Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education Organizational Leadership

The Center for Leadership Studies (CFLS) houses Northwest’s interdisciplinary Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs in Organizational Leadership. These degrees prepare students to lead the leaders of today across the fields of education, business, Christian ministry, and beyond.

The Center coordinates these programs and serves as a support base for it’s students, facilitating their success and dissertation completion.

Financial Support

The CFLS offers four types of financial assistance. After the first year, every student is eligible for the First Year Fund Scholarship. Non-profit employees can qualify for a discount matching their employer’s contribution. Also, grants are available for dissertation research and travel to professional presentations. View CFLS Scholarships

Two Degree Options

The Ph.D. focuses on scholarship, original research, and the generation of new theory. The Ed.D. offers a shorter and more practical program, helping students apply existing theory and research to problems in the field.

Four Concentrations

Students have access to four concentrations: Leading Ministry Organizations, Higher Education Leadership, Business Leadership and Consulting, and Interdisciplinary Leadership. Graduating with a concentration requires successfully completing at least four of the six classes offered in the concentration and two additional concentration courses from any concentration for a total of 18 credits. 

Cohort-based

The programs offer small, diverse cohorts. Students learn alongside peers who encourage and challenge each other to grow.

Hybrid Delivery

Students study in a mix of classes held on-campus, online, and “on the road” at major, field-specific professional conferences.

Distinguished Faculty

CFLS professors draw from both academic research and real-world professional experience to offer a holistic learning environment.

Integrated Faith and Learning

The programs integrate a Christian perspective that draws from the highest intellectual level and the depths of faith simultaneously.

Interdisciplinary Instruction

Bringing together diverse students with outstanding professors from a variety of disciplines produces a rich transformative learning experience.

Integrated Schedule

Each term features core, concentration, and dissertation classes so students start working on their dissertation research and writing skills from day one.

Professional Experience

Designed for working professionals, the Center’s programs make it possible for Ph.D. students to graduate in four years and Ed.D. students in three years. Built to expand on previous and current work experience to prepare students for future leadership opportunities, such work experience is essential to program success.

Unique Learning Environment

Northwest resides among many of the currently most influential business and non-profit organizations Including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, World Vision, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Admission Criteria

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Completed online application.
• Three references including one academic reference.
• Official (sealed) transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
• No GRE test score is required for Ph.D. or Ed.D. applicants with a 3.0 GPA in their M.A. program.
• Ph.D. applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may submit GRE scores to be considered for admission.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
• Writing sample answering the essay prompts available on the CFLS online application.

Once potential students have submitted their completed application along with all the application materials, each applicant will have an individual or group interview with the CFLS Admissions Committee.

Applicants who meet or exceed the above criteria must also exhibit qualities consistent with the ethos of the Center for Leadership Studies. The cohort model places great responsibility on faculty and students to work together to create a positive, supportive, and collaborative learning environment. Students must be committed to personal responsibility, time management, professional ethics, and interpersonal integrity to be successful in the program.

The CFLS Admissions Committee seeks to ascertain each student’s degree of readiness for this type of learning environment. The Admissions Committee has the responsibility and authority to determine an applicant’s degree of compatibility with the ethos of this program.

Credit Transfer

Students may be allowed to transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credits from other regionally accredited colleges and universities provided the CFLS can determine the credit equivalency of the coursework, the student earned the credits no more than ten years prior to his/her enrollment in a CFLS degree program, and that the college or univeristy awarded the transfer credits prior to the student registering for NU courses. In special circumstances, the student may file an appeal with the CFLS Director for waiver of the ten-year time limit. No charge occurs for transferred courses and transferred credits do not apply towards financial aid awards. Students must initiate credit transfer by contacting the CFLS office.

Program Transfer

A limited number of Ed.D. students may qualify for transfer to the Ph.D. program each academic year. Transfer applicants must have demonstrated academic excellence, a positive contribution to their cohort, and overall program fit. Transfers will be approved by the CFLS Admissions Committee.

Student Assessment

The CFLS Director assisted by the Lead Team assess the student’s academic development annually. These assessments evaluate a student’s adjustment to the program, working relationship with faculty and other students, academic progress, writing quality, function within his or her cohort, professional development, and personal challenges requiring assistance. However, successfully passing each annual assessment does not ensure approval of the student’s dissertation or continuation in the program. (See Probation under Academic Policy). Should a student’s annual assessment indicate an area of major concern, the CFLS Director will work with the Lead Team to intervene in the student’s experience in ways that enhance the possibilities for a successful outcome.

The CFLS Director and committee will conduct the progress assessment during the summer semester and the results of this assessment will be given to the student.  If a student’s progress assessment indicates an area of concern, the CFLS Director will meet with the student to discuss the concern. A plan will be formulated to resolve the concern, and failure to successfully deal with the problematic area may result in dismissal from the program. 

Comprehensive Examinations

The Comprehensive Exam assesses a student’s mastery of the program competencies. The CFLS Lead Team administers the exam during the student’s second (Ed.D.) or third (Ph.D.) year. Furthermore, a student must successfully pass the research methods section of the Comprehensive exam before defending his/her dissertation proposal.

Completion of the Ph.D. will require comprehensive examinations over three areas: leadership theory, research methods, and critical issues related to concentration; the Ed.D. exams will be over two areas: leadership theory and critical issue related to concentration.

If a student does not pass one section of the comprehensive exam, he or she will be allowed to retake only that section. The retake will occur no sooner than 60 days after the date of the original exam. This waiting period allows the student adequate time to study for his/her retake. If the student fails the retake exam, he/she must retake the entire exam the following year. For this entire exam retake the student must pass every section of the exam. In other words, the student cannot fail one section (even if that section differs from the initial section failed) on the retake of the whole exam. If the student does fail any section of the retake of the entire exam, he/she will not be allowed to continue in the program. Additionally, the student will not be allowed to proceed with dissertation writing until he/she has successfully completed all portions of the comprehensive exam.

Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation component of the Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs provides each student with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the literature in her/his subject field, knowledge and skill in research methodology, the ability to execute and report on original research, and a high capacity for scholarly writing.

Ph.D. dissertations will be original research resulting in theory extension and/or generation, while Ed.D. dissertations will center on application of existing theory to a current problem resulting in knowledge generation.

Academic and Professional Requirements

Grade Point Average 

Students must earn a grade of B- or above in all CFLS courses and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Further, students must successfully pass all sections of the comprehensive exam (a passing score is a minimum of 80%). Refer to the comprehensive exam section of this handbook for further information.

In addition to successfully passing course and examination requirements, students must successfully demonstrate proficiency on each program competency. Faculty evaluate these competencies using a variety of methods throughout the program. Such evaluation methods include course work, comprehensive exam, dissertation, course writing assignments, and annual evaluations by the Director. Competencies are evaluated on a 1 through 5 scale: 1=Below Standard, 2=Partial fulfillment, 3=Standard met, 4=Above Standard, 5=Excellent demonstration of competency. Students must achieve a score of at least 3 on all competencies in order to graduate from the program. Should a student’s performance fall below a 3 on a given competency, he/she will be notified that he/she needs to improve and may be placed on probation (see Probation Policies within this handbook).

Students must continuously demonstrate professional ethics and conduct, interpersonal and relationship skills, emotional maturity and self-awareness expected of leadership professionals. Students’ demonstration of these standards will be evaluated annually. Failure to adhere to these standards may be cause for probation or dismissal from the program at any time (see Dismissal from the program).

Program Continuation

If a student has incomplete degree requirements (e.g. dissertation) beyond the fourth year of the Ph.D. program or the third year of the Ed.D., the program considers the student to be in continuation. The student must remain enrolled in the one-unit LDRS 8021 Dissertation Completion course each semester until he/she completes the remaining degree requirements.

Should a student choose to not register for a semester while in continuation, the student will be considered on leave without permission and, therefore, will be unable to complete work for her/his dissertation (e.g. unable to seek Chair assistance, apply to the institutional review board, or defend a proposal or final dissertation). Should a student, after a leave of absence without permission, wish to continue in the program, he/she will need to apply for re-admittance and students will be charged the tuition for the continuation courses for the semesters the student did not enroll.

Re-Admittance Procedure

In order to be re-admitted into the program after taking a leave of absence, the student will need to complete a re-admittance form and meet with the CFLS Director to development a plan for program completion.

Students experiencing personal problems:

The CFLS Director and faculty encourages students encountering personal problems to seek out professional counseling support when appropriate. Northwest’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences staff (also located on the second floor of the 6710 Building) may be able provide information about possible low-cost counseling services available to students. Additionally, students should engage in regular self-care and stress management activities such as: taking days off from schoolwork, spending time with friends and family, fostering a support group, exercising, eating a balanced diet, and getting adequate sleep. 

Academic Probation

The CFLS Director will place students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress towards graduation on Academic Probation. Probation is a temporary status intended to help focus the student’s efforts while concentrating the program’s resources to address and remedy the causes of insufficient academic progress. Probation is not intended as a punitive measure but as a warning and a time for necessary improvement.

The CFLS Director will place students on Academic Probation for a period if they cannot reach the cumulative minimum GPA of 3.000 with fewer than 4 incomplete or failed courses (any course lower than a B-). During Academic Probation students will not be allowed to register for any new classes.

If a student does not meet the terms of the probation period by the date agreed upon, he/she will be withdrawn from the program. If the student does meet the terms of academic probation, they will be taken off this list and allowed to register for classes as normal. Students can only be put on an Academic Probation once, the second time they will be dismissed from the program.

Dismissal from the Program

A student may be dismissed from the Program due to any one of the following factors:

• Continual Poor Performance. Should the student be unable to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 the semester following being placed on probation, the he/she may be dismissed from the program. Furthermore, if a student fails to retake a required course within a time period determined by the CFLS Director he/she may be dismissed from the program.

• Placed on probation more than once. Throughout the course of the program, the student may be dismissed from the program if requesting a second academic probation.

• Professional Conduct. The CFLS program expects students to comply with the behavioral standards of Northwest University and the laws of Washington State and local government bodies. Should a student fail to meet the criteria of professional behavioral standards (including, but not limited to emotional stability, interpersonal skills, maturity, and ethical conduct), he/she may be dismissed from the program.

Students dismissed from the program may appeal the decision to the Provost of the university. The reviewing personnel will be provided with all relevant information regarding the student’s academic performance and professional conduct.

Graduation Requirements

• Completion of all required coursework for Ph.D. or Ed.D.
• Director’s recommendation for continuation in the program after each annual review
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Passing grade for all required comprehensive examinations
• Approval of dissertation proposal and dissertation final document by Dissertation Committee

Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership

Graduates of the Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership program are equipped to analyze theory and apply best practices from research to current challenges in their field. The curriculum for the Ed.D. requires a total of 60 credits. The coursework and dissertation process are structured for full-time students to be able to complete the Ed.D. in three years.

Graduates with an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership will be able to:

1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of competing leadership theories as applied to current organizational challenges.
2. Apply relevant organizational leadership research in organizational settings.
3. Demonstrate effective presentation skills.
4. Cultivate positive interpersonal skills that promote healthy organizations.
5. Articulate a compelling Christian perspective for addressing ethical challenges.
6. Apply leadership theory to the challenge and opportunity of diverse perspectives in organizational settings.

Ph.D./Ed.D. Concentrations: 18

Concentrations are offered through the following Colleges:

Total: 60 Semester Credits