Master of Arts in Executive Coaching and Consulting
Get the training to help executives and teams lead most effectively.
Get Started Today
Ready to learn more about Concordia University Irvine?
Complete this form, and an admissions counselor will connect with you.
"*" indicates required fields
Have a Purpose in the Lives of Others
Empower leaders to become their best professional selves by earning your Master of Arts in Executive Coaching and Consulting from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. Our online master’s program can be completed in just 18-19 months.
Accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), this online master’s degree in executive coaching is one of the only programs of its kind in the nation. Our courses engage your strengths and skills and train you in two marketable areas:
- Executive coaching, in which you’ll help leaders increase their performance and success skills for their organizations.
- Consulting, in which you’ll enter the world of the organization, helping them achieve their goals by strategizing, training, guiding, and developing their leadership and team.
Note: While the program is online, there is an in-person residency that’s required to complete the program.
Online and On Campus
Study online, and complete a residency on campus.
33 units and a 4-Day Residency
Attend in-person trainings with Dr. Townsend.
$695/Unit
Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
“The deepest experience that I have had in my life. Vulnerability + love and safety = Growth, healing, and deep connection!”
C Harvey Norman
Getting Started
When you integrate coaching knowledge and skills into your leadership style, you learn how to have powerful conversations that increase trust, initiative, and the performance of your team members.
Next Start
August 24, 2026
Upcoming Starts
-
Fall 1 2026 August 31, 2026
-
Fall 2 2026 October 26, 2026
-
Spring 1 & Full 2027 January 11, 2027
-
Spring 2 2027 March 15, 2027
Curriculum
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
- EXCC599 – Townsend Institute Residency
- EXCC600 – Townsend Institute Orientation
- EXCC601 – Ethical Coaching and Cultural Foundations
- EXCC602 – Building Healthy Organizational Culture
- EXCC603 – Mindful Leadership, Neuroscience and Emotional Intelligence
- EXCC612 – Executive Coaching and Character Development
- EXCC613 – Developing the Executive Coaching Relationship
- EXCC614 – Advanced Executive Coaching
- EXCC617 – Consulting Skills
- EXCC620 – Executive Coaching and Consulting Capstone
- EXCC622 – Coaching Practicum
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
All courses are taught in english.
Upon completion of your executive coaching master’s degree, you’ll be able to:
- Assess and apply standards of ethical coaching and consulting, informed by Christian principles and values.
- Use a systematic approach to carry out a scholarly research project and portfolio directed at a topic in executive coaching and consulting.
- Analyze and apply concepts and skills necessary to understand individuals and organizations as systems.
- Collaborate and communicate clearly through applicable and innovative methods, adjusting for diverse settings and audiences.
- Engage in reflective practice through the balancing of core competencies, appropriate assessment, informed research-based best practices, and theoretical frameworks of coaching and consulting.
- Serve your local and global communities in a culturally responsive way.
The master’s in coaching program is 33 units and takes between 18-19 months. Through successful completion of the Masters of Arts program, you’ll earn 170 hours of the coach-specific training and mentor coaching required for the International Coaching Federation’s (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential.
Accreditation
Accredited: ICF Approved Coach Training Program
Accredited: WASC Senior College and University Commission Accredited
Residency
There is great value in frequent, real-time interaction with fellow students and your instructors. That’s why our graduate programs launch with a 4-Day Residency where you will meet Dr. Townsend personally as he and our Institute Fellows conduct a series of trainings. You will also go through 8 process-focused growth groups that are truly transformative. Learn more about the 4-day Residency by registering for an online Townsend LIVE information session.
Residency
There is great value in frequent, real-time interaction with fellow students and your instructors. That’s why our graduate programs launch with a 4-Day Residency where you will meet Dr. Townsend personally as he and our Institute Fellows conduct a series of trainings. You will also go through 8 process-focused growth groups that are truly transformative. Learn more about the 4-day Residency by registering for an online Townsend LIVE information session.
Tuition and Fees
At Concordia, we understand that investing in your education is a significant decision. That’s why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make your academic journey more affordable. View tuition costs and fees.
Admission Requirements
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for full details on application and admission requirements.
Townsend Information Sessions
Experience a new kind of relational education. Join us online for a Townsend Institute LIVE info night and hear from our faculty, academic advisors, current students, and alumni about their experience in the Townsend Institute.
Career Outcomes
The master’s in executive coaching program is perfect for:
- Leaders who want to increase their value to their organization by adding the skill of coaching, which often provides opportunities for advancement. When you integrate coaching knowledge and skills into your leadership style, you learn how to have powerful coaching conversations that increase trust, initiative, and increase the performance of your team members.
- Consultants and executive coaches who want to learn the Townsend Competence & Character coaching and consulting model while earning a graduate academic degree.
- Those transitioning to a career in executive coaching and consultation in response to the emergence of executive coaching as an established and distinct profession within the international field of individual and organizational development.
Many leaders turn to coaches and consultants in their careers. It’s why the need has increased. From 2019 to 2022, executive coaching growth accelerated.1 A 2023 survey noted that the increase indicates 54% growth worldwide. In that time, total annual revenue for the industry grew to $4.564 billion — a 60% increase since ICF’s 2020 study.1
Networking Opportunities
As a graduate student at Concordia, you’ll become part of a vibrant community of over 25,000 alumni and over 3,500 peers, fostering meaningful connections that support both personal and professional growth. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to helping you discover and develop your callings through mentorship and collaboration.
Located in Irvine — home to more than 900 tech companies and a hub for innovation — students benefit from proximity to leading industries in life sciences and information technology. One-third of all Fortune 500 companies have a presence in Irvine, offering abundant opportunities for internships, mentorships, and career advancement.
Irvine’s strategic position in Southern California provides access to a dynamic business ecosystem, making it an ideal place to build your professional network. Whether you’re attending on-campus events or engaging with our online community, Concordia offers the resources and support to help you thrive in your various vocations.
Explore Financial Aid
Reduce your tuition costs with financial aid — with help from a team that wants to make your time at Concordia as affordable as possible.
Meet Our Faculty
-
Michelle Thompson
Assistant Dean – Executive Coaching & Consulting and External Relations
FAQs
What is the most respected coaching certification?
Programs that have been recognized by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) are considered the most respected.
That’s why the team responsible for the master’s degree in executive coaching at Concordia – one of the most unique programs of its kind – went through the process to become an ICF-accredited provider.
What is the best degree for an executive coach?
There are a number of directions you could go with your education – and several could advance you toward your goal of coaching.
But if you want to take a specific journey to get there, you could earn a master’s degree in executive coaching, like the one at Concordia. You’ll move through a unique and powerful coaching and consultative process, leading to substantive change.
Can you get a master’s degree in coaching?
Yes, you can! For example, one option is a master’s degree in executive coaching. This is a graduate-level program that helps you, as a leader, assist other leaders in their craft.
In a program like Concordia’s, you’ll take courses that tackle culture, relationships, emotional intelligence, motivation, and more. Then, you’ll get hands-on experience throughout a semester so you better understand what your clients need to succeed.
Related Programs
-
Marriage, Couple, and Family (MA Counseling)
Facilitate healing, growth, and renewal for couples and families.
-
Organizational Leadership
Make a meaningful impact with our online master’s degree in…
-
Clinical Mental Health (MA Counseling)
Help people move beyond coping to restoration with a master’s…
-
Professional Coaching Certificate
Help executives lead and thrive in the modern workplace.
-
Organizational Leadership: Professional Certification or Advanced Certification
Learn to lead at the next level with a leadership…
-
Executive Coaching and Leadership (Ph.D.)
Serve, lead, and transform the field of executive coaching and…
-
Counselor Education and Supervision
Teach and serve future generations of counselors.
-
Early Childhood – MAED
Create learning experiences that make an impact on young learners.
-
Managerial Science – MBA
Grow as a strategic manager in business and STEM-driven industries.
-
Theology
Advance in your understanding of the Christian faith.
Sources
1International Coaching Federation (ICF), on the internet, at:
- https://coachingfederation.org/blog/professional-coaching-continues-global-expansion (viewed Dec. 26, 2024)
- https://coachingfederation.org/about (viewed Dec. 26, 2024)