MS/MBA Dual Degree Program in Leadership
Accelerate Your Academic and Career Goals
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) are degrees that naturally complement each other. The Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University has blended them into a dual program that can provide opportunities for you to accelerate your learning. Work toward a career in business leadership and help the future of business management.
This dual degree program is a comprehensive course of study that examines core principles in finance, economics and marketing. GCU’s Christian community emphasizes the values of servant leadership and ethical decision-making within business contexts.
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Earn Your Dual MBA MSL Degree From GCU
Many professionals may decide to earn a graduate degree in a business-related area when they feel they are ready to pursue potential career advancement, such as by stepping into a leadership role. You can set yourself apart from the crowd by earning both an MBA and an MSL degree simultaneously. Demonstrate your commitment to professional excellence and continuing development by advancing your credentials. At GCU, you will have opportunities to reflect upon various leadership styles and consider how to improve your own leadership skills.
During your coursework for this MS/MBA program, you will explore different leadership styles and consider how to refine your own leadership skills. The leadership competencies you will be taught are immediately applicable to your current career and include:
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Data interpretation
- Ethical problem-solving
The business leadership curriculum emphasizes communication strategies for connecting with audiences and various stakeholders. Servant leadership is another major focus of the joint degree program. You will examine servant leadership in the context of its biblical basis. You will be required to consider how best to embody the principles of servant leadership in a way that empowers people and communities.
Leadership Coursework and Concepts
The MS/MBA dual program at GCU begins with fundamental coursework intended to build a strong academic framework. You will examine core competencies such as:
- Foundational concepts in leadership and organizational science
- Principles and practices of financial accounting
- Financial analysis, financial planning, asset evaluation, capital structure and working capital management
As you progress through the MBA/MSL coursework, you will conduct an in-depth examination of advanced principles of leadership and business management. Economics, marketing management, managerial finance and operations management are all core subject areas you will explore. Other key concepts you will be taught include:
- Models of leadership styles
- Quantitative tools and techniques
- Science of organizational behavior
- Coaching, mentoring techniques, leadership development and succession planning
- Interdependency in organizations
Career Paths for MBA/MSL Graduates
By itself, the MBA degree is a potentially valuable credential that may help you in a demanding and diverse workforce.1 Earning a dual degree will further set you apart from other candidates. By completing this joint degree program, you may demonstrate your commitment toward exceptional management, efficient operations and ethical decision-making.
Some of the career paths that may be related to this program can include the following:
- Administrative services manager
- General and operations manager
- Human resources manager
- Management analyst
- Chief executive
- Sales manager
- Training and development manager
- Personal service manager
- Logisticians
- Project management specialist
- Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialist
Institutional Accreditation Matters
As an institutionally accredited university, GCU emphasizes quality education that prepares our students to make positive contributions in their field. In addition, GCU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. Some of the core programs in our business college have earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Visit the Colangelo College of Business accreditation page to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
The pursuit of professional advancement can bring many questions and choices to reflect upon. To better inform your development of your career plans, GCU has compiled the following frequently asked questions and answers.
Pursue your dream of stepping into a leadership role and effecting positive organizational change.
1 Hayes, A. (2023, April 30). Is an MBA worth it? Investopedia. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Top Executives as of May 2023, retrieved June 5, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as top executives, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or 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. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Top Executives, retrieved June 5, 2024.
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 focuses on servant leadership, how a servant leader is different from other leaders, and how focusing on the needs of others can create interdependency rather than dependency in organizations.
Course Description
This course provides an understanding of various models of problem solving and the ability to apply them. It also introduces data analytics as a means to identify opportunities for innovative decision making as well as knowledge of various techniques, strategies, and skills appropriate for creative and innovative thinking.
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive analysis of leadership development and succession planning within organizations through the exploration of essential coaching, influencing, and mentoring strategies for effective leaders. It includes all underrepresented populations with a focus on gender, race, ethnicity, culture, generation, disability, veteran status, and religion.
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.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to synthesize the interdependent concepts of global business, cultural intelligence, self-awareness, and interpersonal relationships. It examines and applies contemporary global topics, diverse business and problem-solving perspectives, and effective cross-cultural communication skills to develop competent world leaders.
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.
* 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.