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Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies (PhD)

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Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies (PhD)

The PhD in Leadership Studies at the University of Lynchburg is a research-intensive doctorate for professionals who want to deepen their scholarly knowledge and expertise in leadership.

Designed for research-focused careers in academia, policy, and organizational research, the program prepares you to conduct ethical, high-level studies and communicate findings that shape decisions in higher education, K-12 education, nonprofits, healthcare systems, corporate settings, and public organizations.

You’ll progress through sequenced research coursework, select a qualitative or quantitative research track before beginning dissertation work, and complete a full dissertation aligned with your concentration area.

Whether your goal is to teach, lead research initiatives, or influence systems through evidence, Lynchburg’s PhD is your next step toward becoming an influential leader in your field.

Why should Lynchburg’s online doctorate in leadership program be your top choice?

It’s designed to cultivate strong leaders whose research makes a difference in their communities.

Mission

In the University of Lynchburg’s continuum of leadership programs, the PhD will prepare graduates to use the extensive research focus to interpret and conduct high-level studies, teach in university programs through the doctoral level, and provide strong leadership in a variety of organizations. Candidates will complete rigorous coursework and a full dissertation, becoming experts in their chosen areas of leadership. Concentration areas allow for substantial specialization in coursework and later dissertation research.

Objectives/Focus:

1 Students will demonstrate an understanding of leadership models and develop new leadership paradigms that apply to their own practice.

2 Students will engage in a rigorous process of inquiry by consuming, designing, implementing, and analyzing research.

2.1 Students will develop and demonstrate skills in the effective understanding and consumption of research (qualitative, quantitative, and action).

2.2 Students will design research methods that contribute to their fields of work and study and/or lead to improvements of practice.

2.3 Students will conduct research in a systematic and ethical manner.

2.4 Students will analyze the results of research and develop insights for strengthening their communities and/or fields of study.

How Objectives are Assessed:

1 – LS 815: Leadership Models assignment, Comprehensive Exam

2.1 – LS 804: Qualitative Article Review assignment, LS 802: Dissertation Critique assignment, LS 808: Dissertation Review Assignment

2.2 – LS 808: Proposal Draft assignment, Dissertation Proposal Defense

2.3 – IRB Training completion, Dissertation Final Defense

2.4 – Dissertation Final Defense

Unique Aspects of our Leadership Doctorate:

Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies Concentrations

Choose a concentration to focus your coursework and shape the leadership questions you’ll explore through your research and dissertation.

Education Leadership Concentration

The PhD in Leadership Studies with an Education Leadership concentration at the University of Lynchburg is a 57 credit-hour, fully online doctoral program designed for educators and education leaders who want to conduct rigorous research in schools, districts, and learning systems.

This concentration helps you strengthen the research expertise needed to make decisions that affect student outcomes, organizational culture, staffing, and instructional systems — especially in environments shaped by policy, accountability, and community expectations.

Develop advanced expertise in research connected to public policy, leading boards and staff, curriculum/instruction/assessment, and special education. You’ll build your ability to evaluate programs, analyze organizational performance, and design research that supports improvement in the classroom, school, and district levels.

You’ll also develop the scholarly perspective needed to study governance, communication, and change in educational systems.

Healthcare Leadership Concentration

The PhD in Leadership Studies with a Healthcare Leadership concentration at the University of Lynchburg is a 57 credit-hour, fully-online doctoral program designed for healthcare professionals and scholars working in complex care systems — where decisions must balance quality, outcomes, workforce realities, and operational constraints.

This concentration helps you build the research foundation to study how healthcare organizations lead through complexity, implement change, and improve performance while maintaining ethical standards, compliance, and stakeholder trust.

Develop advanced expertise in leadership research connected to epidemiology of community public health issues, organizational behavior and leadership in healthcare, healthcare management, and specialized study in informatics or finance. You’ll strengthen your ability to analyze systems-level challenges and design research that informs better decisions across clinical, administrative, and community contexts.

You’ll also build the scholarly perspective needed to study communication, culture, and change in healthcare environments.

Interdisciplinary Concentration

The PhD in Leadership Studies with an Interdisciplinary Leadership concentration at the University of Lynchburg is a 57 credit-hour, fully-online doctoral program designed for professionals and emerging scholars who want to research leadership across sectors.

This concentration helps you build the scholarly foundation to examine how leadership influences complex problems that don’t fit neatly inside one industry. You’ll strengthen your ability to frame researchable questions, evaluate evidence, and design studies that can inform decision-making in any environment.

You’ll sharpen your ability to analyze how systems operate, where leadership breaks down, and what kinds of interventions create measurable improvement.

Nonprofit Leadership Concentration

The PhD in Leadership Studies with a Nonprofit Leadership concentration at the University of Lynchburg is a 57 credit-hour, fully-online doctoral program designed for nonprofit leaders and scholars who want to research leadership in mission-driven organizations.

This concentration helps you strengthen the research expertise needed to study how nonprofits build trust, sustain resources, lead people, and create measurable outcomes — especially in complex environments shaped by stakeholders, public policy, and community needs.

Develop advanced expertise in leadership research connected to public policy, government/politics/leadership, leading boards and staff, and fundraising and grant writing. You’ll build your ability to analyze governance structures, organizational capacity, and the leadership decisions that influence sustainability and impact.

You’ll also develop the scholarly perspective needed to study ethical leadership, stakeholder communication, and organizational change.

Sports Administration Concentration

The PhD in Leadership Studies with a Sports Administration concentration at the University of Lynchburg is a 57 credit-hour, fully-online doctoral program designed for sport leaders and scholars who want to research leadership, governance, and organizational performance across collegiate, professional, and community sport environments.

This concentration helps you develop the research lens to study how sport organizations make decisions under public scrutiny, manage risk and compliance, and create sustainable value through strategy, operations, and audience engagement.

Develop advanced expertise in leadership research tied to legal issues in sport, sport sales and marketing, and facility and event management. You’ll strengthen your ability to analyze organizational structures, stakeholder relationships, and the policies that shape ethical and effective sport leadership.

You’ll also build the scholarly perspective needed to examine culture, communication, and change within sport organizations.

Curriculum and Resources

2025-26 Academic Year Information

PhD in Leadership Studies Core Curriculum

LS 800: Human Resource Management (3)
LS 802: Quantitative Research (3)
LS 803: Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Leadership (3)
LS 804: Qualitative and Action Research (3)
LS 805: Community Dynamics (3)
LS 808: Dissertation Seminar (3)
LS 809: Organizational Leadership and Change (3)
LS 811: Organizational Communication (3)
LS 815: Leadership Models and Practice (3)

LS 816: Advanced Quantitative Methods/Statistics

LS 820 Advanced Qualitative Methods (3)

LS 890: Dissertation Research (6)
LS 891: Dissertation Capstone (6)
LS 892: Extended Dissertation Research (optional and taken if needed) (3)
LS 821: Introduction to Leadership Research (3)

Total Core Hours Required: 45

PhD in Leadership Studies Education Leadership Concentration Curriculum

LS 806: Public Policy (3)
LS 817: Leading Boards and Staff (3)
EDLS 818: Advanced Leadership in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (3)
SPED 800: Advanced Leadership in Special Education (3)

The Education Leadership Concentration courses are designed to support students in meeting requirements for superintendent licensure per 8VAC20-23-630. Division Superintendent License (option 2).

PhD in Leadership Studies Healthcare Leadership Concentration Curriculum

LS 801: Epidemiology of Community Public Health Issues (3)
DEL 900: Organizational Behavior and Leadership in Healthcare (3)
DEL 901: Healthcare Management (3)

DEL 902: Healthcare Informatics

DEL 937 Healthcare Finance (3)

PhD in Leadership Studies Interdisciplinary Concentration Curriculum

LS 801: Epidemiology of Community Public Health Issues (3)
LS 806: Public Policy (3)
LS 807: Government, Politics, and Leadership (3)
LS 813: System Design and Tools for Sustainability (3)

PhD in Leadership Studies Nonprofit Leadership Concentration Curriculum

LS 806: Public Policy (3)
LS 807: Government, Politics, and Leadership (3)
LS 817: Leading Boards and Staff (3)
LS 819: Fundraising and Grant Writing (3)

PhD in Leadership Studies Sports Administration Concentration Curriculum

LS 806: Public Policy (3)
SPMG 850: Legal Issues In Sport (3)
SPMG 840: Sport Sales and Marketing (3)
SPMG 830: Sport Facility and Event Management (3)

Course Delivery: Flexible Learning with Personalized Attention

Understanding the demands and challenges of modern professionals, we have crafted a learning environment that doesn’t just offer online classes with scheduled timings, but also prioritizes personalized attention.

Our dedication to individualized attention doesn’t just improve the educational experience; it also empowers learners to realize their full potential, fosters more profound understanding, and helps bridge the gap between theory and practice. By seamlessly blending flexibility and personalization, we provide a leadership doctorate program that truly stands apart.

Academic Resources

Additional Resources

Applying for the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies

The application process for the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies at the University of Lynchburg:

Application Deadline: May 1, 2026

Classes Start: July 2026

Learning Modality: Online

Admission Requirements

A completed master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
Official transcripts from your bachelor’s and master’s degrees, along with any other pertinent graduate coursework
A minimum overall graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

How to Apply:

Complete the online application.
Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Submit a 300-500-word essay focused on career goals and emphasizing prior leadership opportunities and experiences.
Submit official transcripts from bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as any other relevant graduate coursework.
Submit a letter of recommendation from an individual in a leadership position representing your current employer, which indicates support for your participation in the program and verifies your capacity for successful future leadership.
Submit two letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your academic performance and/or work experience.
Submit a writing sample from previous graduate programs (e.g., major term paper, master’s thesis), published work, and/or examples of professional work products related to job responsibilities.
For admitted cohort students, a $300 program deposit is required.