Purpose

The Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership (MASL) is an online degree program serving leaders who have a bachelor's degree and desire to pursue further specialized education and develop additional skills in leadership and ministry. It is no secret: our world is experiencing rapid change and becoming increasingly more complex and demanding, which is why continued professional development is crucial for today’s leaders. No matter the setting – whether church or business, human services or global outreach – those who lead must excel in their ability to think and act strategically. The MASL is designed to provide an integrated experience that blends leadership, management, and organizational theories with practical theology. Click or tap here to view the program fact sheet.

Learning Community

Though cohorts are composed of students not only from across the U.S., but also from other nations, cohort members are able to maintain vital peer relationships, beginning with the first residency and continuing through the two-year program. The weekly discussion boards facilitate ongoing collaboration and mutual support, and create opportunities for substantial interaction between instructors and students.

Format & Schedule

Students go through the program as part of a cohort of 12 to 20 people. The cohort moves as a group from class to class through the sequential, 36-unit curriculum. Students begin the program with a one-week on-campus residency, followed by four weeks of online work. They then transition to a series of five eight-week-long online courses that are scheduled one at a time, back to back. The program’s second year follows the same structure, with one week of residency, four weeks of online work to complete the residency coursework, and five more eight week-long classes. Cohorts begin in January and July. The academic schedule allows for several weeks’ break at Christmas/New Year’s and during late June/early July. Click or tap here to learn more about the program courses.