Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Make a meaningful impact with our online master’s degree in organizational leadership.
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Lead With Experience and Integrity
Inspire teams, build trust, and enhance performance by earning a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. The fully online program prepares you to compassionately lead and serve nonprofit, for-profit, church, or business organizations. In a small learning environment, you will cultivate mentoring relationships with your professors whose leadership experience spans a variety of fields and sectors.
The Townsend Institute has earned a reputation for its relational approach to begin with character growth as a building block for high motivation and performance. Throughout your program, you will learn directly from Dr. John Townsend and master teachers who have decades of experience in leadership and know how to bring transformation, performance, and productivity to teams and organizations.
Not only will you study the best and latest in leadership theory and strategy, but you will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with the great minds behind the work through our Institute Fellows. Our Fellows include renowned names in the field, like Ken Blanchard (The One Minute Manager, Raving Fans, and Lead Like Jesus) and Patrick Lencioni (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The 6 Types of Working Genius).
Online
Study fully online where it’s convenient for you.
33 Units
Complete your degree in 12-20 months.
$695/Unit
Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
“The Townsend Institute had such an immediate, positive impact on my character development, and my interactions with others, my manager asked what I was doing differently. I shared it was the Townsend Institute. My manager was so impressed with the results of this program that I was reimbursed for the entire cost!”
Cheryl Todd ’18
Getting Started
The Townsend Institute utilizes the 3C Framework: competence, character, and connection. This framework will train you to understand and operate within the DNA of organizations such as mission, vision, core values, goals, strategy, tactics, and vital behaviors.
Next Start
August 24, 2026
Upcoming Starts
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Fall 1 2026 August 31, 2026
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Fall 2 2026 October 26, 2026
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Spring 1 & Full 2027 January 11, 2027
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Spring 2 2027 March 15, 2027
Curriculum
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
- ORGL599 – Townsend Institute Residency
- ORGL600 – Townsend Institute Orientation
- ORGL601 – Leadership Theory and Character Development
- ORGL602 – Building Healthy Organizational Culture
- ORGL603 – Mindful Leadership: Neuroscience and Emotional Intelligence
- ORGL604 – Leading Change and Motivation
- ORGL605 – Team Building and Conflict Management
- ORGL607 – Ethical Decision Making and Cultural Foundations
- ORGL608 – Capstone Seminar in Organizational Leadership
- ORGL616 – Essential Communication Strategies
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
You will become equipped with essential leadership competencies such as:
- Establishing clarity and alignment
- Developing teams
- Identifying the right people for the tasks
- Motivating people using social emotional intelligence skills
- Championing the culture
- Monitoring outcomes with feedback and adaption
Upon completing your master’s in organizational leadership, you’ll be able to:
- Gain the skills needed to create high-performing teams.
- Cultivate a culture that accelerates performance.
- Create clarity and alignment to mission, strategy, and vision across an organization.
- Learn how to lead both strategically and relationally.
- Learn how to work with and direct difficult people.
- Train in the art of managing your energy versus your time.
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 info night.
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
Experience growth professionally, personally, and relationally when you earn a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Concordia. Leadership positions will continue to grow, and many roles could see faster-than-average growth from 2023 to 20331:
- Management occupations: 7%
- General and operations managers: 6%
- Top executives: 6%
- Chief executives: 5%
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
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Michelle Thompson
Assistant Dean – Executive Coaching & Consulting and External Relations
FAQs
What can you do with an organizational leadership master’s degree?
Because a master’s degree in organizational leadership allows you to learn so many skills that are transferable across industries, the answer is a lot!
With an organizational leadership degree, you set yourself up for management and executive roles. You could lead teams or departments in education, healthcare, human resources, nonprofits, operations, training and management, and more.
Which is better, an MBA or a master’s in leadership?
The MBA (Master of Business Administration) and master’s in organizational leadership offer coursework that’s ideal for those working in or moving into the business world.
Because of that, neither degree is better – but one may be a better match for your career goals and callings. An MBA can help you develop a broad range of business skills, while organizational leadership master’s programs teach you how to set yourself up for leadership roles in a variety of fields.
Is it worth getting a master’s in organizational leadership?
Strong leadership skills are always in demand, so a program that prepares you to become a good leader can set you up for success. Plus, these roles are growing: From 2023-2033, about 343,800 openings for top executives are projected, on average, each year, over the decade.1
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Sources
1U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm (viewed Dec. 26, 2024).
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.