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The Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) is a fast-track degree for working professionals that develops the knowledge, skills, and self-insights to lead others with confidence and impact.

Designed for working professionals, the master’s program in leadership is designed to advance careers within a profession, rather than providing entry to a new profession. Typically, students will have 5-20 years of work experience and will be seeking additional credentials to advance into more senior leadership roles. The MA in Leadership is a professional degree that is completely focused on leadership skills rather than the broad business training found in an MBA program. Our unique cohort+ model provides the network and mutual support of a learning cohort, with optional electives that allow learners to take advantage of the graduate liberal arts education that is unique to CGU.

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Program Highlights

Program at a Glance

UNITS
30 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME*
12-16 months

*Actual completion times will vary and may be higher, depending on full- or part-time course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

COURSES BEGIN
Fall | Spring | Summer

DEGREE AWARDED
MA in Leadership

Featured Courses

MGT 380
Drucker Philosophy

Focuses on the key principles of Peter F. Drucker, from leading self, organizations, and businesses to the broader functioning of society itself.

Leading Change & Innovation

Harness the creativity and capacity for growth through techniques for fostering innovation and overcoming resistance to change.

MGT 537
Executive Mind

Combines case studies with mindfulness theories to provide trailblazing thought leadership and resources for the practical inner development of executives.

MGT 379
Leadership Practicum

Presents leadership as a skill to be practiced through field work and reflective assignments.

Effective Leader Story Telling

Learn how effective leaders communicate with stories through examples of storytelling by historic, political, and contemporary business leaders.

TNDY 305
Global Leadership

Explore what global leadership means and how it is practiced in today’s world through cases and an international trip.

Curriculum & Format

Core Classes

The core classes for the MA in Leadership are taken in a combination of formats: 3-day intensives (in-person), 8-week modules (hybrid), and 16-week semesters (hybrid).

  • Drucker Philosophy
  • Executive Mind
  • Diversity & Team Leadership
  • Leadership Ethics
  • Organizational Culture & Design
  • Leading Change & Innovation
  • Effective Leader Story Telling
  • Leading Through Data
  • Global Leadership (international trip)
  • Leadership Practicum I & II
Join a Cohort+

In the MA in Leadership program, you’ll experience our cohort+ model. In addition to gaining the network and support of a cohort of MAL students all completing core classes at the same time, you’ll benefit from additional features not usually offered in cohort-based professional programs.

  • Your core classes allow a limited number of CGU students in other programs to enroll, thereby expanding your network of peers and adding new perspectives in class.
  • You can take electives outside of your cohort-based classes from throughout CGU.

Customize Your Degree with Electives

8 units of electives* can be used to contextualize your degree based on your career focus (e.g., healthcare leadership, public policy leadership) or personal interests (e.g., positive psychology). You can take electives from programs across CGU or take full advantage of the unique CGU transdisciplinary experience with classes such as:

  • Transdisciplinary tools for equity: Institutions, organizations, and systems
  • Integrating Arts and Sciences
  • Urban studies
  • Data analytical tools, technologies, and applications
  • Science of human flourishing

*Note that some electives may be offered as in-person classes only.

Faculty & Research

Request information about the Leadership program

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Michael Mirabella

Director of Recruitment for the Drucker School of Management
T: 909-607-9049
E: michael.mirabella@cgu.edu