Doctorate in Professional Leadership

Dissertation is embedded in the coursework. For example, PLP 820, Current Issues in Leadership, taken early in the program, leads to the choice of a dissertation topic and the writing of Chapter One–Identification of the Problem. Subsequent courses lead to Chapter Two, the Literature Review; Chapter Three, Methodology; Chapter four, Analysis of Findings; Chapter five, Summary and Recommendations. The final semester Capstone Course provides an opportunity to review, edit, and defend the completed dissertation.

Your degree path for the EdD in Professional Leadership will begin in the fall of the academic year, requiring three academic years and two full summers to complete the program with a course load of six credit hours per academic session (including fall, spring, summer I, and summer II). Courses will be paired in focus each semester, with one course meeting in person one night a week, and one course available online.

Courses include traditional areas such as leadership, management, and personnel theory as well as innovative courses in entrepreneurialism and legislative decision making. Five courses plus the capstone include production of, editing of, and defense of the traditional 5-chapter dissertation.

Visit the graduate catalog for current course descriptions

Deadline for Completed Application and Materials: July 1

Students can qualify for the early decision deadline without providing official MAT scores at the time of application, but scores must be provided before the July 1 deadline.

For consideration of admission, the applicant must submit the following:

1. Complete the Doctorate in Professional Leadership Application Form, including the $40 application fee.
2. Official degree-granting undergraduate transcript and graduate transcripts from all colleges attended.
3. Send official scores from the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Only students with a grade point average of 3.499 or lower in comprehensive graduate school coursework must provide MAT scores.
4. Two professional letters of recommendation. Download the recommendation form here.
5. Submit a professional resume/CV
6. *A personal statement

* Your personal statement should be approximately one page (250 – 300 words). Describe either an experience that prompted you to seek entrance into the degree program to which you are applying OR your reasons for wanting to enter the degree program. In keeping with the Honor Tradition at Converse, your essay must be entirely your own work and must indicate by proper documentation any ideas or words that come from another source. Organize your essay clearly, proofread and spell-check your essay carefully. Your essay should include your personal reflection on the value of a degree in your field and more specifically, the Doctorate in Professional Leadership program at Converse.

Converse seeks to make education possible for graduate students through federal and state loan programs and assistantships. Learn more about financial aid.

See our graduate tuition and fees here.