School of Leadership Studies

The School of Leadership Studies offers a multidisciplinary path to scholarship for professionals who want to expand their knowledge, improve their research skills, and create a more reflective practice. Guided by principles of social responsibility, the School of Leadership emphasizes a scholar-practitioner model of engaged learning and develops leaders who are agents of change in their own communities and across the globe. Our students learn to understand, evaluate, and change conditions in the world that are responsible for social and ecological injustices. Through collaborative and customized programs, you can acquire the skills and knowledge you need to implement meaningful change where you live and work. 

Our programs cater to the diverse life experiences, learning styles, and complex schedules of adult learners. Our students and alumni use their degrees as consultants, educators, and professional to inform relevant action and discover theoretical insights in support of a more just and equitable world. 

Doctoral Degrees

• Our PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development  is a multidisciplinary doctoral program in mental health and developmental disorders such as autism spectrum, sensory integration, ADHD, and mood disorder.
• Our Doctor of Education  program is a minimal residency program that provides doctoral level research and practice through independent study in a collaborative environment. Optional concentrations are offered in Community College Leadership for Change and Leadership of Higher Education Systems.
• Doctoral degree programs with pathway master’s degrees awarded along the way in Human Development  and Human and Organizational Systems, PhD (with optional concentrations)  combine individual mentoring, small group study, localized seminars, and conference-based workshops to support scholarly research. Optional concentrations allow focused study in:
  • Aging, Culture, and Society 
  • Information Society and Knowledge Organizations
  • Transformative Learning for Social Justice  

Masters Degrees

• The Master of Arts degree in Organizational Development & Leadership uses online learning tools for intensive peer-to-peer and student-faculty engagement in professional problem solving. The programs offers both a primarily online  and cohort version of the curriculum.
• Our Master of Arts in Collaborative Educational Leadership  program uses a scholarly, hands-on, and community-centered curriculum to develop teacher leaders.

Certificate Programs

Graduate certificate programs link practical theories with immediately applicable tools. Our certificate programs include:

• Comprehensive Evidence Based Coaching  
• Evidence Based Coaching for Organization Leadership  
• Organizational Consulting   
• Organizational Development and Leadership  
• Nonprofit Leadership  

Our  Educational Administration Certificate  program prepares California educators to become instructional leaders in a collaborative learning community environment.