MA in Leadership

APU’s M.A. in Leadership program equips individuals with the leadership skills they need in the workplace, in their communities, and throughout their lives.

The Master of Arts in Leadership (available face to face and online) is an interdisciplinary degree that equips leaders with skills and tools that can be applied across a variety of vocations and fields. With a focus on character, creativity, curiosity, and innovation grounded in a framework of Christian values, you will explore what being a leader means to you, and how you can hone your skills to help others thrive.

 Throughout the program, you will:

  1. Discover various dimensions of leadership character as it pertains to the individual, team, and enterprise.
  2. Design strategic leadership initiatives through curiosity, inquiry, and experimentation.
  3. Develop relevant skills and tools needed to lead a changing leadership landscape with creativity and agility.
  4. Deliver innovative solutions to complex leadership and organizational challenges.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Experiential learning opportunities are integrated throughout the program, allowing students to immediately apply knowledge. Applied and experiential learning equips students with a deeper understanding of design thinking. Students use LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to understand organizational change structures and gain firsthand experience working with companies.

Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Leadership must complete 30 units of coursework, as well as present their final design project during a Designer Symposium (a TEDx-style night of presentations). Up to 6 units of appropriate coursework may be transferred into the program by petition.

Core Courses
LDRS 512EQ I: Self-Leadership3
LDRS 523EQ 2: Relational Leadership3
LDRS 524Principles and Practices of Design Thinking3
LDRS 548Strategic Foresight, Thinking, and Planning3
LDRS 560Leadership Experiment3
MGMT 561Managing Teams and Conflict3
MGMT 581Ethical Leadership3
OPSY 515Coaching Techniques and Application3
OPSY 534Organizational Systems: Theories of Change3
OPSY 542Organizational Implications of Diversity3
Total Units30

Admission

University graduate admission and program-specific requirements must be met before an application is complete (see Admission to the University). Program-specific application requirements are available online.

International students should contact Graduate and Professional Admissions for application procedures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Discover various dimensions of leadership character as it pertains to the individual, team, and enterprise.
  2. Design strategic leadership initiatives through curiosity, inquiry, and experimentation.
  3. Develop relevant skills and tools needed to lead a changing leadership landscape with creativity and agility.
  4. Deliver innovative solutions to complex leadership and organizational challenges.