Doctor of Social Leadership (DSL)

A practical doctorate designed to prepare professionals for service in religion and society to lead social change and solve social problems

The Doctor of Social Leadership (DSL) degree is a practical doctorate designed to prepare professionals for service in religion and society to lead social change. The program contains coursework in sociology, leadership, and Christian worldview studies. The degree is similar in scope and purpose to a Doctor of Ministry degree but is designed for religious leadership in the social professions.

Omega Graduate School’s Doctor of Social Leadership Degree Program is not just about earning a degree, it’s an experience that empowers leaders to lead social change.

Who can benefit from a Doctor of Social Leadership degree?

  1. Faith-oriented social workers
  2. Social service agency case workers and administrators
  3. Educators, counselors/therapists, and others in service professions
  4. Leaders of community agencies
  5. Government workers, public administrators, and community organizers

Our DSL Degree Program Is

  1. Affordable
  2. Accredited
  3. Practical
  4. Flexible
  5. Faith-Integrated
  6. Personalized

Social Leadership with an Emphasis on Action Research and Applied Sociology

  • The major of our DSL degree is Social Leadership.
  • Doctoral Action Research Project is focused on an area of professional interest.
  • Flexibility to drive studies toward personal and professional goals.
  • Interdisciplinary, faith-integrated, and practitioner-oriented.

A Practical Doctorate to Empower Leaders to Advance Social Change.

The Doctor of Social Leadership (DSL) degree is a subset of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD/DPhil) degree offered by Omega Graduate School. The DSL degree is an optional pathway/track to a practical/professional doctorate as an alternative to the research doctorate.

In place of advanced courses in research design, statistics, and dissertation writing (upper third of the PhD/DPhil), DSL students diverge to complete a practicum project utilizing Action Research.

Our DSL is not just a degree program; it’s a life-changing experience.

As a result of academic study, students develop and exhibit the following skills and outcomes:

  1. Competency in action research methodology
  2. Ability to gather evidence and synthesize findings
  3. Competency in developing practical solutions to social problems
  4. Clarity of English in both speech and written communication
  5. Leadership to transform social and organizational problems
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DSL Program Requirements

  1. 36 semester hours
  2. Five core sessions, including multiple interfaces with professors
  3. Opportunity for European reading and research trip – an annual tradition since 1981 (hosted bi-annually)
  4. Opportunity for Library of Congress reading and research trip
  5. Action research project
  6. Completion time:  2-4 years

The DSL program is not designed to lead to any particular profession, job, or career. It is meant to enhance existing professions and assist managers, leaders, and professionals in increasing their understanding of leading social change.

DSL candidates will develop a solution to a practical problem in society by applying leadership, social science, and Christian worldview perspectives in creative and constructive ways. 

What does “DSL” mean?

The Doctor of Social Leadership (“DSL”) is similar to a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP); it is a “practitioner” doctorate designed to equip leaders to implement social change in their professional and societal context. DSL graduates may transition into the PhD/DPhil program at a later time.

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Doctor of Social Leadership Required Courses (36 Semester Hours)

Course NumberTitleSemester Hours
Core 1CourseSH
PHI 800-12Transformative Learning and Adult Education2
LDR 807-12Transforming Self-Concept for Leader Development2
COM 803-12Hermeneutics and Communication2
SR 953-12Research for 21st Century Scholarship2
   
Core 2Course 
PHI 815-22History of Integration of Religion & Society2
PHI 805-22Faith Learning Integration and Interdisciplinary Research2
COM 822-22Persuasive Communication2
SR 968-22Sociological Methodology: Interpreting Changing Cultures2
Core 3 (DSL)Course 
LDR 815-22Transforming People Problems2
SR 950-32Clinical and Applied Sociology2
PHI 923-32Contextualization for Social Change2
PHI 943-32Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis2
Core 4 (DSL)Course 
LDR 810-42Cross-Cultural Dynamics2
LDR 813-42Organizational Dynamics2
SR 890-52 DSLDSL: Action Research Project Prospectus2
Core 5 (DSL)Course 
PHI 801-63Ethics in Global Society2
SR 920-56 DSLAction Research Project2
SR 802-42 DSLLibrary of Congress Reading and Research2

DSL Program Outcomes

  1. Core 1 – Foundational Graduate-Level Adult Education
    [PO1] Synthesize adult education principles, reading, writing, research, and reflection strategies for personal and academic development.
  2. Core 2 – Interdisciplinary Integration
    [PO2] Integrate sociological theory, faith perspectives, and persuasive communication to evaluate social problems.
  3. Core 3 – Applied Social Leadership (DSL)
    [PO8] Design innovative solutions to complex social problems.
  4. Core 4 – Applied Project Development (DSL)
    [PO9] Develop applied action research strategies to address a social problem.
  5. Core 5 – Applied Action Research (DSL)
    [PO10] Evaluate the effectiveness of social leadership through action research.

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