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. They include managers, human resource development practitioners, consultants, education administrators and other working professionals from organizations of varying size and type. Approximately 25% of our students are international students. Their backgrounds lend a rich perspective to the classroom and the mutual cultural exchange with US students provides both local and global networking opportunities. What this diverse student population all has in common is their passion for lifelong learning and positive change-making.
Classes are offered in the evening for working professionals. The curriculum focuses on organizational issues such as strategic change, transformational leadership, individual and group learning processes, organizational development, global and international issues, the humane organization, virtual organizations, meaning of work, and self-directed learning. In addition to completing the required coursework, students work with an advisor to create an individually designed program around their research interests. 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.
The Virginia Science & Technology campus in Ashburn, Virginia, is home to a doctoral cohort focused on the interrelationships among people, organizations and learning, while utilizing systemic change processes. The program encourages the learner to challenge assumptions through critical reflection, and fosters group and self-directed learning. All classes at the Virginia Science & Technology campus are offered on one Friday-Saturday weekend per month, enabling students to continue working full-time while pursuing their degree.
- Applied Leadership: Weekday evening classes allow for students to apply what they learn in their workplace the next day. Students include managers, consultants, HR professionals, and self-employed business owners from leading organizations of varying size and type. They also bring a variety of educational backgrounds, with degrees in fields such as business, education, health and medical sciences, engineering, and technology.
- 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.
- Optimizing Personal and Organizational Growth:The multidisciplinary approach to organizational studies draws on the fields of management, sociology, psychology, anthropology and education. The program focuses on increasing the learning capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations to optimize organizational growth and effectiveness.
A minimum of 69 credits for students at the main campus location and 72 credits for students in the Executive Leadership program as well as and successful completion of a comprehensive examination.
Main Campus Program
Core Courses
EDUC 8110 Advanced Study: Ideas, Issues, and Practices in Education
HOL 8700 Foundations of Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8701 Theory, Research, and Practice in Adult Learning and Development
HOL 8702 Theory and Design of Organizational Diagnosis and Development
HOL 8703 Human Systems Change
HOL 8704 Leadership Theory, Research, and Practice
HOL 8706 Interdisciplinary Readings in Human and Organizational Learning
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 8173 Structural Equation Modeling
Electives
18 credits from the following selected in consultation with advisor
HOL 6100 Special Workshop
HOL 6707 Organizational Learning
HOL 6721 Assessing the Impact of Organizational Change
HOL 6724 Increasing the Capacity to Learn
HOL 6743 Action Learning
HOL 6744 Meaningful Workplaces
HOL 6747 International and Multicultural Issues in Organizations
HOL 8101 Research and Independent Study
HOL 8721 Practicum in Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8742 Work, Identity, and Adult Development
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
Executive Leadership Program
Core Courses
EDUC 8110 Advanced Study: Ideas, Issues, and Practices in Education
HOL 8100 Special Topics in Human and Organizational Learning - Doctoral Studies (taken for 9 credits)
HOL 8700 Foundations of Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8701 Theory, Research, and Practice in Adult Learning and Development
HOL 8702 Theory and Design of Organizational Diagnosis and Development
HOL 8703 Human Systems Change
HOL 8704 Leadership Theory, Research, and Practice
HOL 8706 Interdisciplinary Readings in Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8720 Seminar: Applied Research in Human and Organizational Learning
HOL 8721 Practicum in Human and Organizational Learning (taken for 9 credits)
HOL 8722 Seminar: Advanced Issues in Human and Organizational Learning
Research methods
EDUC 8120 Group Comparison Designs and Analyses
EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods
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
Electives
3 credits 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
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.
Program Entry: Fall
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 page.
In the News
Dr. Shaista E. Khilji's case entitled Maintaining the "Single Samsung" Spirit: New Challenges in a Changing Environment has made it to Ivey Publishing's May 2017 Best Seller List. She co-authored this case with GSEHD student Chang Hwan Oh and GSEHD alumna Nisha Manikoth (Ed.D., human and organizational learning).
Mari Campuzano, a third year doctoral student in the Human and Organizational Learning program, presented her paper The Under-representation of Minority Women in Sports Management Leadership and the Role of Higher Education: An Intersectional Analysis at the International Leadership Association's 18th annual Global Conference in Atlanta, GA.
Mari Campuzano, GSEHD doctoral student in human and organizational learning, presented her paper Women in Sports Management Leadership: A Research Agenda and Implications for Latin America at the International Leadership Association's (ILA) Topical Conference, "Exploring Leadership in Latin America" held at Universidad del Pacifico in Lima, Peru. Ms. Campuzano received a grant from GW's Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) for this opportunity.