PhD in Organizational Leadership - Admissions Criteria
The Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is intended for "reflective practitioners," individuals who will pursue this degree while continuing in their current responsibilities. Potential students include managers in business, educational administrators, nonprofit and community leaders, church and denominational leaders, adjunct faculty, and others. The delivery methodology chosen for the program reflects the needs of these students.
Admitted students will have earned a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution and will have graduated with at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. International students from foreign institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, contingent upon specialized, national, or other accreditations of their institutions.
Students are required to complete the GRE or MAT and submit official scores to the university as part of their admissions file. If either test was taken more than five years ago, please submit a copy of your score report for your file.
Students whose first language is not English will be required to complete the TOEFL exam. The Ph.D. program's minimum TOEFL requirement is 577 (paper version), 233 (computer version), and 90 (paper version). Detailed information for international applicants can be found at http://www.eastern.edu/academic/ccgps/adm/International_Index.shtml.
Because this is a leadership program designed for reflective practitioners, students will be expected to demonstrate via resume and supporting documents, at least five years of professional practice in a leadership capacity. This will provide both a context for the learning that takes place in the program and a means of contributing to the learning of one's cohort members. Professional practice could include teaching experience, mid-level to executive-level management within a for-profit or not-for-profit organization, public service in an elected or appointed position with legal or fiduciary responsibilities, company proprietorship, ministry experience that requires professional credentials, and educational administration. The program is not designed for those who wish to move into entry-level management positions or to acquire professional standing, as these are assumed.
There are no specific prerequisites to be admitted into the program but students would be advised to have graduate level courses in statistics, research design and finance prior to the beginning of their program. Applicants who do not have this background may be asked to strengthen their background through additional course work prior to the beginning of their first research methods course.
Transfer of Credits:A maximum of nine credits of doctoral level work in the concentration may be transferred at the discretion of the Admissions Committee
Complete applications are due November 1st. for the following September cohort. Admissions committee decisions are issued no later than January 15. As space is available, a second and third round of applications will be reviewed as follows:
Due March 1 followed by admissions committee decisions no later than April 15
Due May 1 followed by admissions committee decisions no later than June 15
To apply for acceptance, a student must submit all of the following (Download Materials):
- Application-Available in hard-copy and internet versions.
- Letters of Recommendation-Three letters of recommendation with at least one from an academic source. Letters must be accompanied by recommendation forms (Download Materials). The recommendations should focus on ability to do academic work and the candidate's potential for leadership. Recommendations are accepted via email, fax, mail, and/or as a PDF directly from the recommender.
- Statement of Purpose-a four-page essay addressing how the program goals coincide with the student's personal and professional objectives. The essay will be evaluated on the basis of content, presentation, and evidence of doctoral-level writing ability.
- Leadership Record-Write a one or two page narrative description of your five years of leadership experience. The record will be evaluated on the basis of degree of supervisory responsibilities, entrepreneurial initiatives, professional credentials and the level of management position(s) within the respective organizations.
- Writing Sample-A copy of a research thesis or other research project that showcases the student's prior work. It should demonstrate the applicant's abilities in research, writing, analysis, and problem-solving.
- Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
- Computer Skills and Equipment Form-Beyond what is included on the resume/c.v., the student should submit a one-page statement indicating his/her level of computer literacy, particularly in terms of online learning. This statement will indicate the student's understanding of and consent to the hybrid delivery model utilized by this program and include the student's signature.
- A non-refundable $75 Application Fee is required for all applicants.
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education
- GRE and/or MAT scores.
Review of completed application materials may result in an invitation for an interview with the Program Director and/or other members of the Admissions Committee.
The current cost per PhD credit for the 2008-2009 academic year is $760/credit. Please note that there are no scholarships available to PhD students at this time. However, since students are considered full-time graduate students (18 credits per year), low interest student loans may be available for US citizens. Students may visit http://www.eastern.edu/centers/finaid/loans.shtml or call the Financial Aid Office (610-225-5201) for further information.
