PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership

Program Description
One of the key things that often sets successful companies apart from the others is the presence of an effective
leader – someone who not only assigns tasks, but who is also able to paint a vision and inspire employees to
work successfully toward achieving it. With this in mind, The Chicago School created the Ph.D. in Organizational
Leadership program to give individuals the opportunity to learn and develop the skills that are essential to
becoming a great leader. Through this program, students will learn how to clearly define and communicate
organizational objectives, make business processes as efficient as possibly, build trust and boost employee
morale, among others.

General Information
The Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is a three year, post-masters program that is designed for working
professionals who work in both for-profit and non-profit settings. This 60 credit, non-licensure program includes
two residency requirements where students will come to Chicago to work on their dissertation. Each residency
will be one weekend in length.

Admission Criteria
Application to the Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership program is open to any person who has earned a master’s
degree from an accredited institution and who typically has at least five years of post-baccalaureate experience
and three years of managerial experience. In addition, applicants are required to have completed undergraduate
or graduate level foundational course work in Statistics, Psychology, and Organizational Behavior.

At The Chicago School, we take various factors into consideration when reviewing each applicant. These factors
include the GPA from undergraduate and graduate schools, work history, the admission essays, and any other
unique qualifications the applicant may have. Those interested in the online Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership
program should apply online at https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=cspp

The Admission Requirements for the Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership program include:

• Online Application
• Resume
• Essays (2)
• Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• Application Fee - $50 (USD)

Applicants will also be required to submit two essays. The first essay is a 500-750 word personal statement on
“How Leaders Have Personally Inspired me in My Professional and Personal Life”. Applicants will be required to
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use the APA 6 edition for any citations and referencing. The second essay is a Statement of Research written in
APA format and should focus on the student’s research interests he/she would like to focus on for the
dissertation.

Standardized Testing:
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required; however, students who have taken the exam may
submit their scores to enhance their application. Scores should be sent directly to the school (GRE School Code:
1119) for consideration.
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OVERVIEW

Curriculum Overview
Core Courses
OL549 Systems Theory/3 CH
OL539 Personality and Life Span in the Workplace/3 CH
OL551 Group and Team Leadershp/3 CH
OL554 Management Philosophy and Practice/3 CH
OL556 Emerging Theories of Leadership/3 CH
OL573 Organizational Diagnosis and Cultural Dynamics/3 CH

Research and Dissertation

IP455 Research Methods/3CH
IP621 Qualitative Research Methods/3CH
IP622 Mixed Methods Research/3CH
IP630 Proposal Development Seminar/3CH
IP631 Dissertation Maintenance/3CH
IP632 Dissertation Maintenance/3CH
IP633 Dissertation Maintenance/3CH

Required:
OL560 Ethical and Cultural Considerations/3 CH

OL700 Leadership Self-Development/3 CH

OL576 Strategic Change Management/3 CH

OL620 Competency Examination/3 CH

Electives (9 credit hours total; students may choose any three from these listed courses)
EPB634 Virtual and Global Leadership/3 CH
EPB640 Governance in Non-profit/3 CH
EPB643 Social Entrepreneurship/3 CH
EPB647 Public Policy Leadership/3 CH
EPB631 Supervising and Coaching Employees/3 CH
EPB637 Team Interventions/3CH

Course Descriptions
IP455 Research Methods
The course examines the basic technologies and methodologies used to conduct research in the social sciences.
Library sources and electronic search tools and services are reviewed. Topics include: Reviewing the literature,
formulating a researchable question, choosing the appropriate methodology, and identifying a data analysis
structure. The final project for the course will be a formal research proposal. (3 credits)

IP621 Qualitative Research Methods

Prerequisite: IP445. The field of qualitative research is reviewed for its applications to the discipline of psychology.
Primarily focused on cultural research, this course examines the methods that can be credibly employed to
examine cultural and cross cultural research in psychology. Topics include: qualitative design frameworks,
establishing trustworthiness and credibility, threats to trustworthiness and mediation strategies, data collection,
data analysis, and results reporting. (3 credits)

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IP622 Mixed Methods Research

Prerequisite: IP621.The strategies for conducting mixed methods research in the field of psychology are studied.
Current applications of mixed methods approaches, research design, data scaling and collection, data analysis
techniques and reporting formats are evaluated. (3 credits)

IP630 Proposal Development Seminar

Prerequisite: IP455. Through weekly meetings with peers and their dissertation chair, students complete their
dissertation proposal in this course. Students present their dissertation ideas to their chair and their peers and,
through feedback and independent work, craft a high quality dissertation proposal. Students that register for this
class must complete their dissertation within the articulated areas of expertise and within the methodologies/types
of dissertations approved by their chair. (3 credits)

IP631 Dissertation Maintenance

Prerequisite: IP630. Students meet regularly with their dissertation chair in small groups to monitor their ongoing
progress on their dissertations. Specific deadlines are set for the completion of committee approval of the
proposal, IRB application, submittal of the dissertation draft to the committee, and oral defense. Students must
register for Dissertation Maintenance every semester after the completion of IP630 until the dissertation is
complete. A total of three semesters of Dissertation Maintenance is required, in addition to the completion of
IP630, to complete the dissertation. (3 credits)

IP632 Dissertation Maintenance

Prerequisite: IP630 and the previous semester of Dissertation Maintenance. Students meet regularly with their
dissertation chair in small groups to monitor their ongoing progress on their dissertations. Specific deadlines are
set for the completion of committee approval of the proposal, IRB application, submission of the dissertation draft
to the committee, and oral defense. Students must register for Dissertation Maintenance every semester after the
completion of IP630 until the dissertation is complete. A total of three semesters of Dissertation is required, in
addition to the completion of IP630, to complete the dissertation. (3 credits)

IP633 Dissertation Maintenance

Prerequisite: IP630 and the previous semester of Dissertation Maintenance. Students meet regularly with their
dissertation chair in small groups to monitor their ongoing progress on their dissertations. Specific deadlines are
set for the completion of committee approval of the proposal, IRB application, submission of the dissertation draft
to the committee, and oral defense. Students must register for Dissertation Maintenance every semester after the
completion of IP630 until the dissertation is complete. A total of three semesters of Dissertation is required, in
addition to the completion of IP630, to complete the dissertation. (3 credits)

OL539 Personality and Life Span in the Workplace

This course explores developmental issues from early adulthood through advanced age, focusing specifically on
the working adult. Topics include the process of consolidation of the middle years and the psychological, social,
and biological issues surrounding late life adjustment. Current workplace approaches are examined from diverse
theoretical viewpoints, and in view of research findings. Cultural diversity and individual differences are integral to
this course. (3 credits)

OL549 Systems Theory

This course focuses on the exploration of General Systems Theory and major modes of organizational systems in
order to facilitate understanding of change and its impact on organizational life. (3 credits)

OL551 Group and Team Leadership

The course focuses on the role of societal and environmental factors in the initiation and maintenance of behavior
patterns. The course will consider implications of socio-environmental factors for the practicing psychologists.
Cultural and individual differences are considered, all within the organizational group setting. (3 credits)

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OL554 Management Philosophy and Practice

As a field of study, this course looks at various management philosophies and their practical applications. Topics
include an examination of management and leadership philosophy’s and styles, and a comparison and contrast of
the differences between management, leadership, and mentorship. (3 credits)

OL556 Emerging Theories of Leadership

As a field of study, leadership can be complex and is highly influenced by societal values and worldviews.
Students will review current theories of leadership in relational paradigms: servant leadership vs. empirical
leadership, transformational leadership vs. transactional leadership, personality vs. behavioral leadership. They
will apply these theories to their organization experience. (3 credits)

OL560 Ethical and Cultural Considerations

This course addresses the issue of organizational diversity and principles behind managing a diverse workforce.
In today’s global marketplace, the idea of diversity is a valued commodity. With this fact in focus, this course
supports the leader in building skill in bridging differences, dialoguing through ambiguities and establishing a safe
environment where differences are acknowledged and respected. (3 credits)

OL573 Organizational Diagnosis and Cultural Dynamics

There are three dynamics at play in an organization: the individual, the team and the organization, each
interfacing and defining the life of an organization. This course explores that interplay and addresses the
foundational components that define organizational life. The course specifically looks through the lens of
psychology. (3 credits)

OL576 Strategic Change Management

Strategic change management requires a sense of organizational alignment and understanding of systems theory
and strategic planning processes. This course assists students in building minimally a department strategic plan
if not a full organization-wide plan. This course explores the impact of change on individuals, teams and
organizations and provides practical hands-on techniques for minimizing resistance and maximizing results. It
introduces such tools as appreciative inquiry, action research, and several problem solving tools that advance
discussion (e.g. force field analysis, nominal technique). (3 credits)

OL620 Competency Examination

This course is designed to provide support and structure to the competency exam process. The course consists
of three milestone assignments: one double-loop learning, individually developed, a second conducted through a
group process, and a third presented to a client panel. A student is required to pass all three sections of the
exam. (3 credits)

EPB631 Supervising and Coaching Employees (elective)

It is often in the one-on-one experience of leader to follower that commitment is built and employees flourish.
This course outlines the strategies needed for successful employee empowerment at the one-on-one level.
Student projects will include an identified coaching opportunity where they engage in real time employee support.
(3 credits)

EPB634 Virtual and Global Leadership (elective)

This course is designed to familiarize students with how to apply management practices in long-distance and
global supervisory relationships. It introduces current and emerging technologies that assist in knowledge
management, communication and relationship building. It supports students in applying these technologies in the
workplace. It addresses communication style and message delivery modalities—all toward maintaining high
employee performance. Understanding what it takes to be a global leader and how to address the unique needs
of that broad market are addressed in this course. The concept of “global” will be addressed not only as a
demographic phenomenon but an attitudinal one, linking to the previous course on Systems Theory. (3 credits)

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EPB637 Team Interventions (elective)

Students examine the role of the leader in a team. Case study based, students will look at team situations and
evaluate how to improve and advance team performance. Students will work on building a team from scratch and
carry team members through the varying stages of team development. They will apply their general
understanding of leadership to the team dynamic. (3 credits)

EPB640 Governance in Non-profit (elective)

Leaders in the non-profit world face the challenge of balancing the expectations of their board of Advisors with
their staff. This course explores how to guide the leadership of their agencies to contribute productively in
appropriate ways to solve problems, remove obstacles, and enhance the organization’s ability to achieve strategic
goals. A specific emphasis will be placed on board governance: defining the Board’s role in terms of the
engagement and oversight, integrating the board into the organization, educating Board members, and moving
projects through the board and other governance bodies. (3 credits)

EPB643 Social Entrepreneurship (elective)

This course applies entrepreneurship theory and research to the uniqueness of the social entrepreneur—the
social mission. It supports the non-profit leader by profiling certain behaviors and actions that get “things to
happen” and “people to notice.” Although markets are an important part of entrepreneurship, this course will
support the non-profit leader in positioning innovation as practical for social problems, as valuable for social
advancement, and accountable to social service. (3 credits)

EPB647 Public Policy Leadership (elective)

Leaders are challenged to advocate effectively with legislators, governing bodies, and public section systems to
enact policies, processes, and program changes that will improve the well being and treatment of the agency’s
constituents throughout the sector. Particular attention will be paid to using public policy law to identify common
goals across the sector and crafting practical action plans. This course will explore how to increase public
awareness of community needs as a foundation upon which to build political support for controversial initiatives,
the establishment of strong, effective stakeholder coalitions, and the identification of opportunities to leverage
funding mechanisms to build system capacity, (3 credits)

OL700 Leadership Self-Development

With the administration of a 360 tool and one-on-one coaching built into the course, each student creates a
personal development plan with measurable and specific objectives. The course discussions support the
development of each student’s objectives. (3 credits)