Co-Directors, Norris A. Aldeen Professor of Business Min-Dong Paul Leeand Associate Professor Junias Venugopal

Our mission for this program is to "equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead in a culturally diverse world." The structure of the 36 credit hour degree is designed to give students analytical, practical, and theological tools for leadership in multiple contexts.

When our students graduate, we anticipate they will have become...

  • Leaders who are able to fruitfully guide organizational strategy and manage change.

  • Leaders who are able to develop themselves and diverse others.

  • Leaders who are able to articulate and demonstrate the relationship of Christian mission and values with personal vocation.

  • Leaders who are able to engage critically with leadership theory and practice.

This M.A. in Leadership program offers several electives to serve our students by their selecting courses to enhance their professional development and competence by intentionally grouping their courses to earn a specialization (or concentration).

  • Global Entrepreneurship concentration — create, scale, and lead global ventures with holistic Kingdom impact.

  • Managing Nonprofits concentration — make a significant difference in the world by doing good.

  • Sports Leadership concentration — model following Christ to influence the next generation by coaching and leading in sports.

  • Executive Ministry concentration — serve the church, ministry, or nonprofit in an executive ministry/pastor role.

Admission to the Leadership program is open both to those serving or preparing to work in either marketplace or ministry roles. Admission does not require a specific undergraduate major or a prescribed set of courses, but students are expected to aspire to leadership roles and responsibilities and possess proficiency in written and spoken English. Accelerated MA students can take classes Junior and Senior year that do not count towards their bachelor's degree but will count towards the MA should they matriculate in the accelerated MA program.

Master of Arts in Leadership

The mission for the M.A. in Leadership program is “to equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead in a culturally diverse world.” The structure of the 36-credit hour degree is designed to give students analytical, practical, and theological tools for leadership in multiple contexts.

Requirements consist of the successful completion of 36 credit hours:

Required Courses20
Cultural Engagement
Leadership and Spiritual Formation
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World
Organizational and Change Leadership
Strategic Management
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations
Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement (TSR)4
Christian Theology
Foundations for Biblical Interpretation
Global Church History
Elective Courses12
Students must take at least one elective course (2 or 4 credits) from the LEAD designation, and the remaining credits may be taken from available and accessible courses in the Wheaton College Graduate School.
Total Credits36

As part of this 36-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete a theological studies requirement (TSR) of 6 credits. For M.A. in Leadership students, this consists of LEAD 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation plus a 4-credit course from the approved TSR Category I listing in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Master of Arts in Leadership: Executive Ministry Concentration 

The mission for the M.A. in Leadership program (Executive Ministry Concentration) is “to equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead in an executive ministry role in Christian churches, ministries, movements, and organizations in a culturally diverse world.”

Requirements consist of the successful completion of 36 credit hours: 

Required Courses18
Leadership and Spiritual Formation
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World
Organizational and Change Leadership
Strategic Management
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations
Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement (TSR)4
Christian Theology
Foundations for Biblical Interpretation
Global Church History
Executive Ministry Concentration Courses12
Gospel: Theological Perspectives on Evangelism and Renewal
Church: Movements & Models
Culture: Emerging & Global
Enhance Your Executive Ministry Concentration2
Options: LEAD 692, LEAD 695, LEAD 696, or any 2-credit course offered in the Wheaton Graduate School.
Total Credits36

As part of this 36-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete a theological studies requirement of 6 credits. For M.A. in Leadership - Executive Ministry Concentration students, this consists of LEAD 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation  plus a 4-credit course from the approved TSR Category I listing in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Master of Arts in Leadership: Global Entrepreneurship Concentration

The mission for the M.A. in Leadership program (Global Entrepreneurship Concentration) is “to equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead missional enterprises and impact the marketplace in a culturally diverse world.”

Requirements consist of the successful completion of 36 credit hours:

Required Courses20
Cultural Engagement
Leadership and Spiritual Formation
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World
Organizational and Change Leadership
Strategic Management
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations
Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement (TSR)4
Christian Theology
Foundations for Biblical Interpretation
Global Church History
Global Entrepreneurship Concentration Courses10
Entrepreneurial Marketing
Global Entrepreneurship: Launching a Missional Enterprise
Managing for High Impact: Purpose, Planning, Operations, and Execution
Theology of Work: Equipping God's People to Flourish in their Calling
Enhance Your Global Leadership Concentration2
Options: LEAD 692, LEAD 695, LEAD 696, or any 2-credit course offered in the Wheaton Graduate School.
Total Credits36

As part of this 36-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete a theological studies requirement (TSR) of 6 credits. For M.A. in Leadership – Global Entrepreneurship Concentration students, this consists of LEAD 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation   plus a 4-credit course from the approved TSR Category I listing in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Master of Arts in Leadership: Managing Nonprofits Concentration

The mission for the M.A. in Leadership program (Managing Nonprofits Concentration) is “to equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead Nonprofit ministries and organizations in a culturally diverse world.”

Requirements consist of the successful completion of 36 credit hours: 

Required Courses 20
Cultural Engagement
Leadership and Spiritual Formation
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World
Organizational and Change Leadership
Strategic Management
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations
Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement (TSR)4
Christian Theology
Foundations for Biblical Interpretation
Global Church History
Managing Nonprofits Concentration Courses10
Entrepreneurial Marketing
Data Analytics for Decision Making
Introduction to Nonprofits
Theology of Work: Equipping God's People to Flourish in their Calling
Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations and Congregations
Enhance Your Managing Nonprofits Concentration2
Options: LEAD 692, LEAD 695, LEAD 696, or any 2-credit course offered in the Wheaton Graduate School.
Total Credits36

As part of this 36-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete a theological studies requirement (TSR) of 6 credits. For M.A. in Leadership - Managing Nonprofits Concentration students, this consists of LEAD 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation plus a 4-credit course from the approved TSR Category I listing in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Master of Arts in Leadership: Sports Leadership Concentration

The mission for the M.A. in Leadership program (Sports Leadership Concentration) is “to equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead sports organizations and influence athletes to make an impact for Christ in a culturally diverse world.”

Requirements consist of the successful completion of 36 credit hours:

Required Courses20
Cultural Engagement
Leadership and Spiritual Formation
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World
Organizational and Change Leadership
Strategic Management
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations
Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement (TSR)4
Christian Theology
Foundations for Biblical Interpretation
Global Church History
Sports Leadership Concentration Courses10
Data Analytics for Decision Making
Leading and Managing a Sports Organization
Character Development and Spiritual Formation in Sports
Fundraising in Nonprofit Organizations and Congregations
Psychology of Sports Performance and Coaching
Enhance Your Sports Leadership Concentration2
Options: LEAD 692, LEAD 695, LEAD 696, or any 2-credit course offered in the Wheaton Graduate School
Total Credits36

As part of this 36-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete a theological studies requirement (TSR) of 6 credits. For M.A. in Leadership – Sports Leadership Concentration students, this consists of LEAD 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation plus a 4-credit course from the approved TSR Category I listing in the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Master of Arts in Leadership: Residential Track

The mission for the M.A. in Leadership (Residential Track) program is “to equip men and women with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead in a culturally diverse world.”

Requirements consist of the successful completion of 36 credit hours plus labs for those courses as indicated. Students in the residential track should take the co-requisite Lab courses when required:

Required Courses20
Cultural Engagement
Cultural Engagement Lab
Leadership and Spiritual Formation
Leadership and Spiritual Formation Lab
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World
Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World Lab
Organizational and Change Leadership
Organizational and Change Leadership Lab
Strategic Management
Strategic Management Lab
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations
Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations Lab
Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement (TSR)4
Christian Theology
Foundations for Biblical Interpretation
Global Church History
Electives12
Students must take at least one elective course (2 or 4 credits) from the LEAD designation, and the remaining credits may be taken from available and accessible courses in the Wheaton College Graduate School. Electives outside of the A. Duane Litfin Divinity School will require departmental approval. All courses taken by students in this Residential Track should be taken with their co-requisite Lab courses.
Total Credits36

As part of this 36-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete a theological studies requirement of 6 credits. For M.A. in Leadership - Residential Track students, this consists of LEAD 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation plus a 4-credit course from the approved TSR Category I listing in the Graduate School section of this catalog.