The Dissertation

The dissertation will be a research-based, practice-centered inquiry that attests to the student's understanding of the field and ability to conduct scholarly inquiry about an issue related to leadership practices and performance in organizations from which other leaders can benefit. In addition, the research must provide a unique contribution to the understanding of organizational leadership.

Students may conduct qualitative or quantitative research, organizational culture evaluation, needs assessment, or any other type of research which meets the approval of their Dissertation Committee. The dissertation is expected to meet the highest standards of scholarship and inquiry, and should demonstrate doctoral level composition and format. The student should identify the problem and its significance, outline the background and literature that informs the problem, and collect and analyze data. This should result in a written document detailing findings, implications, and recommendations for future policy, governance, and/or practice.

Dissertation Requirements

The Organizational Leadership major is a 60 hour program. The dissertation courses include a minimum of 12 hours beyond the 48 hours of other designated courses.

Every Organizational Leadership student will be required to write and defend a dissertation. The Organizational Leadership course of studies emphasizes the development of theory-in-use research and skills with a practitioner focus. A doctoral research study addresses a problem of practice, where the focus is upon the integration of knowledge or its application. A variety of research methods may be used, resulting in a number of alternative forms of scholarly study. A dissertation generates or confirms knowledge and expanded capacity while linking theory-in-use to current best practice. The process of scholarship, research, and leadership utilizes a variety of research methods, including empirical, interpretive, or critical. All doctoral research studies and dissertations will result in a substantial written document.

Three credit hours of a Dissertation Seminar (DOL-915) are required. The seminar is taken at the end of all the other coursework.  Nine credit hours of dissertation credit are required after DOL-915.

A Dissertation Policy Manual will be released annually by the Department of Leadership Studies. Students are required to follow all policies, procedures, and guidelines contained in the most recent manual. Students should consult their Dissertation Chair regarding specific questions related to the requirements of the Dissertation Policy Manual.”

Degree Completion Limits

The Ph.D. program is designed as a lock-step curriculum, which is to be completed in 33-36 months (depending on whether the program is started in July or January), plus the dissertation. The dissertation must be completed within six years from the point of completing the DOL-915 course. Request for exceptions to this policy must be made in writing to the CAPS Academic Appeals Committee.

Dissertation Continuation

Doctoral students not completing the dissertation by the end of the 12 hours of dissertation courses will be required to maintain continuous enrollment. They will be required to enroll in a one-hour Dissertation Continuation course (DOL-922) with the university each successive term until the dissertation is successfully defended. Students will pay the one hour tuition fee per term to maintain continuous enrollment. 

Candidate Status

Doctoral students will attain candidacy status upon successful:

• Completion of all course work.
• Completion of the Comprehensive Exam.
• Completion and committee approval of the dissertation proposal (Chapters 1-3).