Master of Arts in Leadership Studies
Program Overview The Master of Arts degree in Leadership Studies is a 36-unit program designed for students preparing for leadership positions in a broad variety of organizational settings, including but not limited to: consulting firms; human resource departments; nonprofit agencies; colleges and universities; and public and private K-12 schools. The focus of the master’s degree is to develop knowledgeable, ethical, caring, and inclusive leaders for a diverse and changing society. Students develop their understanding of leadership by studying leadership theories, research, ethics, and organizational change, and by examining best practices. The program offers candidates the opportunity to study leadership theory and practice and apply leadership concepts and principles to their personal and professional roles and responsibilities. This degree offers flexibility for students to develop a unique area of specialization. Students will design an 18-unit course sequence in consultation with their adviser to meet their individual professional goals and educational interests. Students may choose from courses in the Leadership Studies Program in Higher Education Administration, K-12 Public/Private School Leadership, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Organizational Management/Consulting or from any other graduate program in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) or other graduate level courses from the other colleges and schools at the University of San Diego.
Distinguishing Features • Cutting-edge leadership training for the real world. • Classroom environments that engage a broad range of human capabilities that have
a transformative effect on students while enhancing leadership skills and abilities. • Development of a distinctive character and value system which emphasizes meaning, purpose, generosity, authenticity, ethical behavior and initiative taking. • Educate “practitioner-scholars” to make significant contributions in a variety of organizational settings. Our students are professionals with diverse work experiences as educators, politicians, public managers, journalists, social workers, clergy, nonprofit managers, consultants, lawyers and health professionals, to name a few. • Small class size and personalized attention from dedicated faculty. • Applied learning opportunities from our institutes and centers:
• Leadership Institute
• Center for Nonprofit Research
• Educational Leadership Development Academy (ELDA)
• Community College Leadership Development Initiatives (CCLDI)
• The Global Center
Program Curriculum
Admission Requirements
The SOLES faculty enrich all programs and course offerings with the values, concepts
While applicants are evaluated based on a holistic method,
and themes that will help students become ethical, civic-minded and committed
the successful candidate for the program will demonstrate
leaders in their chosen fields. The Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership
his or her candidacy in the following manner:
consists of 36 units taken in the following areas:
• Completed USD application, which can be submitted online at www.sandiego.edu/
Leadership Component (12 units )
admissions/graduate/application.php.
EDLD 550
Leadership Theory and Practice
EDLD 551
H uman Relations for Leaders
EDLD 555
Leadership and Ethics
3 units
must submit one official sealed transcript
EDLD 559
Leadership and Organizational Change
3 units
from every college or university attended.
3 units 3 units
Research Component (3 units ) EDLD 549
Research Design and Methodology for Leaders
3 units
Internship (3 units ) EDLD 590
• College or university transcripts. Applicants
• Three professional letters of recommendations supervisors, employers, or professors. Please do not submit personal recommendations.
Leadership Internship M.A.
3 units
Area of Specialization/Electives (18 units ) All 18 units are chosen in consultation with an adviser based on student’s professional goals and interests. The purpose of the specialization course sequence is to allow candidates to select courses that best meet her/his needs and interests.
• Statement of purpose. • Resume. • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate coursework.
Candidates may select graduate courses offered in the School of Leadership and
• Applicants at or near the minimum GPA may choose
Education Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Law, and
to submit Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice.
General Test scores to strengthen their application.
Exit Requirement
Application Deadlines:
All master’s degree recipients have an exit requirement which may consist of a
Spring: Nov. 15
portfolio, action research project/thesis or traditional thesis.
Fall*: March 15
International Experience
* Students admitted for the fall semester may
All graduate students are strongly encouraged to include an International Leadership Experience within their program of study. Visit our Global Center for more information regarding our International Education Programs.
Contact Information For admissions and general program information:
For more information about the Master of Arts in Leadership Studies:
Office of Outreach and Recruitment
Beth Yemma
Phone: ( 619 ) 260-7988 E-mail: solesgrads@sandiego.edu
Assistant Director Leadership Programming Phone: ( 619 ) 260-7790 E-mail: byemma@sandiego.edu
For more information, go to www.sandiego.edu/soles/prospective.
begin coursework the preceding summer.