Ph.D. in Leadership

Acquire advanced knowledge and skills in a program designed for professional adults

This program is designed for working professionals who are emerging leaders in their field. The executive design allows students to complete the program in as little as three years by completing coursework and while working on their dissertation. The program is ideal for those who have completed a master’s degree at an accredited institution, with an option available for those who have reached all but dissertation (A.B.D.) status at another institution and wish to complete their doctorate at ��ֱ��.

Courses are delivered in a hybrid format with four 3-hour in-person meetings per term, approximately every other week, with the balance of coursework to be completed asynchronously online. Each student will be assigned a faculty advisor to chair their dissertation committee and must identify two other committee members from their network to guide them through the dissertation process.

A.B.D. Provides Pathway to Doctoral Degree

This is a pathway for the student who has not completed the dissertation requirements of another doctoral program. Our A.B.D. pathway option features a dissertation completion approach customized to the individual student. Through a portfolio assessment of the competencies acquired from prior coursework, students may transfer in the equivalent for up to 42 credit hours in this 60-credit hour doctoral program.

The A.B.D. pathway requires a minimum of 18 hours of coursework to be completed at ��ֱ��. Transfer courses will be considered individually for applicants who began doctoral coursework at another institution but are not A.B.D. The A.B.D. pathway is currently accomplished through a transfer exception process. Students will work with their admissions counselor for individual pathways.

Estimated Program Length	4 years
Credit Hours	60
Course Length	7 weeks
Transfer Credits Accepted	Up to 42
Cost per Credit	$900

In This Section

Graduate Programs

Application Instructions

A new cohort starts each fall and spring semester. Along with your completed application accompanied by $50 non-refundable application fee, you’ll need to provide a few supporting materials. Because there’s lead time required for some items, here’s a step-by-step process that seems to work best for candidates:

While you wait for your transcripts to be processed, you can begin your online application, which lets you build, edit and save sections of your application along the way.
Order your official transcript(s). Official transcript(s) indicating that the applicant has earned a master's degree from an accredited college or university.
Personal Statement. One-page statement that summarizes the value of the program of doctoral study for your personal or professional growth and development.
Writing Sample. Upload a copy of your master's thesis/paper or published work. Alternatively, you may provide a written response to the following question: What do you think is a major or current issue, in your area of expertise, that has a significant impact regarding the community?
Professional Resume.
Three letters of recommendation. Letters are accepted from professors, employers, or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s professional experiences.
Interview with the Ph.D. Program Director and Faculty member. After all the required application materials have been received, each applicant will be contacted to arrange for a personal interview.
Test scores (GRE, GMAT, or MAT) may be needed in consideration of an applicant with a Master's degree GPA below 3.25.
International applicants may have additional requirements and can review the application process for international students.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. ��ֱ��’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Career Outlook

After earning your Ph.D. in Leadership, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

Institutions of higher education
Institutions of secondary education
Corporations
Nonprofit organizations
State/local government
Tenured/tenure-track college faculty
VP/dean/associate Provost
Superintendent/principal/school administrator
CEO/COO/manager
Executive director/director/program manager

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Students in the program present at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals and co-author books with faculty mentors.
As part of the unique Sustainability Immersion Program, students have the option to participate in a one-week leadership program that immerses them in the community in which the experience is located. Students gain firsthand knowledge of what it takes to successfully collaborate across a community to create real change. This program is regularly run in New Brunswick, Canada.

Accreditation Statements

Alvernia's Ph.D. in Leadership program is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about ��ֱ��’s Ph.D. in Leadership program contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 610-796-5187 or gradandadult@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to Nicholas Nicoletti at 610-796-8355 or nicholas.nicoletti@alvernia.edu.