• For Prospective Students
  
• For Current Students
  
• For Alumni & Friends
  
• For Faculty & Staff
  


• News
  
• Events & Conferences
  
• SOE Calendar
  
• Our Partners
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the history of the program?

A. The origins of the program date back to 1994. Dr. Mitch Kusy from the Department of Organization Learning and Development began receiving an increasing number of requests for advanced graduate study. Kusy monitored the number of requests and began the preliminary market research with professional groups. Kusy, along with Dr. Diane Stoy expanded this research nationally after she joined the St. Thomas faculty in 1995. They then developed a proposal for the doctoral program and proceeded over the next several years to obtain the necessary approvals and support within the university. Recruitment for the first cohort of students began in 1998 and the first group of students began the program in 1999.

Q. Who are the current students in the program?

A. Our students have varied backgrounds including:

• Internal and external organization development consultants
• Leaders in health care
• Leaders in education
• Leaders in manufacturing
• Insurance and information technology

Our students represent a number of sectors in society. They are experienced, highly motivated, dedicated and energetic individuals who care deeply about their work. The common denominator is that all organization development students are change agents who are committed to bringing about positive change in organizations and in the world.

Q. How much time is involved in being a student in the doctoral program?

A. It is difficult to provide an exact estimate of the number of hours. Suffice to say, completing all the requirements for a doctoral degree, the highest degree offered in our system of higher education, is a big step. Most courses are six weeks in length, followed by a two week break, and involve one weekend on-campus. In addition, close communication with others in the learning community is needed and this takes time. All of our students are working adults with jobs, families, travel schedules, etc. Adding a doctoral program to such a busy life requires a strong commitment to learning, family support and some repositioning of other commitments.

Q. What is unique about this doctoral program?

A. There are a number of distinctive features of the program. At St. Thomas, our program has a strong values base, steeped in ethics and contribution to the community. We care deeply about making the world a better place. We build our work on a solid base of theory and then focus on immediate application in the workplace. Our curriculum and work are benchmarked with the competencies set forth by the Organization Development Institute. The composition of the learning cohort is unique in that it offers change agents from diverse settings. The program also offers the opportunity to learn with and from one another.

The "Web work" included in most courses provides a way to deepen and broaden learning. The "Web work" will help students continue with their studies while traveling. The Organization Learning and Development faculty members are all organization development consultants who are engaged in active practices. The faculty see themselves not as "experts handing down knowledge" to our students. Rather, they are committed to sharing expertise, serving as coaches in our students learning journey while fulfilling a heartfelt commitment to making this doctoral program one of the most innovative and best in the world.