Doctorate in Leadership Studies
Lead the way in research and organizational excellence
You see opportunities in your organization but need the specialized skills to gather, organize and interpret the data necessary to make the most of them. Or maybe, you want to earn the credentials you need to begin the next stage of your career. Whatever your goals, our Doctorate in Leadership Studies offers the academic rigor and individual attention you need to get there.
At Ashland, we understand that there’s no cookie-cutter conception of what makes a great leader. If you’re looking to follow your own unique approach to leadership and research, we’ve created a program just for you. Whereas most doctoral research programs are rigid in their focus, Ashland’s Doctorate in Leadership Studies gives you options, allowing you to earn your degree while following your own path and areas of emphasis.
Request Information
Advance Your Career–On Your Own Terms
Learn the skills and make the connections you need to thrive
Graduates of Ashland’s Doctorate in Leadership Studies program have gone on to hold positions as varied and unique as college faculty and directors of mental health organizations to high-ranking positions with the Federal Reserve–and a wide array of positions in between. If your goal is to maximize your ability to serve others and lead your team toward a data-driven and research-enabled vision of the future, this program will equip you for success.
Program Benefits
Flexibility
Learn at your own pace and on your own schedule with in-person and online learning options. This program is designed with work-life balance for busy professionals in mind. Your success remains our highest priority.
Individual Attention
Learn from seasoned and successful practitioners who care about your individual goals. Make the connections you’ll have for a lifetime as you chart your own path forward. We’ll be there for you every step of the way.
Follow YOUR Calling
Your goals are unique. And a program should never get in the way of that. Instead, our Doctorate of Leadership Studies program allows you to create and navigate your way toward whatever success means to you.
Program Details
Classes are one night per week. Throughout the program you have opportunities to learn about many topics before starting on your dissertation, giving you a wide breadth of knowledge and allowing you to hone a wide array of skills before you narrow your dissertation subject.
Program Benefits
What To Expect
Leadership Core (15 Credits)
- EDLS 9889: Organizational Development
- EDLS 9881: Organizational Behavior
- EDLS 9860: Institutional Effectiveness
- EDLS 9880: Leadership Theory
- EDLS 9887: Institutional Policy & Leadership
Research Core (19 Credits)
- EDLS 9819: Becoming a Researcher
- EDLS 9820: Quantitative Research Design
- EDLS 9821: Qualitative Inquiry
- EDLS 9829: Leadership Research
- EDLS 9825: Seminar in Leadership Research: Mastering Academic Writing
- EDLS 9826: Seminar in Leadership Research: Accessing Research
- EDLS 9827: Seminar in Leadership Research: The Literature Review
- EDLS 9828: Seminar in Leadership Research: Research Question & Design
- EDLS 9823: Dissertation Proposal Development
Cognate Courses (15 Credits)
Dissertation (10 Credits)
About Ashland University
Founded in 1878, Ashland University continues to have a rich tradition as a private, comprehensive institution preparing students for exciting, impactful professions and careers. Your success is our goal, not just while you are a student but for the rest of your life as a member of the Eagle family.
We place a great emphasis on the importance of each member of our community. The phrase “Accent on the Individual ” has been our motto for many years and characterizes well the nature and content of both the online and campus environment.
