Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A: 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.

A: The program’s student body and alumni come from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds, as well as from different parts of the world. 2011/12 Student Body Profile (As of September 1, 2011)

A: 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.

A: Most definitely. All of our students balance the program will 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.

A: 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. However, to date, the program has not considered any applications from individuals without accredited master’s degrees. 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 would like to be clear that it would be in the most extraordinary 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.

A: 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 class size lends to the quality of student-to-faculty contact and creates a close, supportive learning community. The program’s content of curriculum is heavily focused on issues of social justice leadership and change. 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.

A: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.

A: Doctoral-level learning completed at regionally accredited universities may be used as part of the demonstration and documentation of completion of an outcome area and, in this way, may be integrated into the student’s completion of program requirements. At no time, however, will it stand alone as a demonstration of competence. Given the above, there is no advanced standing for credit learning in this program since there are no specific units transferred other than what occurs in the design and completion of a outcome area.

A: 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.

A: 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.

A: 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.

A: 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.

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

A: Annual tuition is set at $24,996. Read about available payment plans. Tuition is charged on an annual basis until candidacy is obtained. Once candidacy is reached, tuition is half of the current pre-candidacy annual tuition and is charged on a trimester basis.

A: For answers to these and other financial aid questions, please visit our Financial Aid section.

A: 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.

A: Yes, with the establishment of the Alan E. Guskin Scholars Award Fund, Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change Program can offer tuition scholarships for incoming and continuing students. In accordance with the commitment of Antioch University to encourage a socially engaged and humanistic education that helps to improve the quality of life for individuals, communities, and the larger global community, the two primary criteria for selection will be documented performance in service to a community and student need. Additionally, in honor of the many generations of Antioch University’s Peace Corps Volunteers, the PhD in Leadership and Change Program is proud to announce the establishment of a scholarship fund for an incoming student who is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. For more information on scholarship funds, please email us.

A: 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.