Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning – Organizational Psychology
Become the person your organization leans on to cultivate a positive and productive work environment.
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership and Learning – Organizational Psychology program teaches students how to apply psychological concepts and research methods to improve their surroundings. Acquire strategies to address challenges related to productivity, employee morale and management styles. Learn how one can improve organizational policies, processes, hiring, and training with an Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology.
Through practical, real-world applications, students gain adeptness with leading individuals and teams, both within and across multicultural contexts, while maintaining high ethical standards in all business practices. Individuals seeking greater knowledge and skills in the psychology of effective leaders, the foundations in organizational and industrial psychology, and a deep awareness of professional and ethical standards in the field would benefit most from the organizational psychology doctorate degree. The degree is centered around three elements: collaborative and ethical leadership, transformational leadership, and reflective scholarship. This program is not designed as a teacher certification program, and different states and municipalities often have specific requirements concerning different degree programs. Depending on your goals for this program, please check with your local and state regulatory requirements for program acceptance.
Dissertation: This program requires students to complete a dissertation. The dissertation is the final step of a doctoral program and the culmination of a student’s doctoral studies. The dissertation is a written document that summarizes a completed research study that is grounded in theory and is methodologically sound. Students will select their own dissertation topic.
View the Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning Handbook
For more information about the program, see the Academic Catalog.
Enjoy Flexibility– 20 online courses with program start dates every 2 weeks
Choose Where You Learn– Online courses
Affordable Monthly Payments
Focus on Your Passion– Choose your dissertation topic
Aspen also offers online Ed.S. programs for students who do not wish to complete a dissertation.
Why More Students Are Choosing Aspen
Ed.D. Organizational Psychology Courses
Aspen’s Ed.D. curriculum features 20 courses designed to equip you with advanced leadership skills. Taught by experienced educators from diverse settings, you’ll have the opportunity to apply new knowledge through the integration of your dissertation.
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EDD830 - Leadership Theory
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RSH900 - Doctoral Writing and Inquiry into Research
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EDD832 - Human Potential and Motivation
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EDP810 - The Psychology of Leadership
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EDP812 - Foundations of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
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EDD834 - Creating Strategic Change That Lasts
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RSH910 - Research Design and Methodology
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EDD836 - Project Management Techniques
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RSH912 - Introduction to the Dissertation
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EDP814 - The Social Psychology of Groups
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EDD838 - Building Successful Organizations that Endure
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RSH914 - Techniques and Interpretation for Statistical Analysis
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EDP816 - Cultural Perspectives in Psychology
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EDP818 - Cognitive and Affective Principles in Psychology
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RSH916 - Problem-Based Research in Action
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EDP820 - Ethics and Professional Standards in Psychology
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EDD820 - Dissertation I: Dissertation Committee Selection and Research Proposal
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EDD821 - Dissertation II: Literature Review, Methodology, and IRB Process
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EDD822 - Dissertation III: Research and Results
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EDD823 - Dissertation IV: Conclusions, Oral Defense, and Publication
The emphasis of this course is on leadership with the focus on the application of leadership concepts and leadership skills. Through the examination of a wide array of different leadership theories, the student gains knowledge and skills for a plethora of theoretical paradigms and models, which can be used to influence others towards positive and lasting change. Working with teams and dealing with the politics and power within an organization are also examined in depth.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This research course examines the basic principles and techniques of doctoral scholarship, and offers an overview of the development of theory and research logic, explores the relationship between theoretical and empirical constructs, and provides a wide variety of specific research methodologies, including the scholarly publication process. Students study the principles of the scientific method and research design techniques common to both qualitative and quantitative research, including sampling methods and data collection techniques. Material includes examination of various research methods including electronic searches and retrieval methods. Students learn to critically read research papers and articles, and are introduced to the writing techniques necessary to produce expository and analytical papers to the standards of publishable work. This course is a prerequisite for all other doctorate courses.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course examines a meaningful and sophisticated understanding of motivation and emotion. Blending motivation and emotion with leadership builds a powerful sense of tolerance and meaning in many domains of life: home, school, workplace, clinical setting, athletic fields, healthcare, and interpersonal relationships. The course deeply explores individual emotion, mindset, and interventions. A leader can use this knowledge to motivate individuals and evaluate how emotion drives behavior to obtain the best performance out of their employees and relationships in all facets of life.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course will focus on exploring, discussing and applying the Four Frames of Leadership: The Structural Frame, the Political Frame, the Symbolic Frame and the Human Resource Frame. Students learn to apply the concepts of reframing in order to resolve organizational conflicts and leadership challenges. Students will also complete and discuss their personal frame of leadership style and how to incorporate each of these in their own set of leadership tools. Additionally, discussions will center on learning about the Neuroscience of Leadership and the newly coined term ‘Neuroleaders’. Questions such as the role of neuroscience in leadership and the role of emotions in problem-solving and decision-making and how these affect leading organizations through periods of change, will also be explored.
3 CreditsRequired Books
In this course, students will gain valuable knowledge and application of concepts in real-life situations related to industrial and organizational psychology. The elements of this course include the History of I/O psychology, as well as research methods used in this field. Theories of motivation and the application of theoretical models to real-life problems encountered in businesses and organizations will be addressed. This course also helps students learn to apply methods to reduce workplace stress and strain and will examine some of the innovative ways businesses today are addressing the important issue of family-work conflict and finding balance.
3 CreditsRequired Books
Creating strategic change that lasts is a fine art of every successful leader. Throughout this course, students examine what the best leaders do to create an atmosphere where employees in the organization can flourish. The focus is on learning essential behaviors that promote a high-energy culture.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course begins to ask the doctoral student to reflect on past courses, studies and articles that support and build upon personal areas of interest. The course is designed to challenge students to think about an area of interest and begin develop a comprehensive research topic aligned with their professional goals. Students expand on the research topic, identify appropriate theories, methodologies and consider research design. At the end of eight weeks, students will frame the beginning of a doctoral research dissertation.
3 CreditsRequired Books
Every career today requires both leadership and management. Traditionally, leadership is seen as charting the vision while management provides the execution. Modern day leaders understand that it is more complex than that. Precise and thoughtful management does more than simply execute a collective leadership vision. It creates continuity, organization, and the capacity to understand the systemic objectives ahead. This course helps to provide guidance in the all-important area of project management and the techniques that support those outcomes.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course provides the student with an overview of each part required in the completion of the dissertation writing process. It reflects each of the five chapters necessary when preparing the doctoral dissertation and includes the ethical and professional requirements to help make the author accountable and reflective in its presentation, validity, and significance to future researchers and readers. The student selects an existing, published dissertation in their discipline and examines it throughout the course as a model for how to effectively design and write a solid dissertation.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of group processes viewed through the lens of social psychology. Students examine and apply concepts of the ‘self’ and the ‘self in groups’. The course explores how groups work and why some groups work better than others; the influences of genetics, culture and gender on group performance as well as the motivation for performance and the generation of ideas and creativity. Students also view four famous or infamous social psychology experiments from the past: The Milgram Experiment, Blue Eyes/Brown Eyed: A Class Divided; the Robbers Cave and, finally, the Stanford Experiment.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course is about the steps that leaders take to create organizations that are fully undergirded in a way that leads to their ongoing sustenance and growth and continued innovation and improvement. This is an essential course in pursuit of highly effective organizations; it is imperative to create cultures of change and to attempt to create organizations that are self-sustaining and highly organized. This course addresses a number of pertinent topics regarding this change dynamic and offers the student an opportunity to give considerations to theory and instructional practices.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This research course emphasizes practicality and flexibility in its approach to augmenting organizational decision-making. In this course, a practical approach is adopted that prepares students to identify the correct method, calculate the statistics, and properly interpret the results to solve the question at hand. Application and interpretation of statistics is stressed as students see for themselves how statistics work.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This doctoral level course about culture and psychology combines social psychology and cultural anthropology. Students learn the inter-connections and inter-generationally transmitted behaviors between meanings, symbols, and psychological processes such as cognition, personality structure, behavior, and affect, as it applies to professionals and paraprofessionals in psychology, sociology, education, and leadership. Students examine culture and psychology by investigating common psychological experiences with an emphasis on human and social science conceptual paradigms, theory, knowledge, and intervention.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This doctoral level course examines learning and how people perceive, remember, and think through the lens of neuroscience, computer science, linguistics, anthropology, and philosophy. Cognitive and affective principles in psychology apply to professionals and paraprofessionals in education, psychology, health care, leadership, and other organizational settings.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This course is designed to provide students with additional research tools used to solve everyday problems through a process of inquiry and developing solutions to significant problems in the workplace. This useful strategy can provide the leader a design for decision-making based on data and supportive research. This course satisfies the Proctored Exam requirement for this program.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This doctoral level course analyzes ethical judgments, principles, and guidelines regarding individuals, leadership, and organizations. Students will explore the history and impact of ethical standards in research and their implications and application in performing research studies. Ethics and professional standards in psychology apply to professionals in all aspects of leadership.
3 CreditsRequired Books
EDD 820 is designed to provide students the guidance to select a dissertation research topic, create a research plan and form their dissertation committee. After establishing the committee, students begin work on Chapter 1 of their dissertation. Chapter 1 serves as the guiding document as it overviews the scope, purpose, nature and intent of the dissertation. At the completion of this course, students are ready to defend their dissertation proposal.
3 CreditsRequired Books
EDD 821 is designed to guide students through two integral components of the dissertation process, the literature review and methodology. Under the direction of their dissertation committee, students frame their dissertation research study within the context of the relevant academic literature. Using this knowledge, students design the methodology of their dissertation research study, complete the required ethical training to conduct research, and submit their proposal to the Institutional Review Board. At the completion of this course, students will have finalized Chapters 2 and 3 and are prepared to conduct their dissertation research study.
3 CreditsRequired Books
EDD 822 focuses on the implementation of the dissertation research study and the analysis of the results. Students conduct their research study with an understanding of key ethical, practical, theoretical and methodological considerations. At the conclusion of the data collection, students analyze and interpret data in relation to the research questions and theoretical framework. Through this process, students complete Chapter 4 of their dissertation.
3 CreditsRequired Books
EDD 823 brings students to the completion of their dissertation journey. Students complete the final chapter of their dissertation, polish the completed work, and then organize and facilitate an oral defense of their work. Upon receiving final approval and grade, students are able to apply for publication as well as their commencement from Aspen University.
3 CreditsRequired Books
“Aspen University, my teachers, and my degree have helped me find new pathways in my journey and I am grateful to have my experiences guiding my family and me toward a better life.”
Kristine B.
Ed.D. Organizational Leadership, graduated November 2022Cost & Time to Completion
The Best Fit for Working Professionals
We understand the difficulties in pursuing your Ed.D. when you have a demanding work and family schedule. Aspen’s course format and frequent start dates are designed to help working professionals move through their degree efficiently.
Our Monthly Payment Plan Makes Us Different.
Paying for your Ed.D. shouldn’t be complicated. Our Monthly Payment Plan makes it easy for you to finance your program.
Tuition Rates
| $35,700 | Tuition |
| $4,250 | Fees |
| $3,000 |
Estimated
Textbook
Costs
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| $42,950 | |
Other Ways to Finance Your Ed.D.
Students who have served, or are currently serving in the United States Military and their legal spouses are eligible to receive a Military Affiliation Discount from Aspen University.
Aspen University is currently approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal student aid for the Ed.D. program.
Aspen University maintains employee tuition discount partnerships with a large and growing number of organizations. Tell your enrollment advisor where you work and ask them to check for you prior to enrolling.
Aspen offers several payment plans for students to fund their education.
Taj-Marie G.
Ed.D. Organizational Leadership, graduated December 2022Admission Requirements
Application – A completed application; Aspen does not charge an application fee
Resume – Current resume or curriculum vitae
Statement of Goals – A statement of your goals reflecting the academic, professional, and personal goals you would like to achieve through your work with Aspen University. The statement of goals should be between 300 – 500 words.
Master’s Degree –Official Transcript demonstrating a master’s degree from an institution that is accredited by a CHEA recognized accrediting body or an international equivalent; applicants must have earned at least a 3.0 GPA in their master’s program (see Catalog for more information)
Career Outlook
As organizations increasingly recognize the value of understanding human behavior and optimizing workplace environments, the demand for professionals with an Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology is rising. This advanced degree equips leaders with the skills to address complex psychological and organizational challenges, enhancing employee well-being and overall organizational effectiveness.
Fields such as industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management are projected to grow steadily. Employment for industrial-organizational psychologists crosses a variety of fields, including enterprise management, educational leadership, an non-profit management, reflecting an increasing need for expertise in areas such as employee assessment, organizational development, and workplace dynamics.
Graduates of the Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology are well-prepared to take on roles such as organizational development consultants, human resources managers, employee relations specialists, and leadership coaches. They bring their expertise to various environments, including corporate settings, non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies.
This program equips students with advanced knowledge of psychological principles, research methods, and organizational behavior. It enables students to design and implement strategies that enhance employee performance, job satisfaction, and organizational culture. Earning an Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology allows students to influence positive organizational change, foster healthy workplace environments, and drive sustainable success.
Average Annual Salary for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
$154,379
Data pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Fall 2024. Salary can vary widely depending on geographical location and role.
Ed.D. Organizational Psychology Frequently Asked Questions
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What is an Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology?
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Is this program offered fully online?
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Who is this program intended for?
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What are the core subjects covered in this program?
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Is a dissertation required for the Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology?
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Are there any residency requirements?
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Do I need to have a background in psychology to apply?
An Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology is a doctoral program that integrates principles from psychology and education to prepare professionals for leadership roles focused on improving organizational performance, leadership development, and workplace culture through research-based strategies.
Yes, the program is delivered entirely online, offering flexibility for working professionals. It incorporates both live (synchronous) and on-demand (asynchronous) learning, allowing students to balance their studies with their professional responsibilities.
The Ed.D. in Organizational Psychology is ideal for professionals looking to enhance their leadership and management skills through the lens of psychology. It is suited for individuals in various sectors, including business, education, healthcare, non-profits, and government, who aim to improve organizational performance and solve workplace challenges through psychological and educational approaches.
Core subjects include courses in leadership theory, organizational behavior, ethical decision-making, strategic management, and psychological principles applied to leadership. Students will also study research methods, team dynamics, and data-driven decision-making to evaluate and enhance organizational performance.
Yes, a dissertation is required. Students will conduct research on a practical issue in the field, demonstrating their ability to apply theoretical and research-based solutions. The dissertation process begins after completing coursework. Students collaborate with a dissertation committee to develop a proposal, conduct research, and defend their findings. Click here to view the IRB Handbook.
Although the program is fully online, it includes two virtual residencies. These residencies are designed to enhance learning, provide networking opportunities, and prepare students for the dissertation process. Click here to view the Doctoral Residency Guide.
No, a background in psychology is not required. While a background in leadership, human resources, or organizational development can be beneficial, the program welcomes applicants from a variety of professional backgrounds who seek to apply psychological principles to organizational leadership.