Organizational Leadership Courses
The course schedules below should be used as an example. Contact your admission representative to discuss your specific course schedule.
Looking for the international cohort schedule?
43 Units
Students who hold a master’s degree or terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D. or professional doctorate) may be admitted with advanced standing and required to take only 43 units.
60 Units
Students without master’s degrees who have substantial work and leadership experience will be required to complete 60 units.
Part-time Option
Part-time study is available only for students in the 43-unit pathway who begin the program in the fall term.
Sample Course Schedules
Full Time 43-Unit Curriculum | Advanced Standing Track
| Semester | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Immersion 1 EDUE 661 | 3 units Leadership as a Critical Practice EDUE 667 | 3 units Foundations of Research | EDUE 692 | 3 units Current and Emerging Opportunities in Leadership EDUE 698 | 3 units Qualitative Methods and Analysis | EDUE 731 | 3 units Implementing Organizational Change EDUC 764A | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice EDUC 764B | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice |
| Term 2 | EDUE 671 | 3 units Leadership: Theories and Application EDUE 676 | 3 units Context of Organizational Change | Immersion 2 EDUE 709 | 3 units Facilitating Learning, Motivation, and Wellbeing Research EDUC 790 | 2 unit Research | EDUE 737 | 3 units Leadership for Impact EDUC 764C | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice EDUC 764D | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice |
| Term 3 | EDUE 682 | 3 units Designing Organizational Change EDUE 687 | 3 units Quantitative Methods and Descriptive Statistics | EDUE 716 | 3 units Evaluation and Data Use EDUC 791 | 1 unit Proposal for Doctoral Dissertation |
Part Time 43-Unit Curriculum | Advanced Standing Track
| Semester | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Immersion 1 EDUE 661 | 3 units Leadership as a Critical Practice | EDUE 687 | 3 units Quantitative Methods and Descriptive Statistics | EDUE 692 | 3 units Current and Emerging Opportunities in Leadership | EDUE 716 | 3 units Evaluation and Data Use EDUC 791 | 1 unit Proposal for Doctoral Dissertation |
| Term 2 | EDUE 667 | 3 units Foundations of Research | EDUE 671 | 3 units Leadership: Theories and Application | EDUE 698 | 3 units Qualitative Methods and Analysis | EDUE 731 | 3 units Implementing Organizational Change EDUC 764A, B | 2 units Dissertation in Practice |
| Term 3 | EDUE 676 | 3 units Context of Organizational Change | EDUE 682 | 3 units Designing Organizational Change | Immersion 2 EDUE 709 | 3 units Facilitating Learning, Motivation, and Wellbeing EDUC 790 | 2 unit Research | EDUE 731 | 3 units Implementing Organizational Change EDUC 764A, B | 2 unit Dissertation in Practice |
60-Unit Curriculum | Traditional Track
This pathway takes four years and includes completing 17 units of coursework drawn from one of the following programs prior to advancing into doctoral coursework: the Master of Education in Learning Design with AI and Emerging Technologies (LDAI), the Master of Education in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs (PASA), the Master of Education in Educational Counseling (EC), or the Master of Education in Sports Administration and Leadership (MSAL). The sample schedule below uses PASA for year 1 courses.
| Semester | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | EDUC 500 | 3 Units History of Higher Education EDHP 679 | 3 Units Legal Issues in the Administration of Higher Education | Immersion 1 EDUE 661 | 3 units Leadership as a Critical Practice EDUE 667 | 3 units Foundations of Research | EDUE 692 | 3 units Current and Emerging Issues in Leadership EDUE 698 | 3 units Qualitative Methods and Analysis | EDUE 731 | 3 units Implementing Organizational Change EDUC 764A | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice EDUC 764B | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice |
| Term 2 | EDHP 657 | 3 Units Leadership and Management of Student Affair Plus ONE of the following: EDUC 531 | 3 Units Student Disability Issues in Higher Education EDUC 611 | 3 Units Athletic Administration | EDUE 671 | 3 units Leadership: Theories and Application EDUE 676 | 3 units Context of Organizational Change | Immersion 2 EDUE 709 | 3 units Facilitating Learning, Motivation, and Wellbeing EDUC 790 | 2 units Research | Final Defense EDUE 737 | 3 units Leadership for Impact EDUC 764C | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice EDUC 764D | 1 unit Dissertation in Practice |
| Term 3 | EDUE 600 | 2 Units Foundations of Assessment and Evaluation Plus ONE of the following: EDUC 613 | 3 Units Title IX and Gender Issues EDUC 609 | 3 Units Academic Advising | EDUE 682 | 3 units Designing Organizational Change EDUE 687 | 3 units Quantitative Methods and Descriptive Statistics | Qualifying Exam / Proposal Defense EDUE 716 | 3 units Evaluation and Data Use EDUC 791 | 1 unit Proposal for Doctoral Dissertation |
Start Your Application
Scholarship funding is limited. All applicants are reviewed for merit-based scholarship consideration as part of the admissions process—no separate scholarship application is required. While admission to the program does not guarantee a scholarship, applying earlier may increase your opportunity for scholarship consideration. For the Organizational Change and Leadership program, merit-based scholarships may be worth up to $10,000. Eligible applicants are awarded based on academic achievement, alignment with the USC Rossier mission, and other selection criteria. Scholarship recipients are notified at the time of admission.
Apply NowQuestions about the program?
Contact:
Estevan R. Hernandez
Senior Assistant Director, Office of Admission and Scholarships