The Online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership

From the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Achieve Organizational Goals Through Human-centered Leadership

The online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program from the UNC School of Education empowers working professionals with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to achieve organizational goals through a human-centered approach to leadership. 

Through flexible and collaborative online classes, aspiring leaders learn to implement and foster high-quality practices and cultures to achieve organizational goals and exceed expectations for professional growth.

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The Online UNC Ed.D. at a Glance

No master’s or GRE required

54 credit hours

36 months to complete

Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to equip students with the tools they need to empower the people around them to deliver on their organization’s goals and mission.

The 54-credit hour program consists of 17 courses, including a capstone project that asks students to explore a relevant organizational challenge based on their experiences.

An optional in-person immersion experience is available each spring semester to enrich the academic journey for students.

Learning Outcomes

The online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership prepares students to create organizational cultures that welcome diverse perspectives, lead organizations toward equitable practice, and empower people within their organization to succeed. Students will learn to:

  • Apply a wide array of styles, strategies, and theories to effectively lead organizations to learn, improve, and change.
  • Create an organizational culture where diverse voices and perspectives are invited, considered, and empowered to contribute to learning and improvement. 
  • Recognize and attend to organizational context through its stakeholder groups and organizational networks to effectively manage organizations within complex systems and improve those systems for the better.
  • Assess organizational structure and context including key organizational resources, internal and external stakeholders and the relationships among them, and the sources of organizational power to change systems for the better.
  • Collect, analyze, and use data and evidence to evaluate and reflect on the process of organizational learning and make ethical and effective choices for organizational advancement.

Admissions — Online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership

The online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program offers three start dates per year: January, May, and August. The UNC School of Education seeks applicants with a genuine interest in leadership and who are passionate about empowering people in their organization. A master’s degree and GRE/GMAT scores are not required.

Admissions Requirements: 

  • Minimum of three years of management or leadership experience in a professional work setting
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; less than 3.0 will require an explanation to accompany your application

See admissions criteria and application requirements.

The Online Experience

A complex world calls for flexible learning designed to meet the needs of a global workplace. In the online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program, students will find an intuitive platform, comprehensive support, and top-notch education designed for real people with real lives.

  • Attend weekly face-to-face classes, held on Zoom, that allow for rich discussion and debate with peers and faculty.
  • Complete interactive assignments, using a customizable platform that follows best practices for online learning. 
  • Meet faculty and peers at optional in-person immersions, where you’ll network and apply what you’ve learned. 
  • Access full-spectrum career services, including interview prep, one-on-one coaching, self-assessments, and salary resources.
  • Connect with a student success advisor, who will serve as your dedicated partner throughout the program.

UNC School of Education Faculty

UNC School of Education faculty members in the Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program are committed to empowering the next generation of responsible and passionate organizational leaders. Our exceptional faculty members have expertise in organizational change and implementation science, evaluation, and leadership, making the Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership a unique program where faculty provide students with the tools needed to be successful in the pursuit of a doctorate degree and in accessing professional opportunities. This program was designed and launched to help students acquire the skills needed in leadership within organizations and directly apply them in the field, making a difference across multiple industries in organizations.

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Optional In-Person Immersion 

Each spring, an optional in-person immersion in the Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program provides a dynamic learning opportunity that fosters community building, connects students with program faculty, and offers a platform for exploration, exposure to real-world leadership practices, and networking with peers from other programs within the UNC School of Education. 

Key aspects of the immersion experience include:

  • Development of a strong and supportive community among students through team-building exercises, group discussions, and campus events — enhancing academic and professional networks for lifelong benefit.

  • Build rapport with program faculty in an informal setting, gaining insights into teaching philosophies and research expertise, fostering a supportive learning environment and encouraging open communication.

  • Explore various academic and professional opportunities within the program, UNC School of Education, and the University, aiding in the alignment of the academic journey with professional goals.

  • Connect with industry leaders in organizational learning and leadership through guest speakers, interactive discussions, and insights-sharing sessions, enriching understanding and networking in the field.

Capstone Project

The capstone experience in the Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership program is the culmination of the academic rigor and practical learning acquired throughout the program. The capstone is designed to showcase the student’s ability to apply theoretical knowledge, empirical research, and innovative thinking to address complex challenges within organizational learning and leadership. While the capstone project comes later in the program, the curriculum has been designed carefully to scaffold student work toward the capstone throughout the program. It provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their expertise to make lasting improvements and impact in an organization. The capstone includes a three-semester course sequence in which students identify a problem of practice — a complex and/or pervasive problem within the organization in which they work or within another organization’s practice — and, using lessons from past coursework, explore ways to solve it. Their research results in a written capstone report that details the organizational challenge, their process and findings, and their decision-making — all of which their capstone committee will review. During capstone seminars, students explore best practices for working on large analytic projects, receive personalized guidance and feedback on their efforts from instructors, and learn from their peers as they both give and receive feedback on projects.

Key aspects of the capstone experience include:

  • The journey begins with the identification of a significant problem or challenge within an organizational context. This problem should be real and impactful, reflecting the complexities and nuances that leaders often face.

  • Students will conduct an in-depth review of relevant literature and theoretical frameworks. This phase helps them establish a solid theoretical foundation for addressing the identified problem and provides insight into existing research and best practices.

  • Choosing appropriate research methods and data collection techniques is a crucial component of the program and is offered through a series of research methods courses. Whether the capstone involves qualitative or quantitative research, surveys, interviews, case studies, or a combination of methods, the methodology should align with the challenge being studied.

  • Students will gather and analyze data to gain insights into the problem. This phase involves rigorously analyzing data to draw meaningful conclusions and patterns that will inform potential solutions.

  • One of the distinguishing features of this capstone is the emphasis on a human-centered approach. Students will focus on understanding the needs, perspectives, and experiences of individuals within the organization, recognizing that the success of any intervention or solution depends on the engagement and well-being of its members.

  • Based on research findings, students will generate innovative solutions and strategies that address the identified problem. These solutions are designed to be practical, actionable, and tailored to the specific organizational context.

  • A well-thought-out implementation plan is crucial for translating ideas into action. Students will develop a detailed roadmap for executing their proposed solutions, considering factors such as change management, resource allocation, and timelines.

  • After implementing the solutions, students will evaluate the effectiveness and measure the impact on the organization. This stage often involves revisiting the research data to assess whether the problem has been successfully mitigated and whether new challenges have arisen.

  • As a final step, students will reflect on their journey, lessons learned, and the combination of their academic and practical experiences. The reflection process contributes to the development of critical self-awareness and a deeper understanding of their role as organizational leaders.

Organizational Leadership Careers

This program prepares graduates to pursue a variety of organizational roles across multiple industries. Whether working alongside HR to develop talent and support employees in healthcare settings, working directly with members of leadership in higher education to drive positive change, or implementing new systems and practices to achieve greater efficiency in a nonprofit, graduates will be expert leaders, ready to achieve goals to fulfill their organization’s mission and make a difference. Examples of roles this program prepares graduates for include, but are not limited to, high-level leadership as a: 

  • Business and management consultant
  • Human resources manager
  • Project manager or coordinator
  • Medical and health service manager
  • Sales and marketing manager
  • Leadership coaching or development
  • Business or organization executive
  • Nonprofit administrator

Become a Human-Centered Leader in Your Organization

Gain the skills to positively change lives with the online Ed.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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