& Student Handbook - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

254 Doctorate Degree Programs
Required Courses: 13 cr.
Comprehensive Examination
When all coursework, including that in the student’s track, has been
completed, the student will be required to pass a comprehensive
examination before being admitted to candidacy and allowed to continue
to the next stage in the program.
EDD899 Comprehensive Examination................................................1 cr.
Dissertation
A minimum of 12 dissertation credits (EDD830) must be taken during the
time following the passing of the comprehensive examination. It is
required that the candidate register for a one credit dissertation course in
each semester following the comprehensive examination until the
dissertation is complete and has been defended by the candidate and
accepted by the university. Students should register for the section
assigned to their committee chairperson.
EDD830 Dissertation..............................................................(variable cr.)
Faculty
Faculty members and advisers for the Doctorate of Education in
Leadership program have earned doctorate or equivalent preparation in
the areas they teach. Faculty members are selected for their combination
of educational and professional expertise.
Required Course Descriptions
EDD801
Organizational Theory (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809
This course introduces the field of organizational behavior by examining
the historical development of the theory of organizations. It identifies the
major concepts of the theories and introduces students to modern
paradigms.
EDD802
Leadership Theory (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809
This course exposes the student to applied theories of leadership
behavior. It surveys the concepts of leadership effectiveness: leaders as
change agents, and leaders as servants. The role of leadership in
organizational communication, control, empowerment, and conflict
resolution are covered.
EDD804
Environmental Analysis (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809
This course presents a variety of research methods to examine factors
both internal and external to an organization. It stresses both
environmental theory and application in the use of rigorous methods for
conducting applied research. Methods investigated include personal
assessment, focus groups, analyzing media messages, stakeholder
analysis, and force field analysis.
EDD805
Ethical Dimensions in Organizational Leadership (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809
This course focuses on developing an awareness of the major ethical
positions and critically examining the foundational ethical theories and
decision-making processes throughout history. Various ethical theories
are examined in relation to contemporary examples of the ethical
challenges faced by leadership. The course seeks to enable individuals
to reflect on their personal ethical stances and to analyze and critique
ethical issues related to a variety of leadership contexts and situations.
EDD809
Advanced Research Writing (3 cr.)
This course focuses on developing and refining a writing process for
extensive research projects. Emphasis is on identifying and
strengthening one’s “voice” as an academic writer; establishing a
relationship with readers; achieving advanced skills in development,
analysis, revision of ideas, and editing to mastery of research writing.
APA style of writing is a key component of the class.
EDD810
Organizational Communication and Personal Power (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809
This course studies the relationship between effective organizational
communication strategies and the personal empowerment needed in
transformational leadership. Emotional intelligence, the cultural
perspectives on organizational structure, organizational ideology, and
organizational symbolism are examined to understand the complexities
of organizational communication. Strategies for communicating
effectively within organizations are analyzed and synthesized.
Required Education Courses
EDD811
Theories of Adult Learning (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809
This course addresses a comprehensive range of theories of adult
learning and explores such issues as demographics and characteristics
of adult learners, motivation, developmental theories, the impact of age
on learning, learning styles, cross-cultural issues, and both old and new
learning technologies.
EDD812
Advanced Teaching Techniques for Adult Learners (3 cr.)
Prerequisite: EDD809, EDD811, EDD814
Participants in this course examine characteristics of adult learners as
students or employees, and explore various methods of more effectively
working with adult learners. Participants analyze continuous
improvement within a learning organization, work environments as
places of learning for adults, and the leader employee relationship as a
facilitator of learning and change. Ongoing application of new learning to
the participants’ work setting is a critical aspect of the course.