Online Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies

Total credit hours per program: 63 credit hours

Cost per credit hour: $415

Total cost with fees: $26,156

Students in the EdD in Leadership Studies online program must complete 63 credit hours of coursework.

Common Leadership Core (36 credit hours)

Concentration Core (12 credit hours)

Students will select one concentration. 

Leadership Studies Concentration

Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management Concentration

Health Communication & Leadership Concentration 

Research Core (15 credit hours)

The Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies is a competitive admissions program. Each year the program receives applications from a diverse group of professionals spanning industries which include, but are not limited to, healthcare, for/non-profit institutions, military, law enforcement and first responders, education, and a variety of other professions.

The following items should be sent directly to the LSUS Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. The LSUS Graduate Studies Application for Graduate Admission, complying with all applicable guidelines and standards official copies of transcripts of all prior college work attempted.
2. Master's degree from regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.5/4.0. Applicants with a cumulative graduate GPA between 3.0 and 3.49 may be considered for admission following the formal review process and an admission decision by the Department Chair of Leadership Studies.
3. All official transcripts from institutions where coursework has been attempted.

Items Required:

1. Resume/CV (3-5 years minimum of management/supervisor/leadership experience)
2. Professional recommendation letters from three sources
3. CLEAR Purpose statement from the applicant including:
   • How the degree fits within the applicant's professional and personal goals
   • The applicant's professional experience and how the applicant believes this will contribute to the program
   • The coursework, professional experience, or other professional development that has prepared the applicant for conducting doctoral level research
   • The applicant's area of research where there is a strong interest (leadership, health communication and leadership, or disaster preparedness and emergency management) and to explain the potential study that the applicant may want to develop. *Please provide explicit details on this requirement*

Applicants who are selected to continue to the next round of review will be contacted for an interview via Online Video Service (Zoom, Skype, Adobe Connect, etc.) Final notification of admission status will be provided upon the completion of reviews and selection of applicants.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the Leadership Studies Department.

Please note: The Ed.D. program is a competitive admissions program and as such, not all applicants who apply will be admitted. The program accepts approximately 35 new students per year.

*An important note to take into account is the misconception that this degree is in educational leadership when, in reality, it is not. Teachers might not qualify for this degree due to their limited leadership experience. On the other hand, K-12 Principals and Superintendents are eligible for application given their relevant experience.

• Chief Executive Officer
• Training and Development Manager
• Chief Human Resources Officer
• College President
• College Faculty
• Chief Learning Officer
• Provost
• Health Care Clinic Director
• Health Administrator
• Hospital Communications Director
• Director of Emergency Response

The program offers three concentrations:

• Leadership Studies is designed to help students explore the strategies that drive leadership to lead organizations through a dynamic vision, and prepare for the future with solid and proven leadership strategies. This concentration focuses on providing practical approaches for leading people and organizations in an ever changing world.
• Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management focuses on providing students with the ability to assess and avoid risks, remove communication barriers between activated teams, emergency disaster managers and communication specialists, and enhance emergency management skills for those operating in federal or state positions, hospitals, colleges and universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private industry.
• Health Communication & Leadership is designed to improve your ability to lead organizations in the health sector. This concentration allows students to develop the tools to integrate technology into leadership practices, enhance communication skills, and examine ways in which leaders drive organizations in different health settings.

In the online Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies from LSU Shreveport, you will gain a deep understanding of leadership theory grounded in real-world application. The program emphasizes data-informed decision-making, group dynamics, motivation, and the development of future leaders through mentoring and coaching. You'll explore how to build efficient learning and development environments, navigate the complexities of organizational power and influence, and apply research methodologies to drive practical, transformational change. The curriculum is designed to help you address real problems of practice in your field by collaborating with key stakeholders and applying relevant leadership strategies.

You can further tailor your experience through one of three concentrations: Leadership Studies, which focuses on adaptive leadership approaches for dynamic organizational change; Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management, which equips you to manage and communicate effectively in crisis environments across public and private sectors; and Health Communication & Leadership, which prepares you to lead in healthcare settings by integrating technology and enhancing communication. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, applied research, and networking opportunities, you'll emerge with the advanced skills needed to lead teams, organizations, and communities with purpose and impact.

Courses are offered in an accelerated format, year-round, at one course per 7-week session. We offer 1-course or 2-courses per session. Students can choose which they would like to pursue. At 2-courses per session, all core and concentration courses may be completed in 4 semesters (8 sessions) and the time to completion is just over 2 years. Otherwise, at 1-course per session, completion takes approximately 3.5 years. 

This degree offers small class sizes, access to faculty, weekly Zoom meetings for class, cutting edge curriculum with opportunities to network worldwide with professionals from diverse industries and opportunities for research and conference presentations.