Doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning

The Human and Organizational Learning program offered in Washington, DC is designed to provide professionals with a foundation in relevant theories, concepts, and practices towards facilitating change initiatives and in becoming more effective leaders and decision-makers. Our students come from a variety of sectors including business, health care, military, education, federal agencies, hospitality, social services, IT and manufacturing. Approximately 25% of our students are international students. The multicultural and diverse composition of the student population provides both local and global networking opportunities.

The Human & Organizational Learning curriculum focuses on organizational issues such as strategic change, transformational leadership, individual and group learning processes, organizational development, and global and international issues. In addition to completing the required coursework, students work with an advisor to create an individually designed program around their research interests.

Highlights
    Convenient Schedule: All classes are offered on weeknights - once per week, in 15-week sessions during the fall and spring semesters, allowing for students to continue working full-time while attending graduate school. Weekday evening classes allow for students to apply what they learn in their workplace the next day.

    Customized Plan of Study: The format is tailored to meet individual needs, allowing students to develop a personal plan of study. Students choose elective courses to create an individually designed program around their area of interest with options in organizational development and change; individual and collective learning processes; or, global HOL. Electives may include some courses within other departments at GW or within the Washington Metropolitan Area Consortium of Universities.

Curriculum

A minimum of 69 credits for students as well as and successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

Main Campus Program

Core Courses

HOL 8700 Foundations of Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8701 Theory, Research, and Practice in Adult Learning and Development
HOL 8703 Human Systems Change
HOL 8704 Leadership Theory, Research, and Practice
HOL 8724 Creating and Planning Doctoral Research

Research methods

EDUC 8120 Group Comparison Designs and Analyses
EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods
HOL 8720 Seminar: Applied Research in Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8722 Seminar: Advanced Issues in Human and Organizational Learning

Three credits from the following:

EDUC 8100 Experimental Courses
EDUC 8130 Survey Research Methods
EDUC 8131 Case Study Research Methods
EDUC 8140 Ethnographic Research Methods
EDUC 8142 Phenomenological Research Methods
EDUC 8144 Discourse Analysis
EDUC 8170 Educational Measurement
EDUC 8171 Predictive Designs and Analyses
EDUC 8172 Multivariate Analysis
EDUC 8173 Structural Equation Modeling
EDUC 8174 Hierarchical Linear Modeling
EDUC 8175 Item Response Theory
EDUC 8177 Assessment Engineering

Electives

24 credits in elective courses selected in consultation with advisor

Dissertation

HOL 8998 Predissertation Seminar
HOL 8999 Dissertation Research (minimum 12 credits needed to complete requirement)

Successful completion of comprehensive exam required
Approved dissertation proposal required

Career Outlook

Opportunities

Students graduate from the program prepared to lead in multiple settings. Our recent graduates include:

  • Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Capitol One
  • Chief of Civilian Talent Development , US Army
  • VP Global Learning & Leadership, Marriott
  • Chief Learning Officer, Deloitte
  • Director, Leadership Coaching, Center of Excellence
  • Instructional Design Leader, IBM
  • Leadership Instructor, US Air Force

Find challenges solved with innovation and well executed strategy, and you will find a GSEHD HOL leader.

Application

Program Entry: Fall, Summer
Prerequisites: Master's Degree
Campus: Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC Campus

Application Requirements

  • Online Application
  • Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation (academic and/or professional)
  • Transcripts (unofficial)
  • Standardized Test Scores (GRE or MAT or GMAT)
  • Application Fee

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants.

For more information on any of these requirements, please visit our Admissions FAQ page.

Faculty
Burley, Diana
Professor
dburley@gwu.edu
(202) 994-5835
Casey, Andrea
Associate Professor
acasey@gwu.edu
(571) 553-3763
Chalofsky, Neal
Associate Professor
nealcha@gwu.edu
(202) 994-7188
Cseh, Maria
Associate Professor
cseh@gwu.edu
(202) 994-8649
Scully-Russ, Ellen
Associate Professor
scullyru@gwu.edu
(571) 553-3786
Sousane, Rick
Visiting Assistant Professor
rsousane@gwu.edu
(202) 994-5760
Storberg-Walker, Julia
Associate Professor
jswalker@gwu.edu
(571) 553-3787
Transformation Begins Here

Learn more about the Doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning program located on campus (202-994-3023).

In the News

Dr. Shaista E. Khilji's article, co-authored with GSEHD alumna Dr. Kelly Pumroy, (Ed.D., Human and Organizational Learning and a part time OLL faculty), was accepted for publication in Gender, Work and Organization. Titled, "We are strong, we are resilient- the career experiences of women engineers," this article hopes to illuminate persistence of male perspective in organizational literature and practice to promote a perspective of women as strong and resilient professionals.

Dr. Ellen Scully-Russ was the lead co-editor of the recent volume of New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, entitled Update on Informal and Incidental Learning Theory. She co-edited the volume with Drs. Aliki Nicholadies and Karen Watkins of the University of Georgia and Dr. Victoria Marsick of Teachers College. Dr. Scully-Russ also co-authored two chapters, including "Sowing the Seeds of Change: Equitable Food Initiative through the lens of Vygotsky's Cultural Historic Development Theory" with Kevin Boyle, and "Connections, Questions, Controversies and the Potential Paths Forward" with Dr. Nicholodies. GSEHD doctoral candidate Ximena Vidal De Col (Human and Organizational Learning) was the Editorial Assistant on this project.

GSEHD alumnus Dr. Michael Callanan (Ed.D, Human and Organizational Learning) and Dr. Andrea Casey won the Best Paper Award in the Healthcare and Public Sector Management Track at the Irish Academy of Management Annual Conference in Cork, Ireland on September 3, 2018. Their paper is entitled, Doctor’s Orders: Shifting Power Relations in the Practice of Medicine in a US Hospital.

The NRF Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Retail Federation, has hired GSEHD alumna Shana Treger (master's, Human and Organizational Studies) as their new Director of Learning and Credentials. Ms. Treger will oversee development and expansion of educational materials for the Foundation’s RISE Up training and credentialing program.

GSEHD alumna Lisa Herrmann (master's, Human and Organizational Learning) led the study Interprofessional education curricula in pediatric residency programs: Survey of U.S. pediatric program directors published in the Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice. The study was a required part of her degree program. Her co-authors included Dr. Ellen Goldman and another GSEHD alumna, Dr. Mary Ottolini (master's, Human and Organizational Learning).