Master of Science in Leadership

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Why earn a master's degree in leadership?
Do you want to inspire, motivate, influence, and guide others toward achieving goals? Are you looking to develop the leadership skills that will allow you to make an impact in any organizational setting through principled Christian leadership? A Master of Science in Leadership degree is the perfect next step.

This degree focuses on understanding human behavior, effective communication, leading complex systems, and creatively solving big problems, unlike an MBA with a focus on accounting and finance. Training in specific leadership skills will include how to lead organizational change, ethical reflection, building cultures of belonging, critical thinking and problem solving, communication, leading during times of crisis, and leadership development. You will have the opportunity to learn with other graduate students with diverse backgrounds and from different disciplines, each adding to the richness of the experience. 

In the Leadership Program, you will:

  • Learn who you are as a leader
  • Learn to lead like Jesus
  • Develop skills to lead effectively in any setting
  • Acquire a solid theoretical base of knowledge
  • Become an agent of change

Who should take the degree?

If any of these describe you, this degree program may be a great fit:

  • College seniors looking to enhance their marketability to potential employers 
  • Individuals who want to complement their already well-established professional and academic skills
  • Adults in a career who are considering a career change
  • Individuals looking to increase their leadership capacity to meet the demands of a dynamic and complex world

A master’s degree is very important as you advance your career, especially if you want to move into leadership. This master’s in leadership provides a broad base of learning so regardless of your industry, I believe it's a benchmark you need to have if you're going to seek a leadership role.

Amanda Maggard
Union College graduate and President and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City hospitals
photo Joel Jasa

Why study at Union College?

Union has a legacy of building effective leaders.

What sets our leadership program apart from other programs

  • We teach all of our classes through a Christian worldview.
  • We emphasize leadership (doing the right thing), rather than management (doing things right).
  • We are committed to providing a robust academic experience and real-world practical application.
  • We believe leadership flows from one’s identity more than skills. We facilitate the journey of self-discovery and self-awareness.
  • We offer small class sizes with individualized attention.

A legacy of building leaders
Union College has a long history of building leaders who make a difference in their fields — health care, non-profit, IT and many more. More than 60 graduates serve as C-suite executives in hospitals and healthcare networks around the country.

For many years, Union’s Leadership Program has also offered certificates and minors that interface with any other degree and allow undergraduate students to gain valuable leadership coursework and experience before graduation.

Get a master’s faster
The Union College Master of Science in Leadership is designed to be completed full time in one year — including a summer. Or you can choose the part-time options and take two years. Either way, you’ll be on your way to becoming a more decisive leader.

Flexible learning
The Master of Science in Leadership is designed to be on-campus with in-person classes, or you can enroll remotely through synchronous online courses.

The learning experiences from my master's degree incorporated not only how the world of healthcare worked, but also real-world applications on how to be a better leader. I learned I can be a leader through my actions even when not in a leadership position. But when I have the honor of being a leader, I learned how to elevate my team to success and create a work environment that is not only positive for my team, but that expands to the organization as a whole. A master's in leadership allows you to learn from the mistakes and successes of those who have gone before you and become the best leader possible.

Mandy Carlson
Union College graduate and Marketing and Communications Manager at Jefferson Center for Mental Health
photo Nicole Samila

Curriculum

See the degree completion guide for the Master of Science in Leadership.

Career possibilities

Human resource manager

Plan, coordinate and direct the administrative functions of an organization that directly impacts employees.

Job outlook
7% (average)

Median pay
$126,000

From BLS.gov

Social and community service managers

Lead programs and organizations that support public well-being.

Job outlook
12% growth (faster than average)

Median pay
$74,000

From BLS.gov