Doctor of Management in Strategic Leadership

Strategic Leadership, the integrated application of strategy and leadership, manifests in individuals as the capacity to anticipate, envision, and maintain flexibility, and empower others to voluntarily make effective decisions and to create strategic change as necessary.

The Jefferson Doctor of Management in Strategic Leadership program creates a community of mid- and senior-career professionals in which each participant can learn and develop as an organizational leader, consultant, entrepreneur, scientist, researcher and educator.

Designed by doctoral students, faculty, corporate, government, and not-for-profit stakeholders, this distinctive program uses conceptual, experiential and reflective learning to meet the complex educational needs created by the ever-evolving workplace, the rapid expansion of knowledge underlying practice, the increases in technological advances, and the cultural diversity of the global workplace.

Invited into the Strategic Leadership community are students, faculty, coaches, organizational leaders and mentors who are motivated to develop capacities to effectively navigate situational, organizational and dynamic complexity, and apply tools leading to creative and innovative outcomes.

By creatively integrating and bridging interdisciplinary knowledge of critical concepts with applied community and industry projects of consulting, research and executive education culminating into a doctoral thesis, the Strategic Leadership program prepares graduates to effectively navigate complex global contexts and environments.

Admission to the Strategic Leadership program requires completion of an accredited graduate (Master or equivalent or higher) degree in any discipline, earning in each academic degree at least a 3.0 GPA. Standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are not required.  

International applicants should make sure that their undergraduate degree is the equivalent of a four-year degree in the US, and that they understand and follow the International Graduate Admission policies for those who earned a degree outside the United States.  This includes required submission of English Language Proficiency scores.

The 45-credit Doctor of Management degree requires completion of 15 courses: 10 core courses (2 of which are the dissertation) and 5 elective courses.  Courses are offered across the year in three semesters in fall, spring and summer with approximately 3-4 weeks between each. 

Students enter in spring and fall as a cohort and may study full-time with their entering group in the “fast track” to complete the degree in 7 semesters (2.5 years).  Or they may join other cohorts to study part-time in the “individual track” and move through the program in up to 15 semesters (5 years).  Students admitted for Fall 2019 will enter as Cohort 8.