Master of Arts in Leadership

Learn how to make tough decisions in an uncertain world

At Alvernia, the Master of Arts in Leadership is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative and dynamic program. More than assembling a series of skills, leadership graduates develop a series of transferable competencies. Using real world experience, they become “Leaders for Life." Students have two concentrations from which to choose:

The Organizational Leadership option prepares professionals to meet the unique leadership challenges of the 21st century and effectively lead teams,
groups, and organizations in a complex and dynamic global business environment.

The Sustainable Communities option sharpens students’ leadership skills through a systems thinking framework that integrates diverse perspectives preparing them to collaborate across their community to critically discuss, analyze, and act on the unique challenges and opportunities of today’s world.

A unique aspect of our leadership program is that each concentration requires a culminating capstone project enabling the student to provide the leadership needed for positive change in a real world setting.

Estimated Program Length	2 years
Credit Hours	30
Course Length	13 weeks
Transfer Credits Accepted	Up to 6
Cost per Credit	$900*

*Tuition discount available. Ask for details!

Graduate Programs

Getting Started

Where You Can Get A Degree

The Master of Arts in Leadership program is available at the following Alvernia University campuses:

Application Instructions

Along with your completed application accompanied by $50 non-refundable application fee, you’ll need to provide a few supporting materials.

Complete your online application through the Graduate Programs application portal.
Order your official transcript(s). Request the college or university send transcript(s) to gradandadult@alvernia.edu.
Request two professional or academic letters of recommendation.
Submit a Personal Statement reflecting on your goals for the program.
Submit your Professional Resume.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher is recommended - submit additional supporting documentation of your potential to succeed if needed.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our financial aid page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

Request More Information

Program Overview

Curriculum

Course Requirements - 30 credits

Required Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)

COR 520: Ethics and Moral Leadership

Required Leadership Core (9 credits)

LDR 520: Leadership Development
LDR 540: Leadership Theories
LDR 550: Introduction to Research Methods

Organizational Leadership Emphasis (12 credits)

LDR 510: Social Theory
LDR 620: Organizational Theory
LDR 630: Organizational Change
LDR 670: Applied Leadership Capstone

Leadership for Sustainable Communities Emphasis (6 credits)

LDR 508: Leadership for Sustainable Communities
LDR 670: Applied Leadership Capstone

Elective Options

6 credits required for Organizational Leadership (may be interdisciplinary)
12 credits required for Sustainable Communities (six credits may be interdisciplinary)
6 credits Capstone applicable to both emphases by taking LDR 671 Applied Leadership Capstone II

Electives:

LDR 512: Poverty in America
LDR 514: Economics, Sustainability and Risk
LDR 516: Leadership in Literature
LDR 518: Management in the Non-Profit Sector
LDR 521: Grant Writing
LDR 555: Policy and Policy Analysis
LDR 570: Followership, Groups and Teams
LDR 590: Special Topics
LDR 612: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
LDR 638: Environmental Sustainability
LDR 671: Applied Leadership Capstone II

Interdisciplinary – With appropriate approvals, candidates for the M.A. in Leadership make take up to two courses (six credits) from other graduate programs.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Students in the program present at international conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals and co-author books with faculty mentors.
As part of the unique Sustainability Immersion Program, students have the option to participate in a one-week leadership program that immerses them in the community in which the experience is located. Students gain firsthand knowledge of what it takes to successfully collaborate across a community to create real change. This program is regularly run in New Brunswick, Canada.

Accreditation Statements

The Master of Arts in Leadership is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median pay in 2021 for chief executives was $179,520 and for general and operations managers was $97,970. Moreover, the job outlook is expected to grow at a rate of 6%.

Possible career opportunities for students pursuing the Organizational Leadership concentration include: Corporate, Non-Profit, and Public Sector executive and management positions, entrepreneurship and work as a consultant.
Possible career opportunities for students pursuing the Sustainable Communities concentration include: administrators in non-profits, government and corporate sectors, city and community planners and organizers, advocacy and policy directors, sustainability analysts, directors, researchers and strategists.