Contact Us

Master of Arts in Leadership Studies

Master of Arts in Leadership Studies

Leadership in today’s settings, whether churches, nonprofits, or any other organization, requires leaders who are culturally competent and guided by an enduring moral compass. We believe that building character and deepening spirituality enables leaders to become more authentic in their relationships and more effective in organizational change. The Master of Arts in Leadership Studies program equips transformational leaders to mobilize teams and organizations toward a strategic vision. This is a fully accredited program through our partnership school Vanguard University.

All of Jakes Divinity School students will have face-to-face residency opportunities twice a year. The first is during the International Leadership Summit each spring of a given degree program. Students will arrive on site of the summit the Sunday evening prior and remain for a week until the end of the summit. The second residency will likely take place in Dallas, TX, at Jakes Divinity School in the fall of each year.

Apply Now

Curriculum

The curriculum is composed of 8 required Leadership courses (24 units), 3 concentration courses (9 units), and 1 capstone project course (3 units). This brings the program to a total of 36 units

Course Requirements 36 units

The required courses develop a theological and theoretical framework for understanding leadership, mission and culture, and ethics in order to reflect theologically on what it means to be in authentic community and to examine the impact of mission in the community. The research course provides practical opportunity for students to learn how to conduct inquiry through a variety of methods that will be used in coursework and in the final capstone project

Core Courses (24 units)

  • CLSG 632 – Team Development and Conflict Management (3 units)
  • CLSG 638 – Leadership and Global Issues (3 units)
  • CLSG 642 – Soul Care of Others (3 units)
  • CLSG 646 – Leadership and Character Development (3 units)
  • CLSG 710 – Mission and Culture in Theological Perspective (3 units)
  • CLSG 715 – The Church and Contemporary Moral Issues (3 units)
  • CLSG 720 – Theology and Theory of Leadership (3 credits)
  • RELG 788 – Research Methodology: Leadership Studies (3 units)
Powered by Vanguard University

The degree is offered online with some face-to-face opportunities for learning, networking, and hands-on experience. All of Jakes Divinity School students will have face-to-face residency opportunities twice a year. The first is during the International Leadership Summit each spring of a given degree program. Students will arrive on site of the summit the Sunday evening prior and remain for a week until the end of the summit. The second residency will likely take place in Dallas, TX, at Jakes Divinity School in the fall of each year.

PLEASE NOTE: We are not eligible to accept students from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming in degrees powered by Vanguard University

Apply Now

Master of Arts in Leadership Studies

Core Course Descriptions

CLSG 632 - Team Development and Conflict Management (3 units)

An exploration of team development and conflict management in relation to leadership effectiveness with an emphasis on team dynamics, the nature of conflict, and strategies of assessment and intervention.

CLSG 638 - Leadership and Global Issues (3 units)

This course focuses on leadership in global and intercultural contexts with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary and interlocking themes of culture, theology and the church. The course explores dimensions of social and organizational identities and examines how cultural perspective impacts both theology and practice. Cultural competence across a range of domains equips leaders to be relevant and innovative in theological reflection and ministry practices.

CLSG 642 - Soul Care of Others (3 units)

A practical and theological exploration of the nature of the soul and of soul care, and the partnering relationship between pastoral care and other forms of counseling.

CLSG 646 - Leadership and Character Development (3 units)

This course examines how character development and spirituality can enable leaders to become more authentic in their working relationships and more effective as transformational leaders through their organizations.

CLSG 710 - Mission and Culture in Theological Perspective (3 units)

This interdisciplinary study, integrating theology and praxis, seeks to develop a theology of mission based on the premise that the unifying theme of Scripture is embodied in the concept of the Kingdom of God introduced in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and demonstrated to the world through the life and actions of a believing community empowered by the Holy Spirit.

CLSG 715 - The Church and Contemporary Moral Issues (3 units)

This course aims to develop a constructive Christian ethic as a basis from which to address the moral problems confronting leaders in the contemporary church. The course explores the relationship between theological reflection and ethical thinking and examines how cultural perspective and context impact ethical decision- making.

CLSG 720 - Theology and Theory of Leadership (3 credits)

An examination of leadership, including theological and theoretical frameworks, that will enable students to assess their own mental models and inform their leadership practices in organizational settings.

RELG 788 - Research Methodology: Leadership Studies (3 units)

An introduction to research and inquiry regarding leadership and religious organizations. Students will design and complete a mini research project that includes: a problem statement, definition of terms, limitations and delimitations, literature review, description of research method, collection of data, data analysis and interpretation of data. Required for all MALS students.

Exit Option (3 units)

CLSG 750 – Capstone Project (3 units)

CLSG 750 - Capstone Project (3 units)

This course serves as a capstone for the Masters of Arts in Leadership Studies (MALS) program, in which the student integrates personal program experience with an investigation in one of the following options: a directed reading, action research, or a directed research.

Master of Arts in Leadership Studies

Concentration Courses

Christian Spirituality

Women and Justice

Hispanic Leadership

Christian Spirituality

CLSG 601 - History of Spirituality (3 units)

An exploration of Spirituality throughout church history that includes examples from Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant (including Pentecostal) traditions.

CLSG 606 - Spiritual Formation(3 units)

An examination of the theological foundation for spiritual formation and an exploration of the spiritual practices as a means of grace for personal growth, communal spirituality, and faithful service

CLSG 607 - Spiritual Direction (3 units)

The course introduces and develops foundational understandings and resources necessary to explore the practice of spiritual direction, and seeks to assist persons in discerning the ways that God is present and at work in their lives.

Women and Justice

CLSG 633 - A Theological-Ethical Response to Women and Justice Issues (3 units)

This course is a graduate level study of the biblical foundation and ethical response for addressing women and justice issues across the lifespan. Of particular focus will be the role of the Christian leader in cultivating a community where injustice and violence against women and girls cannot survive and that impacts their surrounding society.

CLSG 634 - A Biblical Theology of Women and Leadership (3 units)

This course is a graduate level study of the biblical foundations for contemporary Evangelical views on the roles of women, particularly as they pertain to women in leadership within community life as family, church and the larger society.

Hispanic Leadership

CLSG 612 - Hispanic Pentecostal Church History & Theology in the US (3 units)

This course is a graduate level study of the history and theology of the Hispanic Pentecostal Church in the United States. A particular focus will be on the development of the Hispanic Pentecostal Church following the Azusa Street Revival in downtown Los Angeles, with special attention to spirituality, social engagement, and culture.

CLSG 613 - Hispanic Church Leadership in a Contemporary Context (3 units)

The Hispanic Church Leadership in a Contemporary Context focuses on the development of church leaders in the Hispanic community. Technology and socio-political shifts have contributed to a redefinition of the needs and expectations of a new generation of Hispanic leaders and their congregations. The course uses the lens of anthropology, history, sociology, psychology and theology to examine the constructs of Hispanic church leadership in contemporary context.

CLSG 614 - Identity, Culture, and Social Engagement in the Hispanic Community (3 units)

The course introduces and develops foundational understandings and resources necessary to explore the practice of spiritual direction, and seeks to assist persons in discerning the ways that God is present and at work in their lives.

Tuition and Fees

Costs

  • $625 per credit hour
  • 36 units
  • Technology fee: $200 per semester
  • Graduate Program Fee: $200 per semester
  • If you are interested in Financial Aid, click here to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Vanguard’s school code is #001293.

Estimated tuition costs based on 2024-2025 tuition rates.

Apply Now

Admission Requirements

  • All Official college transcripts should be submitted as follows:
    • Physical transcripts can be sent to the address below and must be in a sealed envelope from the school remitting the transcript to be accepted:
      Vanguard University
      School for Professional Studies
      55 Fair Drive
      Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
    • Electronic transcripts can be sent to: spsadmissions@vanguard.edu and admissions@jakesdivinity.org (must be sent from a third-party Safe Sender, such as eScript or Parchment to be accepted).
  • Personal Statement
    • Write a detailed statement of purpose describing your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree (include vocational reasons), as well as how your faith is related to this decision. Email your personal statement to admissions@jakesdivinity.org with the subject “JDS Applicant Statement – (Your first and last name here).”
    • Statement must be a minimum of 250 words.
  • Resume
    • Please provide a detailed resume and email it to admissions@jakesdivinity.org with the subject “JDS Applicant Resume – (Your first and last name here)”.

Ask a Question

Ask a Question

Ask a Question

  • First Name *
  • Last Name *
  • Email Address *
  • Phone Number
  • Message
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.