Lead What's Next.

Doctor of Executive Leadership (DEL)

Advance your expertise in leadership.

100% Online

Complete your degree online and asynchronously.

37 Credit Hours

Learn from experts in the field.

1 Year

Finish your doctorate degree in one year.

Doctor of Executive Leadership (DEL)

The University of Lynchburg Doctor of Executive Leadership is a practice-focused, 100% online leadership doctorate for experienced professionals who want to strengthen strategy, communication, ethics, and change leadership to lead with clarity in any field.

Leadership is constant decision-making under pressure, competing priorities, and real human consequences. The DEL is designed to help you lead through that reality. You’ll strengthen your executive skills that build alignment when stakes are high: strategic leadership, organizational development and insight, ethical decision-making, and communication.

You’ll also choose a concentration that matches where you want to lead, whether that’s in corporate leadership, government/public leadership, AI and technology, or healthcare.

Program Highlights

Doctor of Executive Leadership Concentrations

Corporate Leadership Concentration

The Doctor of Executive Leadership in Corporate Leadership at the University of Lynchburg is a one-year, 37-credit, fully online program designed for C-suite leaders, senior managers, strategists, and organizational decision-makers who want to strengthen their leadership of growth, transformation, and innovation in corporate environments.

This concentration helps build executive-level leadership capabilities to sharpen competitive positioning, guide high-stakes decisions, and create sustainable business value while maintaining ethical standards, governance, and stakeholder trust.

Develop advanced expertise in strategic business leadership, corporate governance, and innovation management. You’ll strengthen your ability to analyze market conditions and organizational performance, use business intelligence and evidence-based management to make informed decisions, and lead transformation.

The program also builds the leadership perspective needed to shape organizational culture, design structures and processes that improve performance, and guide teams through change with clarity and momentum.

Corporate leadership today also requires accountability. This concentration emphasizes stakeholder governance, corporate policy, and ethical decision-making, supporting leaders who must balance growth, risk, and responsibility while communicating effectively with investors, employees, customers, regulators, and community partners.

Build the capability to allocate resources strategically, understand performance metrics, and leverage innovation and technology to improve operational efficiency and drive long-term business growth.

Emergency Management and Global Health Concentration

The Doctor of Executive Leadership in Emergency Management and Global Health at the University of Lynchburg is a one-year, 37-credit, fully online program with an in-person practicum designed for professionals seeking advanced expertise in disaster response, crisis leadership, and global health.

This innovative program equips you with the skills to navigate complex emergencies, humanitarian missions, and operations in austere environments.

You’ll develop expertise in disaster management, crisis communication, emergency preparedness, and incident command, while gaining a deeper understanding of organizational leadership needs and the challenges of delivering orchestrated responses in resource-limited environments.

A strong focus on research and policy development ensures you can analyze global health trends, implement evidence-based strategies, and lead emergency response efforts with confidence.

A key feature of this program is the in-person practicum, during which you will participate in a disaster-management intensive exercise in Virginia. This hands-on, logistical response experience provides real-world application of leadership and crisis decision-making, enhancing your ability to lead in high-stakes situations.

Upon completion, you will be prepared to take on executive leadership roles in emergency management, humanitarian response, and global health, ensuring ethical, efficient, and sustainable solutions to global crises.

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Technology Leadership Concentration

The Doctor of Executive Leadership in Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Technology Leadership at the University of Lynchburg is a one-year, 37-credit, fully online program designed for leaders who are responsible for AI adoption, digital transformation, and innovation.

This concentration helps you build the executive-level capability to turn AI strategy into real organizational value, while protecting trust, managing risk, and aligning technology decisions with mission, culture, and societal impact.

In this AI-focused doctoral program, you’ll develop advanced expertise in AI strategy and implementation, technology ethics and governance, and digital transformation leadership. You’ll also strengthen your ability to assess organizational readiness, evaluate technological capabilities, and make evidence-informed decisions grounded in market intelligence and data analysis. Additionally, you’ll learn how to identify and manage ethical risks in AI systems so that responsible innovation becomes a leadership standard, not an afterthought.

This concentration also emphasizes the leadership side of technology: communicating clearly with stakeholders, building buy-in across competing priorities, and designing structures and processes that support innovation without compromising values.

Coursework is designed to help you lead complex change, demonstrate technology ROI, and guide organizations through disruption with confidence and credibility.

Government and Public Leadership Concentration

The Doctor of Executive Leadership in Government and Public Leadership at the University of Lynchburg is a one-year, 37-credit, fully online program designed for leaders in government, nonprofits, and public-facing organizations who want to strengthen their ability to shape policy, lead people, and serve communities.

This concentration supports executives and administrators who are expected to deliver results in environments where public trust, competing stakeholder needs, and real community outcomes are always at risk.

Build advanced expertise in public policy development and advocacy, public sector leadership, and community engagement. You’ll also strengthen your ability to analyze policy environments, make evidence-informed decisions, and lead change in systems shaped by politics, regulation, and public accountability.

The program also helps develop leadership approaches that center equity, inclusion, and community voice.

This concentration emphasizes the practical leadership skills that public-serving organizations rely on: communicating clearly with diverse stakeholders, navigating legal and ethical responsibilities, and managing resources transparently and responsibly.

Learn how to mobilize partners, align mission with strategy, and guide transformation in politically charged contexts while keeping public value and community well-being at the center.

Healthcare Concentration

The Doctor of Executive Leadership in Healthcare at the University of Lynchburg is a one-year, 37-credit, fully online program designed for healthcare executives, administrators, and clinical leaders who want to strengthen their leadership in complex healthcare organizations.

This concentration supports healthcare professionals responsible for outcomes, people, and systems — helping build executive-level leadership capability to guide healthcare organizations through change, while improving quality, coordination, and long-term sustainability.

Develop advanced expertise in healthcare leadership through applied study in organizational behavior, healthcare management, legal and financial frameworks, and evidence-based decision-making.

You’ll strengthen your ability to evaluate complex healthcare environments, identify opportunities for improvement, and lead change across clinical and administrative settings. The curriculum also builds the leadership foundation needed to shape culture, design effective structures and processes, and create inclusive climates that support quality patient care and team engagement.

Healthcare leadership requires clear communication and responsible advocacy. This concentration emphasizes stakeholder communication across patients, providers, administrators, and community partners.

You’ll also strengthen professional medical writing skills to support scholarship, advocacy, and leadership influence in the healthcare profession.

Curriculum and Resources

2025-26 Academic Year Information

DEL in Corporate Leadership Curriculum

Students must take the following required courses:

Students must take the following Corporate Leadership Concentration courses:

Total Program Hours: 37 credits

DEL in Emergency Management and Global Health Curriculum

Total Credit Hours: 37

DEL in Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Technology Leadership Curriculum

Students must take the following required courses:

Students must take the following Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Technology Leadership Concentration courses:

Total Program Hours: 37 credits

DEL in Government and Public Leadership Curriculum

Students must take the following required courses:

Students must take the following Government and Public Leadership Concentration courses:

Total Program Hours: 37 credits

DEL in Healthcare Curriculum

Students must take the following required courses:

Students must take the following Healthcare Concentration Courses:

Total Program Hours: 37 credits

Eight-Week Term Course Structure

Our DEL program offers exceptional flexibility through its eight-week, online course structure, which allows professionals to balance their academics with other commitments. This format enables our students to explore specific topics for a shorter duration, comprehensively understand them, and apply their acquired knowledge in real-world situations. The eight-week course structure provides an efficient and adaptable approach to learning that caters to the diverse needs of our students, allowing them to design their educational journey to fit their lifestyles and goals.

Core Competencies/Learning Outcomes

Strategic Leadership

Develop and implement strategic plans that align with organizational goals and values.
Analyze complex environments and identify opportunities for improvement.
Make informed decisions based on data and evidence.
Lead and manage change effectively.

Organizational Development

Understand organizational culture and its impact on performance.
Develop and implement effective organizational structures and processes.
Foster a positive and inclusive organizational climate.
Manage human resources effectively.

Financial Management

Understand financial concepts and metrics.
Develop and manage budgets effectively.
Analyze financial data to inform decision-making.

Quality Improvement

Implement quality improvement methodologies and tools.
Measure and evaluate performance outcomes.
Drive continuous improvement in any organization.

Academic Resources

Additional Resources

Applying for the Doctor of Executive Leadership

Starting your DEL application process is simple at the University of Lynchburg. Follow our step-by-step guide to apply to the Lynchburg DEL program.

Application Deadlines:

March Cohort:

Priority deadline: March 10

June Cohort:

Priority deadline: May 15

August Cohort:

Priority deadline: Aug. 1

October Cohort:

Priority deadline: Oct. 5

How to Apply

Complete the online application.
Submit an official transcript from every college or university you attended.
Current resume or CV.
One letter of recommendation.
Professional statement outlining your goals for obtaining the DEL.

Admissions Requirements:

Earned master’s degree from:
- An accredited U.S. institution; or
- From a foreign university based on transcript evaluation completed by an agency from the NACES website.
Minimum GPA of 3.0
This program is not an entry-level doctoral program.
If applicable, you must:
- Meet requirements for graduate student international admissions.
- Complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is required for students whose first language is not English.
- University of Lynchburg code: 5372