The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership and Development degree is intended as a “scholars of practice” program that will empower current and emerging organizational leaders to flourish as effective and strategic decision makers and influencers in education, non-profit and business. Courses are fifteen weeks long and are completed two at a time in an online format. Each summer, students enrolled in the CU Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership and Development program are expected to attend a one-day, face-to-face intensive residency on the Cornerstone University campus.  This expectation applies to every year students are enrolled in the CU doctoral program.  The curriculum comprises 60 credits, including 15 courses (53 credits) and a capstone research project (8 credits). The final capstone project (instead of traditional dissertation) is designed for students to conduct theory-informed program evaluation or action research associated with a problem or opportunity within their jobs or industry.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

CAPSTONE PROJECT

The doctoral capstone project is the final academic requirement of the Ed.D. program.  It is designed to evaluate the candidate's capabilities as a scholar of practice through the identification of a professional practice problem, synthesis of theory-informed pertinent literature and Christian scholarship, design and execution of a study, analysis of the results and the application and recommendation of their findings.  Further information is available in the Ed.D. Organizational Leadership and Development Student Handbook.

Ed.D. Residencies

Students are expected to attend and be present at all doctoral residencies. This includes showing up on-time, being present for all class sessions, and staying through the last class session (i.e., not leaving early).  Only in the most extenuating circum- stances might an exception be made.  Any exceptions or absences from a residency must be approved by the Ed.D. program director and must include a formal request with documentation for the extenuating circumstance.   

REQUIRED COURSES