Master of Business Administration in Leadership
Lead with Purpose. Navigate Change. Strengthen Organizations.
Strong leadership requires more than managing people or making decisions. Today's leaders must be able to set direction, develop others, build effective organizational cultures, navigate change, and translate strategy into action.
Waldorf University's online Master of Business Administration in Leadership combines advanced business education with specialized leadership and organizational development coursework to help professionals strengthen their ability to lead people, teams, and organizations.
Whether you're preparing for greater management responsibility, seeking to strengthen your effectiveness as a leader, or pursuing senior leadership opportunities, this flexible online MBA helps develop the business perspective and leadership capabilities needed to make a greater organizational impact.
Designed for Today's Business Leaders
Waldorf University's online MBA in Leadership is designed for professionals seeking greater leadership responsibility while continuing to advance their careers. The flexible online format allows students to continue working while applying leadership concepts within their own organizations.
Program Highlights
-
100% online format
-
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
-
36-credit curriculum
-
Leadership concentration
-
Designed for current and aspiring managers and organizational leaders
-
No campus residency requirements
Why Pursue an MBA in Leadership?
Leadership decisions affect far more than individual teams. They influence organizational strategy, culture, employee performance, innovation, change, and long-term results.
An MBA in Leadership combines business strategy with the human side of organizational performance. Students build an advanced foundation in accounting, human resources, information systems, marketing, research, economics, and finance while developing specialized expertise in leadership development, leadership theory, organizational culture, diversity and inclusion, and organization development.
Students may pursue this degree to:
-
Prepare for greater management and leadership responsibility
-
Strengthen strategic and organizational decision-making
-
Lead teams through change and transformation
-
Build stronger organizational cultures
-
Develop and motivate people more effectively
-
Connect leadership decisions with broader business objectives
For professionals seeking to move beyond managing day-to-day responsibilities, the MBA in Leadership provides an opportunity to develop the broader business perspective and organizational leadership capabilities needed to lead at a higher level.
Leadership Skills Are Becoming More Critical—and More Complex
Organizations are asking more of their leaders as they navigate changing workforce expectations, new technologies, organizational transformation, and increased pressure to develop and retain talent. Yet many leaders have not received development in the capabilities they say will be most important for the future.
DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast 2025, based on responses from more than 10,000 leaders and 2,000 HR professionals worldwide, identifies significant gaps between the leadership capabilities organizations need and the development leaders have received.
Leadership Challenge |
Why It Matters |
|
83% of HR organizations expect the need for new leadership capabilities to increase over the next five years |
Organizations need leaders who can adapt their capabilities as business conditions, technology, and workforce expectations evolve. |
|
64% of leaders identify setting strategy as critical, but only 37% have received training in it |
Strategic thinking is increasingly important for leaders responsible for setting direction and translating organizational goals into action. |
|
61% identify managing change as critical, but only 36% have received development in this area |
Leaders need the ability to guide people and organizations through transformation while maintaining alignment and performance. |
|
Leaders are 19X more likely to rate leadership quality as high when leaders demonstrate strong interpersonal skills |
Effective leadership increasingly depends on the ability to communicate, build trust, engage people, and lead through relationships—not simply technical expertise. |
Source: DDI, Global Leadership Forecast 2025
The Waldorf Difference
The Power of AND
Professionals shouldn't have to choose between advancing their education and continuing to build their careers.
Waldorf University's online MBA in Leadership brings advanced business education and specialized leadership development together in a flexible format designed for working professionals.
Faculty with real-world business experience bring practical perspective to the classroom, helping students connect leadership theory and business concepts with challenges they encounter within their own organizations.
Lead People AND Drive Performance
-
Strengthen leadership skills AND build business expertise
-
Develop people AND improve organizational performance
-
Navigate change AND build stronger organizations
-
Advance your career AND continue working full-time
YOUR LIFE CONTINUES. YOUR EDUCATION DOES TOO.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Waldorf University's MBA in Leadership is designed for professionals seeking greater responsibility for leading people, teams, departments, or organizations. It may be particularly valuable for current managers and supervisors, emerging leaders, business professionals preparing for management roles, and experienced professionals pursuing advancement in management, operations, organizational development, or other leadership-focused roles.
For professionals pursuing senior or executive responsibility, the combination of advanced business coursework and specialized leadership study can help develop the broader perspective needed to influence organizational strategy, guide change, develop people, and lead across functions.
Curriculum Designed for Organizational Leadership
Effective leadership requires both self-awareness and an understanding of how people and organizations function.
Waldorf University's MBA curriculum develops broad business expertise while the Leadership concentration explores leadership development, leadership theory, organizational culture, diversity and inclusion, and organization development.
Students examine their own leadership strengths and opportunities while exploring how leaders influence culture, develop learning organizations, work effectively across differences, and guide organizational development and change.
This program is available online only.
Master's Degree Requirements
- Completion of 36-credit hour curriculum
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Grade of B or higher in all required courses and professional electives
| Prefix | Number | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | 5301 | Management Applications of Accounting | 3 |
| HRM | 5200 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MBA | 5401 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| MBA | 5501 | Advanced Marketing | 3 |
| MBA | 5652 | Research Methods | 3 |
| MBA | 6053 | Economics for Managers | 3 |
| MBA | 6081 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| Total Major Requirement Credit Hours: | 21 | ||
| Prefix | Number | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORG | 5000 | Personal Leadership Development | 3 |
| ORG | 5100 | Leadership Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ORG | 6600 | Culture of Learning Organizations | 3 |
| ORG | 6700 | Diversity and Inclusion in the Organizational Structure | 3 |
| ORG | 6800 | Organization Development | 3 |
| Total Concentration Credit Hours: | 15 | ||
| Total Credit Hours: | 36 | ||
Ready to Strengthen Your Leadership Impact?
Prepare to take on greater responsibility for leading people, teams, and organizations.
MBA in Leadership Degree Requirements
Students must complete the 36-credit curriculum with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA and earn a B or higher in all required courses and professional electives.
For complete admission requirements and application details, request information or speak with an admissions representative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waldorf University's MBA in Leadership fully online?
Yes. Waldorf University's MBA in Leadership is offered 100% online.
How many credits are required?
The program consists of 36 total credit hours, including 21 credits of core MBA coursework and 15 credits of Leadership concentration coursework.
What will I study in the Leadership concentration?
Leadership coursework includes Personal Leadership Development, Leadership Theory and Practice, Culture of Learning Organizations, Diversity and Inclusion in the Organizational Structure, and Organization Development.
What's the difference between an MBA in Leadership and a general MBA?
A general MBA develops broad business expertise across areas such as finance, marketing, economics, human resources, and information systems. Waldorf's Leadership concentration adds specialized study focused on developing leaders, understanding organizational culture, and leading organizational development and change.
Do I need to currently hold a management position?
No. The program may be appropriate for experienced managers as well as professionals preparing to take on greater leadership responsibility.
Can an MBA in Leadership help prepare me for executive leadership?
Yes. The MBA in Leadership is designed to develop the business perspective and organizational leadership knowledge relevant to professionals pursuing senior and executive leadership responsibilities. Career advancement depends on factors including professional experience, industry, individual performance, and employer requirements.
What types of roles can an MBA in Leadership support?
Depending on experience and other qualifications, graduates may pursue opportunities in management, operations, organizational leadership, business administration, organizational development, and other leadership functions across industries.
Explore Related Programs
Lead What's Next
Develop the business knowledge, leadership perspective, and organizational expertise to lead people, navigate change, and help organizations perform at their best.