The Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership is designed for upwardly mobile, mid-career professionals seeking to advance to the leadership level in a contemporary organization. Students attain a graduate-level business foundation and a concentration in leadership that emphasizes an understanding of human behavior and the important issues for the international and multi-cultural organizations of today. This knowledge base is critical to achieving success in today’s diverse global marketplace.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 indicates that managers whose accomplishments reflect strong leadership qualities will have the best opportunities for high level positions. It further states that “in an increasingly global economy, experience in international economics and business will also be beneficial.”

The Organizational Leadership MBA major incorporates three primary curriculum themes: (1) leadership principles and practices that influence human attitudes, motivation, and behavior at the individual, group, and organizational levels in a diverse multi-cultural setting; (2) leadership issues, challenges, and decisions that arise from change-producing forces in the global economic, political, and business environments; and (3) leadership responsibilities and strategies that respond to future ecosystem challenges and the need for environmentally sustainable business models. Courses are carefully designed and scheduled to build upon these themes, culminating in a final capstone project. Students complete thirteen required courses addressing business core and major topics and their application. This program is available fully online by taking one course per session. Some courses may also be available in a synchronous format.

All MBA students participate in an online orientation course available one week prior to starting the program. This orientation, and the support from Cleary staff and faculty, provides all of the information a student needs to be successful from the start and throughout the program. Qualified MBA students may receive up to twelve quarter credit hours (three classes) of transfer credit from a regionally accredited institution.

Core Topics 

• Leadership, Planning, and Strategy
• Change Management and Innovation
• Ethical and Legal Environment
• Customers, Product, and Service Strategy
• Analytical Tools and Decision Making
• Financial Accounting
• Financial Management

Major Topics

• Sustainable Strategy 
• Human Behavior           
• Global Leadership

Master Capstone Project – Application of Theory

Program Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate leadership principles and practices at the individual, group, and organizational levels
• Explore leadership principles and practices in a multicultural setting
• Outline the issues of leadership that arise from influencing change in an organization
• Summarize the challenges facing leaders in a global economy
• Determine the influence of political and economic environment on leaders of organizations
• Predict the effect of future ecosystem challenges on the role of organizational leaders