PhD in Organizational Leadership
Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Overview
Elevate your expertise and redefine your professional trajectory. In this unique doctoral program, you will benefit from the collaboration of two esteemed colleges: the California School of Management and Leadership (CSML) and the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP). Our PhD in Organizational Leadership program is designed to see you graduate with a doctoral degree in as little as three years and gain the skills and experience to be an organizational leader in the current and future AI-leveraged era.
AI is rapidly evolving and our program trains you to be ahead of the curve by meeting the unique and evolving demands of a post-COVID, AI-driven world. Students are trained in the intricacies of AI-driven decision-making, predictive analysis, and data interpretation to ensure leadership in technologically advanced settings. The program emphasizes the understanding and application of AI, its integration with leadership roles, and how it can drive organizational success.
The doctoral program is offered online and at our San Diego campus, allowing aspiring organizational leaders to choose the option that best fits their lifestyle. Both platforms include on-ground fieldwork each term. You'll learn how to drive impactful organizational development and create meaningful organizational change. Doctoral candidates also benefit from our robust professional alumni network and cutting-edge, career-expanding programs. Each program is designed to help you stand out with unique, valuable resume-building experience for success in the corporate world and academia.
- ConsultEX
An unparalleled platform that converges leadership theory and practice which provides real-world, problem-solving skills. You will pair with leading businesses to consult on live projects and offer innovative solutions that can help shape the course of companies and industries. - Career Architect
A program that trains you to carve out a unique niche for yourself in the professional world, enhancing your network and prospects to help shape you into a sought-after leader. - ConsultEX.EDU
This program provides comprehensive training and mentorship, paving the way for you to explore a smooth transition from student to a potential faculty member in higher education.
Which Business Program Is Right For Me?
Program Highlights
Hands-on Experience
Throughout the program, you will gain practical experience in your specific area of organizational leadership through our ConsultEX, Career Architect, and ConsultEX.EDU career programs. You’ll apply that knowledge to projects within your own organization, for work on consulting projects, or to solve real issues for partner organizations.
Cohort Model
A collaborative environment that provides you with ample opportunities to network within your cohort to develop meaningful relationships. You’ll share valuable insights and experiences and sharpen your abilities for an organizational leadership role alongside individuals who share similar interests and goals.
AI Integration
Regular AI-intensive sessions and discussions on AI tools and techniques. We partner with AI-focused companies to provide guest lectures, internships, or research opportunities that deliver a deeper understanding of AI's impact on leadership.
Accelerated Timeline
An accelerated timeline allows you to complete the higher leadership program in three to four years. You'll begin with two years of leadership studies and coursework, then move on to your dissertation research, which typically takes one to two years to complete. Since classes are in the evenings and on weekends, you can work while you learn.
Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is required and intended to develop professional and applied practice-related skills and expertise in the student’s program through a variety of work and learning experiences which could involve supervised practical training and/or applied client projects. Learn More
Accreditation
The graduate studies program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a well-respected accrediting body recognized across the country for its leading authority in business education.
Faculty
Faculty members are some of the most highly qualified and experienced individuals in their respective fields. They bring a unique combination of global leadership and practical knowledge to the classroom, preparing doctoral students to be adept in organization development relevant in various industries and sectors.
Admissions
Learn About Admissions Requirements
Faculty
Get to Know Our Diverse Faculty
Doctoral Degree Information
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Students in the PhD program are required to participate in curricular practical training as part of their experiential learning throughout the program. Practical training is intended to develop professional and applied practice-related skills and expertise in the student’s program. This is achieved through various work and learning experiences which could involve supervised practical training and/or applied client projects. This is required throughout the academic program from day one to program completion.
Domestic students can contact the CSML Professional Development (CPD) Coordinator for guidance. International students must apply for authorization for Curricular Practical Training from the Designated School Official (DSO) and schedule an appointment at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the Curricular Practical Training. Please email ISSO@alliant.edu to schedule an appointment.
Note that international students may begin curricular practical training ONLY after receiving their Form I-20 with the DSO endorsement. To be considered for Curricular Practical Training, the work must be related to your major field of study.
CSML CPT Application Process for International Students
- Obtain a job offer letter from your employer. The offer letter needs the following:
- To be on company letterhead
- Start and end date. (For example: CPT start date is 10/17/22, End date is 08/20/2023)
- Include specific duties to perform, office location, direct supervisor name and contact number.
- State that it is a part-time position
- Include the following statement: “employer agrees to cooperate with the school in achieving the curricular purposes of the employment/training”
- Complete the Application for CPT and the Advisor Verification Form for CPT. These forms are located on the student portal: https://alliantintluni.sharepoint.com/sites/IntlStudent/SitePages/International-Forms.aspx
- Email your offer letter and the 2 forms to your Program Director/Faculty Advisor at Alliant.
- Once they have signed the forms, please follow up and email ISSO@alliant.edu. The DSO is the one who will give you the authorization to start working.
- Also, if it is your first time in the USA, you will need to go to the Social Security Administration office to obtain a social security number, this process can take 2 or more weeks. Your employer will need your social security number for you to work. So please start the process as soon as possible. For the address of local Social Security Administration offices, see: www.ssa.gov
Accreditation
California School of Management and Leadership (CSML) has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for its organizational leadership PhD program, doctorate in business administration (DBA), MBA, and MS in data analytics programs.
As a leading specialized accreditation body for business education across the country, ACBSP accreditation certifies that the teaching and learning processes offered within CSML programs meet the rigorous educational standards established by said accrediting body. ACBSP’s mission is to promote continuous improvement and recognize teaching excellence through its recognition of business education programs throughout the world. Learn more here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I expect the dissertation process to be like?
The dissertation process for the doctorate in leadership program will occupy the final year-and-a-half of your curriculum. Starting in your 11th term, you will first begin your dissertation work while completing your leadership internship. Then from your 12th term, through your final 18th term, you will focus solely on the research, development, and completion of your dissertation before its ultimate presentation before an academic review board. The doctoral dissertation process accounts for 12 of the 60 credits in this program and is done at the rate of a single dissertation class per term, starting at Term 11. With a curriculum grounded in research methods and research design, you'll develop the analytical skills to support evidence-based practices in organizational learning and strategic leadership.
What scholarship and financial aid options are available to me?
Private and public scholarships can help you meet the cost of your education, and Alliant offers institutional scholarships for many of our students. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities here. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify in the form of loans, grants, federal work study, and military aid. Learn more in our Financial Options Guide.
When does the PhD in organizational leadership degree program start?
The organizational leadership program is offered as an eight-week term program and is open for enrollment during each of those respective enrollment periods. You can find a copy of our eight-week term academic calendar here.
What is the modality of this program?
Students do not have to be on any Alliant campus. The program is offered both online and at our San Diego campus, allowing you to choose the option that best fits your lifestyle. The program instruction of the organizational leadership online format combines distance asynchronous learning content with synchronous, one-hour live, weekly Zoom sessions in lecture-cum-office hour-Q/A style. The weekly Zoom sessions are not mandatory but are recorded and shared with the class. Field practical experience can be completed through applied learning in remote projects with clients or within their own workplaces. The field experience component makes it applicable for veterans.
How long does it take to complete the degree program?
The doctoral degree is a 60-credit program, term-based program (two months each term), and typically takes three years to complete, across 18 terms.
Whether you choose our in-person or online PhD program, you'll study applicable core courses through a challenging curriculum that is taught by our top faculty members. Some leadership studies covered in our core courses touch on organizational leadership, education leadership, cross-cultural and international management, and ethics in organizations. You will improve your leadership skills and gain mastery in strategic leadership within complex environments. At Alliant, we will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence you’ll need when taking on organizational leadership roles.
Studying at Alliant connects you to a supportive research/scholar community that values diversity and inclusion.
Why Alliant
At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and to promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve lives. We offer an education that is accredited, focused on practical knowledge and skills, connected with diverse faculty and alumni, and aimed at the student experience.
Why CSML
CSML is a business management school that trains you to have a competitive edge in the technology and quantitative fields. CSML offers management and leadership degrees where you can learn to guide and mentor the next generation of professionals and make your mark as an innovator in the modern business world.
