Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, Antioch University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The PhD program is a part of the larger Antioch University system, which has campuses in four states. The program also has full and permanent approval to operate in the state of Ohio from the Ohio Board of Regents since summer 2005. To learn more about Antioch’s multi-campus system, visit www.antioch.edu.

The majority of students in the program are mid- to senior-level practitioners. This means that for many, the program journey and achieving their PhD deepens the career paths they are already on. For some, securing the PhD offers the opportunity for new positions, provides them with the expertise to open consulting practices, to teach at the local college or university, or to help them become a more public intellectual in their professional networks.

Antioch’s PhD in Leadership and Change program offers a unique curriculum inviting just one cohort of about 25 students per year into the program. This small cohort size lends to the quality of student-to-faculty contact and creates a diverse, supportive cross-sector learning community. The program’s content of curriculum is heavily focused on the interdisciplinary study, research and practice of leading change that furthers social, economic and environmental justice in workplaces and communities worldwide. In addition, the PhD program is built on an understanding of adult learning, which allows for a curriculum that is extremely learner-centered for highly self-directed students. The program is designed for working professionals who are interested in enrolling in a full-time doctoral program while simultaneously maintaining their professional full-time work. Learn more about the ways in which we contextualize return on investment here.

The program requires a minimum of three years to candidacy and must be completed within seven years from admission. The length of time beyond the three years that a student takes to achieve candidacy depends largely on the student’s ability to complete the required demonstrations of learning in a timely fashion.

Most definitely. All of our students balance the program with full-time careers and family commitments. That said, students are asked to plan for roughly 15-20 hours of academic work on average per week.

Students themselves must be able to manage their time well in order to participate as fully as possible in their own learning.

No. The structure of our program allows students to live wherever, work full-time, and attend the program full-time assuming that they have internet access and are able to attend the residencies each year.

Students are required to attend three annual residencies for the first three years of study. The annual week-long summer residency is held at Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The two additional residencies throughout each year are held on or near Antioch campuses in Southern California and Seattle, Washington.

The PhD in Leadership and Change Program is designed for practitioners who want to develop their research skills and theoretical knowledge in order to address the perplexing questions of their practice. Therefore, throughout the program, students are continually applying their learning to their professional interests. At the same time, it is important to recognize that the PhD program is a research degree, not a training program, so while learning is connected and applied to one’s professional interests, there is not a one-to-one correspondence with job responsibilities.

Students are required to attend three annual residencies for the first three years of study. The annual week-long summer residency is held at Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The two additional residencies throughout each year are held on or near Antioch campuses in southern California and Seattle, Washington.

There are, but these change slightly from year to year. We work collaboratively as a program to get these to you well in advance of the residency in order to give you sufficient time to prepare. When you have your Zoom orientation with the Graduate Research Librarian, this will be explained in more detail.

The priority application deadline is February 1 of each year, after which time we begin review of all complete applications on a rolling basis. Our final application deadline is May 1 of each year.

Applicants are asked to submit an application form, admissions essay, resume, research-oriented writing sample, three recommender forms, official transcripts, and an application fee. For questions regarding further specifics of the application components please contact us or email us.

Yes, a master’s degree from an accredited institution is a minimum requirement for considered admission to the program. Applicants who seek admission to the PhD in Leadership and Change program without a post-baccalaureate degree may be considered in extremely rare cases. In such cases, the expectation would be that an individual’s record would demonstrate an outstanding accomplishment and significant professional experience at the equivalent of a master’s degree and would likely include extensive post-BA coursework, even if a degree were not completed. The program will accept applications from all interested individuals but it would be in rare situations that an applicant without a master’s degree would be considered for review by the full Admissions Committee of the PhD in Leadership and Change Program.

The program is willing to consider assessing doctoral work completed at another accredited institution within the past five years. The student’s work is evaluated to determine the degree to which it meets the learning goals and criteria established by our program faculty for only two specific first-year assignments: the Case Study in Leading Change and the Nature of Leadership.

Guaranteed fixed tuition is offered in the PhD in Leadership and Change Program for the first three years. Once a student advances to candidacy the tuition is half of full tuition, beginning in the trimester following advancement. For 2022-23, the tuition is $25,752. Payment plans are available.

A majority of GSLC students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program.

Yes, new and continuing students to the PhD Program can apply to a host of scholarship funds and research grants, many that encourage socially engaged leadership that helps to further the University’s mission and program outcomes. Additionally, in honor of the many generations of Antioch University’s Peace Corps volunteers, the PhD in Leadership and Change Program also offers a Coverdell Scholarship for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. For more information on scholarship funds and research grants, please email us.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step. Applicants can  obtain a copy of the application from the Program Office or go to ‘How to Apply’ on the  Program’s website.