EdD in Advanced Executive Leadership
Drexel University School of Education
Inaugural cohort of K-12 school leaders and non-profit leaders to begin study in Fall 2027.
The EdD in Advanced Executive Leadership is an accelerated professional doctoral program that can be completed in just two years. The program is designed to help senior leaders in education, business, and other sectors advance their leadership skills and solve complex problems within their organizations. The program combines the convenience of online learning with the value of in-person meetings through a cohort-based executive residency learning model. Each cohort takes courses together online and meets in person with their classmates and professors for multiple long weekends each term.
This transformative doctoral program prepares experienced professionals to lead in rapidly evolving, complex systems. Grounded in change leadership, adaptive challenges, and systems thinking, students engage in immersive global experiences, policy exploration, and personal leadership development.
From the first term, students apply tools such as systems mapping and reflective case study research to real-world problems of practice. Two immersion experiences—one study abroad and a second customized to policy interests—foster deep cultural awareness and strategic perspective. The program integrates inner development work, including adult learning theory, Theory U, and subject-object interviews, to cultivate leaders capable of navigating uncertainty and catalyzing change.
The reflective case study dissertation culminates in actionable impact, supporting scholarly-practitioners ready to transform organizations and communities.
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This innovative doctoral program is designed for experienced leaders who are looking to lead transformational change in their organization. Cohorts of students are formed based on the field in which they are located- K-12, non-profit, government, health systems, and more. With a focus on systems thinking, adaptive leadership, and personal development, this program empowers students to tackle real-world problems with purpose and perspective.
Key Features:
- Global Study Abroad Immersion
The program launches with an international study abroad experience designed to foster deep perspective-taking, cultural intelligence, and cross-cultural systems awareness.
- Customized Second Immersion
Midway through the program, students engage in a second immersive experience—tailored to their problem of practice—which may involve international travel, policy exploration, or embedded field research aligned with their leadership goals.
- Problem of Practice-Centered
Students bring their own leadership challenges into the program, building systems maps, refining theories of action, and leading change in real time.
- Reflective Case Study Dissertation
Rather than a traditional dissertation, students chronicle their learning and leadership growth through a reflective case study directly tied to their professional context.
- Inner Development Focus
Grounded in adult development theory and global Inner Development Goals, students engage in guided self-assessment, feedback, and leadership practice.
- Capstone Project with Impact
Students translate their doctoral journey into a tangible, high-impact capstone project designed to catalyze organizational or systemic change.
The EdD in Advanced Executive Leadership program gives students a unique opportunity to gain global and policy perspectives on leadership through two immersive experiences. In their first term, students will travel to a country outside the U.S. for two weeks to study leadership related to their desired sector. For example, a cohort of K-12 students will examine another nation’s education system from the policy level to the classroom.
In the second year, students complete a policy-focused immersive learning experience that is customized to each student’s problem of practice that they plan to address through their dissertation. Students may work together in groups or individually depending on their problems of practice and their learning experiences may take place in the U.S. or abroad.
The EdD in Advanced Executive Leadership is designed for individuals in senior leadership positions who want to address persistent and complex challenges their organizations face in today’s ever-changing world. The curriculum, oriented to advanced leadership and policy, is grounded in five core leadership development domains, adapted from a globally recognized framework for sustainable leadership. These goals provide a powerful foundation for cultivating the skills, mindsets, and capacities needed to lead effectively in today’s complex and rapidly changing world.
The curriculum includes an embedded reflective case study dissertation-in-practice that captures each student’s learning journey as they utilize content learned in their courses to address industry-specific problems.
A full list of courses and course descriptions can be found in the Drexel Catalog.
Key Skills:
- Advanced leadership capacity to navigate complexity
- Strategic tools for systems thinking and policy alignment
- Demonstrated impact through dissertation and capstone
- Deepened cultural intelligence through immersive global experiences
- Publishable scholarship and professional contributions
Academic transcripts indicating completion of both bachelor's and master's degrees from regionally accredited institutions with a minimum 3.5 graduate GPA.
Required Documents
- Applicants to this program must hold a valid, unexpired passport that permits international travel during October 2026. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be eligible for enrollment.
- Resume/CV indicating 5+ years of experience in a senior-level leadership position
- Three (3) professional letters of recommendation (one must be from a supervisor)
- Two personal essays:
- A thorough description of a problem of practice you want to address that is the basis for your interest in this program (maximum 500 words)
- A reflective essay on your perspectives on leadership, including how you need to develop as a leader to resolve your problem of practice, and how this executive leadership degree would help you to do so (maximum 1,000 words)
- Verification of ability to attend executive residencies (typically provided by employer)
New students interested in applying for the EdD in Advanced Executive Leadership can begin the online application here.
Do you have questions, or would you like to talk to someone about the program? Email enroll@drexel.edu.