Online Ph.D. Organizational Leadership Degree

• 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.

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. This essay is an essential aspect of the admission process and will be assessed carefully in order to make an informed decision regarding your applicants’ acceptance into the Ph.D. program. The essay should be written to American Psychology Association (APA) Seventh Edition standards. The guidelines include:
  • Title page -typed, double-spaced, and numbered with a minimum of five pages and a maximum of six pages.
  • Clear and convincing responses 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.
• Arrange to have official 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.

Prospective students with disabilities are not required to identify themselvesto Admissions or Disability Services. However, those interested in receiving academic accommodations are encouraged to connect with Disability Services at 765-677-2257 or ADARequest@indwes.edu as early as possible to allow for a review of documentation and the formulation of an accommodation plan.

Admission Status

Consistent with the College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) categories for admitted students, Ph.D. students may be accepted in one of the following designations:

Regular – candidate satisfactorily meet all requirements. Student may be granted regular admission with no restrictions.

Probation – candidate has GPA, graduate program, leadership experience, or application essay-based items that fall below minimum requirements. Student may be granted probationary status that can be removed by achieving the minimum GPA (3.25) after taking the two sessions in the program (typically three or four courses). The Dean/Chair my extend the probation and determine the number of courses to be completed in order to change status. Any student failing to remove the probationary status will be academically suspended from the program.

Provisional – candidate has incomplete application file (e.g., in process of completing master’s degree). Student may be granted provisional acceptance pending completion of file prior to the end of first course. Failure to meet deadline will result in the dismissal from the program.

Unclassified – candidate not pursuing university degree. In special circumstances, a candidate may be accepted as an unclassified student and able to take up to 12 hours of doctoral work with approval of the division chair. Financial Aid restrictions may apply. Students receiving unclassified status must reapply for regular admission it they desire later to pursue a degree program.

Deferral and Alternative Start

A student accepted into the Ph.D. program may request a one-time deferral to the next cohort start. For example, a student accepted for January start may defer start to the following July cohort. A student accepted for July start may defer to the following January cohort. After one deferral, the student must re-apply for admission to the program. The Admissions Selection Committee retains the right to waive the one-deferral restriction for special circumstances.

Upon acceptance into the program and completion of academic and financial clearance, a student may start the program, after conferring with the Division Chair, by taking the one-credit hour DOL 760A by itself when offered or by taking courses in different combinations, subject to pre-requisite conditions, creating a starting sequence of courses that builds to a full load. An alternative start sequence will lengthen the amount of time spent in coursework and the degree program to completion.

• Minimum grade of "B-" in each course.
• Cumulative GPA of 3.25.
• Successful completion of all required coursework and the comprehensive exam.
• Successful defense of dissertation, including post-defense updates, academic integrity review, and professional editing.
• Completion of dissertation publication process with OCLS is required to have the degree conferred.
• Student may be allowed to participate in commencement after successful defense of dissertation and completion of post-defense updates but prior to completion of full dissertation publication process with OCLS.
• Payment of tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

*Note: With approval of the Division Chair, students who complete all current 700 and 800-level courses (48 credit hours) in the program may be conferred the Master of Arts in Advanced Leadership Studies (MAALS) degree. Students who receive the MAALS are not eligible to receive the IWU Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership.

Attendance Policy

All doctoral courses are a blend of live and interactive online discussions. Students are expected to attend all required live sessions and substantively engage in all interactive online discussions, tests, quizzes, and prescribed learning activities.

• Synchronous Class Sessions – Required synchronous classes are held on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and meet on the second, fourth, and eighth Saturdays of the September, January, and April sessions. Students are expected to be in attendance when class begins and remain the entire session. A student may be allowed one absence per course. An allowed absence is to be used only when absolutely necessary and requires approval from the faculty member teaching the course. Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make-up work, if allowed by the faculty member. The criteria for full participation attendance points will be determined by the faculty member. Due to a holiday or university activities, synchronous sessions may be scheduled on alternative weeks.
• Online Attendance – Course attendance also is determined by participating in weekly discussions. Failure to participate in the weekly discussion forum(s) will constitute an absence for that week. Participating in discussion does not guarantee full participation attendance points. The criteria for full, substantive participation points will be determined by the course professor. A student may be allowed one participation absence per course. Students need to contact the faculty member regarding make-up work, if allowed.
• Excessive Absences - A student is allowed only one absence per course, whether it is a synchronous Saturday or online participation absence (not one of each). If a student exceeds the allowed absences without instructor approval and does not contact the Division Office or Student and Faculty Support Office to officially withdraw before the last class session, the professor is directed to issue the grade of "F." A student accruing excessive absences in the final week of the course will be issued the grade of “F.”
• Course Sequence - Students are expected to take courses in the predetermined sequence. Students needing to withdraw while in a course may do so with permission of the Division Chair and by arrangement with the Student and Faculty Support Office prior to the end of the course, but the regular refund and academic withdrawal policies apply. Students who are unable to participate in a course due to unavoidable circumstances may arrange for a temporary Leave of Absence (LOA) with the Student and Faculty Support Office, subject to LOA requirements. Students may follow a revised schedule of courses in the program with the permission of the Division Chair.

Residency

Ph.D. students must complete a minimum of three residencies during their doctoral program as demonstrated by inperson attendance and successful completion of courses in the July term-session in which the student is enrolled. These Summer Residencies normally are attended during consecutive years corresponding to the coursework phase of the degree program, but attendance at Summer Residency is required for any courses taken during the July term session each year.

• Residencies may be for 7 - 8 days, often beginning on a Friday or Saturday and lasting through the following Friday. The duration of a residency may be shorter depending upon the design of a specific residency. Students will be provided the designated date ranges for three years of residencies upon enrollment at the beginning of their program to assist in planning. However, dates may be changed due to extenuating circumstances.
• Residencies may occur on the main Indiana Wesleyan University campus, at one of the regional education centers, or in a hotel or other conference venue. Students are expected to be in attendance every day of each residency and are not allowed an absence from required workshops, events, or class sessions that are scheduled during the residency.
• Failure to attend a residency or residency component may qualify as an unexcused absence, resulting in failure of the course(s) for the session.
• Students are required to utilize housing options (e.g., blocked hotel rooms) reserved by the program for residency due to contractual obligations that often occur with the hotel or venue hosting the residency.
• In unusual circumstances, a student may be given permission by the Division Chair to skip a year and attend the residency another year by taking an available course(s) for the July session.
• Students are expected to follow the community lifestyle statement of the university while attending the residency.

Re-enrollment

A student who has not attended courses for three years or less and who wishes to re-enroll in the Ph.D. program must first contact the Division Chair to complete a re-enrollment request. The Division Chair may confer with the Admissions Committee to determine eligibility for re-enrollment. If re-enrollment is approved, the student may reenroll in the program after going through the university re-entry protocols. Students who have not attended courses for three years or more are not eligible for re-entry to the program unless the program version has changed such that they would be able to earn 60 new, unique credits when compared to their previous program of study.

Students sitting out of the program for more than 90 days are subject to current tuition rates upon returning. Students re-entering after six months are subject to any changes made in the curriculum in the intervening time as well as current catalog policy. Re-enrollment is limited to those in the coursework phase.

Comprehensive Examination

After the completion of all coursework (DOL courses numbered DOL-915 and lower), a comprehensive examination will be administered to each student in the Ph.D. program. This exam will be designed to:

• Determine the student’s grasp of leadership understanding across the curriculum;
• Assess the student’s ability to adapt and integrate leadership theory and current best practices across the curriculum, including the integration of faith and practice;
• Give the student the opportunity to demonstrate higher-order thinking with reference to Organizational Leadership theory and practice.

The exam will be constructed to cover the major domains of the program and will be administered by a committee of full-time faculty in the Division of Leadership and Followership Studies or other qualified faculty as determined by the division. The Comprehensive Examination Manual is published annually. Students are required to follow all policies, procedures, and guidelines contained in the most recent guide. Students must successfully pass the Comprehensive Exam to become dissertation students in the program.

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 must conduct primary research using qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, or any other type of research that 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. The process should result in a written document detailing findings, implications, and recommendations for future policy, governance, and/or practice.

Dissertation Requirements

For the Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership major, coursework comprises 48 credit hours. Then, the dissertation includes a minimum of an additional 12 hours. Three credit hours of a Dissertation Seminar (DOL-915) and nine credit hours of dissertation credit after DOL-915 are required to reach the 12 credit-hour dissertation threshold. The coursework (48 hours) and dissertation (12 hours) combine to make the Organizational Leadership major a 60-credit hour program.

Every Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership student will be required to write and defend a dissertation. The Organizational Leadership course of study 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 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.

A Dissertation Manual will be released annually by the Division of Leadership and Followership 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 Manual.

Dissertation Continuation

Doctoral students not completing the dissertation by the end of the 12 hours of dissertation courses (DOL 915 and DOL 920) 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 or the maximum time for degree completion is reached. Students will pay the one-hour tuition fee per term to maintain continuous enrollment. Failure to remain enrolled during the dissertation continuation phase will result in dismissal from the program with no opportunity to re-enroll in the program.

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.