School of Education
DEPARTMENTSPlanning for Graduate Study
Doctorate in Organization Development
The core curriculum builds skills and knowledge in consulting, organizational culture assessment, change management, group facilitation, and intervention techniques. Through coursework and three practical field experiences, the program emphasizes skills in organizational diagnostics, research, strategic planning, leadership, large-scale change, organizational communication and multicultural dimensions of OD.
The flexible, innovative curriculum is characterized by:
- The faculty represents a variety of disciplines from St. Thomas and the international community of scholars.
- The program provides you with a strong theoretical grounding as well as pragmatic experience applying learning to real-world OD work. The doctoral program focuses on the ART of learning: application (practical), research (scientific) and theory (systems and models).
- The cohort model serves as an ideal vehicle for collaborative learning.
- Co-creation of coursework and learning methods. You will collaborate with instructors to assess your needs and build a curriculum based on successful, state-of-the-art and practice change management.
- The context of the learning is set within the reality of today's global economy.
The OD curriculum builds skills and knowledge in:
- Organizational culture assessment
- Change management
- Group facilitation
- Intervention techniques
- Organizational diagnostics
- Research
- Strategic planning
- Leadership
- Communication
Key Components of the Program
Content alternates between macro perspectives and concrete micro applications during the weekend classes of the program’s first three years. Various applications of Web-based technology are used to increase learning potential outside the classroom. These may include large-group discussions, simulations and small-team case study groups.
Four Weeklong Sessions
Students explore complex organizational, ethical and societal issues during three weeklong in-residence learning sessions (one during each year of coursework and one preceding the dissertation). Sessions begin at noon on Monday and end at noon on Friday. Lodging and meals are included in the tuition. Sessions are held at the Gainey Conference Center in Owatonna, Minn., located one hour from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Weekend Classes
Weekend classes are intensive face-to-face sessions held on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Here you will develop a theoretical base in OD while reflecting on learning in your work environment. Students dine together as a cohort, and meals are included in the tuition.
Virtual Learning Experiences
Most courses contain a virtual component to aid working professionals who may be geographically dispersed throughout the world. Technology is used to broaden the experience, including simulations, small-group work and synchronous and asynchronous communications.
Practica
Practica or field experiences, are designed for individual and team learning. The first practicum involves learning the skills used in an OD intervention; the second involves working with a team of student colleagues and a faculty adviser on actual, supervised OD work; the third experience involves an individual OD project in which students serve as the consultant.
Pre-dissertation Seminar
The pre-dissertation seminar during the fourth weeklong residential session is designed to ensure a smooth transition between formal coursework and the dissertation.
Dissertation
The dissertation is the culminating learning experience of the program and a means through which students have the opportunity to contribute to the OD profession.
Doctorate in Organization Development: 72 semester credits
