
Master of Arts in Leadership
Advance Your Career with a Master of Arts in Leadership Degree from Doane University
Through Doane’s 10-course program, you’ll become the leader you always knew you could be: resilient, inclusive and ethical. Our Master of Arts in leadership program focuses on “Living Leadership,” everyday leadership that will help you make a positive difference at home, work, and in your community.
- Classes can be completed within two years.
- Online course. Students meet once a week via Zoom, a method that accommodates busy schedules while retaining the benefits of meeting together as a class.
Earn Your Master’s When and Where It Fits Your Lifestyle
Doane’s Master of Arts in Leadership program doesn’t require you to pause your life. The program is built to provide flexibility for the working professional. Courses are designed to allow you to live leadership in the classroom, in the workforce and in your personal life.
You can finish your master’s degree in one to two years while maintaining your lifestyle, and supplementing it with:
new opportunities
lifelong connections
- valuable skills
Tailor the Master of Arts in Leadership Degree to your personal and professional goals.
Our flexible curriculum is designed to allow you to maximize the value of your degree. Twenty percent of your coursework consists of elective courses or emphasis areas.
Courses and emphasis areas designed to fit your goals:

Organizational Leadership

Project Management

Strategic Leadership

Design Thinking

Emerging Technologies

The Science of Learning
Program Information
Courses
Faculty and Staff






Admissions Requirements
- Official transcript
- Previous completion of a Bachelor's degree
- $50 application fee
Learning Format
Students meet once a week over Zoom, a method that accommodates busy schedules while retaining the benefits of meeting together as a class.
Please refer to this link from Zoom regarding questions about system and bandwidth requirements, as well as supported web browsers.
Skills Development
100% of graduates in 2023 say they use more analytical, creative, and effective thinking skills when considering issues and problems.
92% of graduates in 2023 say they collaborate more effectively with others.
92% of graduates in 2023 say they consistently apply moral principles to their decision making and behavior.
The Doane Difference
When asked, "what one thing significantly helped your ability to complete your Doane experience?", students responded saying:
- They appreciate the flexibility of the program as well as the feedback they receive from their professors.
- Faculty understand that students are pulled in many directions.
- They appreciate, “teachers understanding the non-traditional factor in my education.”
- They're challenged to think deeply.
The Benefits of a Liberal Arts Degree from Doane
Many students pursue graduate programs to advance their careers. Our liberal arts approach adds a new dimension. You’ll learn the hard skills, like ethics, and develop the soft skills, such as effective communication, to make you stand out as an empathic and intelligent leader. Small class sizes encourage collaboration and creative problem-solving and make space for multiple perspectives. Niche skills are nice to have — and our students excel in their chosen field of study — but fluency in critical thinking is invaluable. With a liberal arts degree from Doane, you will:
- Possess the necessary skills to adapt and lead in our changing world
- Be ready to solve problems in unique ways
- Make immediate differences in your career and community
- Feel personally and professionally fulfilled
Master of Business Administration or Master of Arts in Leadership: Which Program Is Your Best Fit?
While both programs focus on enhancing leadership in crises, ethics and visualizing data, our Master of Business Administration (MBA) incorporates more analytical skills, such as finance and accounting. The Master of Arts in Leadership (MIL) incorporates emotional intelligence, globalization, and specialized leadership coaching.
Both programs share electives and emphases, including program management, organizational behavior and strategic leadership.

Students engage with multiple courses to widen their understanding and experiences as a leader. Students engage with community members, community leaders and their own leadership style, changing that style through a variety of activities and theories. Adult learning is at the forefront of our graduate work. Every class requires students to reflect on the theory they are learning and how to apply it personally and professionally.
A Doane education is designed to provide students opportunities to gain core skills outside of their specified knowledge area. Leadership is a core skill for professionals across industries, and at Doane we tailor our courses to fit the needs of the professional workforce. Students engage with peers and leaders from other programs, such as the Master of Business Administration and Instructional Design & Technology to gain a better understanding of what different workforces are looking for in their leaders.
Our faculty knows students are seen as leaders from day one. Between academics and co-curricular activities, students consistently rely on leadership skills in their personal, professional, and academic lives.
Each student's leadership journey focuses on coaching and empowering their peers. Students are given the opportunity to coach in an academic setting before moving on to coaching individuals in the workplace and community.
Students engage with multiple courses to widen their understanding and experiences as a leader. Students engage with community members, community leaders and their own leadership style, changing that style through a variety of activities and theories. Adult learning is at the forefront of our graduate work. Every class requires students to reflect on the theory they are learning and how to apply it personally and professionally.
A Doane education is designed to provide students opportunities to gain core skills outside of their specified knowledge area. Leadership is a core skill for professionals across industries, and at Doane we tailor our courses to fit the needs of the professional workforce. Students engage with peers and leaders from other programs, such as the Master of Business Administration and Instructional Design & Technology to gain a better understanding of what different workforces are looking for in their leaders.
Our faculty knows students are seen as leaders from day one. Between academics and co-curricular activities, students consistently rely on leadership skills in their personal, professional, and academic lives.
Each student's leadership journey focuses on coaching and empowering their peers. Students are given the opportunity to coach in an academic setting before moving on to coaching individuals in the workplace and community.