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Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership (online)

Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership (online)

This program is designed for working professionals with leadership experience who desire to work in a variety of industries including colleges and universities, private firms, nonprofits and government organizations. This program is not recommended for individuals interested in K-12 settings.

Organizational change is a complex process that requires skilled leadership. Equip yourself with the tools to interrogate the systems of power that shape policies and practices and lead effective and innovative solutions.

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Program Overview

The Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership online (OCL online) program will prepare you to lead systemic improvement and foster equitable practices and policies in your organization by applying research-based strategies.

Through this program you will:

Earn a doctorate from a school with a strong reputation among employers
Continue to work full time while taking evening or Saturday classes online
Gain interdisciplinary insight as you learn alongside a cohort of leaders from a variety of industries

Program Tracks

The OCL online program offers two tracks—a track for those entering the program with a master’s or terminal degree and a track for those entering the program without a master’s degree.

43-Unit Track

If you hold a master’s degree or terminal degree (e.g., PhD or professional doctorate), you may, at the discretion of the admission committee, be admitted with advanced standing and be required to take only 43 units in order to complete the program. The 43-unit track takes approximately three years to complete.

60-Unit Track (only offered in the Fall)

If you do not have a master’s degree, you have the option to enroll in the 60-unit track and complete 17 units of coursework in the Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology online (LDT online) program prior to advancing into doctoral coursework. Students on this track do not earn a Master’s degree, but are awarded a Learning Design and Technology certificate, a University-recognized academic certificate designed to demonstrate completed coursework in a specialization and to support career advancement on the path to an EdD degree.

Curriculum

The OCL online curriculum is structured around three themes:

Leading Organizational Change: Develop leadership practices to advance equity and apply principles of organizational behavior, learning and motivation to enhance the development of talent and organizational performance.

Data-Informed Decision Making: Strengthen your ability to make evidence-based decisions and effectively use data to inform decisions and address problems.

Critical Reflection: Engage with the USC Rossier mission to assess your own leadership practices and reflect on your own beliefs and experiences to foster inclusive and equitable environments.

Dissertation in Practice

The OCL online program culminates with a dissertation in practice that will allow you to demonstrate effective application of the program’s theories and concepts. You will address a problem of practice in an organization or professional field and gather data to answer research questions and provide recommendations.

Online Learning Experience

The online learning experience blends interaction with student colleagues and faculty during scheduled weekly live class sessions and content experiences and coursework assignments on the learning management system. Live class sessions are facilitated by faculty and include highly interactive, engaging and collaborative small-group discussions.

On-Campus Immersion

In the first and fifth terms of the program, you will be required to attend an immersion weekend held on the USC University Park campus. This immersion experience will give you the opportunity to meet your classmates and professors face to face and complete various collaborative learning exercises designed to build essential leadership skills.

This program is not eligible for I-20/DS-2019 issuance. International students who would otherwise need a I-20/DS-2019 are welcome to pursue the program online from their home country; the in-person program component requirements will be waived or alternatively, your faculty and/or academic advisor will confirm the arrangements to complete the requirements from your home country. If you have questions, please contact Anna Chiang at annachia@rossier.usc.edu

Scholarships

As an applicant, you will be automatically considered for a scholarship of up to $7,500. There is no need to submit a separate application for this scholarship. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. All USC scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.

View USC Rossier’s scholarship finder to identify other scholarships and funding opportunities. You do not have to be admitted to apply to these scholarships. Carefully note the scholarship application deadlines, which may occur before the final program application deadline.

Financial Aid

The USC Office of Student Financial Aid provides information regarding various types of financial aid and financing options.

To be considered for financial aid, you must apply by filing the FAFSA. After you apply, the financial aid office will determine your financial need and inform you of the federal or private loans that are available to you.

Career Outcomes

Many OCL online alumni can be found in leadership roles across a number of private and public industries.

Potential roles include:

Colleges & Universities
Associate Professor
Higher Education Administrator
Athletic Director
Private Firms

Human Resources Director
Finance Director
Healthcare Administrator
CEO

Nonprofit Organizations
Manager/Executive Director
Planning Director
Chief Operating Officer

Government Organizations
Police Chief
Museum Director
Educational Coordinator

Program Details

Degree Awarded

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Estimated Length

3-4 years

Units

43-60

Program Cost

$2,354 per unit (estimated)

Estimated cost of attendance

Modality

Online

Next Deadline

Summer and Fall 2025: December 1, 2024

See all deadlines

Start Date

January, May or August

Class Times

Select from class times Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening or Saturday morning in the Pacific Time Zone

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Faculty

Our professors are top practitioners dedicated to supporting your growth and challenging your perspective

Stephen J. Aguilar

Associate Professor of Education

Educational Psychology

Expertise

Learning Analytics • EdTech & Generative AI • Digital Equity • Educational Data Science • Motivation & Self-Regulation

Shafiqa Ahmadi

Professor of Clinical Education
Co-director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice

Higher Education

Expertise

Diversity • Legal Protection of Underrepresented Students, Including Female Muslims, Bias and Hate Crimes, and Sexual Assault Survivors

Melanie Brady

Master Lecturer of Education

Educational Psychology

Expertise

• Educational psychology • Instrumentation design and development • Metacognition, health, and education • Organizational leadership and change • Metacognition to improve clnical practice in acute care settings

Patricia Burch

Professor of Education
Co-director of CEPEG

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Organizational and Institutional Change • Education Policy • Intersection of Public and Private Partnerships in Education • Digital Instruction • Policy Implementation and Impact • Equity and Quality in Public School Instruction

Eric Canny

Assistant Teaching Professor of Education

Higher Education

Expertise

Organizational and Institutional Change Organizational Alignment Design Thinking Accountability Leadership Higher Education Workforce trends and development

Paula M. Carbone

Professor (Teaching) of Education

Teacher Education

Expertise

Teacher Education

Monique Claire Datta

Teaching Professor of Education

K-12 Education Policy

Omar Ezzeldine

Adjunct Professor

Kimberly Ferrario

Teaching Professor of Education

Teacher Education

Robert A. Filback

Professor of Clinical Education

Higher Education

Expertise

International and comparative higher education, learning design and program development, online and digital Learning, English language education and policy, fostering creativity and innovation

Susanne M. Foulk

Senior Lecturer

Educational Psychology

Expertise

Educational Psychology, Educational Leadership and Organizational Change, Educational Interventions for Transitional Aged Youth in the Foster Care System

Richard J. Grad

Adjunct Associate Professor

Kim Hirabayashi

Professor of Clinical Education

Educational Psychology

Corinne Hyde

Professor of Clinical Education

Teacher Education

Expertise

Learning Theories • Educational Technology • Information Literacy • Critical Media Literacy • Elementary Education • Teaching and Learning Online

Esther Chihye Kim

Assistant Teaching Professor of Education

Expertise

Research Methodology • Higher Education • Inequalities

Cathy Krop

Professor of Clinical Education

K-12 Education Policy

Jihye Kwon

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Associate Director for Survey Research

Higher Education

Expertise

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion • Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodology • Survey Research • Institutional Research • Finance in Higher Education

Doug Lynch

Senior Fellow

Higher Education

Expertise

Corporate Learning • Online Learning • Education Entrepreneurship * Higher Education * Ed Tech

Nicole M.G. Maccalla, PhD

Part-Time Senior Lecturer

Expertise

Research • Evaluation

Courtney L. Malloy

Professor of Clinical Education

Educational Psychology

R. (Thea) Miller-Smith, Ed.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Expertise

Dr. Thea Miller-Smith collectively has 24 years of experience in contract administration and currently serves as a Contracting Officer for the federal government, where she is responsible for the total contract administration, leading teams of Contract Specialist to provide a full range of contract administration functions and actions for pivotal contracts, with the goal of ensuring mission continuity for America’s Warfighters. Dr. Miller-Smith also serves as Chairperson for her agency’s (Defense Logistics Agency [DLA]) Committee to Advance Equity & Inclusion, formerly the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee. She is passionate about being an influencer and change agent to ensure workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion are achieved. In addition to pushing DE&I efforts in the workplace, her passions include providing supports and guidance to current adult learners who are looking to achieve success in their educational pursuits. As a former adult learner, she thoroughly enjoys sharing her own journey as encouragement to others. She also serves as a Personal Care Attendant to assist and advance the lives of high functioning Autistic young adults with learning basic life skills with an emphasis in budgeting.

Eugenia Mora-Flores

Professor of Clinical Education, Assistant Dean of Teacher Education

Teacher Education

Expertise

Multilingual Learners • Bilingual Education • Language and Literacy Development TK-12 • Educational Rights for English Learners • Latino Culture in Schools • English Language Development and Instruction • Adolescent Literacy • writing Instruction and Learning

Alison Keller Muraszewski

Adjunct Associate Professor

Teacher Education

Erika Page

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Lawrence O. Picus

Richard T. Cooper and Mary Catherine Cooper Chair in Public School Administration
Professor of Education Finance and Policy
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Public Financing of Schools

Kalim T'neal Rayburn

Adjunct Professor

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Organizational Change Leadership, Educational Leadership, data analysis, curriculum & instruction, English language learners.

Christopher Riddick

Adjunct Associate Professor

Marsha Boveja Riggio, Ph.D.

Associate (Teaching) Professor of Teaching

K-12 Education Policy

Expertise

Educational Psychology • K-12 Education • Diversity • Leadership • Supervision • School Counseling • Adolescents • Military

Julie Slayton

Professor of Clinical Education

Teacher Education

Expertise

Schools • School District Systems

Themistocles Sparangis

Adjunct Associate Professor

Teacher Education

Expertise

Teaching • IT Infrastructure and Application Design, Implementation and Support • Project Management • Strategic Planning • Resource Management • Financial Analysis/Budgeting • Legislative Review/Analysis • Customer Relations • Community Relations and IT Partnerships • Grant Development and Implementation • Diplomacy/Facilitation/Mediation • Evaluative Educational Research