Emphasis in the first year is placed on leadership theory, leading self, leading teams, moral and ethical foundations of leadership, organizational theory and behavior, and leading change and developing organizations. Students are also introduced to their first research methods course for an understanding of the unique requirements of applied and scholar-practitioner approaches to research and writing.
Orientation for DVDL Admitted Students
Students admitted to the Ph.D./D.B.A. in Values-Driven Leadership program are required to attend this 0 credit course at the beginning of their program. This course provides an overview of the curriculum, an explanation of the doctoral process, and an introduction to Benedictine University services, policies and procedures. New cohort students will also attend the Lecture Series Seminar along with current cohort students, faculty, and alumni.
Leadership Theory, Research, and Practice (4 credits)
This course focuses on understanding the major streams of thought in leadership theory, research and practice. Emphasis is placed on comparing and contrasting historical trends such as trait, behavioral, contingency, and charismatic theories of leadership and also exploring contemporary approaches such as transformational leadership, servant leadership, authentic leadership, positive leadership, and shared leadership. Personal assessment instruments and practical application projects allow students to develop and apply their personal leadership theory.
Research Methods I: Scholar-Practitioner Strategies
(4 credits)
This is the first of three research methods courses including (1) scholar-practitioner strategies, (2) qualitative research methods, and (3) quantitative research methods. This course is designed to help students develop an initial familiarity with statistics and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to research. Attention is also given to understanding the unique requirements of applied and scholar-practitioner approaches to research and writing. The remaining research courses are held in year two.
Leading Self: Your Career Leadership Legacy (4 credits)
This course has three primary objectives: (1) build strong working relationships among cohort members, (2) reinforce the initial introduction to leadership theory and research, and (3) allow each cohort member to strengthen their leadership vision and capacity by identifying and leveraging their unique strengths as a leader. Students complete a series of assessments and personal development activities to help clarify their leadership point-of-view, strengthen their leadership capacity, and engage in activities to create cohesion in the cohort group.
Leading Teams (4 credits)
Although most of us have been on various kinds of teams throughout our lives, we seldom take time to systematically observe and analyze how teams function and consider how they could be shaped and structured to function better. Yet observation and analysis are the first steps in understanding teams, shaping their dynamics, and ultimately improving their performance. In this course, students have the opportunity to analyze their own team processes and explore the dynamics of leading diverse, high-performing teams while learning from and applying the best of the team process and development literature.
Moral and Ethical Foundations of Leadership (4 credits)
This course explores social, moral, and ethical philosophy as it relates to leadership in the corporate arena. Specific attention is paid to comparing and contrasting theories on the purpose of business, human nature and relationships, ethical decision making, and the meaning of sustainability and relational accountability on an organizational, societal, and global level. Students relate these theoretical perspectives to their own purpose, values, and commitments as leaders, their approach to leading and enriching the lives of others, and the role they play in shaping the vision, mission, priorities, and strategies of their organizations.
Leadership Lecture Series Seminar I (4 credits)
Through the lecture series, we invite the world’s top scholars to Benedictine to present to the broader business community and interact personally with our Ph.D./D.B.A. students. Additionally, as part of this course, our students attend premier conferences within the field of study to present and engage with scholars and practitioners from around the world.
Organizational Theory and Behavior (4 credits)
This course focuses on identifying theory and research that frames the current study of organizations from the macro and micro perspectives. The first weekend examines competing schools of organizational theory that facilitate our attempts to understand organizations and key issues/topics. The second weekend focuses on micro issues of organizational behavior, including topics such as human needs and motivation, emotions, conflict, work stress, trust, and cross-cultural issues; as well as more recent positive deviance topics that capitalize on human strengths and capacities (peak performance; thriving and human flourishing; resilience; positive identity, meaning, emotions, and relationships; creativity; compassion).
Leading Change and Developing Organizations
(4 credits)
This course examines the theories and research regarding organizational culture, design, and change. Attention is devoted to understanding the structural and cultural leverage points that allow leaders to create sustainable value and build highly-ethical, highly-reliable, high-performing organizations. Attention is also paid to the processes and dynamics of leading successful large-scale organizational change from a senior executive position. Case studies, simulations, and application projects are used to translate theory into practice.
