Admission Requirements

The Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is a selective program, and admittance is not guaranteed even though applicants meet all the admissions requirements. The requirements for admission to the program include:*

• A master's degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University.
• A graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher from the master's degree granting institution at which at least a minimum of 24 hours was completed.
• A minimum of five years of leadership experience in the workplace, volunteer organizations, or the classroom.
• Submission of all documents required by the Admissions Selection Committee and approval by the committee for admission into the program.

*The Admissions Selection Committee retains the right to waive admission requirements for special circumstances.

Application Process

The goal is to admit highly qualified students, with clear career objectives, who choose to enter the doctoral program after obtaining a master's degree. To apply for admission to the doctoral program, the applicant must complete the following steps:

• Submit a formal application.
• Send a current resume that includes a career objective, previous undergraduate and graduate work, work experience, and special recognition or awards. The resume should make clear the number of employees the applicant has supervised in all leadership positions.
• Send at least three recommendation forms including one from the applicant’s current manager (this may be the chairman of the board of directors or a peer at another organization for CEOs), one from an academic in higher education, and one from someone that can speak to the spiritual character of the applicant.
• Prepare and submit a five to six page scholarly essay following the requirements and outline in the application packet.
• Arrange to have your graduate transcript sent from the accredited institution granting the degree. Transcripts should be supplied from all institutions the applicant has attended subsequent to the completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Formal Application Essay

This essay is an essential aspect of the admission process and will be carefully assessed in order to make an informed decision regarding your acceptance into the Ph.D. program. Please follow the guidelines carefully addressing each component of the essay. The essay should be written to American Psychology Association (APA) Seventh Edition standards:

• Title page -typed, double-spaced, and numbered with a minimum of five pages and maximum of six pages.
• Clear and convincing response to the questions.
• Organization and presentation (i.e., readability and formatting).
• Evidence of critical thinking that supports the point and perspectives of the essay.
• Use of appropriate vocabulary and grammar. 
• Evidence of scholarly (academic) writing skills that demonstrates an ability to analyze and integrate literature from the leadership field.

Admissions Selection Process

The admissions selection process is as follows:

• Submit completed application and required documents to Adult Enrollment Services.
• The completed Application Files will be reviewed and evaluated by the Admissions Selection Committee.
• A letter of accepted or denied admission will be sent to the student.
• Students will then confirm their intent to commence the program and send a $200 deposit (which will be applied to tuition and fees) that can hold a position in the program for the student.