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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.
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)
Modality
- Online
Next Deadline
Summer and Fall 2025: February 15, 2025
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
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
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
- Associate Teaching Professor of Education
Expertise
- Research Methodology • Higher Education • Inequalities
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
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
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.
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
Tracy Poon Tambascia
- Professor of Higher Education
- Veronica and David Hagen Chair in Women’s Leadership
- Higher Education
Expertise
- Higher Education Administration • University Student Affairs • International Higher Education
Kenneth A. Yates
- Professor of Clinical Education
- Educational Psychology
Expertise
- Learning • Instruction • Motivation • Cognitive Sciences
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Program Contact
Estevan R. Hernandez, M.Ed
Senior Assistant Director, Office of Admission and Scholarships
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