Program Purpose
The MA in Leadership (MA/L) equips students to lead adaptively to meet the challenges of the business, community, international and nonprofit organization.
Program Objectives
It is our intent that graduates of the MA/L program will meet program objectives in four areas: ethical character, contextual relationships, managerial skills, and academics, defined as follows:
- In regard to ethical character, graduates will integrate their Christian faith with their thoughts, feelings, and actions in such a way that they become lifelong agents of ethical conduct, influence, and organizational participation.
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In regard to contextual relationships, graduates will apply culturally-aware, biblically-framed, and contextually communicated approaches to relational development.
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In regard to managerial skills, graduates will employ leadership skills and tools effectively to manage operations within the specialized contexts of their professional and/or academic discipline(s).
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In regard to academics, graduates will demonstrate competencies in the domains of leadership theory/practice, research, lifelong learning, and discernment regarding current/emerging issues in leadership.
Program of Study (39-40 Credits)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core Courses | 6 | |
| LR 5001 | Foundations for Integrative Thought in Leadership | 3 |
| LR 5002 | Foundations for Cultural Engagement in Leadership | 3 |
| Leadership Studies Courses | 15 | |
| LR 5010 | Introduction to Leadership: Definition and Perspectives | 1 |
| LR 5051 | Foundations for Ethical Leadership | 2 |
| LR 5460 | Change and Conflict Management | 2 |
| LR 6371 | Contextualization and Communication | 2 |
| LR 6380 | Assessment and Innovation | 2 |
| LR 6720 | Followership | 2 |
| LR 6811 | Social and Cultural Understanding for Leadership | 2 |
| LR 6850 | Organizational Dynamics | 2 |
| Concentration Courses | 9 | |
| Choose one of the following three concentrations: | ||
Nonprofit Leadership Courses | ||
| LR 6920 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| LR 6940 | Essentials of Nonprofit Operational Management | 3 |
| LR 6960 | Nonprofit Organizational Dynamics | 3 |
Organizational Leadership Courses | ||
| LR 5570 | Group and Organizational Communication | 3 |
| LR 6520 | Coaching and Mentoring | 3 |
| LR 6920 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
International Leadership Courses | ||
| LR 5820 | Globalization for Leadership | 3 |
| LR 5890 | International Practicum | 3 |
| ME 8210 | Intercultural Communications | 3 |
| Graduate Level Electives | 6 | |
| Select 6 hours of the following: 1 | ||
| LR 5300 | Contemporary Issues in Leadership-Global Leadership Summit | 2 |
| LR 5530 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| BE 5000 | Introduction to Bioethics: Matters of Life and Death | 3 |
| BE 5100 | Intensive Bioethics Institute | 3 |
| BE 6100 | Bioethics Colloquium | 1-2 |
| BE 6300 | Bioethics, Human Dignity, and the Church | 3 |
| BE 6500 | Advanced Bioethics Institute | 3-4 |
| BE 6600 | Classic Cases in Bioethics | 3 |
| BE 7700 | Bioethics Seminar | 1-4 |
| CO 5210 | Counseling Skills Training | 3 |
| CO 6000 | Current Studies in Counseling | 1-3 |
| CO 6120 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6530 | Child & Adolescent Counseling | 2-3 |
| CO 6610 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| CO 7140 | Crisis Counseling | 2-3 |
| EM 5150 | Urban Educational Ministries | 3 |
| ES 7805 | Development of Emerging Leaders | 1-2 |
| ES 7816 | Leading Change in Organizations | 1-2 |
| ES 7830 | Developing Collaborative Teams | 1-2 |
| ES 8220 | Teaching in Higher Education | 3 |
| ME 6610 | Anthropology for Ministry | 3 |
| ME 6660 | Christian Community Development | 2 |
| ME 7722 | Studies in Reconciliation | 2 |
| ME 8312 | Christian Encounter with World Religions | 3 |
| PT 7870 | Ministry of Mercy & Justice | 2 |
| Capstone Courses | 3-4 | |
| LR 7468 | Leadership Capstone Literature Review 2 | 1-2 |
| LR 7478 | Leadership Capstone Project | 2-3 |
| or LR 7480 | Leadership Integrative Paper | |
| Total Hours | 39-40 | |
| 1 | Given the interdisciplinary nature of leadership and the diverse potential goals of our graduates, students may avail themselves of a variety of graduate-level electives offered by Trinity Graduate School, such as the bioethics courses. Departments of Counseling, Education, Pastoral Theology, and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School offer electives that may be of particular interest to a learner’s pursuits. |
| 2 | This course may be waived by the program director for a student with exceptional research skills. |
Traditional Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Leadership
Trinity Graduate School and Trinity College offer a dual Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts degree that pairs an MA in Leadership with an undergraduate degree in any major. This opportunity is open to qualified students in any undergraduate major, but may have special appeal for students with the following majors or interests: psychology, business, education, communication, Christian ministries, and organizational leadership.
In this program, undergraduate students may earn a graduate degree by taking graduate-level courses beginning in their junior year. Nine hours of coursework from the MA counts toward the BA. These nine overlapping hours are taken as part of the undergraduate load.
Qualified applicants must have a Trinity GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, 70 hours of undergraduate coursework, and demonstrated leadership potential. Students may apply for acceptance to the Dual Degree program through Trinity Graduate School. A positive recommendation from their academic advisor and a supervisor capable of assessing their performance in an ongoing or recent leadership role is required.
Transfer students may apply for the program if they have 70 hours of undergraduate coursework, a positive recommendation from a former professor or their academic advisor, a 3.0 GPA for all transferred college work, and a 3.0 in Trinity coursework, in addition to demonstrated leadership potential. Students interested in the dual degree are advised to notify their advisor(s) and the MA/L Program Director as early as possible to allow for expedient course planning and to assure that overlapping course requirements can be planned and scheduled.
Curricular Plan for the Traditional BA/MA in Leadership Dual Degree
Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Years
Undergraduate Coursework:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BI 101 | Understanding the Old Testament | 3 |
| or BI 111 | Understanding the New Testament | |
| BI 210 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| PH 180 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| Other general education courses and required major courses | ||
Undergraduate general education requirements that will be fulfilled by graduate-level courses and need not be duplicated with undergraduate work:
- BI 101 or BI 111: LR 5001 replaces either BI 101 or BI 111 in general education category Foundations of Christian Thinking and Living.
- Religious and Ethnic Diversity: LR 5002 replaces one course in the Religious and Ethnic Diversity subcategory under Foundations of Cultural and Global Perspective.
- One LR course (3 hours) replaces 3 hours of undergraduate elective credit.
Junior Year
- Upon completion of 70 hours with a 3.0 GPA, students must submit an application and letter of recommendation to Trinity Graduate School Admissions to be accepted to the Dual Degree Program.
- Student takes LR 5001, LR 5002.
Summer Before Senior Year
- Optional: Student takes some courses during summer sessions.
Senior Year
- Student completes requirements for BA graduation.
- Student takes graduate courses, schedule permitting.
Summer After Senior Year
- Student takes some courses during summer sessions.
- Student completes coursework for MA program.
- Student completes requirements for MA graduation.
Adult Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Leadership
Trinity Graduate School and the adult undergraduate programs, REACH and Excel, offer a dual Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts degree that pairs an MA in Leadership (MA/L) with an undergraduate degree in any major. This opportunity is open to qualified students in any undergraduate major but may have special appeal for students with the following majors or interests: business, organizational leadership, Christian ministries, and psychology.
Approved students will take nine credits in the MA/L, which, upon completion of those nine credits, will reduce the number of required credits from 124 to 115 in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. This can be accomplished in one or more of the following ways:
- ID 5001 / LR 5001 Foundations of Integrative Thought (3 hours) replaces either BI 101 or BI 111 in the general education category Biblical Studies.
- ID 5002 / LR 5002 Foundations of Cultural Engagement (3 hours) replaces the general education requirement in the category Intercultural Study.
- One LR course (3 hours) replaces 3 hours of undergraduate elective credit.
Or, if a student does not take ID/LR 5001 and/or ID/LR 5002 as an undergraduate, one or two additional LR courses (3 or 6 credits) replace an additional 3 or 6 hours of undergraduate elective credit.
Qualified applicants must have a Trinity GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, 70 hours of undergraduate coursework, and demonstrated leadership potential. Students may apply for acceptance to the Dual Degree program through Trinity Graduate School. A positive recommendation from a TIU instructor capable of assessing their performance in an ongoing or recent leadership role is required. This instructor must have had substantial interaction with the student, per the final approval of the REACH or Excel academic directors.
Transfer students may apply for the program if they have 70 hours of undergraduate coursework, a positive recommendation from a TIU instructor (per the final approval of REACH or Excel academic director), a 3.0 GPA for all transferred college work, and a 3.0 in Trinity coursework, in addition to demonstrated leadership potential. Students interested in the dual degree are advised to notify their advisors as early as possible to allow for expedient course planning and to assure that overlapping course requirements can be planned and scheduled.
