Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Public Leadership, Administration

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Public Leadership, Administration

Total program length

87 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 public leadership and administration 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: 87
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: PhD

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 120 semester credit hours
• The PhD in Public Leadership and Administration, with a Minor in Faith-Informed Public Administration, prepares students to excel in complex public sector environments by integrating leadership principles with ethical decision-making influenced by faith traditions. This interdisciplinary program emphasizes research methodologies, advanced public management theories, and the creation of faith-informed public policy. Students will learn to navigate and address the challenges in public administration, focusing on moral and ethical implications of leadership practices. The program is designed to develop future leaders capable of innovating and transforming public services through strategic thinking and informed advocacy. Career preparation includes opportunities for mentorship, networking with experienced professionals, and practical research applications that enhance employability and impact within communities. Graduates will emerge equipped to contribute to societal change and improve public governance locally and globally.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Public Leadership, Administration is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based public leadership and administration theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based public leadership and administration-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 87-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 Research and Writing

• 3
• PPLA 903
• PPLA 991

Dissertation Defense and Publication Seminar

• 3
• PPLA 990
• FIPA 950 — Moral Accountability & Public Service Leadership: Moral Accountability & Public Service Leadership - Part of PhD programThis course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions..
• FIPA 960 — Theology of Organizational Culture: This course examines the intersection of theological frameworks and organizational culture in public institutions. Students analyze how faith-based values shape institutional identity and operational norms. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PPLA 990 — Dissertation Research and Writing: This course provides structured support for the completion of original, high-level dissertation research under faculty supervision. Students refine their analysis and synthesize findings into a final scholarly document. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• PPLA 991 — Dissertation Defense and Publication Seminar: In this final seminar, students prepare for the oral defense of their dissertation and the dissemination of their research findings to scholarly journals. Emphasis is placed on the ethical communication of academic research in professional settings. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• STRL 632 | Strategic Leadership and Organizational Decision-Making | 3 | Foundation Courses SPCh 500, GEN 502, GRAD 501 and MADC 500
• PPLA 801 | Advanced Public Leadership Theory | 3 | None
• PPLA 802 | Foundations of Public Administration Research | 3 | None
• PPLA 803 | Quantitative Research Methods I | 3 | None
• PPLA 804 | Governance & Institutional Theory | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PPLA 810 | Organizational Theory in Public & Nonprofit Sectors | 3 | None
• PPLA 811 | Public Policy Theory & Analysis | 3 | None
• PPLA 812 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 | None
• PPLA 813 | Ethics & Accountability in Public Administration | 3 | None
• PPLA 820 | Advanced Public Finance & Fiscal Policy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PPLA 821 | Human Capital & Administrative Leadership | 3 | None
• PPLA 823 | Comparative & Global Public Administration | 3 | None
• PPLA 830 | Strategic Leadership & Change Management | 3 | None
• PPLA 831 | Administrative Law & Regulatory Governance | 3 | None
• PPLA 832 | Intergovernmental & Collaborative Governance | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PPLA 833 | Advanced Policy Analysis & Decision Sciences | 3 | None
• PPLA 840 | Doctoral Seminar in Public Leadership | 3 | None
• PPLA 841 | Advanced Statistics & Data Analytics II | 3 | None
• PPLA 901 | Public Sector Innovation and Technology | 3 | PPLA 802
• PPLA 902 | Crisis Management and Community Resilience | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• PPLA 903 | Advanced Dissertation Proposal Development | 3 | PPLA 812
• FIPA 910 | Faith & Ethics in Public Administration | 3 | None
• FIPA 920 | Faith-Informed Leadership & Decision-Making | 3 | semester 5
• FIPA 930 | Religion, Law, & Public Governance | 3 | None
• FIPA 940 | Faith, Justice, & Public Policy | 3 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• FIPA 950 | Moral Accountability & Public Service Leadership | 3 | None
• FIPA 960 | Theology of Organizational Culture | 3 | None
• PPLA 990 | Dissertation Research and Writing | 3 | PPLA 903
• PPLA 991 | Dissertation Defense and Publication Seminar | 3 | PPLA 990

Career Opportunities

• Public Policy Analyst
• City Manager
• Director of Public Administration
• Nonprofit Executive Director
• Community Development Strategist
• Faith-Based Organization Leader
• Government Consultant

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 Public Leadership, Administration
• Total program length | 87 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 public leadership and administration 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