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2024-25 Academic Catalog

DLDR Course Descriptions

Table of Contents

DLDR 706 Global Leadership

4 credit hours

This course will explore cross-cultural leadership by examining organizations and communities that operate from a global perspective. It will investigate an organization’s influence in the global community. Additional course fees may be required.

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DLDR 707 Critical Thinking and Research Methods

4 credit hours

An interactive course that engages students in synchronous and asynchronous online interaction. The purpose of the course is to provide a forum in which students hone each other's thinking about one's role and philosophy of leadership.

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DLDR 716 African Profiles of Ethical Leadership

4 credit hours

This course will assess leadership profiles of select historical and contemporary African and African American leaders. It will highlight their philosophy of leadership, their influence and accountability, and their leadership impact on their followers. Additional course fees may be required.

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DLDR 717 Global Contexts and Leadership

4 credit hours

An interactive course that engages students in synchronous and asynchronous online interaction. The purpose of this course is to overview, understand and critically engage the broad domains and dynamics of globalization and leadership.

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DLDR 750 Identifying the Need / Problem / Opportunity (NPO)

4 credit hours

This course orients students to Collaborative Design for Ministry and Nonprofit Contexts and introduces research and design tools and library resources. Students identify and articulate their NPO and explore its contours by drafting a discovery plan, organizing and conducting a discovery workshop and follow up interviews with stakeholders, begin compiling a working bibliography, and synthesize their semester discoveries in the first milestone assignment. Students meet with their Project Faculty and Peer Group monthly. Pass/No Pass. Additional course fee may be required.

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DLDR 751 Exploring Theological and Contextual Foundations of the NPO

4 credit hours

This course serves as the primary opportunity for students to acquire, read, examine, analyze, and synthesize professional and academic literature relevant to their Project Need / Problem / Opportunity (NPO) topic. Students produce a milestone exploration essay that examines the NPO’s history and context, the biblical and theological foundations, and identifies key voices. This academic paper is a mapping exercise that helps students understand the full landscape of the topic, and learn as much as possible about the layers of history beneath. Students meet with their Project Faculty and Peer Group monthly. Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 760 Introduction to Research Methodologies

3 credit hours

This course introduces research tools and library resources; develops academic writing skills and orients students to the overall doctoral research process. Students identify an initial Need / Problem / Opportunity (NPO), begin developing a working bibliography relevant to their research using library resources, and write a sample paper for critique and revision by the course instructor. Students occasionally meet with the course instructor in online synchronous sessions. Evaluation: Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 761 Defining the NPO

3 credit hours

This course serves as the primary opportunity for students to articulate, develop, and refine their project Need / Problem / Opportunity (NPO). Following the approval of a semester research plan, students will engage in bibliographic and field research in order to present and analyze the foundational nature of the NPO in their context. This will constitute section one of the Project Proposal: Defining the NPO. Students meet with the Faculty Advisor and Peer Group three times in online synchronous sessions. Evaluation: Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 795 Special Study

1-3 credit hour

An individualized course of research, involving in-depth study of a particular question, problem, or issue. The student must make an application for the study prior to registration for the semester in which the study will be carried out. The application must be approved by the faculty member overseeing the study and the department chair.

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DLDR 806 Contextual Leadership

4 credit hours

This course will explore leadership theory and practice to develop a deeper understanding of self and vocation that is consistent with one’s personality, values, and mission. Additional course fees may be required.

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DLDR 807 Global Leadership Habits, Practices and Dynamics

4 credit hours

An interactive course that engages students in synchronous and asynchronous online interaction. An interactive course in which students explore the nature of leadership from multiple methods and domains, including, theory, behavioural psychology, and theology. This will be brought into contact with an analysis of students own leadership, their ministry place organisational dynamics and history of Christianity. Additional course fee may apply for face-to-face intensive.

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DLDR 816 Marketplace Leadership: Doing Business in Deep Waters

4 credit hours

Looking more closely at TD Jakes’ approach to entrepreneurship, this course will examine the practice of Christian leadership in the global marketplace, integrating business, management, finance, and faith principles. Additional course fees may be required.

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DLDR 817 Contextualising Global Leadership Challenges for Local Contexts

4 credit hours

An interactive course that engages students in synchronous and asynchronous online interaction. This course functions to distill a vision or "dream" for leadership that arises out of the student's theology of leadership and that guides his or her thinking in the final formulation of the doctoral project.

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DLDR 850 Discovering Stakeholder Perspectives Concerning the NPO

3 credit hours

In this course, students engage select stakeholders from their context in a design workshop and follow up interviews. Students assess the real needs of those impacted by the NPO by identifying three promising design concepts for addressing the NPO. This includes proposing prototypes, benchmarks for evaluating success, and identifying knowledge gaps that require additional research. Students generate a milestone report on their findings and meet with their Project Faculty and Peer Group monthly. Pass/No Pass. Additional course fee may be required.

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DLDR 851 Experimenting with Prototypes

3 credit hours

In this course, students explore their design concepts that address the NPO identified in the previous course through a series of project prototypes. They also produce an academic essay to address remaining gaps in their knowledge. Based on what they discover, students identify one concept as their Most Viable Prototype (MVP) to pursue for their Doctoral Project. Students generate a milestone report outlining their findings. Students meet with their Project Faculty and Peer Group monthly. Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 860 Theological Foundations of the NPO

3 credit hours

This course enables students to research, explore, and synthesize the biblical and theological foundations relevant to their Project Need / Problem / Opportunity (NPO) topic. Students prepare a semester research plan for Faculty Advisor approval. Based on the student’s developing working bibliography, the main essay for this course will enable students to explore the NPO biblical and theological perspective. By the end of this course, students will also succinctly describe their NPO history and context and identify the artifact they will produce for their Doctoral Project. These elements will constitute section two of the Project Proposal. Students meet with the Faculty Advisor and Peer Group three times in online synchronous sessions. Evaluation: Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 861 Designing the Global Marketplace Doctoral Project

3 credit hours

In this course, students will identify and consult with a Project Design Consultant (PDC) of their own choosing to assist with developing an appropriate design, including its scope and standards, for the Doctoral Project that addresses their ministry or vocational Need / Problem / Opportunity (NPO). Students prepare a semester research plan for Faculty Advisor approval. Next, students will also create a rough prototype of the proposed Doctoral Project to gain input from stakeholders in their ministry or vocational context. This work is documented in section three of the Proposal. The Proposal also Doctoral Project parameters (scope and standards), audience, outcomes, and benchmarks for assessing effectiveness. Students prepare a draft final Proposal for Faculty Advisor approval and make a formal Presentation to the cohort and advisors. Students must obtain formal approval from their Faculty Advisor before beginning work on their formal Doctoral Project. Students meet with the Faculty Advisor and Peer Group three times in online synchronous sessions. Evaluation: Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 895 Special Study

1-3 credit hour

An individualized course of research, involving in-depth study of a particular question, problem, or issue. The student must make application for the study prior to registration for the semester in which the study will be carried out. The application must be approved by the faculty member overseeing the study and the department chair.

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DLDR 950 Designing the Doctoral Project

4 credit hours

In this course, students articulate the scope, parameters, development plan, and benchmarks for evaluating success of their Doctoral Project. They develop their project and gather early feedback from stakeholders to ensure they are on target. At the end of the semester, they produce a progress report. Students meet with their Project Faculty and Peer Group monthly. Pass/No Pass. Additional course fee may be required.

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DLDR 951 Assessment of the Doctoral Project

4 credit hours

A final course in which students complete their Doctoral Project in accordance with the scope agreed upon with their Project Faculty, and develop a post-graduation launch plan. Students will compile in a Project Portfolio their Doctoral Project and Project Launch Plan together with a formal introduction, previous milestones as appendices, and bibliography. They submit the Project Portfolio for examination by the Evaluation Committee. Once approved, students make final corrections and archive the Project Portfolio in the University Digital Commons. They conclude their journey with a Project Presentation. Students meet with their Project Faculty and Peer Group monthly. Pass / No Pass.

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DLDR 955 Doctoral Project Continuation

1 credit hour

To maintain enrollment until the Doctoral Project is complete. Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 960 Developing the Global Marketplace Doctoral Project

4 credit hours

In this course, based on their approved Doctoral Project Proposal, students will develop their Doctoral Project according to the design standards for the chosen medium. By the end of this course, students will make substantial progress in creating the Project, articulate a plan for continued development of the Project after graduation, and craft an introduction to the Doctoral Project. Students demonstrate progress by submitting a Project Progress Report. Students meet with the Faculty Advisor and Peer Group three times in online synchronous sessions. Evaluation: Pass/No Pass.

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DLDR 961 Evaluating the Global Marketplace Doctoral Project

4 credit hours

A final research course in which students submit their Doctoral Project and Launch Plan for oral examination by their Doctoral Committee. Once approved and the remaining edits accomplished, students submit the completed Doctoral Project to be reviewed by the Doctoral Editor and archived in the University Digital Commons. Pass / No Pass.

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DLDR 965 Global Marketplace Doctoral Project Continuation

1 credit hour

To maintain enrollment until the doctoral project is complete. Pass / No Pass.

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DLDR 995 Special Study

1-3 credit hour

An individualized course of research, involving in-depth study of a particular question, problem, or issue. The student must make application for the study prior to registration for the semester in which the study will be carried out. The application must be approved by the faculty member overseeing the study and the department chair.

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