aspire to pursue careers in academia or other scholarly settings. The EdD, on the other hand, is designed for practitioners who are interested in leadership roles outside of academia, in which they can apply theoretical knowledge to everyday situations.¹

Courses

Course List

Credit Summary

Major60 credits

Degree Requirements60 credits

To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.

Core Courses

RES-815

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.

RES-820A

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.

LDR-800

3 Total Credits

LDR-825

3 Total Credits

RES-831

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.

RES-832

3 Total Credits

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.

RSD-851

3 Total Credits

MIN-812

3 Total Credits

MIN-817

3 Total Credits

MIN-822

3 Total Credits

RES-841

3 Total Credits

RES-843

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners differentiate the epistemological foundations and explore the data trustworthiness, research ethics, and potential for bias in descriptive, case study, and phenomenology research designs. The process of building a rationale for design choice and aligning the research questions, interview questions, problem statement, and purpose statement is addressed. Sources of qualitative data are introduced for each design, and ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-841.

LDR-804

3 Total Credits

RSD-883

3 Total Credits

MIN-827

3 Total Credits

DIS-955

3 Total Credits

RES-873

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners explore qualitative data collection techniques and sources of qualitative data in the context of answering the research questions posed by a study. Consideration is given to the recognition of data saturation and the management of data. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs to prepare a written statement of data collection, and management activities. Prerequisites: RES-843 and one of the following: DBA-955 or DIS-955 or DHA-955 or PSY-955 or PCE-955 or TLC-955.

DIS-960

3 Total Credits

RES-883

3 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of qualitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisites: RES-873 and one of the following: DBA-960 or DIS-960 or DHA-960 or PSY-960 or PCE-960 or TLC-960.

DIS-965

3 Total Credits

Continuation Courses

The course identified above represent the minimum academic course requirements only. Most students will also need to take one or more of the following Research Continuation Courses to complete a dissertation. Research Continuation Courses are 3-credit courses charged at the standard doctoral per credit rate.

DIS-966E

3 Total Credits

DIS-967E

3 Total Credits

DIS-968E

3 Total Credits

DIS-969E

3 Total Credits

DIS-970E

3 Total Credits

DIS-971E

3 Total Credits

DIS-972E

3 Total Credits

DIS-973E

3 Total Credits

DIS-974E

3 Total Credits

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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Lead in Faith-Based Organizations

Enroll in GCU's doctoral degree with an emphasis on Christian ministry and prepare to lead with faith and integrity.

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^§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-July2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in July 2025. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.

¹ OnlineEdDPrograms.com. (2023, Feb. 1). Question: What is an EdD in Organizational Leadership? Retrieved July 18, 2024.

Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership With Christian Ministry

Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership With Christian Ministry

Prepare To Lead in Christian Faith-Based Organizations

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Qualitative Research)

Advanced Faith-Based Leadership From GCU

Choose a Flexible Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership

This Degree Is Offered Online

Christian Ministry Courses

Examine Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility

Explore Career Options With Bible-Based Ministry Skills

Take Doctoral Classes From an Institutionally Accredited University

Christian Ministry Leadership FAQs

Course List

Lead in Faith-Based Organizations

Course List

Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Christian Ministry (Qualitative Research)