Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
Pursue your Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership online and strengthen your leadership skills and prepare to positively influence culture within your organization.
ACU’s online Doctor of Education in organizational leadership is designed to equip leaders to make a difference in their workplaces, schools and communities – all while continuing to work. That’s the asynchronous learning environment an online Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program gives you.
Our program is organized around five core competencies: personal development, positive leadership development, collaboration and communication, organizational assessment, and organizational culture. Upon completing the Doctor of Education in Organizational Development program, you will know not only how to lead, but to lead with purpose based upon the foundation of Christian vocation.
Ready to be a part of a rigorous convenient, flexible, online program that allows you to take your leadership skills to a new level? Apply now or contact us for more information.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Brian Cole is the Program Director and Associate Professor for the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership Program, helping equip leaders to become more effective scholar-practitioners within their organizational contexts, professional industries, and other spheres of influence. Most of Dr. Cole's leadership experiences have been in higher education administration, particularly in the field of Student Development. Dr. Cole received his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (Higher Education Specialization) at Western Michigan University, where he researched campus cultures and student activism at Christian colleges and universities. He earned his M.A. from Ball State University, B.A. from Anderson University (IN), and most recently, a certificate in Foundations of Christian Leadership at Duke Divinity School.

What Our Students Say
"Reflection and the 'light bulb' moments during this program have been what keeps me going. I started this program because I felt a need to 'finish' my education by earning a terminal degree. What I've found is that I love the changes this program has produced in me regarding how I think and see myself. I'm going to miss reflecting with all of you weekly and think that after I graduate there will be a hole that is hard to fill."
-Ed.D student
Degree Highlights
Tracks
Positive Leadership, EdD
Higher Education, EdD
Conflict Management, EdD
Learning with Emerging Technologies, EdD
Timeframe
Credit hours: 60
Program length: 3-5 years
Example Coursework
LEAD 731: Leading Organizational Change
LEAD 701: Introduction to Doctoral Study
LEAD 714 Self Assessment in Leadership
LEAD 765: Applied Research Problems and Literature
Department
School of Educational Leadership
Upcoming Start Dates
January 12, 2021
March 9, 2021
What outcomes can you expect from your online doctorate in organizational development program?
Upon completion, graduates will be able to:
- Positively influence organizations through the expression of their vocations.
- Create, interpret, and administer practices that contribute to learning and human flourishing in organizational contexts.
- Build shared understanding and quality professional and personal relationships through available communication channels.
- Demonstrate an understanding of data, information, and empirical evidence and will apply organizational assessment strategies to their organizational contexts.
- Demonstrate healthy leadership practices to influence organizational culture.
Full-time faculty
- Dr. Brian Cole, Program Director
- Dr. Katherine Yeager, Assistant Professor
- Dr. Leah Wickersham-Fish, Associate Professor
- Dr. Heather Rasmussen, Assistant Professor
- Dr. Linnea Rademaker, Professor
- Dr. Kristin O'Byrne, Associate Professor
- Dr. Karen Maxwell, Associate Professor
- Dr. Wade Fish, Associate Professor
- Dr. Jennifer Butcher, Professor

Admission Requirements
- Application and $50 processing fee
- Transcripts showing earned bachelor's and master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university or the equivalent
- GPA 3.0, probationary status may be granted for lower GPA's
- Academic writing sample
- Current resume
See full ACU online graduate catalog, including admission requirements here.
For a comprehensive list of admission requirements for online doctorate programs in leadership, please contact a Graduate Advisor.