Nov 21, 2024  
2019-2020 Academic Bulletin 
    
2019-2020 Academic Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Leadership MA (Job Embedded Design)


The job-embedded 36-credit Masters of Arts in Leadership helps individuals in organizations develop a leadership mindset and the complex skill sets needed for leaders in communities and high-performance organizations engaged in today’s fast-changing contexts of change. The participant’s program can be adapted to varying personal, organizational, and/or regional contexts.

The overall goal of the MA Leadership program is to develop leaders with a strong sense of personal mission, the ability to work in teams, and experience in leading change that can provide better services and professional solutions in varied local, regional and global situations.

The job-embedded design is created with an official Andrews University partner organization to attract a cohort of professionals who want to work together to develop competencies useful for their organization or region. Competencies are developed and documented in a digital or hardcopy portfolio, and presented to a faculty panel.

Program Delivery

The MA in Leadership is primarily an interactive online program (see School of Distance Education Definitions) offered as a cohort-based program. The online courses follow fixed enrollment with semester start and end dates. Participants will interact with each other and the instructors throughout their courses. They are also part of a learning group which meets regularly for mutual support and accountability, and to engage in significant sharing and evaluation of learning related to competency development. Students are invited to come to the Berrien Springs campus for graduation. 

Participants in the job-embedded option usually work in a cohort model with face-to-face or online learning sessions. They work to develop and demonstrate 5-10 leadership competencies. They are required to:

  • Create a Leadership and Learning Plan (LLP).
  • Attend all the required program modules.
  • Participate regularly and actively in a Learning Group.
  • Maintain employment throughout the program.
  • Complete the development and presentation of a portfolio based on the participant’s LLP, documenting satisfactory completion of the required competencies.

Off-Campus Locations

See approved off-campus location(s) for current programming. To discuss new partnerships, contact the Department of Leadership (leader@andrews.edu or 269-471- 6580).

Total Credits - 36


In consultation with their academic advisor, students will select courses from LEAD, EDAL, or other subject areas to help them meet their competencies.

Additional Requirements


Portfolio Requirement


The MA in Leadership program requires the development, presentation and successful approval of a portfolio that documents leadership proficiency in the programs’ competencies. 

Student Learning Outcomes


The MA in Leadership requires documented theoretical knowledge, practical application, and reflection in a portfolio that selects from among the following core areas:

  1. Successful participants will demonstrate reflective praxis within their personal development as a leader. This may include areas such as worldview, ethics, values, & spirituality.
  2. Successful participants will demonstrate reflective praxis in developing interpersonal leadership. This may include areas such as communications, mentor/coaching, & social responsiblity.
  3. Successful participants will demonstrate reflective praxis in developing their leadership within organization(s). This may include areas such as resource development, legal and policy issues, organizational development, creativity, innovation and change, & evaluation and assessment.
  4. Successful participants will demonstrate growth and maturity in leadership scholarship. This will include areas such as reading, understanding, and evaluating research as well as data collection and analysis.