Program Overview

Leadership is in demand in every type of organization and in every country throughout the world. Graduate degrees in leadership are adaptable to a variety of careers in for-profit, non-profit, publicly held and government organizations. These specialized degrees are designed for professionals who want to take on leadership roles in their profession, association or their own business. Leadership majors are at a unique advantage because the skills learned and mastered are universally appreciated and highly desired. Concordia University Chicago’s graduate programs in leadership focus on knowledge and enlightened perspectives about innovative leadership practices. The overarching curriculum focuses on knowledge management, decision-making, conflict and change management, communication, and different and unique approaches to leadership.

Concordia-Chicago offers EdD and PhD degrees with the following specializations:

Academic Information

Students awarded the EdS in Leadership (non-licensure) at CUC are not eligible for admission to a doctoral program at CUC.

Transfer of Credit

Graduate work beyond the student's initial master’s degree, satisfactorily completed at a Concordia University System institution, may be transferred toward meeting the requirements of the doctoral program to the extent that they satisfy specific course and/or experience requirements or electives for specific doctoral specializations.

Graduate work beyond the student's initial master's degree, satisfactorily completed at other regionally accredited institution(s), may be accepted toward doctoral degree programs upon approval of the student’s GPS advisor, division chair and dean of the college.  

Graduate courses transferred must have a grade of B or higher and must have been earned no more than 8 years prior to admission to the doctoral program.  Transfer credit with a grade of P (Pass) will not be accepted.  Transfer credit may not exceed 50% of the credit required for the degree/program.

Successfully Completed Credit Hours

Graduate courses with a passing grade (e.g. A, B, C, or P) are considered to be successfully completed. Courses with a grade of D+, D, D-, F, W, I, NG, NP or U are not considered to be successfully completed.

Time Limits

Completion of the doctorate is expected within eight years after registration for the first course counted toward the degree/program. A petition for time extension is to be addressed to the appropriate division chair and dean.

Comprehensive Examination

Students must have successfully completed all coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0, submit the required Intent to Take Comprehensive Examination Form and register for the examination. The comprehensive examination is a major step that leads to candidacy in the doctoral program.

Dissertation

Students must complete original dissertation research as approved by the dissertation committee. Students will register for no less than six required hours of Dissertation Proposal.  Students will remain in the Dissertation Proposal sequence until the dissertation proposal has been successfully defended.

Upon successful defense of the dissertation proposal the student may apply for doctoral candidacy by submitting the Application for Admission to Candidacy for final approval by the dean. Doctoral candidacy must be achieved prior to engaging in the inquiry.

Upon successful defense of the dissertation proposal, candidates must maintain continuous enrollment with DISS-8010 Dissertation Completion and DISS-8011 Dissertation Completion until program completion/final dissertation defense.

The following steps are required toward the conferral of the degree after the end of the term:

1.     Complete any revisions requested by the dissertation committee.
2.     Submit the dissertation for professional copy editing. 
3.     Upload the dissertation to ProQuest.

Program Procedures for Doctoral Students

Communication: All email communication from doctoral students with Concordia University Chicago faculty, program advisors, division chairs, division staff, dissertation committee members and other University business must be sent from the student’s Concordia University Chicago email address.

Program Advisor: Doctoral advising is comprehensive and engages students in thinking about and planning for all elements of the program. Students will work directly with their program advisor in consultation with the Doctoral Programs office for all procedural issues related to the doctoral program. Specific issues related to academic program requirements, transfer credits, changes in the approved program plan must be directed to the appropriate Concordia University Chicago division chairperson and program leader.

Satisfactory Progress: All students will be monitored for satisfactory academic progress at the following points: comprehensive examination, dissertation proposal defense, and dissertation defense. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress if the grade-point average is 3.0 or higher, all deficiencies have been removed and appropriate progress is being made toward meeting the standards. Students not making satisfactory progress will be placed on academic probation.

Comprehensive Examination: Application for the exam occurs upon completion of coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Please review the Collegial Cloud for specific procedures related to the comprehensive examination.

Continuous Enrollment: Doctoral students must be registered at all times to maintain continuous enrollment in the Doctoral Program. Students who have completed all required coursework and the comprehensive exam must be enrolled in Dissertation Proposal (DISS-70XX series) until such time as the proposal is successfully defended. Students who have successfully defended the dissertation proposal must be enrolled in Dissertation Completion (DISS-80XX series) until program completion. Any time a student needs to take a temporary hiatus from coursework or the dissertation, he or she must initiate a Leave of Absence request. Leave of Absence status indicates that no coursework is being taken. Doctoral Leave of Absence eligibility, guidelines, time limits and requirements are available from the student’s program advisor. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment may result in withdrawal from the university and requires a petition to request reinstatement. In addition to not having access to support from members of the dissertation committee for the duration of the absence from continuous enrollment, there is also a risk upon reentry of: 

•     Expiration of previously-earned transfer or CUC credit
•     Change in composition of dissertation chair and/or committee
•     Change in academic requirements under a new catalog
•     Change in availability of courses under a new cohort template
•     Tuition rate increase
•     Not being approved for reentry due to expiring time limit for program completion.

Doctoral Candidacy: Doctoral candidacy occurs upon successful completion of the proposal defense.

Dissertation: Students must complete original dissertation research as approved by the dissertation committee. Candidates must remain continuously enrolled throughout the dissertation process and until program completion. Please consult the Collegial Cloud for specific procedures related to the dissertation.

Graduation: An “Intent to Graduate/Complete” form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline for the term of the anticipated conferral of the degree. Requirements toward the conferral of the degree include the completion of dissertation revisions requested by the committee, a dissertation professionally copy edited, and the dissertation uploaded to ProQuest six (6) weeks after the defense.

Applicants for the doctoral program who desire more information regarding specific course requirements, comprehensive examinations, dissertation, etc., should consult the Doctoral Program Handbook.