Degree Requirements: Master's
Completion Time: 5 years average
Earned Credits: 65 - 80
Saybrook University’s Ph.D. in Managing Organizational Systems: Specialization in Educational Leadership program is designed for educators who aspire to contribute to organizational success and shape the future of educational systems to benefit local and global communities. This Educational Leadership Specialization includes the following courses:
- Complexity in Educational Systems
- Issues in Higher and Postsecondary Education: Leadership Practice
- Transformational Management and Change in Higher and Postsecondary Education
- Strategic Planning and Implementation in Higher and Postsecondary Education
- Productive Conflict Management
Students who enroll in this educational leadership specialization have the opportunity to study at an educational leadership school dedicated to making a substantive positive change in the world.
Identifying critical educational issues, envisioning systemic and sustainable solutions, and designing creative implementation plans and processes, graduates will be prepared to apply their educational leadership specialization to nonprofit or for-profit organizations. They will be prepared to move up into senior administrative roles and become transformative leaders who engage people to create forward-thinking educational opportunities that are sorely needed today.
Taking an organizational systems approach to managing educational institutions, this innovative program prepares educators to become transformative educational leaders who engage people to create the forward thinking educational opportunities needed today. It enables educators to identify critical educational issues, collaboratively envision systemic and sustainable solutions, and design creative implementation plans and processes.
More program information can be found in our academic catalog.
The total doctoral degree is 65 to 80 credits. In addition to the research focused courses, there are nine foundational courses in leadership, organizational behavior and systems, and professional ethics and five elective courses that can focus on specialized areas of study if a student wishes. Students usually take three courses per semester. The average time to complete the doctoral degree is five years.
Residential Requirements
Participation in twice-annual, five-day Residential Conferences (RCs) is required until enrollment in dissertation begins (i.e., until after the completion of the three candidacy qualifying essays and successful completion of the essay oral exam).
Transfer Credit Policy
Transfer credits, to be considered, must have been (a) awarded by a regionally accredited university, (b) earned at the graduate level (master’s or doctoral), (c) earned at the grade level of B or better, and (d) evaluated by the department chair as equivalent to a degree course for which a substitution is appropriate and conceptually fit with the degree program course of study. While transfer credit policy may vary by degree and specialization, no more than 12 credits may be transferred.
Methods of Research and Disciplined Inquiry I
This first course of a two-term sequence focuses on the acquisition of research competence to search and circumscribe the subject domain for human inquiry; define the research focus; formulate researchable questions; know the relevant methodological traditions to select one suitable to the question; design and plan the research study; know the procedures proposed for data collection, analysis, and synthesis; know the ethical issues of proposed research; critique research; critically review literature and propose research. The course requires completion of a research proposal that communicates the research focus, a preliminary review of literature, and the research question. (Ph.D. program only) Prerequisite(s): Doctoral program status. 3 credit(s)
Critical Systems Inquiry, Ethics and Social Responsibility
Leading and making responsible decisions today are complex and challenging ventures. With a human development and capabilities perspective and a foundation in stakeholder principles, this interdisciplinary course critically explores organizational integrity and professional ethics and examines the workplace and wider social challenges faced daily by organizational professionals in the business, nonprofit, and government arenas. Central to this course are the refinement of students’ professional and organizational ethics viewpoints, development of new corporate social responsibility models and practices, and how to thoughtfully integrate social justice and sustainability principles into organizational operations and decision making. 3 credit(s)
Issues in Higher and Postsecondary Education: Leadership and Practice
Theories and practices pertaining to curriculum and teaching in U.S. higher education are introduced. Institutional and societal influences, as well as their impact on college and university classrooms, are examined in concert with key trends and developments, with a focus on the impact of technology in teaching throughout the course. 3 credit(s)