Examining Practical Relevance of the Coursework of Doctoral Leadership Programs

Abstract

This quantitative study investigated the extent to which doctoral leadership programs are practically relevant. Results revealed that community college leaders and leadership program faculty did not differ significantly on the importance ratings on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) competencies. The subsequent analysis, however, showed a significant gap between what were rated by faculty as important and what were emphasized in the leadership programs. The findings suggest possible reasons for the gap and raise important questions for future research.