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Academic Catalog 2025-2026
Human Development, PhD (with optional concentrations)
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 Return to: School of Leadership Studies
The PhD in Human Development is focused on individual and transformational growth in personal, organizational, and cultural settings. The degree empowers doctoral scholar-practitioners with foundational and current research across the lifespan from multidisciplinary perspectives. Students study humans as individuals and as members of systems, learning to optimize interpersonal relationships and empower themselves and others to become change agents for social and ecological justice. The degree requires completion of the following:
- New Student Orientation (NSO) and Learning Plan
- Interdisciplinary foundations and leadership courses
- Human Development emphasis courses
- Advanced research studies, including a Portfolio Review and Comprehensive Assessment
- Elective coursework
- Dissertation
Our PhD offers a master’s along the way , as well as the option to fulfill elective requirements choosing not just from HOD prefix electives but from any of the general electives offered in the Leadership for Change program.
HD students may structure their elective choices to fulfill an optional HD concentration in one of the following:
- Creative Longevity and Wisdom
- Somatics, Phenomenology and Communicative Leadership
Or one of these concentrations as listed below:
- Coaching
- Higher Education Leadership
- Inclusive Leadership for Social Justice
- K-12 and Teacher Education
- Learning and Development
- Media, Technology, and Innovation
- Organization Development
- Sustainability Leadership
Graduates of the program are leaders in their professional and personal lives as consultants, professors, community activists, authors, nonprofit executives, healthcare administrators, and coaches.
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Required Coursework:
Effective date: 09/01/2023 Required Foundations (24 credits)
Advanced Human Development course
Required Advanced (16 credits)
Electives (24 credits)
Choose any additional 24 credits from HD/ODC concentration and elective courses listed below, additional Advanced Research Methodology courses listed above, or any general electives with ELC course prefixes. Dissertation (16 credits)
Total Semester Credits: 84
Optional Concentrations
Students matriculated into the Fall 2016 catalog can concentrate their elective studies in the HD/OD&C concentrations listed below, or from any concentration offered in other School of Leadership Studies. In this way, students can individualize their doctoral program and expand their professional expertise. Each concentration typically includes a minimum of three tailored courses and access to a community of scholar-practitioners who are passionate about this specialized field of study. Coaching Concentration
The doctoral concentration in Coaching offers an interdisciplinary approach to integrating research-based coaching theory with professional practice in organizational and individual coaching. Participants will study the core theories that underpin principle practices of individual and organizational coaching and undertake individual research to integrate theory with practice in individual and organizational settings. Creative Longevity and Wisdom Concentration
The goal of the Creative Longevity and Wisdom concentration is to enhance knowledge and practice in areas concerning mid-life and older adults. Higher Education Leadership Concentration
The Higher Education Leadership concentration focuses students’ doctoral study on the knowledge and skills needed to become leaders and change agents in higher education institutions, including community colleges, universities, and graduate schools. Take your choice of three of the following:
- ELC-747 The Community College 4 semester credits
- ELC-748 Higher Education Leadership, Governance, and Policy 4 semester credits
- ELC-752 Leading in Tribal Colleges, HBCUs, HSIs, and International Schools 4 semester credits
- ELC-755 Higher Education Finance, Ethics, and Law 4 semester credits
- ELC-758 Teaching, Learning, and Student Success in Higher Education 4 semester credits
- ELC-774 Learning Technology, Instructional Design, and Artificial Intelligence 4 semester credits
Inclusive Leadership for Social Justice Concentration
The doctoral concentration in Inclusive Leadership for Social Justice is designed to develop more inclusive scholar-leaders who are knowledgeable about and sensitive to the complex ways that power and injustice manifest in organizations and communities in order to co-create a more just society. K-12 and Teacher Education Concentration
The K-12 and Teacher Education concentration provides students with the expertise to lead systemic change in teacher preparation, curriculum development, and organizational transformation. The integration of global perspectives, critical analysis, and leadership development prepares graduates to serve as change agents within schools, districts, and educational organizations, ultimately improving the quality of education and ensuring it is accessible and equitable for all learners. Take your choice of three of the following:
Learning and Development Concentration
The Learning and Development concentration is designed to equip scholar-practitioners with the skills and knowledge needed to lead and enhance learning processes within organizations and educational settings. This concentration focuses on the application of learning theories, leadership development, and the facilitation of engaging, transformative learning experiences. Students explore how to lead the learning function in organizations, curate dynamic learning spaces, apply constructive developmental theory, and foster motivation and transformation in learners. Take your choice of three of the following:
Media, Technology, and Innovation Concentration
The doctoral concentration in Media, Technology, and Innovation is focused on the ways in which media, technology, and knowledge networks are transforming our societies, organizations, and ourselves by becoming the dominant driving force for innovation and organizational change. Organization Development Concentration
A doctoral degree with a concentration in Organization Development (OD) prepares students to become scholar practitioners, thought leaders, and change agents in a variety of organizations-profit, non-profit, and public sectors. Somatics, Phenomenology and Communicative Leadership Concentration
This Somatics, Phenomenology and Communicative Leadership Concentration combines and integrates scholarly theory and mastery of embodied mindful awareness (somatics) with substantial grounding in transformative phenomenology (consciousness and deep personal reflection) along with the interpretive and practical dynamics of social constructionism (Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM), Symbolic Interactionism, and related communication and social construction disciplines). The impact of the artful blending of these three disciplines and bodies of theory is to: (1) reinforce the validity of “essence-based evidence” available through the phenomenological lens, (2) provide insights into improved research and practice through lifeworld analysis (3) improve practice skills through somatic awareness and practices (4) intensify and enhance leadership skills through increase communication practices such as CMM, (Communicative Management of Meaning) which was developed and perfected by the late Barnett Pearce, HOD Professor Emeritus, and (5) increase contemplative skills as related to research and practice based. Sustainability Leadership Concentration
The objective of the doctoral concentration in Sustainability Leadership is to produce leaders in businesses, nonprofits, governments, and educational institutions. |
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