Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Leadership
Earn Your MBA in Leadership To Become an Effective Leader
Offered by the Colangelo College of Business, the Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Leadership at GCU is a degree that leads you to formulate and strengthen your leadership style. While learning the principles of business, you will prepare to be an effective business leader. Gain self-confidence in your executive leadership skills and apply the principles of ethical decision-making and problem-solving. This online MBA in leadership will help you build a conceptual framework that emphasizes the thoughtful development and communication of decisions.
An MBA Program Designed for Aspiring Leaders
Leaders drive positive change and build productive workspaces. As you work toward your degree in your MBA leadership development program, you will gain the tools and foundational knowledge needed to become an effective leader. An effective leader has many qualities, including:
- Identifying and cultivating talent
- Inspiring others and developing the company culture
- Providing a good example for others to follow
- Motivating others towards a common vision
- Promote potential in others
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In addition, the Colangelo College of Business has a distinct perspective of business, equipping you to be a good steward and adept business professional. Elements of this perspective include:
- Business as a force for good: You will be taught to elevate humanity through business done right, including the tenets of conscious capitalism.
- Free markets and purpose for prosperity: Over the course of the program, you will explore the higher purpose of business and a stakeholder orientation for long-term success.
- Business as ministry: Business is taught through a Christian perspective that upholds supporting your team through love, care, and support because everyone matters.
Benefits of GCU's MBA in Leadership Program
From a managerial approach, candidates explore a wide range of leadership topics within an intimate and engaging online classroom. Learn from the diverse perspectives of your peers and instructors. Prepare to drive growth and lead efficient change in your organization with this MBA in leadership. Features of this MBA in leadership development program at GCU include:
- Completing your MBA leadership online provides convenience and accessibility
- 22 months to earn your MBA degree1
- Transfer credits for business-oriented bachelor’s degrees1
Careers for Online MBA in Leadership Graduates
Earning your Master of Business Administration in leadership emphasis can prepare you to become a competitive applicant for executive and managerial positions across a broad range of industries. This credential demonstrates your commitment to professional development and best practices in leadership. Some of the high-potential career opportunities for those with an MBA in leadership may include:
- Chief executive
- Human resource manager
- Business operations specialist
- Facilities manager
MBA candidates at Grand Canyon University may qualify for placement assistance.
Reasons an MBA in Leadership Can Advance Your Career
The MBA in leadership development program at GCU emphasizes the intrinsic value of servant leadership. MBA leadership candidates explore how servant leadership builds strong and ethical organizations, enriches lives and works toward positive and socially just communities.
This degree program challenges you to attain a deeper level of understanding of effective business and management principles. You will refine your communication skills, learning how to effectively connect with diverse audiences and key stakeholders. Critical thinking and analysis, ethical problem-solving and innovative theory application are core competencies of this MBA in leadership development program.
MBA in Leadership Program Emphasis FAQs
An MBA with a leadership emphasis is a great option for those looking to earn their degree in business while gaining valuable leadership skills. This degree helps business professionals to further their career and pursue career opportunities in various industries. The MBA with an Emphasis in Leadership program from GCU instills business practices while building servant leadership and communications skills, preparing you for leadership positions in various industries.
A master’s in leadership could be a great option for you if you’re looking to:
- Learn principles of business leadership
- Gain confidence in your leadership skills
- Pursue high-level management positions
MBA graduates can look forward to impactful, executive-level, financially rewarding careers.
A strategic leadership degree will further develop your leadership skills and teach you how to analyze and effectively lead other management and staff members. Those with this degree may find themselves in high-level analytical, advertising or marketing management positions. These may also include sales management or other executive positions.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial managers have a median annual wage of $134,180 as of May 2020,2 making them one of the highest paying jobs for MBA degree graduates.
1Upon evaluation of their transcripts, students with business-oriented undergraduate degrees may waive all MBA fundamental courses to complete the program in as little as 18 months. A minimum 3.5 GPA is required to double up on coursework for an earlier completion time of one year. Students should consult their Student Service Counselor for options. Students will still have to complete the emphasis courses to complete the full degree in 22 months or 16 months if doubling up. Students with non-business undergraduate degrees may have the ability to waive one or more of the following fundamental courses associated with their programs of study if content was taken and completed with a B or better: ACC-502, FIN-504 and SYM-506.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Financial Managers as of May 2020. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as financial managers. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Business. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the College of Business, key concepts of leadership, and an overview of how the science of organizational behavior contributes to effective leaders and managers.
Course Description
This course is designed for students who are preparing for more advanced coursework in business but who have not had accounting in undergraduate work. Topics covered include the principles and practices of financial accounting, including the fundamentals of revenue recognition, the components of the balance sheet, and financial statement analysis. ?The course explores accounting theories using publicly traded companies and case studies.
Course Description
This course is designed for individuals who are preparing for more advanced coursework in accounting and is designed for students who have not had finance in undergraduate work. Topics covered include financial analysis, financial planning, asset evaluation, capital structure, and working capital management.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to prepare students in mathematical, probability, and statistical concepts for their upcoming studies in quantitative methods. The course is intended for those students who have not had any prior statistical education, although students who have had statistics should also consider taking the course as a refresher.
Course Description
This course introduces microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts that are relevant to contemporary business. Emphasis is placed on using economic data for business decision making.
Course Description
This course is a study in the quantitative tools and techniques used to model business functions and applications. Emphasis is placed on how to set up models, and how to interpret and apply their results. Prerequisite: SYM-506.
Course Description
Management of the marketing function, market environmental analysis, and marketing planning, strategy, and control are fundamentals of marketing management. The course examines the marketing process, marketing research, product development innovation and diffusion, pricing strategy, distribution value drain, advertising and promotion, and strategic marketing issues. Emphasis is placed on case study analysis and current academic research with a marketing plan as a significant curriculum component.
Course Description
This course covers managerial accounting concepts and procedures for internal reporting, including the study of cost behavior, cost systems, budgeting, and performance evaluation. Coursework includes case studies, group projects, and class discussion. Prerequisite: ACC-502.
Course Description
Operations Management examines managerial concepts and strategies relating to the management of operations in both manufacturing and service environments. Emphasis is placed on methods to streamline and drive inefficiencies out of a firm’s internal processes to build a highly efficient organization. The course also focuses on external processes by examining ways to achieve greater supply chain integration with suppliers and customers. Quantitative and qualitative methods and tools are introduced and applied. Prerequisite: SYM-506.
Course Description
This course discusses elements of business financial decisions, including financial forecasting and development of proformas, management of working capital, capital budgeting, capital structure, and raising funds in capital markets. Prerequisite: FIN-504.
Course Description
This capstone course focuses on preparing and conducting a strategic analysis of a selected publicly traded firm to produce actionable intelligence used to formulate recommendations to promote the creation of a value-adding strategy. Based on the results of their strategic analysis, students are then required to prepare the framework of a strategic plan that creates significant value for the selected firm. Prerequisites: MGT-605, MKT-607, ACC-650, and FIN-650.
Course Description
This course explores the nature of business leadership models and theories, examines these models through a broad variety of insights and viewpoints, and provides a description and analysis of these approaches to leadership, giving special attention to how the models can improve leadership in real-world organizations.
Course Description
This course is an exploration of the behavioral forces and relationships that influence organizational effectiveness and change. It also emphasizes the study of intervention strategy and application skills related to a foundational understanding of the role of project management in the context of leading change in organizations. The course provides insights into the leadership and management of people, processes, and best practices for successful change.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.