Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Master of Arts in

Organizational Leadership

Organizational Leadership Overview

Be empowered to live as a courageous ambassador for Christ amidst a world of confusion and compromise.

The Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership Degree is designed to bring out the best in your leadership. Through this program, leaders will be equipped with executive administrative skills using leadership models, theories, and practical application. The MAOL Degree will prepare the learner to have outstanding verbal and written communication skills, superior business and leadership acumen, strategic leadership and management techniques, change management, and to be poised under pressure in high stress and fast-paced business environments.

This degree focuses on the human side of leadership drawing upon such fields as sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and management.

Grace Christian University intends that the information from this page complies with various state, federal, and accreditation requirements. 

0MONTHS
0Credit hours
0Week Courses
MAY0Start Date
Admission REQUIREMENTS
TUITION COST
Common Careers
Benefits
Required Texts

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

You will need the following to gain admission to Grace Christian University:

  • Bachelor’s Degree – You need a Bachelor’s Degree to apply for a Master’s Degree.
  • Completed Application – It is free to apply. Apply here >
  • Official Transcripts Submit transcripts from all prior colleges where the student received an undergraduate degree. Transcripts detailing graduate-level work can be submitted for transfer credit evaluation.

TUITION COST

Master’s Programs – $480/credit hour
View our 2023-24 Graduate Tuition Costs >

Military Personnel (active duty, veterans, spouses, dependents 23 or under) – $250/credit hour
View our 2023-24 Graduate Military Tuition Costs >

Other Graduate Program Fees
Resource Fee – $150 (per course)
Graduation Fee – $150
Class-Specific Fees (as needed) – Varies

COMMON CAREERS

Common Careers include:

  • Training and Development Manager
  • School Principal
  • School and Career Counselor
  • Instructional Coordinator
  • Postsecondary Education Administrator
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Administrative Service Manager
  • Sales Manager
  • Management Analyst
  • Top Executive
  • Chief Executive Office
  • Chief Financial Office
  • Chief Information Office
  • International Team Manager
  • Management Analyst
  • Corporate Recruiter
  • Talent Manager
  • Knowledge Manager
  • Vice President
  • Human Resources
  • Management Consultant
  • Quality Systems Director
  • Compliance
  • VP of Marketing
  • Global Trade
  • Strategy Consultant
  • Health Services Manager
  • Education Administrator
  • Strategic Planning
  • Organization Development
  • Consultant
  • Strategic Planner of Innovation
  • Social Entrepreneur
  • Law Enforcement
  • Consulting
  • International Relations

BENEFITS

Students in the Online Master’s programs will be able to:

  • Complete a Master’s degree in as few as 20 months
  • Attend class asynchronously online and minimize interference from work schedules and family responsibilities
  • Improve writing skills through our university Writing Center at our virtual Academic Center for Excellence.
  • Enhance virtual presentation and technology skills to maximize ministry effectiveness and/or leadership skills
  • Meet in a collaborative format and benefit from the varied experiences and ideas of classmates
  • Obtain a degree that opens a wide range of opportunities, including pursuing doctoral studies
  • Attend small virtual classes with the same students, developing teamwork skills and mutual support
  • Receive individualized instruction and specific attention
  • Gain satisfaction by fulfilling an educational goal

GEN 501 – Graduate Writing and Research

  1. Burns, J. S., Shoup, J. R., & Simmons Jr., D. C. (2014). Organizational leadership: Foundations and practices for Christians. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. 978-0830840502
  2. Neumann, J. W. (2016). A professor’s guide to writing essays: The no-nonsense plan for better writing (2nd ed.). Edinburg, TX: Self-Published. 978-0692822524
  3. Williams, V. K. (2016). I’m not a writer…I’m just in graduate school: A guide to writing critically, clearly and coherently. Tampa, FL: Chrysalis Consulting. 978-1533392916

LEA 530 – Foundations of Organizational Leadership

  1. Northouse, P. (2022). Leadership: Theory and practice (9th ed.). Sage. ISBN 978-1544397566

BUS 515 – Financial Stewardship

Textbooks for this course will be open source, no required texts to purchase.

LEA 505 – Organizational Ethics

  1. Johnson, C.E. (2021). Meeting the ethical challenges of leadership: Casting light or shadow. (7th ed.). Sage. 978-1544351643

LEA 545 – Leading with Cultural Intelligence

  1. Livermore, D. (2015). Leading with cultural Intelligence.  New York: AMACOM Publishing. 9780814449172
  2. Elmer, D. (2002). Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting In Around the World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVaristy Press. 9780830823093

LEA 540 – Organizational Behavior

  1. (Textbook from LEA 501) Burns, John S., Shoup, John R., and Simmons, Donald C. (2014) Organizational leadership: Foundations and practices for Christians. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. 9780830840502

LEA 560 – Leading Diverse Teams

  1. McChrystal, S., Collins, T., Silverman, D., & Fussell, C. (2015). Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World. New York, NY: Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN 9781591847489
  2. Lencioni, P. (2016). The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 9781119209591

LEA 510 – Coaching and Communication Strategies

  1. Collins, G. R. (2009). Christian coaching:  Helping others turn potential into reality (2nd ed.). NavPress. 9781600063619
  2. Hawkins, Peter (2017). Leadership team coaching: Developing collective transformational leadership (3rd ed). Kogan Page Limited. 9780749478490
  3. Stanier, Michael Bungay (2016). The coaching habit: Say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever. Box of Crayons. 9780978440749

LEA 550 – Leveraging Innovation

Textbooks for this course will be open source, no required texts to purchase.

CAP 595 – Graduate Studies Capstone

  1. Blanchard, K., Hodges. P. & Hendry, P.  (2016). Lead like Jesus revisited:  Lessons from the greatest role model of all time.  Nashville, TN:  Thomas Nelson. 9780718077259

Bible

CLASSES ARE TAUGHT FROM A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

Ministry

WE CARE ABOUT EACH STUDENT'S ETERNAL IMPACT

Financial Aid

LOW TUITION FOR A PRIVATE EDUCATION

Refine & Extend Your Calling as You Continue to Make an Eternal Impact

Every major at Grace Christian is focused on intertwining spiritual and academic growth. The school aims to develop passionate servants of Jesus that emphasize the integration of character transformation, ministry experience, and biblical truth.

 Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Curriculum

GEN 501L – Graduate Writing and Research

Credit Hours: 3

Designed to give students the skills they need to complete successful written projects and research in graduate-level courses within the context of a biblical worldview. Students who pass this course will demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking, expressed through solid research and clear writing, which serves as the foundation for further studies in the University’s graduate programs. Includes research tools and methods for scholarly research. The successful completion of GEN 501 is considered a prerequisite for all other graduate courses. Students who are unable to earn a minimum grade of B- in GEN 501L after three attempts will be administratively dropped from their next session and must appeal to be allowed to re-enter the Graduate program.

LEA 530 – Foundations of Organizational Leadership

Credit Hours: 3

Introduces students to the topic of Innovation and Innovation Management. Innovation, by its very nature, requires an acceptance and regard for the new, the different, and the creative. Without an innovative mindset in an organization (which includes its levels of leadership, teams, and individuals), the organization can become stagnant, settle for the status quo, and not flourish as it once did. In this course, students will study strategies related to innovation, and consider concepts, models, or tools applicable to managing or leading innovation, which may positively impact the organization’s future and growth.

LEA 540 – Organizational Behavior

Credit Hours: 3

Organizational Behavior is the study of the behavior of individuals, teams, and organizations, within for profit and nonprofit arenas, which is based on current management and leadership theory. Emphasis is given to understanding, predicting, motivating, and changing work-related behaviors in organizations, as well as encouraging effective behaviors that help the individual, team, and the organization to flourish. Key topics include: managerial and leadership careers related to students’ work and calling, decision making, organizational change, leading and mentoring teams, conflict and negotiation, and cultural intelligence.

LEA 505 – Organizational Ethics

Credit Hours: 3

An analysis of the foundation of ethical behavior in business, including an introduction to social graces and the importance of professional image. Emphasis is placed on a comparison between Judeo-Christian and secular ethical paradigms, as well as the social responsibility of organizations to contribute to the common good.

LEA 560 – Leading Diverse Teams

Credit Hours: 3

The study of teams within for-profit and nonprofit organizations based on current management theory. The emphasis in this study will be on horizontal structures and creating, managing, and leading agile teams. Key topics include Complicated and Complex Theory, leadership and delegation, relationships, organizational silos, Gardening Theory, Natural Church Development Theory, and shared consciousness.

LEA 545 – Leading with Cultural Intelligence

Credit Hours: 3

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the capability to function effectively in a variety of cultural contexts. Students will examine literature and perspectives from the fields of anthropology, sociology, and organizational leadership as well as study cultural engagement in light of the biblical narrative.

BUS 515 – Financial Stewardship

Credit Hours: 3

Introduces the principles of financial management. Students will review basic concepts of financial management, financial analysis and control, capital investment decisions, cost of capital, sources of long-term funds and cash management principles, accounting, review of basic organizational financial statements, ratio analysis, debt and equity securities, security valuation, and Time Value of Money. It is a study of the fundamentals of corporate finance as they relate to non-financial managers.

LEA 510 – Coaching and Communication Strategies

Credit Hours: 3

Teaches practical skills of personal and professional coaching necessary for moving organizations forward to achieve strategic goals and objectives. Students will practice fundamental coaching skills in the context of direct coaching relationships, with applications to team leadership, conflict management, and strategic planning.

LEA 550 – Leveraging Innovation

Credit Hours: 3

Introduces students to the topic of Innovation and Innovation Management. Innovation, by its very nature, requires an acceptance and regard for the new, the different, and the creative. Without an innovative mindset in an organization (which includes its levels of leadership, teams, and individuals), the organization can become stagnant, settle for the status quo, and not flourish as it once did. In this course, students will study strategies related to innovation, and consider concepts, models, or tools applicable to managing or leading innovation, which may positively impact the organization’s future and growth.

CAP 595 – Graduate Capstone*

Credit Hours: 3

The Graduate Capstone is a six-week course with assignments that include discussions and reflections on the scope of the student’s discipline, reviews of recent literature on leadership, and the creation of a final essay of 10 pages in which students write about guiding principles such as life purpose, core values, goals, and vision, as well as identifying key principles of leadership gleaned throughout their courses of study they plan to apply in the future. Prerequisite: Completion of all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.

CAP 596 – Graduate Capstone Experience*

Credit Hours: 3

The Graduate Capstone Experience is a six-week course that is built on the foundation of a hands- on experience in the student’s chosen discipline. The experience will reflect the scope of the degree studies, reviews of recent literature on the topic, and will demonstrate an area of the student’s specific passion in the discipline. The experience will be described in a final essay of 20 pages in which the student describes the experience in detail and how the understanding gained through the experience will be applied in future work and ministry. Prerequisite: Completion of all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and approval of the Provost or designee.

CAP 597 – Graduate Capstone Thesis*

Credit Hours: 3

The Capstone Thesis is a 12-week course that highlights the student’s independent scholarship in investigating and developing a chosen topic, integrating a biblical worldview and theoretical base with a comprehensive literature review. Students will work directly with a faculty thesis advisor to produce a 40 – 80 page scholarly work. Prerequisite: Completion of all degree requirements with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and approval of the Provost or designee.

* Your choice of CAP 595 – Graduate Capstone or CAP 596 – Graduate Capstone Experience or CAP 597 – Graduate Capstone Thesis.

The Bible is Central

Grace Christian University is accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). ABHE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education and has designated Grace Christian University as an institute of higher education in which the Bible is central and the development of Christian life and ministry is essential.

Learn more at ABHE.ORG

ABHE logo and Higher Learning Commission logo
1

APPLY ONLINE TO GRACE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Fill out the application form, and someone will reach out to you within minutes. No entrance exam needed.

2

TALK TO YOUR
PERSONAL ADVISOR

You'll be assigned a personal advisor who will guide you. You may also contact our Enrollment Director.

3

LIVE OUT
YOUR CALLING!

Feel confident and prepared to impact the world for Christ.

The Grace Christian Difference

ACADEMIC RIGOR

The program will teach and develop graduate-level research, writing, critical thinking, leadership and communication skills. Beginning with the Program Seminar, the program is designed to acclimate students to graduate-level work and prepare them for the kind of reading, writing, and thinking skills they will need for the remainder of the program.

STUDENT–CENTERED

The application of constructivist learning theory puts the responsibility of learning in the hands of the students. Whenever possible, students will be allowed to choose what they will learn, how they will learn, and how they will assess their learning in terms of their ministry and professional goals.

BEST PRACTICES

As a fully online program, Graduate Studies at Grace Christian University adheres to the best practices of online education, including, but not limited to: online presence, creating a supportive online community, a variety of individual, small group, and large group learning experiences, and clear communication in the online environment.

Identity

We take care of your personalized education plan

Time

Finish in the same time as an on-campus program

Online

Log-in when it works best for you

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is thE Master's program for?

Anyone who has completed a Bachelor's degree and is seeking quality Christian Higher Education. We offer tuition discounts for military personnel, alumni scholarships, and payment plans for cash paying students. Our program is excellent for those receiving tuition reimbursement from an employer as well as anyone seeking to utilize Federal Financial Aid.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE PROFESSORS OF THIS PROGRAM?

Your professors have first hand knowledge working in their areas of instruction, along with advanced degrees and higher education experience. They are eager not just to instruct, but to guide you on your faith journey and pray for you throughout your time here. Their desire is to help you succeed and equip you for where God has called you.

What are the benefits of the program?

Students in the Online Master's programs will be able to:

  • Complete a Master's degree in as few as 20 months
  • Attend class asynchronously online and minimize interference from work schedules and family responsibilities
  • Improve writing skills through our university Writing Center at our virtual Academic Center for Excellence.
  • Enhance virtual presentation and technology skills to maximize ministry effectiveness and/or leadership skills
  • Meet in a collaborative format and benefit from the varied experiences and ideas of classmates
  • Obtain a degree that opens a wide range of opportunities, including pursuing doctoral studies
  • Attend small virtual classes with the same students, developing teamwork skills and mutual support
  • Receive individualized instruction and specific attention
  • Gain satisfaction by fulfilling an educational goal
WHAT FLEXIBILITY DOES THE MASTER’S PROGRAM OFFER?

One course at a time, on your own time, in as little as 20 months. Students may enroll full-time or part-time and complete their coursework throughout the week at a time of day that is convenient for them.

    WHY SHOULD I STUDY ONLINE AT GRACE?

    Advance your career from the comfort of your own home.

    Our online master’s degrees are designed for busy professionals who desire to advance their careers. Through our flexible classes, our professors will encourage and mentor you as you expand your current pursuits.

    Experience a caring community.

    Connect with professors and students who will come alongside you as you pursue higher education and growth in Christ. At Grace, we’re passionate about equipping and supporting you to serve the Lord and others in all that God has called you to do.

    Strengthen your biblical foundation.

    At Grace Christian University, the Word of God is taught, valued, and celebrated. Deepen your knowledge of God’s Word as you receive an education grounded in objective Biblical truth.

    The Grace Experience.

    As closely as possible, the Graduate Studies program will reproduce the experience of undergraduate students (On Campus and Online) in an authentic Grace Christian University experience, expressing the ethos, core values, and historic mission of the University. This includes the University’s commitment to being a Bible-centered institution, committed to our historic Grace theological position, which values transformative relationships and service to church and society.

      Where can I view the Academic Catalog?

      View or download the 2022-23 Graduate Online Academic Catalog here.

      View past Academic Catalogs here.

      Where can i view the academic Calendar?

      View the “Academic Calendar” section in the Graduate Online Academic Catalog.

      WHAT SETS OUR MASTER'S PROGRAMS APART?

      Our Enrollment Advisors are there for you.

      One-on-one coaching through the admissions process and the first class with your assigned Enrollment Advisor. Your advisor will want to know:

      • Your passion
      • Your path and goals
      • Life circumstances that could help or hinder your success
      • How can they pray for and with you

      Your advisor will take this information seriously and provide tailored care as you get started with your degree.

      We Prioritize You

      Your goals and giftings are prioritized so they drive your success; this is opposed to a one-size fits all mentality & communication.

      We take care of all class registration and your personalized education plan is created when you begin your program, so you are able to see all courses required until your graduate date.

      One Class at a Time

      No required log-in time (you log in throughout the week when it works best for your schedule!)

      Students finish their online degrees in the same period as if they were attending an on-campus program.

      Our Professors Care

      Staff and faculty care about each student's eternal impact, which influences the care and resources we provide. Professors care and are easily accessible.

      Low professor-to-student ratio:

      • Online Undergraduate - 9.3 students per course section
      • Online Graduate - 7 students per course section

      The Bible is Central

      All classes are taught from a biblical foundation, regardless of subject, with weekly devotions.

      Low Cost Quality Education

      Low tuition for a private Christian education.

        Carlin J
        Servant Leadership was one of the many courses I took while at Grace, and this course better prepared me for the career of law enforcement and ministry that I’m currently working in. In order to be the best leader I was created to be, I learned that I can never lose my servant's heart.

        Carlin J
        Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Online Master's
        Servant Leadership was one of the many courses I took while at Grace, and this course better prepared me for the career of law enforcement and ministry that I’m currently working in. In order to be the best leader I was created to be, I learned that I can never lose my servant's heart.
        Carlin J
        Carlin J
        Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Online Master's
        Jim S
        I pursued this degree in an effort to continue to develop my ability to serve God by leading my congregation. I have always enjoyed engaging deeper in issues related to faith and the church and saw this degree as a challenging way to do this.

        Jim S
        Master of Arts in Ministry, Online Master's
        I pursued this degree in an effort to continue to develop my ability to serve God by leading my congregation. I have always enjoyed engaging deeper in issues related to faith and the church and saw this degree as a challenging way to do this.
        Jim S
        Jim S
        Master of Arts in Ministry, Online Master's
        Mikyala R
        At Grace I have been presented with many opportunities to learn and grow. It’s only through God’s faithfulness that l am here and I’m thankful for the 4 years He’s given me to pursue my degree and grow closer to Him in such a wonderful community. l’ll always remember and remain thankful for the time I spent at Grace.

        Mikyala R
        Master of Business Administration, Online Master's
        At Grace I have been presented with many opportunities to learn and grow. It’s only through God’s faithfulness that l am here and I’m thankful for the 4 years He’s given me to pursue my degree and grow closer to Him in such a wonderful community. l’ll always remember and remain thankful for the time I spent at Grace.
        Mikyala R
        Mikyala R
        Master of Business Administration, Online Master's
        Best Master's Degree Colleges in Michigan 2021
        Best Master's in Theology Degree Programs
        10-most-affordable-online-accredited-bible-schools
        Best Online Colleges in Michigan
        Affordable Bible and Christian Colleges

        For more information on this data visit 
        GRACECHRISTIAN.EDU/SOURCES