Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Organizational Leadership, Specialization in Christian Ethics

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ed.D. in Faith-Based Organizational Leadership

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 organizational leadership and Christian ethics 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 Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Christian Ethics is an advanced interdisciplinary program designed for scholars and practitioners seeking to integrate rigorous academic inquiry with the principles of ethical stewardship and servant leadership. This curriculum fosters a deep understanding of organizational theory, governance, and moral philosophy, preparing students to lead within complex institutional environments while maintaining a steadfast commitment to personal and organizational integrity. Through systematic analysis and inquiry, students will evaluate the intersection of faith, public policy, and institutional management to address contemporary societal challenges. The program structure facilitates advanced academic growth, encouraging the pursuit of excellence in research, theory development, and application within faith-informed frameworks. By engaging with both classical and contemporary literature, candidates will cultivate the intellectual capacity to serve as thoughtful stewards within diverse community and nonprofit sectors.

The Doctor of Education in Faith-Based Organizational Leadership is an applied professional doctorate emphasizing advanced faith-based organizational leadership and Christian ethics 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 organizational leadership and Christian ethics-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 Seminar

• 4
• RES801
• MGT830
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• 3
• None
• CHR840
• Leadership and Character Formation
• 3
• CHR820
• SOC810
• Sociology of Faith-Based Organizations
• 3
• None
• RES802 — Dissertation Seminar: Supports students in developing their dissertation proposal, including problem identification and methodological approach. Students receive peer and faculty feedback. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT830 — Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: Studies the dynamics of organizational conflict and negotiation strategies based on ethical principles. Emphasizes reconciliation and collaborative outcomes. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CHR840 — Leadership and Character Formation: Examines the nexus between personal character, spiritual formation, and professional efficacy. Discusses the role of personal integrity in organizational life. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• SOC810 — Sociology of Faith-Based Organizations: Analyzes the role and impact of religious institutions within the broader social landscape. Explores trends in volunteerism, membership, and social service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Research I

• 4
• RES802
• MGT850
• Innovation in Nonprofit Models
• 3
• MGT810
• CHR860
• Professional Ethics Seminar
• 3
• CHR840
• COM810
• Communication and Advocacy
• 3
• None
• CAP890 — Dissertation Research I: Guided research toward the completion of the dissertation, focusing on data gathering and initial synthesis. Students work under the mentorship of their faculty advisor. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT850 — Innovation in Nonprofit Models: Explores emerging models of service delivery and the role of innovation in sustaining organizational relevance. Focuses on adaptive strategy. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CHR860 — Professional Ethics Seminar: Advanced topics in applied ethics, including technological impacts and multi-cultural organizational settings. Challenges students to apply refined ethical reasoning. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COM810 — Communication and Advocacy: Examines the rhetoric and communication strategies necessary for organizational advocacy. Explores how to articulate mission to diverse external audiences. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Defense

• 4
• CAP890
• MGT880
• Emerging Trends in Leadership
• 3
• None
• CHR885
• Integrative Seminar in Faith and Practice
• 3
• CHR860
• RES850
• Research Dissemination
• 3
• CAP890
• CAP895 — Dissertation Defense: Final synthesis and defense of the doctoral dissertation. Candidates demonstrate proficiency in research, ethics, and leadership theory. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT880 — Emerging Trends in Leadership: A comprehensive review of future challenges and opportunities for organizational leaders. Synthesizes knowledge across the doctoral curriculum. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• CHR885 — Integrative Seminar in Faith and Practice: A capstone seminar integrating theology, ethics, and organizational practice. Focuses on the role of the scholar-practitioner in society. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES850 — Research Dissemination: Focuses on publishing findings and presenting research in professional and academic venues. Emphasizes the translation of scholarship into practice. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The dissertation serves as the culminating academic experience for the Doctor of Philosophy, requiring the candidate to engage in original, substantive research that advances knowledge in the field of faith-based organizational leadership. The project necessitates a deep-dive investigation into a specific organizational or ethical challenge, demanding the application of rigorous empirical or theoretical methodologies. Students are expected to produce a high-quality manuscript that demonstrates mastery of the subject matter, critical analytical skills, and the capacity for independent scholarly work.
• Integrating the program’s faith-based core, the dissertation must explicitly examine the role of Christian ethics and biblical stewardship in organizational practice. Candidates are challenged to synthesize their research with concepts of servant leadership and spiritual formation, demonstrating how these values influence institutional longevity and community impact. Through this process, students display not only academic competence but also a matured commitment to the ethical, character-driven leadership required to support faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Career Opportunities

• Nonprofit Executive Director
• Faith-Based Institutional Consultant
• Academic Researcher in Ethical Leadership
• Director of Community Engagement
• Policy Analyst for Faith-Based Organizations
• Organizational Development Strategist
• University Professor of Leadership Studies

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 Organizational Leadership
• 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 organizational leadership and Christian ethics 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 | Foundations of Academic Research | 3 | None
• MGT710 | Theories of Organizational Leadership | 3 | None
• CHR705 | Christian Ethics in Practice | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES702 | Advanced Quantitative Analysis | 4 | RES701
• MGT720 | Strategic Organizational Planning | 3 | MGT710
• CHR715 | Theology of Stewardship and Resources | 3 | CHR705
• BUS730 | Governance and Legal Environments | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES801 | Advanced Qualitative Research | 4 | RES702
• MGT810 | Change Management and Organizational Culture | 3 | MGT720
• CHR820 | Global Ethics and Social Justice | 3 | CHR715
• EDU805 | Mentorship and Personnel Development | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES802 | Dissertation Seminar | 4 | RES801
• MGT830 | Conflict Resolution and Negotiation | 3 | None
• CHR840 | Leadership and Character Formation | 3 | CHR820
• SOC810 | Sociology of Faith-Based Organizations | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP890 | Dissertation Research I | 4 | RES802
• MGT850 | Innovation in Nonprofit Models | 3 | MGT810
• CHR860 | Professional Ethics Seminar | 3 | CHR840
• COM810 | Communication and Advocacy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP895 | Dissertation Defense | 4 | CAP890
• MGT880 | Emerging Trends in Leadership | 3 | None
• CHR885 | Integrative Seminar in Faith and Practice | 3 | CHR860
• RES850 | Research Dissemination | 3 | CAP890