Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Leadership Specialization in Religions of the World

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Leadership Specialization in Religions of the World

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

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced faith-based leadership theory and specialization

30 credit hours

Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry

24 credit hours

Professional leadership and higher-education teaching

15 credit hours

Advanced electives and concentration courses

18 credit hours

Scholarly writing and publication

9 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Program Details

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

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 120 semester credit hours
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Leadership with a specialization in Religions of the World is an advanced research degree designed for scholars and practitioners seeking to examine the intersection of global religious traditions and organizational leadership. This program fosters deep intellectual engagement with the diverse belief systems that shape contemporary society, encouraging students to analyze how religious narratives and structures influence social, ethical, and organizational dynamics.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Leadership Specialization in Religions of the World is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based leadership theory and specialization in religions of the world theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based leadership specialization in religions of the world-support programs.
• 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 student's remaining coursework and anticipated completion time. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
• The Ph.D. requires successful completion of all required coursework, comprehensive examinations, admission to doctoral candidacy, approval of a dissertation proposal, original scholarly research, submission of an approved written dissertation, 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.

Dissertation Seminar I

• 3
• RES830
• HIS820 — Global Religious Conflict and Peacebuilding: This course examines the root causes of intergroup conflict and the potential for faith-based leadership in reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts. Students analyze case studies of international engagement. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT825 — Organizational Behavior and Systemic Change: An investigation of organizational culture and the mechanisms of systemic change within complex, community-focused entities. Students learn to lead teams through change while preserving institutional mission and values. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES830 — Research Design for Doctoral Dissertation: This course supports students in the formalization of their dissertation proposal, including problem identification and methodological framework selection. Students refine their research questions to ensure academic and social viability. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP890 — Dissertation Seminar I: The first phase of the dissertation, focusing on the literature review and the establishment of theoretical foundations. Students will initiate the integration of faith-based principles into their research topic. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Seminar II

• 3
• CAP890
• RES915
• Scholarly Publication and Dissemination
• 3
• CAP890
• HIS900 — Advanced Topics in World Religions: A specialized investigation into contemporary issues within world religions, such as migration, secularization, and identity formation. Students apply these understandings to leadership challenges in their field. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT905 — Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector: An intensive focus on the operational and governance realities of nonprofit management, specifically regarding board development and donor stewardship. The course emphasizes service-oriented leadership. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CAP910 — Dissertation Seminar II: Students conduct their primary research and begin the drafting process for the dissertation chapters. Regular committee feedback is provided to ensure methodological consistency. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES915 — Scholarly Publication and Dissemination: This course guides students in preparing their findings for peer-reviewed publication and professional presentation. It emphasizes the importance of community benefit when disseminating academic research. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense

• 4
• CAP910
• THE920
• Advanced Synthesis of Faith and Practice
• 4
• THE815
• HIS925
• Global Trends in Community Development
• 3
• HIS900
• MGT930
• Institutional Stewardship and Sustainability
• 3
• MGT905
• CAP950 — Dissertation Defense: The final stage of the doctoral program, involving the completion of the dissertation manuscript and a successful oral defense before the committee. This phase confirms the student's readiness to contribute to the field. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• THE920 — Advanced Synthesis of Faith and Practice: This capstone seminar provides a final reflective opportunity for candidates to synthesize their learning with their professional identity. Students articulate their personal philosophy of leadership and commitment to future service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIS925 — Global Trends in Community Development: An analysis of global trends affecting the future of community-led development and the role of religious and nonprofit sectors in that evolution. Students examine innovative leadership models for the future. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT930 — Institutional Stewardship and Sustainability: The culminating study of institutional longevity and the ethical stewardship of organizational resources. Students develop comprehensive plans for the future viability of service-oriented institutions. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience, requiring candidates to produce an original, high-quality research contribution to the field of leadership studies. Students must identify a specific, complex problem regarding the interaction of world religions and leadership, employing rigorous qualitative or quantitative methodology to provide scholarly analysis. This project demands the integration of faith-informed ethical reasoning and an intentional reflection on how academic inquiry serves the common good and supports stewardship in global communities.
• Over the course of their final three semesters, students work closely with a faculty committee to develop this manuscript. The final submission must demonstrate proficiency in research design, clear synthesis of literature, and the capacity for critical, faith-based analysis. By completing the dissertation, students demonstrate both the intellectual rigor required of an academic scholar and the personal integrity of a servant leader committed to serving institutional and community interests.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES701 | Foundations of Doctoral Research | 3 | None
• THE705 | Theology of Leadership and Stewardship | 3 | None
• HIS710 | Comparative Religious Perspectives | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• MGT720 | Organizational Leadership in Global Contexts | 4 | RES701
• HIS725 | Sociology of World Religions | 4 | HIS710
• RES730 | Quantitative Methods for Social Analysis | 3 | RES701
• ETH735 | Ethical Leadership and Global Citizenship | 3 | THE705
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIS801 | Religion, Law, and Public Policy | 4 | HIS725
• MGT805 | Strategic Planning for Social Impact | 4 | MGT720
• RES810 | Advanced Qualitative Research | 3 | RES730
• THE815 | Faith and Cultural Change | 3 | THE705
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIS820 | Global Religious Conflict and Peacebuilding | 4 | HIS801
• MGT825 | Organizational Behavior and Systemic Change | 4 | MGT805
• RES830 | Research Design for Doctoral Dissertation | 3 | RES810
• CAP890 | Dissertation Seminar I | 3 | RES830
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• HIS900 | Advanced Topics in World Religions | 4 | HIS820
• MGT905 | Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector | 4 | MGT825
• CAP910 | Dissertation Seminar II | 3 | CAP890
• RES915 | Scholarly Publication and Dissemination | 3 | CAP890
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP950 | Dissertation Defense | 4 | CAP910
• THE920 | Advanced Synthesis of Faith and Practice | 4 | THE815
• HIS925 | Global Trends in Community Development | 3 | HIS900
• MGT930 | Institutional Stewardship and Sustainability | 3 | MGT905

Career Opportunities

• Higher Education Professor of Religious Studies or Leadership
• Nonprofit Executive Director
• Global Policy Analyst for Faith-Based Organizations
• Director of Interfaith Engagement
• Researcher for Religious Social Service Organizations
• Strategic Consultant for Community Development
• Administrator of International Humanitarian Aid Programs

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 | Ph.D. in Faith-Based Leadership Specialization in Religions of the World
• 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 | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced faith-based leadership theory and specialization | 30 credit hours
• Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry | 24 credit hours
• Professional leadership and higher-education teaching | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives and concentration courses | 18 credit hours
• Scholarly writing and publication | 9 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours