MILLER
Leadership & Policy
Through the Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy program at Niagara University, Ph.D. students generate new
knowledge that positions them to make a significant impact on organizations and individuals at the
local, national and international levels. Upon completion, Ph.D. graduates are prepared to engage in
meaningful careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Niagara University Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy Courses
Fall 2021
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ADS 710
“Organizational
Theory, Development,
and Strategic Change”
Instructor: David
Veres, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards 1,
2, and 3
In this course, doctoral students study various organizations in the context of
their environment, in order to understand the internal and external processes
that promote and inhibit organizational change. The focus is the essential role
that organizational leaders play in identifying these processes, guiding their
development, filtering, and disseminating challenges and other information to
the organization. Special attention is given to the development of the resources of the organization, especially the human resources. The use of contemporary resources is reinforced by extensive individual research investigations and interactions with library reference personnel throughout the course.
The theme around which the course is delivered is that of cooperative behavior and organizational adaptation. In particular, we examine organizational leadership relation to successful change management and achievement of strategic outcomes in rapidly changing internal and external environments. There is a special focus on public, non-profit, and cooperative organizations.
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Native American Community Services
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This course is designed to introduce doctoral students to the principles and
processes of research. Students become effective consumers of research by
analyzing the literature in a particular area of study and synthesizing the results into material that can be applied to diverse settings. Students also develop research skills that they might use to assist them in their own research and study. In addition, doctoral students develop or further enhance a positive research disposition that will compel them to use research in their leadership positions. This first course of the cohort program includes specific exposure to the Niagara University library and its reference services by library staff to assist Ph.D. candidate research.
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ADS 810
“Research Seminar”
Instructor:
Walter S. Polka, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards
4, 5, and 7
This research seminar is a semester-long professional development seminar
during which doctoral students participate in weekly seminars whereat
prominent researchers from various disciplines will make scholarly
presentations. Students are expected to reflect and react to the research
information presented and consider personal and professional applications of the research information. An integral component of this course is the
refinement of research knowledge and reference skills of each advanced
graduate student, consequently, the Niagara University Library Reference
Department will play a significant role in this course.
Spring 2022
ADS 720
“Process, Politics and Evaluation of Public and
Social Policy”
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Instructor: Rob Leone, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards
1, 3, and 6
This course provides doctoral students with an opportunity to reflect on the
theory, practice, and analysis of public policy. Students study current issues
such as: educational reforms, discrimination in hiring and housing, funding of
public and private organizations, labor negotiations, personal health programs, clean environment policies, and insurance concerns. Students analyze several decision-making models used at the international, federal, regional, state, and local levels. Of special concern is the role that politics plays in the development and implementation of policies.
ADS 740
“Leadership
in a Global Society”
Instructor: Mike Smith, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards
2 and 6
This course is designed to facilitate reading and discussion of various classic and current leadership theories. The perspective taken in this course is that the leader cannot think only in terms of local (micro) and regional (macro) issues, but must think also of the impact that world events (mega) issues have on the leaders of organizations and how both the leader and the organization may, in turn, impact the global society. This course is framed within a constructivist perspective, encouraging doctoral students to learn to view local, regional, and global issues from multiple perspectives, constructing knowledge from their personal introspections as well as from their interpretations of the contemporary and future world. The use of the Internet is an integral component of this course as candidates are expected to communicate with organizational leaders in different parts of the world regarding the implementation and evaluation of various leadership perspectives including personal dispositions, concepts, tactics, and strategies.
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Cashman Analysis
Friedman Analysis
This course is designed to provide doctoral students with theoretical and
practical preparation in qualitative research. Coursework includes methodology
for conducting historical, philosophical, ethnographic, and action research.
Students become familiar with the ethics of qualitative research, especially the protocols for dealing with human subjects. They are provided with hands-on experiences in studying archives and original sources, conducting interviews, and observing subjects. Students are expected to actively participate in a class qualitative research project.
ADS 830
“Advanced
Qualitative Research”
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Instructor:
Darren Treadway, Ph.D.
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Doctoral Standards 5
and 7
Fall 2022
ADS 730
“Organizational
Assessment and
Accountability”
Instructor:
David Veres, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards
1, 3, and 6
This course is designed to introduce doctoral students to organizational
assessment and accountability and provide students with conceptual and
practical tools to conduct organizational assessments and develop
accountability measures. Students also study the role that research and data
play in accountability, assessment, and policy development.
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Bustin_Accountability_Chp 7
Policy Analysis The Revised Education
“Economic
and Financial Policy
Leadership in a Global
Society”
Instructor:
Rocco Lueck, Ph.D.
In this course, doctoral students study various national and regional economies in the context of their macro-environments and analyze their respective impact on the mega global environment as well as the reciprocal impact of global economics upon individual nation states. Specific focus is given to global economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates and their impact on capital markets, foreign exchange markets, and labor markets. In addition, the international financial environment in which contemporary international businesses operate and in which financial service providers compete is assessed.
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ADS 820
“Advanced
Quantitative
Research”
Instructor:
Darren Treadway, Ph.D.
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Doctoral Standards
5 and 7
This course is designed to provide doctoral students with theoretical and
practical preparation in quantitative research. Course work includes creation
and development of hypotheses, conducting literature search, collection of
data, designing research, analysis of data, and drawing appropriate conclusions.
Students become familiar with the ethics of quantitative research, especially
the protocols for dealing with human subjects. Students are provided with
hands-on experiences in using statistical software in order to complete various complex analysis of variance and regression procedures. Students are expected to actively participate in a class quantitative research project.
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A quantitative causal-comparative analysis for longevity in the workplace
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Spring 2023
ADS 760
“Ethical
Practices in Leadership and Policy”
Instructor: Rob Leone,Ph.D.
Doctoral Standard 5
This course is designed to look at the micro and macro trends of organizations in order to understand the ethical implications of the assumptions and practices that drive organizations. Doctoral students examine the ethical foundations that guide the organizational leader in the creation and implementation of policy.
ADS 807
“Geographical
Information Systems
and Research”
Instructor: Yonghong
Tong, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards 4
and 7
This course is a broad and intensive study of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Using this extensive computer-based mapping software, doctoral students learn the nature and models of spatial data, organize, manage, and present such data, as well as plan, conduct, and present research. Applications in various professional settings will be introduced and discussed. The course will emphasize the use of GIS in administrative and policy making settings.
ADS 840
“Doctoral Seminar”
Instructor: Walter S.
Polka, Ph.D.
Doctoral Standards 4,
5, and 7
This course is typically taken in the final semester of a candidate’s cohort
required course program. In regularly scheduled meetings with the professor,
doctoral students are assisted in further developing and presenting their
Niagara University Ph.D. Digital Personal Program Portfolio as well as
developing dissertation proposal “drafts” of their respective dissertation
chapters 1,2, and 3. Doctoral students participate in both a “Mock
Comprehensive Oral Examination” and a “Mock Proposal Defense” during this
course to prepare them for their Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam and their initial
proposal dissertation defense. As a result of this course, students become
familiar with the protocols and procedures they will experience subsequent to
this course in completing their Ph.D. Program of Studies in Leadership and
Policy at Niagara University. All Ph.D. doctoral students are also be expected to
present their final dissertation proposal at a future Niagara University Ph.D.
Research Symposium or other Advanced Doctoral Studies research course in
order to serve as a personal research reference to other Ph.D. students about
their final dissertation experiences.
Fall 2023
ADS 750
“Diversity in
Organizations”
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Instructor: TBD
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Doctoral Standards 2
and 6
This course is designed to an understanding of the current research on how
diversity among stakeholders in the organization affect the organization and
the impact that the organization has on diverse groups. Doctoral candidates
utilize critical theories in order to analyze the strategies, techniques and
programs that are currently used by business, education, and public service
organizations in order to create and sustain ethical, human, and professional
organizations reflective of contemporary diversity. Since today's labor market is not homogenous, special emphasis is placed on the recruitment, selection, induction, and continuing development of diverse adults.
ADS 850
“Dissertation”
Instructor: TBD
Doctoral candidates work individually with their doctoral committee in
researching and writing their dissertations with specific emphasis in this first
dissertation course given to successfully completing Chapter One of the
dissertation relating to the purpose, need, and scope of the candidate's
proposed research study. Also, Chapter 2, Review of Related Research and
Literature is further developed and refined as part of this dissertation course.
Supplemental Elective
Spring 2024
ADS 852
“Dissertation”
Doctoral candidates work individually with their doctoral committee in
researching and writing their dissertations with specific emphasis in this second dissertation course given to successfully completing both Chapter Two Review of Related Literature and Research and Chapter Three Methodology of the dissertation. Candidates should be ready to schedule their first defense of their dissertation with their committee. Also, by the conclusion of this course, the candidate should be ready to submit their respective IRB documentation and have finalized their research instruments.
Supplemental Elective
Supplemental Elective
Summer 2024
ADS 855
“Dissertation”
Doctoral candidates work individually with their doctoral committee in
researching and writing their dissertations with specific emphasis in this final
dissertation course given to successfully completing the research component of their dissertation and finalizing Chapter Four Summary of Research Findings of the dissertation. Also, by the conclusion of this course, candidates should be
ready to schedule the final defense of their dissertation and should be finalizing Chapter Five of the dissertation, Conclusions, Summary and Recommendations Based on the Research.
Supplemental Elective