About the MLD Program
The MLD program’s Integrative Core courses provide a range of perspectives to help you develop and enhance your leadership skills and critical thinking, while its Focus Area courses build your knowledge and skills in specific areas of interest.
This dynamic 12-month program will enable professionals, such as yourself, to make a significant impact in your for-profit or not-for-profit organization. This flexible program will allow you to fit your education in your busy schedule, while still maintaining your family and career responsibilities.
The MLD program provides students an educational experience that allows them a broad range of perspectives as well as a focused area of study. The Integrative Core courses provide a range of outlooks for students, while the Focus Area courses narrow in on students’ specific areas of interest - Organizational Leadership and Not-for-Profit Leadership.
The program is designed to be completed in one year using a hybrid-course format. There are face-to-face cohort group seminars on campus at the beginning and end of each course, at least one interactive webinar experience during each course and web-based assignments and discussions throughout the course. Students will take two courses every eight weeks; one from the Integrative Core and one from their Focus Area.
Graduating from the MLD program will enable you to:
- Work collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.
- Understand the influence of social and cultural context on individuals and organizations.
- Critically analyze research and ideas from various sources to determine alternatives.
- Conduct assessment and evaluation activities to guide practice and decision-making.•Use appropriate technologies to enhance productivity and effectiveness.
- Develop and understand a repertoire of creative and ethical problem-solving models.
- Optimize team effectiveness
- Apply leadership skills to effect positive change in an organization, workplace or community.
"I liked that Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College offered a Master of Leadership Development rather than a general MBA. I felt leadership created a broader application of making a difference in my industry, plus the degree is well respected among the higher education community and I am very honored to be recognized with a strong, reputable institution." Jason Boyers'09G.
Focus Area: Not-for-Profit Leadership
The Not-for-Profit Leadership focus area is intended to help you enhance your leadership skills in any not-for-profit organization. You will learn how to work as an integral part of the organization by building relationships with business partners, providing motivation for success, and helping the organization reach its highest potential. A strong framework of ethics and critical thinking skills put you a step ahead of the rest.
Through the Not-for-Profit Leadership Focus Area, you will be able to:
- Understand not-for-profit organizations and how to work within them to maximize success in fulfilling the organization’s mission.
- Provide visionary leadership to support strategic planning that balances continuity and change.
- Facilitate the exchange of ideas, goods, and services in an ethical manner to satisfy the needs of diverse stakeholders.
Focus Area: Organizational Leadership
The Organizational Leadership Focus Area is your tool to leading and managing in the for-profit business arena. It is also the key to success in an increasingly global and diverse society. Not only will you be getting the grounding in business and leadership that you need, but you will learn how to implement that knowledge in an ethical way and use critical thinking to work through challenges in the workplace.
Through the Organization Leadership Focus Area, you will be able to:
- Understand organizational systems and how to work within them to maximize success in fulfilling the organization’s mission.
- Manage financial information with ethical accountability.
- Use conflict resolution and negotiation skills to promote a productive environment.
- Provide visionary leadership to support strategic planning that balances continuity and change.