Curriculum and Outcomes
Study and research what matters to you
Through K-State's Leadership Communication doctoral program, you will develop a customized plan of study based on your area of interest and commitment. Your coursework will include a strong foundation in research methods and a community-engaged dissertation project. A minimum of 90 credit hours are required for the doctor of philosophy degree, 30 hours can be from master's or post-baccalaureate work.
Student Learning Outcomes
After completing K-State's Leadership Communication doctoral program, students will:
- Demonstrate mastery of theories of community engagement, communication, and leadership
- Partner with communities in a collaborative effort to establish objectives related to community needs
- Make measurable progress on established objectives through community-engaged scholarship
- Demonstrate mastery of research methods, analyses, interpretation, and dissemination
Program Design and Delivery
When you enter the program, you will be assigned an initial advisor and engage an initial plan of study. You will identify a major professor and supervisory committee in the program who approve your final plan of study and support your dissertation research process. A cornerstone of our program is preparing community-engaged scholars committed to partnership between universities and communities to address critical societal issues.
This is a non-cohort based degree; students can start in fall or spring semester. It is recommended to enroll in 3-9 credit hours per semester (1-3 courses).
Students taking an average of 9-10 hours per semester (including summer courses) can finish in approximately three or four years.
Many of our working professional students take a varied pace (3-6 hours per semester) to complete in fabout four or five years.
The interdisciplinary coursework includes a mix of on-campus, online and hybrid delivery.
Coursework
The doctoral degree requires 90 hours total, which includes 60 hours minimum of coursework and research hours. Up to 30 hours can be transferred from accredited master’s program. Below you will find an overview of the curriculum. For additional information visit the Graduate Course Catalog.
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AGCOM/COMM/LEAD 814: Graduate Studies in Leadership Communication, 3 credit hours
Examine the intersections of community-engaged scholarship and leadership through the practices of relationship, story, strategy, and action. Students are introduced to resources and opportunities for pursuing public engagement, community-engaged scholarship, and successful program completion.
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AGCOM/COMM/LEAD 815: Seminar in Leadership Communication, 1 credit hour
This seminar provides doctoral students opportunities for collaboration and mentorship with peers, faculty, and visiting scholars, and exploration of career pathways in public engagement. Offered each semester, students must enroll for a minimum of 3 credit hours over 3 semesters.
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LEAD 820: Contemporary Perspectives on Leadership Theory and Practice, 3 credit hours
Students will explore ideas, philosophical assumptions, and practices associated with the term “leadership” as a concept through theories that have developed over time. We will also examine how the practice of leading in contemporary contexts can be understood through theories.
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AGCOM/COMM/LEAD 845: Approaches to Public/Community Engagement, 3 credit hours
Key concepts and theoretical frameworks associated with deliberative democracy and public engagement will be examined. A specific focus will be given to how forms of community-engaged scholarship intersect course content in both theory and practice.
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AGCOM/COMM 916: Communication Theories and Engagement, 3 credit hours
The intersections of communication theory and engagement is the focus of this course. Students will study the evolution of communication theories, and strengthen knowledge of the philosophy and theory pertaining to community-engaged research.
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AGCOM/COMM/LEAD 945: Social Science Research for Public Problem Solving, 3 credit hours
Examine how social science research and social sector evaluation can be applied to address public problems, including the identification of public problems and critique of current evaluation methods. Students will apply concepts by developing an evaluation that includes quantitative and qualitative analysis in partnership with social sector partners.
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Students will work with their committees to select a minimum of four courses (12 credit hours) of research methods appropriate for their programs of study. Visit the Graduate Course Catalog for course descriptions. Example courses include:
- COMM 821: Experimental Research in Communication Studies, 3 credit hours
- COMM 822: Field Research in Communication Studies, 3 credit hours
- EDCEP 817: Statistical Methods in Education, 3 credit hours
- EDCEP 917: Experimental Design in Educational Research, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 838: Qualitative Research in Education, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 938: Advanced Data Analysis in Qualitative Methods, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 948: Data Representation and Writing in Qualitative Research, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 848: Understanding Theoretical Frameworks, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 958: Case Study in Qualitative Research, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 968: Discourse Analysis, 3 credit hours
- EDLEA 978: Qualitative Data Management and Analysis Using Nvivo, 3 credit hours
- GEOG 801: Seminar in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research, 3 credit hours
- LEAD 818 Qualitative Approaches to Studying Leadership and Engagement
- MC 801 Qualitative Methods
- PLAN 803: Community Research Methods, 3 credit hours
- POLSC 900: Advanced Research Methods I, 3 credit hours
- POLSC 901: Advanced Research Methods II, 3 credit hours
- PSYCH 802: Psychological Research Design and Analysis I, 3 credit hours
- PSYCH 805: Psychological Research Design and Analysis II, 3 credit hours
- SOCIO 824: Qualitative Methodology, 3 credit hours
- SOCIO 825: Quantitative Methods, 3 credit hours
- SOCIO 822: Introduction to Methods of Social Analysis, 3 credit hours
Beyond the core and research methods courses, students must complete an additional 30 credit hours. A minimum of 15 credit hours must be from dissertation research hours. The remaining 15 credit hours may come from either elective coursework or more dissertation research hours.
Completion of a dissertation which examines a topic congruent with the program of study using a systematic methodology consistent with accepted research paradigms; the dissertation must be successfully defended in a public, oral defense.
- AGCOMM 999: Research in Leadership Communication, 1-15 credit hours
- COMM 999: Research in Leadership Communication, 1-15 credit hours
- LEAD 999: Research in Leadership Communication, 1-15 credit hours
Students will work with their committees to select 0-15 credit hours of elective courses appropriate for their programs of study. Example courses include:
- COMM 790: Deliberation and Dialogue Theory, 3 credit hours
- COMM 831: Deliberation and Dialogue Process Models, 3 credit hours
- COMM 832: Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement: Core Skills and Strategies, 3 credit hours
- COMM 833: Dialogue, Deliberation, and Public Engagement: Capstone Experience, 3 credit hours
- EDACE 816: Foundations of Social Justice Education: Research, Theory, and Practice, 3 credit hours
- EDACE 817: Reflective Practice in Social Justice Education Credits, 3 credit hours
Earn an Optional Certificate
Many students complete a graduate certificate as part of their plan of study. Some examples of related graduate certificates are: