Pursue a PhD in Leadership Studies
Typically completed with a three year degree plan
Reach the highest level of leadership education with a PhD in Leadership Studies from CBU. This program is designed for individuals who want to make learning and leading their lifelong purpose. Graduates will attain the theoretical, scientific and practical knowledge for effective, ethical and transformational leadership.
Year Plan
Cost Per Unit
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Why Study Leadership at the Ph.D. Level?
Good leadership can be learned
- Develop interdisciplinary insights to understand what makes people and organizations thrive.
- Acquire expertise to teach and practice exemplary leadership.
- Gain wisdom to make the right things happen the right ways.
Program Highlights
Beginning with the end in mind¹ One of the doctoral students’ greatest fears is failure to complete their dissertation. CBU understands that concern and designed the PhD in Leadership Studies so that you can complete your coursework and dissertation in the summer following your third year. You are assigned a faculty mentor on day-one of the program and immediately begin the process of writing your research question. With faculty support throughout the program, CBU provides the road map for you to develop and successfully defend your dissertation – on time.
Emphasizing a distinctly Christian worldview
CBU recognizes the need for leaders equipped with biblically-based ethical principles and practices which emphasize character, courage and wisdom as integral elements within effective leadership.
¹Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Steven Covey.
Creating a community of scholars
As a Christian university, CBU values community in life and in higher education. You are admitted as part of an interdisciplinary cohort and begin developing your academic community as you participate in a 5-day residence experience during the program's first semester and in each subsequent summer. Taking place in late June at the California Baptist University campus, the summer residence provides you with the opportunity to engage in seminar-based learning opportunities with your cohort, program faculty and other leadership professionals.
Focus your learning into your passion
With twelve elective units built into the program, you can choose specific graduate-level courses from within CBU’s campus-based or online course catalog which are relevant to your profession or passion.
"CBU's Leadership Studies program, and ultimately learning the theoretical frameworks that formed my years of practical leadership experience, has been the missing piece of the complex leadership puzzle. I recommend this program for any mid- to upper-level individual in a leadership position...I wish I had done this years ago."
