Lead with purpose and transform industries

The Ed.D. in LICI equips mission-driven leaders to solve real-world problems, improve organizational systems, and lead with clarity, compassion, and Christian purpose. Designed for professionals across education, business, healthcare, ministry, and nonprofits, this applied doctorate strengthens your ability to lead change that lasts.

Virtual Tour
Program Overview

The Ed.D. in LICI is a flexible, supportive doctoral experience designed for full-time professionals who want to apply research, not just study it, to real workplace challenges. Through a balance of academic rigor and practical application, this program builds advanced expertise in:

  • Leadership
  • Improvement Science & Innovation
  • Applied Research

You’ll grow your ability to refine systems, solve complex problems, and elevate the people you serve all within a Christ-centered community committed to ethical, human-centered leadership.

Why industry leaders choose this program

  • Practice-focused doctorate designed to solve real organizational problems.
  • Interdisciplinary cohort model where you learn alongside peers from education, business, healthcare, ministry, and nonprofits.
  • Built for working adults with asynchronous 8-week courses with clear deadlines.
  • Personalized dissertation support assigned Dissertation Chair early in the program.
  • Flexible elective paths choose business or education emphasis areas.
  • Improvement Science focus practical skills in Lean, Six Sigma, and organizational change.
  • Christ-centered leadership identity lead with stewardship, ethics, and purpose.
  • Two annual cohort start dates in January and June.

Alternative Pathway: Consider the research-intensive Ph.D. Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement degree instead.

Who should experience this program?

To be a leader and educator in your industry, you need to be well versed in evidence-based teaching and practice. Our interprofessional curriculum is lead by experts in education, business, and healthcare that will build your skillset to successfully implement new strategies and initiatives that employees and key stakeholders will follow.

Healthcare Professionals

Provides a career pathway to teach health-related courses in higher-education institutions. It is also for individuals in the field of healthcare seeking to learn innovative ways to improve health, lower costs, and enhance the care of patients.

Students in this program:

  • Teach health-related courses in higher education
  • Improve patient care delivery and outcomes
  • Lead innovation within healthcare systems
Business Professionals

For those in business who want to bring new skills, dispositions, and improvement science to their practice and vocations or are not seeking a DBA.

Students in this program:

  • Strengthen organizational improvement and strategy
  • Lead change and guide teams with purpose
  • Ideal for professionals seeking a practical expertise
Education Professionals

For individuals that have a goal of teaching in higher education or possibly holding administrative positions in technical colleges.

Students in this program:

  • District leaders, curriculum directors, higher ed faculty
  • Technical college administrators
  • Candidates pursuing superintendent and administrative pathways
  • Seeking electives to support District Administrator licensure
Program Videos
What to Expect

Preparing tomorrow’s leaders

CUW's Ed.D. prepares you to:

  • Improve organizational systems through innovation and continuous improvement
  • Apply research and data to real-world problems
  • Design, implement, and evaluate strategic initiatives
  • Lead teams with clarity, confidence, and compassion
  • Make evidence-based decisions that strengthen outcomes
  • Integrate Christian ethics, faith, and stewardship into leadership practice

Ideal for leaders

  • K–12 School Districts
  • Higher Education
  • Healthcare Systems
  • Ministry & Church Leadership
  • Business & Nonprofit Organizations
  • Government & Community Agencies
  • Doctoral Residencies

Residencies

Although most coursework is online, Ed.D. students attend two required in-person residencies (3–4 days each) at CUW’s Mequon, WI campus. These residencies provide:

  • Deep-dive learning with faculty
  • Meaningful networking with your cohort
  • Dedicated time for reflection and planning
  • Alignment of dissertation direction and next steps
  • Growth in Christian leadership identity

Residency timeline

  • Residency 1: beginning of the program (leadership formation + research foundations)
  • Residency 2: after year one (application, improvement science, dissertation development)

Program outcome

You will be paired with a Dissertation Chair early in the program who will mentor you from the first semester through your final defense. Through structured milestones, research seminars, and personalized feedback, you will:

  • Build a meaningful, applied dissertation project
  • Connect your research to your professional context
  • Participate in ongoing check-ins to stay on track
  • Complete and publicly defend your dissertation

The Ed.D. dissertation is practice-focused, allowing you to address real, high-impact problems in your organization or field.  Learn more about the dissertation process.

Curriculum and course structure

Leadership Core

  • Advanced Leadership Theory & Practice
  • Exemplary Leadership Case Studies
  • Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership
  • Servant & Ethical Leadership

Research Core

  • Introduction to Doctoral Research Methods
  • Quantitative Research Seminar
  • Qualitative Research Seminar
  • Advanced Research & Statistics
  • Applied Research Seminars (dissertation development)

Improvement Science & Innovation Core

  • Organizational Learning, Performance & Change
  • Innovation & Design Thinking
  • Choice of: Six Sigma Applications or Lean Systems Analysis

Elective courses

Choose two electives:

Business options:

  • Leading Nonprofit Organizations
  • Business of Healthcare
  • Social Entrepreneurship

Education options:

  • Branding Strategy in Education
  • Educating the Adult Learner
  • Diversity & Culturally Responsive Leadership
  • School Improvement & Data Analysis*
  • Professional Ethics in Leadership*

    *Courses may apply toward District Administrator licensure.

Latest News

Starting two year's ago, the Concordia Summit for Educators and Leaders, has returned due to 'popular demand,' according to Dr. Jim Pingel, dean of the School of Education and founder of the event.

Second Concordia Summit for Educators and Leaders served up fellowship and professional development for attendees

Starting two year's ago, the Concordia Summit for Educators and Leaders, has returned due to 'popular demand,' according to Dr. Jim Pingel, dean of the School of Education and founder of the event. Read More

The uncommon teacher whose path to CUW was in God’s time

Meet Dawn Randall, a multilingual teacher, who recently graduated in the Leadership in Innovation...
Answering the Call to Teach

After graduation, Sam plans to complete his MBA and pursue a business-related job before...
The uncommon educator who has overcome so much to earn her EdD

Meet Lidalyn “Chiper” Tennessen, who once thought she would never get in to college,...
Recruiting future superintendents: A path to leadership with doctoral opportunities

Are you ready to take the next step in your educational career? If you’re an experienced...
Read More

Related Programs

Master of Science in Education - Educational Administration: Principal (DPI #5051)

Step into school leadership with your choice of four Wisconsin licensure options or pair any license with your master’s degree in educational administration

Learn More

Doctor of Business Administration

Advance your evidence-based decision-making skills to be more impactful in business.

Learn More

Master of Science in Education - Educational Administration: Christian Leadership

The Christian Leadership Master of Science in Education is designed for educators and ministry leaders seeking faith-driven administrative roles in Christian schools.

Learn More

Questions? We’re here to help!

Get answers to your questions

Our team is standing by to assist you with additional program details, financial aid options, and admissions questions.