The University of St. Thomas

School of Education

Doctorate in Organization Development Courses

The course of study for this degree has been developed for a busy working professional.  Based on one weeklong in-residence training session and five weekend sessions over the course of a year, the program provides working professionals with the opportunity to obtain this doctorate degree and maintain work-life balance.

Course of Study - Year One
Panorama of OD: Practice, Vision and World Trends
Introduction to Research
The Application, Research and Theory of OD
Advanced OD Practice: Strategic Evaluation
Process Consulting and Action Research
Mentoring Practicum
Elective Credits

Course of Study - Year Two
Emerging Trends in Leadership
Appreciative Inquiry
Storytelling in Organizations
Strategic Planning
Team Practicum
Elective Credits

Course of Study - Year Three
Residency: Moral, Spiritual and Ethical Issues in OD
Research Lab
Large-Scale Change
Critical Perspectives on OD
Negotiation
Individual Practicum
Elective Credits

Course of Study - Year Four
Residency:  Pre-Dissertation Seminar
Dissertation

Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.

Course of Study – Year One

Panorama of OD: Practice, Vision and World Trends (ODOC900 – 3 Credits)

Weeklong, in-residence session. This class is an introduction to the theoretical base of OD, incorporating visionary perspectives and application models.

Introduction to Research (ODOC931 – 4 Credits)

Students will be introduced to epistemology, methodology and methods as they apply to research in the social sciences, with a particular stress on research in organization development.

The Application, Research and Theory of OD  (ART™) (ODOC903 – 2 Credits)

In this class, students will bridge the knowledge from previous courses with a general grounding in the field through an abbreviated, albeit comprehensive, exposure to all phases of OD.

Advanced OD Practice: Strategic Evaluation (ODOC905 – 2 Credits)

Students will explore and use the principles and best practices of evaluation methods. This forum will help to reflect upon the roles and responsibilities of an evaluator, as well as be provided a hands-on experience with evaluation design.

Process Consulting and Action Research (ODOC907 – 2 Credits)

Students will develop skills to carry out the essential steps of process consultation, including contracting for action, formalizing expectations, developing working relationships and reporting patterns, deliverables, timeframe and costs involved in the intervention.

Mentoring Practicum (ODOC941 – 3 Credits)

An experience designed for students to have the opportunity to observe expert OD professionals at work in the real-time practice of OD.  Students will reflect on the mentor’s professional behaviors and skills, identify key findings and then use these findings as a basis for action in their own work.

Elective Credits – 3 credits

Three University of St. Thomas elective credits or transfer credits.

Course of Study – Year Two


Emerging Trends in Leadership (ODOC920 – 3 Credits)

Weeklong, in-residence session

This session will focus on the evolution of leadership and emerging concepts of leadership in today’s global society.

Research Methods Lab (ODOC932 – 4 Credits)

This course allows for students to gain a deeper understanding of the methodologies used in the research of OD and to write research proposals.

Appreciative Inquiry (ODOC9XX – 2 Credits)

Students will explore and understand the perspectives of those at the “receiving end” of organizational change strategies.

Storytelling in Organizations (ODOC902 – 2 Credits)

Through this course, students will focus on transforming organizations through the diagnostic and action strategy of storytelling.

Strategic Planning (ODOC908 – 2 Credits)

Students will develop an understanding of strategic planning and acquire the ability to guide clients through the strategic planning process, incorporating critical phases, models and practices.

Team Practicum (ODOC942 – 3 Credits)

In this practicum, students will carry out a team organizational assessment and intervention with the guidance of a field and a faculty mentor.

Elective Credits – 3 credits

Three University of St. Thomas elective credits or transfer credits. 

Course of Study – Year Three

Residency: Moral, Spiritual and Ethical Issues in OD (ODOC930 – 3 Credits)

Weeklong, in-residence session

This program will focus on the moral, values-based and ethical dimensions of OD practice with discussion revolving around the core values of the profession.

Research Lab (ODOC933 – 4 Credits)

Students will receive hands-on experience using positivistic and interpretive research methods.

Large-Scale Change (ODOC909 – 2 Credits)

This course is devoted to learning the theory and technique of large-group intervention, the foundation of whole-systems transformation.

Critical Perspectives on OD (ODOC9XX – 2 Credits)

This course explores critical theory as an approach to how we understand and work to change organizations.

Negotiation (ODOC910 – 2 Credits)

This course is designed to improve negotiation skills and effectiveness in helping clients resolve conflict with key focus areas, including conflict-management concepts and skills, and negotiation strategies.

Individual Practicum (ODOC943 – 3 Credits)

In this practicum, students independently conduct an organizational assessment and intervention.

Elective Credits – 3 credits

Three University of St. Thomas elective credits or transfer credits. 

Course of Study – Year Four

Residency:  Pre-Dissertation Seminar (3 Credits)

Over three weekend sessions, students work with faculty to ensure a successful transition to the dissertation phase of their degree programs.

Dissertation (12 Credits)

The culminating experience of the program is a doctoral dissertation through which students make an original contribution to the research base of organization development.  Types of dissertations may include assessments of the effectiveness of large-scale change, the performance of virtual global teams or the effectiveness of OD in transnational corporations.


Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.