Organizational Leadership Doctorate in Higher Education – Quantitative

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Overview

Become a Leader in Higher Education Organizations

Embrace your inner leader by earning a quantitative Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership: Higher Education Leadership degree from Grand Canyon University. This degree program is designed for learners in the field of education seeking to impact their higher education community or organization.

The EdD in Organizational Leadership allows you to take an in-depth, research-based approach to facilitate your leadership abilities and position yourself to take on the potential role of a strategic professional within higher education.

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Why GCU

Choose GCU for Your EdD Degree

Within the program, you will have the opportunity to study major bodies of literature within leadership and higher education administration, critically analyze and reflect on existing theory and identify appropriate applications of theory in education, business and other organizational cultures. As a graduate, you can exit the program having formulated a personal philosophy of leadership that can be applied within the context of higher education.

GCU’s higher education leadership degree program takes a unique, Christian approach to the practice of administration and leadership. By analyzing research and theory through the lens of the Christian worldview, you will have the opportunity to develop a leadership skill set grounded in ethics and morality. Courses within the higher education leadership program will additionally explore the history and politics of higher education in order to identify how the roots of higher education are impacting today's education organizations.

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Coursework

Specializing in Higher Education Organization Leadership

The program will explore the current research within the field, the governance and structure of higher education institutions, including both internal and external leadership frameworks and the leadership practices required in these areas.

In coursework and in the overall dissertation process, you can develop academic and organizational research expertise through studying and enacting research and statistic methodologies. You will be taught to employ quantitative methods to design, collect and analyze information in alignment with conducting a scholarly dissertation.

This organizational leadership program includes opportunities to prepare for and work on the scholarly dissertation from the very beginning of the program. The program offers support for the dissertation even before course requirements have been completed, including two residencies, which include writing workshops and intensives to inspire you to make significant progress on your dissertation.

Careers

Career Outlook for EdD in Higher Education Organizational Leadership

As a graduate of this degree program, you may be able to position yourself for a variety of high-level leadership positions within the higher education sphere.

These positions may include:

Academic dean

Chief academic officer

Financial director

Postsecondary administrator

Training and development manager

Higher education consultant

Learning advocate

Government representative or policymaker

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Take Your Next Step With GCU

Earning a doctoral degree in higher education organizational leadership can be your next step toward achieving your personal and professional goals. Contact us today to learn more.

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If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

§ 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.

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