Additional Application Information

Statement of Purpose

A required Statement of Purpose is needed for admission to the Doctor of Leadership program at the University of Jamestown. It should provide a narrative overview of the applicant's biography, career plan, and goals related to this program. The statement should demonstrate motivation, maturity, judgment, and creativity, along with clear articulation of personal and professional objectives. It should showcase scholarly strengths and areas for improvement, as well as the ability to express concepts concisely and communicate effectively in standard written English.

• Biographical Component: Summarize your past learning, formal and informal, in a brief narrative. Highlight prior study, leadership roles, work experience, and any scholarly research participation.
• Career Plan Component:Career Plan Component: Clarify how pursuing this degree aligns with your career aspirations. This section should clarify how doctoral study, in tandem with your background and interests, will advance those objectives. Lastly, briefly explain the motivation for choosing the Doctor of Leadership program at the University of Jamestown. Discuss reasons for selecting this program over others.
• Preliminary Consideration of a Doctoral Project Topic: Although the initial topic may evolve during the program, prospective students should outline their initial general project topic, express their reason for interest, and discuss its potential impact on the field of leadership.

Format and Editorial Style of the Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose must be typed or created using word-processing software, utilizing a readable 12-point font and double-spacing. It should include a title page and adhere to the editorial style outlined in the latest edition of the APA Publication Manual. The statement should be no more than 1,000 words.

Academic Writing Sample

The concept of leadership finds itself at a crossroads on a global scale. Organizations continue to demand performance, innovation, and results, yet failures of trust, integrity, and accountability remain persistent and visible. This tension raises a fundamental question: is leadership primarily about achieving outcomes, or about how those outcomes are achieved? At its core, leadership is an academic discipline deeply rooted in psychology, philosophy, sociology, and organizational studies, and it is ultimately tested in complex, real-world environments that require sound judgment and ethical action. At the Unruh School of Character in Leadership (USCIL), we emphasize both a strong theoretical foundation and the development of practical leadership capabilities, with particular focus on the role of character and ethical behavior in leadership practice.

With this context in mind, we invite you to develop a research-based essay that critically engages with the concept of leadership. In your response, please address both (1) the role of leaders in relation to organizations and their followers, and (2) the role of character within these relationships. We encourage you to construct a clear, focused argument that integrates these elements, rather than treating them as separate or disconnected topics.

While we are deeply interested in your perspective, this is an academic writing sample. Your submission should demonstrate your ability to develop a coherent argument, engage with scholarly sources, and communicate ideas clearly, effectively, and efficiently. A strong response will have a cohesive narrative arc—introduction, body, and conclusion—and move beyond description to include analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of relevant research.

Please complete your response within a range of 800–1,200 words (excluding title page and references) and format your paper according to APA guidelines. If it has been some time since you last wrote an academic paper, you can find everything you need for APA formatting here. If you have any questions about the academic writing sample, please contact your Admissions Counselor or the Doctor of Leadership Program Director.