Doctor of Education in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement

The LICI Mission

Inspired by a Christian worldview, stewardship, and service, the mission of the LICI program is to prepare and equip individuals to be lifelong learners and exceptional leaders who will make a positive impact and add value to various vocations and communities of interest.

The LICI Program

The LICI program has an intellectually stimulating cross-disciplinary approach (e.g. business, nursing, occupational therapy, health services, nonprofit, and education) in student makeup and collaborative projects. The 60 credit, three-year program is made up of three core areas (leadership, research, improvement science and innovation) with a fourth area being an elective or customized choice (the education track, the business track, or a blend of the two tracks). While students will be exposed to many different viewpoints throughout their journey in the program, LICI instructors and curriculum will also present issues, topics, and best practices from a Christian worldview perspective.

Program Policies

All Program policies for the LICI program are located in the Doctoral of Education in Leadership and Continuous Improvement Handbook.

Program Learning Outcomes

When you complete this doctoral program, our promise is that you will know and be able to do the following (University Global Learning Outcomes will be marked GLO#):

Leadership Program Outcomes           

  • L1: Overall Leadership: Graduates will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes,  competencies, and habits of mind in innovative, entrepreneurial, vocational, servant, and exemplary leadership theory and practice.  (GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6)
  • L2: Christian Servant Leadership: Graduates will demonstrate and apply Christian servant leadership to professional and vocational settings. (GLO1, GLO2)
  • L3: Application of Leadership Best Practices: Graduates will embody and apply leadership best practices within their chosen field(s).  (GLO4, GLO6)
  • L4: Leading Transformational Change: Graduates will demonstrate leadership skills with diverse constituencies in transformational change. (GLO4)

Research Program Outcomes

  • R1: Methodology: Graduates will apply qualitative, quantitative, action, and other research methodology and strategies in professional experiences and vocational contexts. (GLO4, GLO5, GLO6)
  • R2: Service: Graduates will apply their God-given gifts and abilities for impactful service to Christ in the Church and in the world. (GLO1, GLO2, GLO4, GLO5)

Innovation and Improvement Science Program Outcomes

  • I1. Application of Improvement Science and Innovation: Graduates will apply data-driven research, improvement science, and innovation to a broad spectrum of cross-disciplinary issues, challenges, or opportunities in communities and causes of interest.  (GLO2, GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6)
  • I2: Leading Change with Improvement Science and Innovation: Graduates will manage change forces and lead the change process.  (GLO3, GLO4)
  • I3: Biblical View of Innovation and Improvement Science: Graduates will defend a vision for innovation and improvement science that that is rooted in the biblical understanding of the love for truth, love for neighbor, and an eternal perspective of life.  (GLO1, GLO4, GLO5)

Elective Emphasis Program Outcomes

  • Graduates will choose, solve, produce, or construct sustainable or breakthrough solutions, innovations, projects, or ventures that will directly affect and benefit communities of interest or causes of concern. (GLO1, GLO2, GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6) 
  • Graduates will lead or facilitate positive, sustainable change to an identified community, profession, or organizational need. (GLO1, GLO2, GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6) 
  • Graduates will formulate and integrate innovative theory and practice to produce rapid, sustainable, breakthrough change. (GLO1, GLO2, GLO3, GLO4, GLO5, GLO6).

Curriculum

Required Leadership Core Courses12
Required Research Core Courses12
Required Improvement Science and Innovation Core Courses12
Required Dissertation Research & Dissertation Core Courses12
Emphasis Elective Courses12
Business
Education
Total Hours60
Required Leadership Core Courses12
Advanced Leadership Theory and Practice
Exemplary Leadership Case Studies
Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership
Servant and Ethical Leadership
Required Research Core Courses12
Intro to Doctoral Program and Research Methods
Quantitative Research Seminar
Qualitative Research Seminar
Advanced Research and Statistics
Required Improvement Science and Innovation Core Courses 12
Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change
Innovation and Design Thinking
Six Sigma Applications
Lean Systems Analysis
Required Dissertation Research & Dissertation Core Courses12
Research Seminar 1
Dissertation Research Seminars (Research Seminars 2 - 9)
Dissertation
Elective Courses (custom choice of business and/or education courses)12
Business Electives
Operations and Supply Chain Management
“Other Duties as Assigned” – Innovative and Essential Business Practices in School Leadership
Applications of Management Science and Analytics
Special Topics: Business and Industry
Leading Non-Profit Organizations
Special Topics in Healthcare: The Business of Healthcare
The Business and Sustainability of Social Entrepreneurship
Education Electives
Branding Strategy in Education
Futures Thinking and Change in Education
“Other Duties as Assigned” – Innovative and Essential Business Practices in School Leadership
Diversity, Belonging, and Culturally Responsive Leadership
Educating the Adult Learner
Developing Meaningful Assessments for Effective Learning
Professional Practice to Higher Education
Instructional Design for Higher Education
The Superintendency
Professional Ethics in Leadership
Organizational and Policy Development
School Improvement and Data Analysis
Public Relations
Facility Planning
Total Hours60

Ed.D. Admission Process

  • Online application; see the Concordia University application web page for more information. 
  • Official transcripts from a regionally accredited institution or institutions that awarded the your master’s degree and any post-master’s credits
  • Letter of Intent (no more than two pages) providing evidence for consideration to be admitted to the LICI program. The Letter of Intent should focus on leadership, innovation and continuous improvement as well as reasons for choosing CU and one’s commitment to degree completion.
  • Example of scholarly writing from graduate-level courses or other work
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Two letters of recommendation from professional sources.
  • Students may be asked to schedule an interview with the LICI admissions sub-committee.