Nov 05, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

Leadership, M.S.


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Minimum number of credits required to complete the program:  32

Minimum cumulative GPA required:  3.0

School: Girard School of Business

Learn more about the program

Leadership is a “skill” that can be learned and is needed in today’s dynamic employment landscape. Being able to lead teams of any scale through the ever-changing work environment, divisive economic conditions, and organizational change, are essential skills to have when trying to move a business forward. 

The M.S. in Leadership (MSL) provides a pathway for students interested in upskilling, moving into new leadership roles, advancing within their existing roles, or those looking to change careers. To equip and position our students for success, students will learn how to navigate organizations and teams through cross-cultural barriers and challenges presented by modern technologies, along with managing change as needed by executive leadership.  

The program is focused on building leadership skills at the individual organization, team and organizational levels. It is designed for candidates that have one year of work experience, or work experience equivalent. The curriculum can accommodate business and non-business undergraduate majors and combines an overview of key leadership concepts, approaches, and techniques. Students can integrate industry specific elective courses in the areas of Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, and Human Resource Management. 

Courses are delivered 100% online or hybrid/hyflex.

Curriculum for Students with a Business or Non-Business Undergraduate Degree


The MSL for students with a business or non-business undergraduate degree, is composed of 20 credits of core courses and 12 credits of electives for a total of 32 credits.

Elective Course Requirements


Choose from the following electives:

Concentrations


Concentrations

Students pursuing the MSL degree can earn a concentration by completing 12 credits in specialized areas. Common concentrations include: Human Resource Management, Marketing and Strategic Communication. 

Human Resource Management

The HR Management concentration is designed to provide you with the tools to be an impactful member of an organization centered around people management, influencing culture and building a strategic vision. Our curriculum is academically aligned with the education standards in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates, as well as the HR Certification Institute’s (HRCI) guidelines, preparing you for industry certification exams,

To earn the concentration choose 12 credits from the following list of courses:  

  • MGT 5440 - Talent Acquisition & Performance Management Credits: 4

  • MGT 5460 - Employment Law Credits: 4 

  • MGT 5560 - Strategic Leadership & Human Capital Management Credits: 4

  • MGT 5340 - Negotiation & Conflict Resolution Credits: 2

  • MGT 5350 - Engagement & Opportunity in the WorkplaceDiversity & Inclusion Credits: 2

Marketing

The Marketing concentration provides students with a comprehensive and analytical understanding of how marketing impacts business decisions. Students will gain insight into the marketing function and will be exposed to core elements such as digital and social media marketing, marketing analytics and strategy, and how aspects of marketing contribute to practices of management.

To earn the concentration choose 12 credits from the following list of courses:    

  • MKT 5410 - Driving Business Success with Marketing Analytics Credits: 4

  • MKT 5420 - Marketing Management & Strategy Credits: 4

  • COM 5360 - Foundations of Strategic Communication Credits: 4

Strategic Communication

The concentration in Strategic Communication prepares students to excel in diverse communication roles. Core and elective coursework includes strategic communication foundations, special topics, industry research and data visualization. The curriculum also covers communication and advocacy, cultural communication and leadership skills. This concentration ensures students are ready for effective messaging and leadership in various professional settings.

To earn the concentration choose 12 credits from the following list of courses:   

  • COM 5360 - Foundations of Strategic Communication Credits: 4

  • COM 5012 - Special Topics in Strategic Communication Credits: 4

  • COM 5500 - Communication and Advocacy Credits: 4

  • COM 5531 - Communicating Across Cultures Credits: 4

  • COM 5620 - Leadership and Communication Credits: 4

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