Bushnell University’s 100% online Master of Arts in Leadership is designed for seasoned leaders and aspiring leaders to engage with principles of best practice, to sharpen their own self-understanding as leaders, and to sharpen their skill set for more effective leadership in the groups and organizations where they serve.
Complete your M.A. in Leadership in as little as 12 months while you learn and grow under the guidance of faculty with rich, real-world experience.
Bushnell University’s online M.A. in Leadership is not like other programs because you get to customize your education. You will choose from four concentrations that allow you to focus on the subject matter that is important to you. Concentrations available are:
Bushnell University has over 125 years of experience preparing Christian leaders for service. Since 1895, we’ve provided a top-quality education for students. Bushnell University provides a transformational educational experience that champions wisdom, faith, and service, providing graduates with superb career preparation within a Christ-centered environment.
Check back here for upcoming Info Sessions for both the MBA & MAL programs.
Click here for more information.
This 36-credit program is offered entirely online to help you balance the pursuit of your degree with all of the other priorities that compete with your time.
The online Master of Arts in Leadership at Bushnell University is a flexible program that can be completed in 12 or 24 months and with six starts a year, you can start pursuing your degree when it works best with your schedule.
Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Leadership program, candidates will be able to demonstrate:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on average professionals with a master’s degree earn close to $12,000 more a year than those with a bachelor’s degree. Some of the career opportunities that may be available to you:
Students who do not meet GPA requirements may apply for conditional admission to the program. Bushnell University evaluates applicants holistically, evaluating academic progress, as well as work and personal experience in the admissions process. Students may provide a one-page description of the previous academic history results, with an explanation of how they intend to be successful at the graduate level.
All application materials must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of coursework.
At Bushnell University, we know financial aid inside and out and can help you apply for and receive the best financial aid package available.
Find more information regarding Financial Aid.
Bushnell University is approved by the Oregon Department of Education and the Department of Veteran Affairs for educating students who are eligible for VA educational benefits. You can begin receiving your educational benefits in just a few, simple steps!
This course addresses Bushnell University’s commitment to the integration of faith and learning within the context of leadership studies. Students will be guided and challenged to reflect theologically on the concept of leadership as “vocation” and how this relates to their individual “callings” as leaders.
Students will review and participate in a variety of self-assessment exercises calling for an examination of personal and team strengths in relation to vocation and calling, self-care, and exploration of self-identify, beliefs, and values.
This course will provide an overview of historical leaders including, but not limited to, Jesus Christ, early Christian leaders, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela. The intent is to glean insights from examples of leaders who have gone before us and provide the student with a richer understanding of what constitutes great leadership.
This course will examine multiple elements of leading positive organizational change. Students will learn about the challenges involved when dealing with change and why people can be resistant. A variety of models will be shared including the experiences of the students in the class. Topics will include organizational behavior, change management strategies, alignment of organizational systems and theories, effective organizational communication, and project management.
This course will examine leadership through a lens of social justice and diversity. Students will be introduced to the conceptual framework of cultural proficiency that may inform leadership practices in respect to intercultural communication, leading across cultures, international perspectives in business and education, and intergenerational perspectives.
This purpose of this course is to equip students with the knowledge, strategies, and skills in leadership management. Topics to be covered include the legal and ethical issues faced in managerial leadership, employee training and development, human resource management, team leadership, team building, financial leadership, and conflict management.
Students in this class will be equipped with the ability to implement long-term strategy in planning and implementation to fulfill the missions of the organizations that they serve. Topics to be covered include vision casting, strategic planning, foresight in planning, succession planning, project management, and negotiation.
This course covers the responsibilities of leaders within an organization as it pertains to stewardship and financial resources. It will cover both internal and external prospectives for both established organizations as well as startups. Topics include fundraising, grant writing and resources, responsible financial planning, strategic organizational budgeting, and facilities.
Choose a Concentration:
Choose four of the following courses:
Provides students an opportunity to investigate, analyze, and apply various theories of leadership and associated concepts. These include, but are not limited to, effective leadership qualities and human relations, power of vision, leadership ethics, communication, and empowerment of personnel through goal-oriented professional development.
A course designed to focus on the importance of modern organizations being market-driven and globally competitive. The course examines the role of marketing through the discussion of comprehensive marketing concepts and case analysis better equipping managers to make decisions.
The course examines the statistical concepts used for decision-making in the business environment. The emphasis is on the use of statistical information.
This course will begin by examining the meaning of ethics through the review of several philosophical approaches. Students will identify internal and external stakeholders affected by ethical decision making. The course seeks to help develop an awareness and appreciation for ethical consideration in personal and professional decision-making. The content of this course is designed to expand critical thinking to analyze how individual and business decisions affect our society.
The use of accounting tools as a source of data for managerial decision-making including cash flow, general accounting ledgers, income, financial position, cash, receivables, investments, inventories, liabilities, reconciliation, and financial statements.
This course examines issues related to individual and group behavior in complex organizations. Topics include the influence of motivation, organizational situations, and management practices on individual and group work behavior with special emphasis on situational leadership models.
This course provides an overview that addresses challenges such as recruitment and selection, training and development, as well as performance appraisals and compensation administration. Additionally, this course incorporates a manager’s perspective of human resources management relative to the strategic planning process.
This is a project-based course to learn to conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment of corporate sustainability. Using the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, which has been recognized as a “best practice” initiative for organizations, students will assess and ensure that their chosen organization’s sustainability performance is competitive in the global marketplace.
The following business courses may be available but could impact your course rotation. Please inform your admission counselor or academic advisor if you wish to enroll in one of the following courses:
Managerial Economics
This course helps business students become architects of business strategy and is meant to review concepts of managerial economics and introduce the students to new ways of thinking, enhancing overall analytical skills.
Managerial Finance
This course surveys the financial problems associated with the life cycle of a business and with personal finance needs. Topics covered include financial analysis, financial planning, capital budgeting, cost of capital, the sources and uses of business funds, and the instruments utilized in raising funds.
Strategy and Managerial Decision Making
This course will expose the adult learner to the examination of strategic processes that influence and determine the direction of an organization. Students will analyze the organizational mission and objectives, identify organizational strengths and environmental opportunities, examine the components of competitive advantage, and develop strategies and policies to achieve the organization’s mission. Students will complete analysis of current organizations and/or case studies.
Operations and Service Management
Operational aspects of both manufacturing and service organizations will be explored in this course. Issues to be examined include strategy, production processes, technology, capacity planning, facility location and layout, production planning systems, and quality management. Specific quantitative tools will also be examined, including quality control, forecasting, inventory methods, and project management.
Biblical Theology of Leadership
This course explores the rich storehouse of biblical wisdom with regard to effective leadership. The foundation of a theology of leadership begins with a study of God as ‘”leader,” as expressed in terms such as “king, lord, teacher, shepherd, etc.” Special focus is given to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and the New Testament in the way that this “experiential wisdom” provides a theological context for effective leadership.
Ministry as Mission: Church Leadership in Changing Times
The social context of North America and beyond is increasingly becoming a mission field and a stranger to the church of past decades. This cultural shift requires effective leaders to address new challenges in creative new ways. Ministry as Mission is designed to help church leaders discover new ways to think outside the box in assisting their churches to convert these cultural and societal challenges into opportunities for mission and growth.
Business Administration Concentration
Non-Profit Concentration
Higher Education Concentration
History of Education and Current Practice
Students will be introduced to a historical survey of the theories of student development from ancient times to the current day and how these past events inform current issues and practice.
Programs and Functions of College Student Personnel
This course provides an overview of college programs and services within college student personnel including a historical context of higher education, program formats and standards, essential competencies and techniques, and emerging opportunities.
Law and Ethics in Higher Education
This course examines guiding law and both legal and ethical issues being addressed in a higher education setting. This will include an overview of federal regulations, mandates, and liability.
Vocational Calling
Students will be introduced to theoretical approaches, resources, and techniques to assist them in identifying their own gifts, strengths and vocational calling, as well as helping them to assist others with vocational discernment. This will include techniques for effective advising, coaching, and mentoring.
Any Business Administration Concentration course
Any Non-Profit Concentration course
Volunteer Leadership
This course covers the critical topic of leading and managing both large and small teams of volunteers. This course will cover the legal and ethical issues around volunteer management as well as how to secure long-term commitment through effective leadership. Other topics to be covered include non-profit governing boards and the key components of building community partners for sustainability and organizational effectiveness.
Legal and Ethical Issues for Non-Profit Organizations
This class covers the topic of earning and maintaining the public’s trust in a nonprofit through the ethical principles it is committed to. Creating a culture committed to accountability and transparency is required. Topics to be covered include risk management, conflicts of interest, documentation, fundraising, and the development and implementation of policy.
Marketing Strategy
A course designed to focus on the importance of modern organizations being market-driven and globally competitive. The course examines the role of marketing through the discussion of comprehensive marketing concepts and case analysis better equipping managers to make decisions.
Business Administration Concentration
Church Leadership Concentration
Higher Education Concentration
Ed.D., Pepperdine University M.A. Ed., Fresno Pacific University B.S., Oregon State University A.A., Mt. Hood Community College Dr. Latrissa Lee Neiworth is a renowned …