Doctor of Organizational Leadership (Online)

Why Choose an Online Ed.D.?

We understand that your time is valuable. That’s why our online format allows you to earn your doctorate without putting your career or personal commitments on hold. With the flexibility to learn from anywhere, you’ll engage with a rigorous, research-driven curriculum while balancing work and life. You’ll join a supportive community of scholars and practitioners, benefiting from expert faculty mentorship and peer collaboration—all in a structure designed to fit your schedule.

A Transformative Leadership Experience

In just 34 months (57 credit hours), you’ll develop the emotional, psychological, and strategic leadership capacity needed to:

• Lead with integrity in education, healthcare, government, business, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations.
• Apply cutting-edge research to diagnose organizational challenges and drive innovative solutions.
• Mobilize teams and inspire change, no matter your position.
  

What will you study?

There is more to organizational leadership than simply meeting goals and objectives. The doctorate in organizational leadership emphasizes the Adaptive Leadership framework as its foundation, which provides a leadership focus that recognizes organizations as social systems, differentiates between technical problems and adaptive challenges, and expressly accounts for the nuance and power of authority and group dynamics.

• Summary of Required and Elective Courses
• Sample Curriculum-Plan of Study
• Sample Plan of Study

Program Learning Outcomes

This program has six overarching goals for candidates, such that at the completion of this program the graduate will be able to: 

• Understand: Diagnose the complex social systems of an organization.
• Engage others: Align and mobilize others within an organization.
• Manage self: Build the emotional and psychological strength required to exercise leadership.
• Intervene skillfully: Act with purpose and agency within groups, teams, and organizations.
• Execute: Manage the technical aspects of an organization’s operations.
• Evaluate: Measure the effectiveness of interventions using research and data.

Career Paths: Lead with Impact Across Industries

Graduates are equipped to mobilize others, drive transformative change, and lead complex systems with confidence and expertise. This program prepares professionals for high-level leadership roles across diverse industries, including education, healthcare, technology, business, government, and faith-based organizations.

Superintendent Licensure for Educational Leaders

For those in K-12 education, this program offers the opportunity to pursue Indiana District Level Administrator Superintendent licensure, preparing you to lead at the district, network, or diocesan level. Whether you’re an aspiring superintendent, principal, or administrator looking to expand your influence, this licensure will empower you to shape the future of education.

High-Demand Leadership in Indiana and Beyond

The demand for effective leadership is not limited to Indiana—nationwide, industries are experiencing rapid transformation, creating a critical need for professionals who can navigate change and drive progress.

• Healthcare – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that healthcare occupations will grow 13% nationally by 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. With an aging population and increasing healthcare demands, strong leadership in hospitals, research institutions, and healthcare systems is critical.
• Corporate Leadership & Business – As organizations across the country grapple with workforce shifts, global competition, and the rise of remote and hybrid work models, effective leadership focused on organizational development, change management, and strategic leadership are increasingly valuable.

Develop the Effective Leadership Practices that Every Industry Needs

Whether your career path leads you to executive leadership, nonprofit management, policy development, or educational administration, an online Ed.D. from Marian University will empower you with the skills, research-based strategies, and leadership mindset to create lasting change—locally, nationally, and beyond.

Admission Criteria 

To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited institution with a graduate GPA of at least 3.00 and complete virtual face-to-face and group activity interviews.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines 

How to Apply

• Submit official transcripts from every college and/or university that you've attended. (Official transcripts are sent directly to Marian University from the schools, either delivered in a sealed envelope or electronically directly from the school. Official transcripts may be printed on special paper. They are also embossed with the school's official seal. If you have opened the transcript's sealed envelope, it is NOT official and we cannot accept it.)
• Submit a professional resume or CV.
• Provide us with two letters of recommendation from professional references.
• Provide us with a writing sample (i.e. academic paper, published article, etc.).

Please visit the Business Office "Tuition Rates" page.

Marian University’s organizational leadership doctoral program provides working adults with the skills they need to exercise leadership and pursue advanced leadership positions in their organizations.