Doctorate in Leadership Communication

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Leadership Communication Doctorate

Leadership Communication Doctorate (Ph.D.)

Through a community-engaged approach to teaching, learning, and research, you'll acquire the skills to practice the art of leading change.

K-State’s Leadership Communication doctoral program is an interdisciplinary research degree grounded in community-engaged scholarship. It includes:

Challenging Coursework: Explore theories and methods of leadership, communication, and engagement to see and solve problems in new ways.
Meaningful Research: Develop methodological skills to conduct engaged research that will help you address issues that you and your communities care about.
Tailored Path: Customize a plan of study relevant to your own pace, place, and purpose.

60 credit hours**

$570.43 per credit hour*

100% online

*Tuition rate is based on 2025-2026 rates, which are subject to change annually. Your hours and costs will differ depending on your transfer hours, course choices and academic progress. For a full breakdown of all tuition and fees, please visit K-State's Online Tuition and Fees website.

**With qualifying master's degree

Admission Requirements

All students are required to meet the general university admission requirements.

Graduate

International

Nondegree

Program-Specific Application Deadlines

U.S. Applicants

Fall semester (begins in late August): Feb. 1
Spring semester (begins in late January): Aug. 1

International Applicants

Fall semester (begins in late August): Jan. 8
Spring semester (begins in late January): Aug. 1

Additional Documentation
Your application must include the following:

Careers

Curriculum

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 an accredited master’s program.

Required Academic Core Courses (18 credits)

LEAD 814 - Graduate Studies in Leadership Communication (3 credits)
LEAD 815 - Seminar in Leadership Communication (1 credit; 3 semesters)
LEAD 820 - Contemporary Perspectives on Leadership Theory and Practice (3 credits)
LEAD 845 - Approaches to Public/Community Engagement (3 credits)
COMM 916 - Communication Theories and Engagement (3 credits)
LEAD 945 - Social Science Research for Public Problem Solving (3 credits)

Research Methodologies (12 credits)

Students work with their committees to select a minimum of four courses (12 credit hours) of research methods appropriate for their programs of study.

Additional Requirements (30 credits)

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.

Dissertation Research (15-30 credits)

Completion of a dissertation that 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 credits)
COMM 999 - Research in Leadership Communication (1-15 credits)
LEAD 999 - Research in Leadership Communication (1-15 credits)

Electives (0-15 credits)

Students will work with their committees to select 0-15 credit hours of elective courses appropriate for their programs of study.

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