Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Agribusiness, Specialization in Sustainable Community Development

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Agribusiness

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project

Advanced faith-based agribusiness and specialization courses

30 credit hours

Leadership, administration, and professional practice

21 credit hours

Research methods and program evaluation

18 credit hours

Professional application and doctoral residency

15 credit hours

Advanced electives or concentration courses

12 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Applied doctoral project and defense

18 credit hours

Total

120 semester credit hours

The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Agribusiness with a specialization in Sustainable Community Development is a rigorous, research-intensive program designed to prepare scholars and practitioners to address the intersection of food systems, economic viability, and community transformation. Students engage with advanced theories in agricultural economics, global development, and resource management, grounding their research in ethical stewardship and servant leadership. The program emphasizes the development of technical proficiency alongside a compassionate commitment to global sustainability.

Throughout this curriculum, candidates will synthesize complex data regarding agricultural productivity, supply chain logistics, and socioeconomic impact in rural and underserved environments. By integrating scholarly rigor with a commitment to integrity and service, graduates emerge as thought leaders capable of designing systemic solutions for community resilience. The program focuses on the practical application of sustainable practices that prioritize human dignity and environmental stewardship.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Agribusiness is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based agribusiness knowledge, organizational leadership, ethical stewardship, program development, community-care systems, higher-education instruction, and evidence-informed professional practice.

Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.

The applied doctoral project must address a documented faith-based agribusiness-support, educational, organizational, or community-care need. The project must include scholarly research, an implementation model, measurable outcomes, ethical safeguards, an evaluation plan, and a successful oral defense.

DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Program Details

• Total Credits: 120
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: Doctorate

Dissertation Proposal Development

• 3
• RES702
• AGR801 — Agricultural Systems Modeling: Application of complex modeling techniques to predict system changes in agricultural production. Focus on optimizing sustainable yield and environmental stewardship. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS810 — Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Advanced study of logistics and value chain strategies that enhance food access and economic stability. Students develop frameworks for ethical logistics management. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC805 — Rural Policy and Social Change: Review of national and international policies affecting rural communities and agricultural development. Focus on advocacy and evidence-based policy formulation. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES801 — Dissertation Proposal Development: Guided development of the dissertation research framework and literature review. Students defend their research questions before a faculty advisory committee. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research I

• 3
• RES801
• AGR815 — Food Security and Global Nutrition: Analysis of the intersection between agribusiness outputs and global nutritional outcomes. Students design programs to address food scarcity in developing regions. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS820 — Social Enterprise in Agriculture: Exploration of business models that prioritize social impact alongside financial sustainability. Case studies highlight successes in faith-based social entrepreneurship. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• EDU850 — Program Evaluation and Community Outreach: Methods for measuring the effectiveness of community development programs and outreach initiatives. Students develop evaluative instruments for field use. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES810 — Dissertation Research I: Initial data collection and analysis under the supervision of a faculty chair. Focus on the integration of theoretical frameworks into empirical research. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research II

• 3
• RES810
• AGR825 — Climate Resilience and Agriculture: Scientific analysis of climate change impacts on agricultural productivity and community adaptation strategies. Focus on sustainable and resilient farm practices. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS830 — Project Management for Development: Advanced project management techniques tailored for non-profit and community-focused agricultural interventions. Focus on resource allocation and stakeholder coordination. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC820 — Community-Based Participatory Research: Methodologies for engaging stakeholders in the research and development process to ensure cultural and social relevance. Focus on collaborative ethics. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES820 — Dissertation Research II: Continued data collection and synthesis of findings to support dissertation arguments. Students engage in ongoing reflection on ethical research practices. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense and Completion

• 3
• RES820
• COM805 — Communication of Research and Advocacy: Strategies for translating technical research into actionable insights for policymakers and public audiences. Focus on effective oral and written communication. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS840 — Strategic Planning for Social Impact: Development of long-term organizational strategies to sustain community development initiatives. Focus on mission alignment and organizational capacity building. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BUS850 — Organizational Leadership and Professional Ethics: This course examines the application of professional ethical frameworks within the context of agribusiness and community development organizations. It addresses leadership challenges, organizational governance, and social responsibility standards. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES899 — Dissertation Defense and Completion: Final synthesis of the dissertation, preparation for the formal defense, and approval of the final manuscript. Demonstrates doctoral-level expertise and research commitment. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience of the Ph.D. program, requiring students to conduct original, independent research that contributes substantially to the field of faith-based agribusiness. The scope involves identifying a critical challenge in sustainable community development, developing a robust theoretical framework, and executing a rigorous research study. The dissertation process is worth 12 credit hours, integrated across the final two semesters, and must culminate in a formal defense before a committee of faculty experts.
• This project serves as a vehicle for integrating faith-based perspectives, challenging students to apply ethical reasoning, biblical stewardship, and servant leadership to their specific area of inquiry. By addressing real-world problems with both academic competence and moral conviction, students demonstrate their ability to bridge the gap between abstract theory and the practical application of faith-informed service. The final deliverable must reflect the candidate's development as an expert who views their professional output as a contribution to the common good and the flourishing of communities.

Career Opportunities

• Director of Agricultural Development for NGOs
• International Food Security Policy Consultant
• Community Development Research Coordinator
• Agricultural Extension Leadership Consultant
• Sustainable Rural Development Specialist
• Faith-Based Nonprofit Executive Director
• Higher Education Professor of Agribusiness

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ed.D. in Faith-Based Agribusiness
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Three to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, academic progress, and completion of the doctoral project
• Advanced faith-based agribusiness and specialization courses | 30 credit hours
• Leadership, administration, and professional practice | 21 credit hours
• Research methods and program evaluation | 18 credit hours
• Professional application and doctoral residency | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives or concentration courses | 12 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours
• Applied doctoral project and defense | 18 credit hours
• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES701 | Advanced Research Methodologies | 3 | None
• BUS710 | Ethical Leadership in Agribusiness | 3 | None
• AGR705 | Principles of Sustainable Agriculture | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES702 | Statistical Analysis for Social Science | 3 | RES701
• SOC720 | Community Development Theory | 3 | None
• BUS725 | Agribusiness Economics and Strategy | 3 | None
• THE705 | Stewardship and Global Resource Policy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• AGR801 | Agricultural Systems Modeling | 4 | AGR705
• BUS810 | Sustainable Supply Chain Management | 4 | BUS725
• SOC805 | Rural Policy and Social Change | 3 | SOC720
• RES801 | Dissertation Proposal Development | 3 | RES702
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• AGR815 | Food Security and Global Nutrition | 3 | AGR705
• BUS820 | Social Enterprise in Agriculture | 3 | BUS710
• EDU850 | Program Evaluation and Community Outreach | 3 | RES701
• RES810 | Dissertation Research I | 3 | RES801
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• AGR825 | Climate Resilience and Agriculture | 3 | AGR801
• BUS830 | Project Management for Development | 3 | BUS810
• SOC820 | Community-Based Participatory Research | 3 | RES701
• RES820 | Dissertation Research II | 3 | RES810
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• COM805 | Communication of Research and Advocacy | 3 | RES820
• BUS840 | Strategic Planning for Social Impact | 3 | BUS710
• BUS850 | Organizational Leadership and Professional Ethics | 3 | THE705
• RES899 | Dissertation Defense and Completion | 3 | RES820