Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy

Scholarships and Grants-in-Aid

Scholarships and grant-in-aid for doctoral students may be available to qualified candidates via the university, the college, and other sources of assistance (e.g. endowments and research project grants). Also, individual candidate-employer contracts may be a key factor of financial support for some Ph.D. candidates given their advanced professional level and status in their respective organization.

Curriculum for the Ph.D.

The Ph.D. requires 60 credit hours beyond a master's degree with at least  48 of those credit hours completed at Niagara University. The program admits candidates who have evidence of scholarly work and who are established leaders.

The program consists of two key components: the leadership and policy study core (30 credits) and the research study core (30 credits). All candidates for the Ph.D. in leadership and policy complete required courses as cohort members and have the opportunity to work individually toward their dissertation topic. During the first year of study, cohort members fulfill the doctoral residency requirement by completing nine credit hours in the fall semester and nine credit hours in the spring semester. Classes are held on Friday evenings and on Saturdays to accommodate professional schedules.

Requirements for Admission

The admission requirements for the program are as follows:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Two years of post-master's professional work experience.
• A professional writing sample consisting of one of the following:
  Single author refereed journal or single author conference paper.
  Critical review of a book, article, video, etc. (750 words or more).
  Chapter of a graduate thesis or representative paper from a graduate class.
• Curriculum vitae or professional resume.
  A goal statement of at least 500 words that answers the question, “How will this doctoral program in leadership and policy address my future professional goals?"
• Personal interview
  If distance is an issue, a phone or Skype-type Internet interview may substitute.
• Three letters of professional recommendation.
• Foreign applicants must submit the results of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a score of at least 550.

The above testing requirement may be modified by the Dean of the College of Education under special circumstances.

Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy Information Sessions

Drawing on extensive research experience and real-world understanding and practice, our faculty prepares students to be thoughtful and effective agents of change in leadership and policy positions. As a result of their work at Niagara, in generating new knowledge that positions them to make a significant impact on organizations and individuals at the local, national and international levels, our Ph.D. graduates are prepared to engage in meaningful careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. To learn more about our doctoral community of scholarship and research, we invite you to attend one of the Ph.D. information session dates we offer.