Leadership Studies

School/College:  School of Education
Degree(s) Offered: Doctor of Philosophy
Department Chair: Abul Pitre  Email:  apitre@ncat.edu   Phone: 336-256-2342

The doctoral program in leadership studies prepares tomorrow’s leaders to solve societal challenges through the study of theoretical and practical knowledge in leadership studies. Through its commitment to civic engagement, transformative research and creative scholarship the program produces scholars who are critical thinkers and social justice advocates capable of transforming organizations and institutions to maximize human potential. Using self-knowledge, critical theory, diversity, and ethics, students in the program are provided with the knowledge needed to build more humane organizations, relationships, and societies. The program offers concentration areas in Community College Leadership, African American Leadership Studies, Leadership for Diversity and Educational Justice, and Transformative Leadership for Civic and Community Engagement.

Additional Admission Requirements

• A master’s degree from a college or university recognized by a regional or general accrediting agency.
• Interest in conducting research in leadership studies. Preferred experience in a leadership or administrative capacity.
• A completed Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test, or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) as applicable to the discipline area of the student.
• An applicant with their highest degree from a non-English-speaking country is required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination and obtain a score of 600 or higher on the written examination or 250 or higher on the computer examination.
• An applicant is interviewed by an Admission Committee as part of the admission requirements, prior to the recommendation for acceptance into the program.

Program Outcomes

1. Ph. D. candidates will demonstrate understanding of major leadership theories in Leadership Studies, and the ability to analyze and critique these theories, and apply these theories in diverse settings.
2. Ph. D. candidates will effectively demonstrate decision making skills and a repertoire of knowledge needed to lead, organize, and engage diverse local, national, and global communities.
3. Ph.D. candidates will be able to use a range of perspectives from interdisciplinary fields of study particularly to provide leadership that addresses societal challenges.
4. Ph. D. candidates will articulate an understanding of the role of ethics in leadership, and develop ethical reasoning as well as reflection skills that promote social justice.
5. Ph. D. candidates will demonstrate the ability to design, analyze, critique, and conduct research using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research techniques.

Degree Requirements

The credit hours required for the program requires a minimum of 51 credit hours beyond the master’s degree. 

LEST 800. Leadership Theories (3credit hours)

LEST 801. Pro-Seminar in Leadership Studies (0 credit hours)

LEST 802. Decision-Making Theories and Strategies (3 credit hours)

LEST 810. Ethics and Social Responsibility (3 credit hours)

LEST 812. Contemporary Issues in Cultural Diversity (3 credit hours)

LEST 840. Organizational Structure and Dynamics (3 credit hours)

LEST 850. Leadership in the Global Economy and Society (3 credit hours)

LEST 991. Comprehensive Exam (0 credit hours)

Research Course(s) (12 Credit Hours)

LEST 815. Research Design and Methodology (3 credit hours)

LEST 860. Qualitative Research (3 credit hours)

LEST 862. Quantitative Research (3 credit hours)

Choose One (1) Additional Research Methodology Course

 LEST 861. Computer Aided Research (3 credit hours)

 LEST 863. Statistical Applications & Interpretations (3 credit hours)

 LEST 864. Ethnographic Methods (3 credit hours)

 LEST 865. Mixed Methods Research (3 credit hours)

 BUAD 744.  Enterprise Data Modeling (3 credit hours)

 CSE 704. Computational Modeling (3 credit hours)

 INST 753. Program Evaluation (3 credit hours)

 Other appropriate methodology course

Dissertation (9 Credit Hours)

LEST 870. Internship in Leadership (3 credit hours)

LEST 900. Dissertation Research (3 credit hours)

LEST 930. Dissertation Writing (3 credit hours)

Concentration (12 hours required):

Students have the option of selecting courses in the following areas:

• Community College Leadership
• African American Leadership Studies
• Leadership for Diversity and Educational Justice
• Transformative Leadership for Civic and Community Engagement
• Individualized Concentration

Comprehensive Exam:       Required

Admission to Candidacy

• Written Preliminary Comprehensive Examination after the completion of courses.
• Successful presentation and defense of research proposal to the student’s dissertation committee

Directory of Faculty

• Ceola Baber, Professor of Leadership Studies; B.A., California State University, M.A., Stanford University,  Ph.D. Purdue University
• Elizabeth Barber, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies; B.A., Roanoke College, English, Psychology and Education, M.S., Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Literacy Studies
• Edward Fort, Chancellor Emeritus, Professor, B.S., Wayne State University; M.S., Wayne State University; Ed.D., Educational Administration/Leadership, University of California Berkeley
• William Harvey, Dean School of Education and Professor of Leadership Studies; B.A. English, West Chester University, Ed.M. Social and Philosophical Foundations, Rutgers University, Ed.D. Anthropology of Education, Rutgers University
• Daniel Miller, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies; B.S., University of Nebraska, Psychology, M.S., Ph.D., Cornell University, Organizational Behavior/Educational Leadership/Public Policy
• Comfort Okpala, Professor of Leadership Studies, B.S., Accounting, Roosevelt University, MBA, Business Management, Governors State University, Ed.D., Fayetteville State University, Educational Leadership & Research
• Abul Pitre, Associate Professor/Chair, Leadership Studies; B.S., Southern University, Social Studies Education, M.A., Social Science/History, Southern University, Ph.D., Colorado State University, Educational Leadership/Teacher Education
• Forrest Toms, Associate Professor of Leadership Studies B.S., M.A., Middle Tennessee State University; Ph.D., Howard University

Contributing Faculty

• Vincent W. Childress, Professor, School of Technology, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University;
• Olen Cole, Jr., Professor /Chair, History Department, B.A., M.A., California State University at Fresno; Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Chiekewe Anyansi-Archibong, Professor of Strategic and International Management, B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D., University of Kansas
• Brian Sims, Assistant Professor, Psychology Department, B.A., Florida A&M University; Ph.D., University of Michigan
• Silvanus Udoka, Associate Professor/Chair Department of Management, B.S., Weber State University; M.S., Ph.D., Oklahoma State University

Adjunct Faculty

• Don Cameron, Adjunct Professor, B.S. Atlantic Christian College, MAT, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Health & Physical Education, Ed.D. Nova University, Community College Education
• William Gentry, Adjunct Associate Professor, B.S., Psychology, Emory University, M.S., University of Georgia, Psychology, Ph.D., University of Georgia, Psychology
• Belinda McFeeters, Adjunct Associate Professor University of North Carolina at Greensboro, B.S., Business & Community Services, Minor: Sociology; 2nd Minor: Human Development and Family Studies, M.S., North Carolina A&T State University, Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University,
• Cynthia McCauley, Adjunct Associate Professor, B.A., King College, Psychology, M.A., Ph.D., University of Georgia, Industrial Organizational Psychology;
• Louie Ross, Adjunct Associate Professor, B.S. Fayetteville State University, M. A., North Carolina Central University, Sociology, Ph.D. North Carolina State University, Sociology
• Ellen Van Velsor, Adjunct Associate Professor, B.A., Southern New York University, Sociology, M.A., University of Florida, Sociology, Ph.D., University of Florida, Sociology