Just What the Doctor Ordered

The world is changing, seeming to spin faster and faster on its axis. Much of it is driven by rapid development in technology and ever-evolving workforce needs. I am reminded of the late ’80s marketing campaign “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile” and how that tagline seems to apply in almost every facet of life now. Today certainly does not look like yesterday. 

So how do we keep up with all of this change but not end up like Oldsmobile? It’s an important question that every person, every business and every institution needs to reflect upon and try to answer for themselves.

For the College of Charleston, we embedded our answers about change into our 10-year strategic plan, Tradition & Transformation, and we determined that focusing on the three pillars of our business (student success, academic distinction and employee success) would help us balance what has made our institution great for so long while at the same time positioning us for the future.

A key aspect of those adjustments is maintaining relevance through offering more programs that meet the workforce needs of our region. In talking with industry partners and leaders throughout the Lowcountry, there was a common refrain about a lack of practical doctoral degrees available within our region, especially for those working in the business, education or nonprofit sectors.  

When I first arrived at the College in 2019, our institution was designated a comprehensive university by the state, which limited our ability to offer doctoral degrees (also known as terminal degrees). Since then, we have worked closely with the South Carolina General Assembly to change the law and to reclassify colleges and universities in the state. And now, the College has the ability to offer a limited number of doctoral programs.  

In addition to a Ph.D. in math and computing that we implemented two years ago, this past academic year the College received approval to offer two new doctoral degree programs: an Ed.D. (doctor of education) in learning and inquiry in practice and an executive DBA (doctorate in business administration).  

The Ed.D. combines theoretical and practical learning experiences, with a strong emphasis on community partnerships, policy and applied research. It was designed to be both flexible and accessible for today’s working professional, with options for both full-time and part-time study. Coursework is offered in a hybrid format, combining online and in-person instruction, and students will need to complete 60 credit hours. Time to completion will vary, but we expect full-time students to take three years and part-time students about 5.5 years. The first cohort of students, pulled from a strong applicant pool, began their studies in June. This program is perfect for educators as well as those in the nonprofit sector.   

The executive DBA is a plus-up for the MBA, going beyond that work to foster a deeper understanding of organizational issues and help executives make high-level decisions rooted in rigorous analysis. Most importantly, it will help working professionals to navigate disruption, from AI to globalization, and provide them with the tools to anticipate change and design sustainable strategies. The program focuses on applying research to practical business problems, so it is ideal for leaders who want to combine theory and practice.  

Ours is one of only 34 executive DBA programs in the country and is the first of its kind in the state of South Carolina. For those interested, you must have a master’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of work experience. The program is 55 credit hours and can be completed in three years. There is a one-weekend residency per term and online learning. The first cohort will begin in August. 

We expect both of these doctoral programs will help update and upgrade our students’ skill sets to make them more effective leaders in their chosen professions. Change can be difficult to navigate, but education is the key for advancement and handling the path forward. More importantly, these new programs will lift the College into a higher orbit of innovation, relevance and impact.

This is not your father’s (or your mother’s) College.