Doctorate (EdD) in Organizational Leadership and Development – Qualitative
Earn Your Qualitative EdD in Organizational Leadership Online
The online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Organizational Development degree from GCU helps graduates lead and transform organizations. Those seeking a doctorate in organizational leadership learn how to help organizations achieve success through growth. This qualitative Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and Development degree emphasis is ideal for leaders and rising executives looking to advance their professional skills through academic learning.
Graduates can complete the EdD in Organizational Leadership online or in evening courses with a small cohort. Future organizational leaders work with faculty and business professionals to learn about the science of leadership and determine how to inspire change and growth.
Six domains have been highlighted in the EdD in Organizational Leadership program offered by the College of Doctoral Studies:
- Leadership
Learn about leadership in theory and practice - Change
Study and develop strategic approaches to organizational change - Culture
Assess and create dynamic organizational cultures - Scholarship and Research
Analyze, design and conduct future-focused research - Globalization and Worldview
Develop a leadership style and communications strategies to work with a diverse population - Organizational Development Emphasis
Evaluate organizational structures to determine a path to success
Learners in the doctorate of organizational leadership and development degree emphasis program participate in doctoral residencies and work through dissertation milestones. They apply the work they do in the program to research and practice. To complete the program, you must write and defend a dissertation.
What You’ll Learn With GCU's EdD in Organizational Leadership and Development Degree Emphasis
Graduates of the Doctor of Education (EdD) in organizational leadership online program study both for-profit and nonprofit organizational structures. They explore how culture, change, communications, diversity and strategy impact the success of organizations.
Corporate social responsibility, ethical decision-making, and the evolution of leadership theories are at the core of this online EdD in organizational leadership qualitative program. Graduates learn to apply what they have studied and practiced to traditional structures to determine how to sustain and grow the best aspects of an organization.
The doctorate in organizational leadership and development emphasis program covers many topics relevant to top-notch leadership including:
- Individual differences versus organizational outcomes
- Ethical dilemmas
- Stewardship
- Corporate social responsibility
- Opportunities and challenges faced by leaders
- Leading global and diverse workforces
- Leadership behaviors
- Strategy execution within an organization
Loading Form
Careers With a Qualitative Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
Spearheading change is the goal of the doctorate in organizational leadership program. Graduates act as agents of change across many types of organizations. They may pursue advanced positions or find work where they lead operations in a meaningful way.
GCU’s qualitative EdD in Organizational Leadership and Development emphasis program graduates may find work as:
- Education administrators in preschool and childcare centers
- Education administrators in elementary and secondary schools
- Education administrators in postsecondary environments
- Distance learning coordinators
- Fitness and wellness coordinators
- Operational leaders at the district level
Helping organizations analyze and assess their current practices is the job of a real leader. Take charge with the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Organizational Development degree program at GCU.
GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
EdD in Organizational Leadership and Development Degree Emphasis FAQs
An EdD in Organizational Leadership and Development degree equips individuals with the skills needed to be strong leaders, critical thinkers and confident decision makers at the highest level. With a Doctor of Education degree, you may qualify for a leadership role in higher education. A doctorate in organizational leadership may also allow graduates the versatility to seek high-level management positions in nearly any industry.
A Doctor of Education (EdD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) are the same level of education, but have different purposes. The EdD in Organizational Leadership is designed for those who want to directly apply their knowledge and skills to the success of their business or organization. On the other hand, a PhD degree program is geared for those who want to pursue roles in academia or research.
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-June2025: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in June 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 examines the roles of stakeholders in a variety of organizational structures and discusses how the type of organization may affect the role of the stakeholder. Learners explore the stakeholder’s role in sustaining organizational effectiveness.
Course Description
This course examines organizational structure and its influence on organizational effectiveness and success. Learners evaluate organizational structure and explore methods for modifying structures. Open-systems theory is discussed. Research skills from RES-850 and ethical considerations are applied in the context of the course topics.
Course Description
This course examines the shift from a traditional organizational structure to a learning organization. It looks at the unintended consequences of leadership decisions in the context of leading innovation.
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
The course analyzes decision-making paradigms and strategies through the lens of critical incident analysis, cross-cultural decision making, and collective leadership. Alignment of strategy, vision, and decisions is discussed.
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.
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.
- 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
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.