Organizational Leadership Doctorate: Behavioral Health
Understanding EdD Organizational Excellence Within Behavioral Health
Grand Canyon University’s qualitative Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership: Behavioral Health is an intensive exploration of leadership styles and principles, supervision and intervention methods. You will have the opportunity to grow your understanding of organizational leadership excellence within the context of behavioral health. This EdD degree program is designed to teach you advanced skills that can be applicable in your practice and may help you enhance your career qualifications.
Earn Your Doctorate: Behavioral Health From GCU
The College of Doctoral Studies developed this program specifically for those who desire to be a leader in a behavioral health organization. You can expand your knowledge while studying the principles of entrepreneurism, strategic planning and leadership. There is a focus on servant leadership and professional ethics in the behavioral health field. Licensed counselors, therapists, social workers and psychiatric nurses are welcome to apply to the EdD degree program.
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GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
Study Modern Management for Behavioral Health Leadership
Organizational leadership considers the roles of individuals in achieving organizational objectives. You will study these business principles and practices while expanding your understanding of leadership interventions in the behavioral health field. The qualitative organizational leadership program includes courses such as strategic planning and change, behavioral health management and entrepreneurship.
Develop a Deep Knowledge of Business Theories for the Health Industry
Throughout the program, you will work to develop various skills that can help prepare you for potential leadership positions in the field. To advance those skills, the academically rigorous coursework delivers an in-depth look at the following topic areas:
- Fundamental elements of entrepreneurship in the behavioral health field, including business plan formulation, venture capital and regulations that govern behavioral health
- Behavioral health theories as they apply to epidemiology, disease management, outcome management and patient retention
- The impact of leadership and the effects of behaviors on the formulation and execution of strategy within an organization
- Psychopathology, clinical pathophysiology, behavioral assessment, common medical practices, evidence-based interventions and best practices
You are required to complete a dissertation with original research that contributes to the body of knowledge in the behavioral health field. As part of the dissertation process, you will attend two in-person residencies. While attending residency, you have the opportunity to build professional networks, present your scholarly work and receive systematic feedback from peers and mentorship of faculty.
Career Paths for This EdD Degree
An EdD is the pinnacle of achievement that demonstrates a graduate’s dedication to academic excellence in the field. Practitioners who earn their qualitative EdD in Organizational Leadership: Behavioral Health may be able to position themselves for potential leadership positions across a variety of settings.
Some of these settings include:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Public health agencies
- Faith-based organizations
- Inpatient or outpatient treatment programs
Earn Your Doctoral Degree From an Accredited University
GCU has proudly held institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. Our accreditation status reflects our ability to offer programs that meet high educational standards and are proven to provide quality learning to our students.
Empower organizations to deliver exceptional behavioral healthcare by enhancing your leadership skills.
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-May2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in May 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 This program includes an in-person residency requirement.
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 proposes application of behavioral health theories to such areas as epidemiology, disease management, assessment and treatment planning, outcome management, and patient retention. Emphasis is placed on improving the quality of patient care.
Course Description
This course provides a broad understanding of clinical supervision in a variety of behavioral health settings. Clinical supervisory relationships, models of supervision, supervisory assessment instruments, supervisory methods, interventions, and current research are addressed.
Course Description
This course examines the business aspects of both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors of the behavioral health industry from an entrepreneurial perspective. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, creation of business plans, venture capital and investment, laws and regulations governing behavioral health, and tools for measuring business success.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of GCU qualitative core research designs including descriptive, case study, and phenomenology. The nature of epistemological foundations and the structure of problem statements, purpose statements, research questions, data sources, collection and analysis approaches are discussed in the context of each design.
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.
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 qualitative dissertation. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of collaboration, consultation models, and problem-solving strategies in various behavioral health settings. The focus is on the application of professional consultation services with diverse populations.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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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
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.