Master of Arts in Counseling

M.A. Organizational Leadership

Are you ready to make a difference? The Townsend Institute's Program in Organizational Leadership at Concordia University provides intentional and engaging coursework to grow your leadership toolbox. Guided by Dr. John Townsend, the Institute Fellows, and our hand-picked faculty, students extend their effectiveness in leadership by gaining task-based skills such as aligning strategy to mission, vision, and values and executing systems. In addition, you will extend your influence through people-based skills such as motivating and inspiring a team, clarifying roles and engaging in difficult conversations while maintaining positive alliances.

Students enrolled in the Townsend Institute now have the option to earn either a Master's Degree or a Graduate Certificate. Graduate certificate programs are offered in Counseling, Executive Coaching, and Organizational Leadership.

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How you’ll make an impact as a leader:

The Townsend Institute experience invites you to study directly with 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. 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. Through the Townsend Institute’s online program in Organizational Leadership you will:

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.

Personally learn from Dr. John Townsend.

Dr. John Townsend on the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine

Students enrolled in our Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership will:

Begin with a 4-day Kick-off Conference with your community of fellow students where Dr. Townsend will conduct a series of trainings to jump-start your Master’s program.
Connect with your cohort in a guided-process group experience to earn your first three credits, where you will learn to unpack key moments in your life story and grow your character.
Join a 3-hour virtual classroom bi-monthly where Dr. Townsend and one of the Institute Fellows personally give a training. The last hour is all Q&A for students.
Engage with Dr. Townsend’s exclusive training videos and podcasts created for each course.
Gain access to white papers written by Dr. Townsend for topic areas that draw on his decades of experience in leadership development and consulting.

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Hear students describe the power of learning at the Townsend Institute.

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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

Start on your terms.

Term	Start Date
Summer/Fall 2020	August 3, 2020
Spring 2021	February 22, 2021

Not Ready for a Master's? See our Organizational Leadership certificate.

Masters students can choose to begin in the Fall or Spring semester. The entire program will take between 1 year and 20 months for a total of 33 credits. Students will take one or two 7-week courses at a time. Learning activities will involve approximately 10 to 14 hours of the student’s time investment each week. Students working full time are suggested to take only one course at a time.

Info Night

Live Stream Session with Dr. John Townsend

Missed the last Info Night? Watch the full recording of our Live Session.

Feb

Townsend Institute LIVE

Monday, February 01, 2021 5:30 PM

Prospective student attending an info night

Missed the last Info Night? Watch the full recording of our Live Session.

Hear first-hand from Dr. John Townsend and begin to understand the uniqueness of the Townsend Institute's approach to leadership, counseling, coaching, and the learning process. You will get a glimpse of how these programs are highly relational, biblically-informed, neuroscience-based, practical skills-oriented, and lead to transformative personal growth.

You will also hear about our distinctive 4-day Kick-off Conference, what classes are like, how you meet over 50 Institute Fellows, and how the 300 videos from Dr. Townsend are integrated into every class. A live Q&A session is included!

As an added bonus, the $50 application fee will be waived for all who attend the Info Night.

For help registering for this event, please contact Sarah Martini at [email protected] or call 714-795-0124.

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Transformation through relational education.

To earn your Master’s in Organizational Leadership degree, you’ll be taking 33 units of classes and selecting which 6 units of electives are the best fit for you. You will be supported through virtual classroom sessions with your professors and classmates, and through experientially-focused assignments that connect you with fellow students. For our Executive Coaching & Consultation or Organizational Leadership Certificate programs click on the title to learn more.

For more information about academic policies and resources, view the MA Organizational Leadership handbook

Sample Courses

ORGL 601: Organizational Leadership and Character Development
3

Students will gain a historical overview of leadership theory development and effective leadership characteristics. The Townsend Character-Growth Model and its seven developmental character structures will be a focus for student learning. A beginning integrative framework between Christian theology and leadership research and theory will be established. Prerequisite: ORGL 600 (concurrent enrollment allowed).

ORGL 603: Leadership Styles, Neuroscience and Emotional Intelligence
3

Students will gain an overview of the different styles of leading a team or organization. The latest research from neuroscience will be explored and applied to leadership. Students will understand the concept of emotional intelligence and its different relational and self-management skills. Prerequisite: ORGL 600 (concurrent enrollment allowed).

ORGL 604: Leading Change and Motivation
3

The major drivers or inhibitors of motivation and organizational change will be explored. Students will learn the leadership competencies to provide rapid, profound and sustainable change. This course will also focus on how to assess and make structural changes in the organization's culture that make change easier. Prerequisite: ORGL 600 (concurrent enrollment allowed).

ORGL 605: Team Building, Conflict Management and Managing Difficult People
3

Students will learn the key elements of a high performing team and how to build each element. An eight-step process for managing conflict will be presented. Students will develop the skills to manage team members who have a challenging character structure and contentious relationships. Prerequisite: ORGL 600 (concurrent enrollment allowed).

ORGL 607: Decision Making, Creativity and Problem Solving
3

Students will learn various decision-making strategies and the common pitfalls to good decisions. The critical role that creativity plays in leadership will be explored. Using a variety of methods, students will gain experience in creativity and problem-solving. Prerequisite: ORGL 600 (concurrent enrollment allowed).

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A deep bench of experience.

When you make a choice to invest in your future by continuing your education, you want to be sure your time is well spent. That’s where the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine offers a distinct advantage. Here, you will learn from a group of extraordinarily talented author-teachers with extensive knowledge on who we are as human beings created in the image of God. We choose faculty with real-world experience and Fellows who bring deep understanding through the subjects they write on, and their ongoing research. They not only offer their expertise, but their availability to answer your questions as you work through the course material. Along with your cohort, you will journey together through a transformational experience in the MAOL program.

Meet the Faculty

Meet the Fellows

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Tuition

Tuition/Fee	Cost
Application Fee	$50
Graduation Fee	Graduation Fee
Tuition	$575/unit

*Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice

The Townsend Institute’s MAOL program includes a 4-day Intensive at Concordia University Irvine at the start of the semester where you will connect with your cohort in a guided-process group experience to earn your first three credits. Students will incur travel* expenses to attend this required live session.

*travel costs depend on market fluctuations of currency rates and actual costs

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Applications for our Master’s program are accepted on a rolling basis, but we encourage you to have all documentation in early because there is a limit on space. If you have any questions about the admissions process or need any assistance, please don't hesitate to connect with us.

Application Requirements

An application with nonrefundable application fee of $50
One official transcript from a regionally accredited college or university that shows your confirmed bachelor’s degree. Official college transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope.
Must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Written essay (2 pages, 500 words) addressing the following items:
- Personal, professional, and educational goals
- In your experience, what is the best way that a person grows or changes? You can add an example of a characteristic about yourself that you wanted to change and how you went about changing it.
- What interested you in applying to the Townsend Institute as opposed to other programs?
Minimum of 1 professional reference required. Personal reference optional.
A current professional resume

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Paper Application

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Have questions about the Townsend Institute’s online master's degree in Organizational Leadership? Not sure how to get started? Fill out the form below, and one of our admissions counselors will get in touch with you.