Online Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University appears in our ranking of the Top 15 Doctorate in Leadership Online Programs 2018.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University includes both online coursework and on-campus classes in Indiana. The mission of the degree is to provide a challenging, innovative, and Christ-centered doctoral program that provides students the opportunity to strengthen their teaching skills, self-directed learning, research, best practices, and current knowledge of the field. The curriculum is designed to further the student’s development as a leader who has mastered each of the elements included in conceptual leadership.
The graduate program is best-suited for students looking to teach at universities, hold academic research positions, and obtain leadership positions in nonprofit organizations, government, faith-based institutions, healthcare, entrepreneurial business, and in corporations. The Ph.D. is designed for working adults who wish to develop their knowledge of organizational leadership, who excel in self-directed learning, who are stimulated by advanced studies, and who strive to become world-changers and leaders.
The curriculum is designed to help students master seven areas of knowledge, including governance and ethics, globalization and multiculturalism, organizational theory and research, organizational learning, personal authenticity, servant leaders as world changers, and change, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Since the program is offered in a hybrid or online-only format, graduate students can satisfy residency requirements by living on-campus for three Summer Institutes that last approximately one week each. Students must be present each day of the Institute and are not allowed to be absent from class sessions, events, or workshops that are scheduled during the Institute.
Students may complete the Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership in as few as 40 months. Hybrid students who take on-campus and online courses will attend one in-person class in January, April, and September as well as a one-week Summer Institute. Those taking online-only courses will also join for three sessions each term and participate in week-long Summer Institute for one week. Cohort groups provide support for classmates, and professors combine their professional experience with academic credentials.
About Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a private liberal arts university located in Marion, Indiana. IWU is an evangelical Christian institution affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination. It is also the largest private university in the state and the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. IWU offers a number of professional education programs and liberal arts degrees in more than 87 undergraduate majors such as accounting, computer science, and public relations. Students may also choose from graduate degrees in education, business, divinity, and a doctoral program in organizational leadership.
As a Christian institution, Indiana Wesleyan incorporates academics and religion, also offering degrees in Christian worship, youth ministries, and Biblical literature. The school’s online education programs are designed to help students consult with one another. Class sizes are capped so that students may benefit from a more intimate learning experience, and the curriculum for online courses is designed to maximize each adult’s learning experience. Students earn the same degree online as they would on-campus; the only difference is where students submit assignments and where they hold class discussions. Outside of the classroom, students may join more than 30 organizations and clubs and participate in campus events, including weekly $2 movies shown in The Globe, the school’s theater.
Indiana Wesleyan University Accreditation Details
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and belongs to the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation is a process of quality assurance and certification wherein accrediting agencies establish standards which define what is acceptable and then hold one another accountable. Accrediting agencies are voluntary associations of scholars and schools and not governmental entities, and the process of accreditation itself assures the public and students that schools have met, and are expected to continue to meet, these high educational standards.
Indiana Wesleyan University Application Requirements
The Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from IWU is a selective program. IWU does not guarantee admittance even if an applicant meets every admission requirement. Those seeking this degree must hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution, verified by official transcripts sent directly to IWU. Students must also have at least five years of experience in the classroom as an instructor or teacher or five years of experience in a leadership position in volunteer organizations or in the workplace.
In addition to official transcripts, students must also submit a current resume that includes special recognitions or awards, work experience, previous graduate or undergraduate work, and a career objective. Recommendations are also required from the applicant’s current leadership colleagues within the past three to five years, someone who can attest to the applicant’s spiritual character, and a leader in higher education or academic professor. Applicants must also write a five- to six-page essay that describes the student’s current leadership role, his or her current understanding of organizational leadership, and why a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership is important. It is free to apply to most graduate programs.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The 60-credit-hour Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership costs $839 per credit hour. However, the total cost of the degree, including fees and tuition, is determined prior to each student’s enrollment. The tuition does not include the cost of textbooks, and payment is due three weeks prior to the start of each course. The per-credit-hour cost applies only to the core program; students needing to complete other required courses or prerequisites will be charged an additional fee for books and tuition.
Financial aid is available for online graduate students in the form of employer reimbursem*nt, veterans’ benefits, scholarships, loans, and grants. The first step to obtaining financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who wish to be considered for a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan must also complete the online Loan Entrance Counseling Session as well as the online William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note. IWU also offers specific financial assistance for veteran students as well as active-duty military students and their spouses. For instance, Indiana Wesleyan University discounts the cost of tuition for active-duty military personnel pursuing one of its graduate and adult online and on-campus programs.
