Organizational Leadership Doctorate in Ministry – Quantitative
Explore the intersection of Christian ministry and culture as you prepare to position yourself for a potential leadership role within the Christian church. Earning your quantitative EdD in Christian Ministry Leadership offers the opportunity to advance the study of leadership within ministry and the church community by performing in-depth research and analysis of the modern church. You will be taught how to bring about enduring change within the church by forwarding our culture’s knowledge of leadership within the church.
What Can You Do With a Quantitative Doctorate in Ministry Leadership?
A doctorate in ministry leadership can prepare you for roles throughout ministry. This degree teaches graduates the leadership and organizational communication skills necessary to set up Christian ministry organizations that are sustainable.
Choosing to Specialize in a Christian Ministry Leadership EdD Program
This quantitative degree program requires learners to engage in active discussion and expression of scholarly ideas in a variety of formats. Emphasis is placed on dissemination of scholarly findings, research, scholarly writing and effective argumentation within the context of the Christian culture.
Throughout research-focused courses, learners will synthesize current scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces within the church and examine how their research can make an impact on these problems.
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Becoming a Ministry Leader With a Doctorate Degree
Contemporary Christian ministry faces a set of challenges that are often unique to the culture we live in today. This program examines these challenges and the role of the Christian ministry leader in mitigating them. With a close focus on diverse and global cultures, you will be taught to lead in a variety of situations and how to make an impact on a global scale.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Degree in Ministry Online
Degree candidates are able to complete this program at their own pace. Due to the nature of the program, the time it takes for the candidate to complete their research study and dissertation directly impacts the timeframe in which the program can be completed. GCU has built in options to support learners throughout the process.
In traditional doctoral programs, dissertations are completed after course requirements have been met. In GCU's program, the dissertation process is integrated throughout the program so that every class enables the learner to take a step toward completing the dissertation. Additionally, a residency requirement has been incorporated into the program to provide candidates with an opportunity to dive deep into their dissertation and research study, giving them the support and expertise needed to make progress on their dissertation.
By earning your quantitative doctorate in ministry leadership and performing your own research, you can position yourself to forward the mission of the church and fulfill God’s call upon your life.
GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
§ 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.
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Core Courses
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.
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.
Course Description
This course examines multiple ethical frameworks, principles, and theories as they apply to the study and practice of leadership. Corporate social responsibility will be addressed from the perspective of ethical decision making. Prerequisite: RES-815.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the impact of leadership and the effects of behaviors on the formulation and execution of strategy within an organization. Topics include the increasing importance of resilience and change in today’s global and turbulent economy.
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.
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.
Course Description
This residency allows learners to continue developing their skills as academic researchers. Learners will have hands-on experience applying quantitative and qualitative design principals to develop the foundational elements for their potential dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-850, RES-825, RES-831, or RCS-831.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the theories, theorists, and theology of leadership. Change management in ministry is addressed through the lenses of these theories and theology.
Course Description
The intersection of Christian ministry and culture is the primary focus of this course. Contextualization is explored as a means for the Church to remain relevant to the culture and community in order to bring about enduring change.
Course Description
Contemporary Christian ministry faces a set of challenges that are often unique to postmodern culture. This course explores those challenges and the role of the Christian ministry leader in mitigating them.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of quantitative research design. Attention is given to variables, instrumentation, and sources of data. Reliability and validity of instrumentation is discussed in the context of GCU core quantitative research designs.
Course Description
In this course, learners interact with statistical tests and statistical analysis software in the context of designing a quantitative research study. Alignment of statistical tests to research questions, hypotheses and design is stressed as is determining the feasibility of a quantitative research study. Ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-842.
Course Description
This course explores the opportunities and challenges facing leaders in the global environment. The course topics focus on aspects of leading global and diverse workforces, and on theories of leadership and leadership development in diverse and global cultures.
Course Description
In this residency, learners orally present and defend an expanded design of their preliminary dissertation research from RSD-851. Emphasis is placed on developing the quantitative dissertation. Practicum/field experience hours: None. RES-844.
Course Description
This course presents potential applications of topics in Christian ministry leadership. Learners connect these ideas to their research interests.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: RES-871, RES-885, RSD-883, or RSD-884.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on data collection, data preparation and management, and the analysis of quantitative 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-844 and one of the following: DBA-955 or DIS-955 or DHA-955 or PSY-955 or PCE-955 or TLC-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DIS-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of quantitative 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-874 and one of the following: DBA-960 or DIS-960 or DHA-960 or PSY-960 or PCE-960 or TLC-960.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: DIS-960.
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.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-965.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-966 or DIS-966E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-967 or DIS-967E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-968 or DIS-968E; RSD-951.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-969 or DIS-969E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-970 or DIS-970E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-971E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-972E.
Course Description
This course emphasizes the finalization of the dissertation and provides learners with individualized support for completing their dissertation journey. Learners continue to work directly with their dissertation chair and committee members based on their individual progress plan for completing their dissertation. Prerequisite: DIS-973E.
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- 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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