Leadership, Ph.D.

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

Our Leadership, Ph.D. program is designed for professionals seeking expertise in leadership research, theory, and practice. The program's flexible hybrid format allows students to balance doctoral studies with career responsibilities.

The degree emphasizes methodological training, equipping students with advanced research skills to address real-world leadership challenges.
Students engage in advanced scholarship that explores leadership's impact across a student's chosen track, including corporate, education, and community concentrations. Moreover, the study of leadership touches upon many disciplines, including business, politics, criminal justice, psychology, sustainability, and more.
Program faculty also come from a wide range of disciplines. Consequently, student research can encompass topics they are deeply interested in, and that focus on their career objectives.
The program prepares graduates for executive leadership roles, consultancy, and faculty positions in academia, making it an excellent choice for those seeking to bridge research and practice

Dissertation

A Ph.D. program with a dissertation is more than a degree - it's a transformative journey that develops scholars, thought leaders, and problem-solvers. Unlike coursework-only doctorates or master’s degrees, a dissertation nurtures innovative thinking, research proficiency, and the ability to apply theory to real-world leadership challenges. It prepares graduates not just to consume knowledge but to create novel findings from original research. Students present and publish their work and use it to influence change in their fields. At ��ֱ��, our dissertation process empowers students to produce work that is both academically rigorous and deeply relevant to their professional passions. That’s the hallmark of true doctoral scholarship and the foundation for a strong academic program.

A.B.D. Pathway

Our program offers an A.B.D. (All But Dissertation) pathway for students who have completed doctoral coursework elsewhere, allowing them to transfer up to 42 credits, receive expert mentorship, and finish their dissertation in a supportive academic environment. Please see admissions requirements below for additional items required for A.B.D. applicants.

Program Delivery	Hybrid; fully remote option available
Estimated Program Length	4-6 years
Credit Hours	60
Course Length	7 weeks
Transfer Credits Accepted	Up to 42
Cost per Credit	$900*

In This Section

Ph.D. in Leadership

Admissions Requirements

Start dates available in the fall (August), spring (January), and summer (May). 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:

Order your official transcript(s) indicating that you have earned a master's degree from an accredited college or university, send to gradandadult@alvernia.edu.
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.
Personal 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.
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.

A.B.D. Applicant Guidelines

A.B.D. Applicants should indicate in their application that they are applying for the A.B.D. Pathway; you will be asked to provide a portfolio containing the following items for review by the Director and faculty for admission into the program:

Official master's and doctoral transcripts; send to gradandadult@alvernia.edu
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Evidence must be provided that the applicant has qualified for “candidate” status in a research doctoral program. Evidence may include one of the following items:
- a transcript with a passing grade on a qualifying exam at their previous university.
- if a qualifying exam is not listed on the official transcript, then a letter of reference is required from the previous university stating that the applicant has achieved “candidate” status
- an alternative method to established in consultation with the program director, such as a modified exam or peer-reviewed publication(s).
A writing sample or publication of at least 3,000 words in APA format.
- Example: A draft research proposal for review by the Director and a select group teaching in the program.

After all the required application materials have been received, each applicant will be contacted to arrange for a personal interview. The Director will review the applicant’s portfolio and faculty comments to prepare an academic plan. Upon a candidate's acceptance into the program, the student will be responsible for working with the chair to establish a dissertation committee.

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.

Request More Information

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.