Masters Degree Leadership

A master´s degree in leadership or organizational leadership is designed to train business managers in the skills needed to lead and motivate a team to build a business or to take an existing business in a new direction. The course work is diverse and can include human resources, communications, social sciences and business management. Applicants for this program should have the ability to inspire confidence in others and to motivate them to achieve a common goal. Most graduates of the program work in mid size and large corporations, although the public sector also offers employment opportunities to qualified candidates.

Masters Degree in Leadership – Facts

Applicants for a master´s program in leadership must have a bachelor´s degree in a business discipline and must pass either the GMAT or the GRE before being considered for admission. It takes between two and three years to complete to the coursework for a business leadership masters degree. Very few business schools offer specific degrees in business leadership, but most offer MBA programs which can be customized to concentrate in leadership skills and training. The required number of credit hours varies from 36 to 45 hours depending on the program.

Top Schools Offering a Masters Degree in Leadership

The number one business school in the United States is Harvard University and it has held this position for many years. Stamford University has the second ranked business program for graduate students. Other schools ranked in the top ten are MIT, Northwestern University (Kellogg), University of Chicago (Booth) and the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton). There is a lot of competition for openings in these graduate programs and candidates must meet stringent entry requirements. Tuition for graduate programs in top schools ranges from $47,000 per year to $51,300 per year.

Work Possible with a Masters Degree in Leadership

Most graduates with a master´s degree in leadership work in corporate management and many companies consider this degree similar to an MBA. Upper level management jobs in government agencies are also available to those with an MBA or a Master of business leadership degree. Qualified candidates can expect to start in a middle management position and advance to higher positions based on their job performance. The best entry level positions are usually reserved for graduates of top rated schools.

Salary and Outlook in Leadership

The median salary for graduates with a business masters degree is about $90,000 per year. Entry level positions have salaries of between $50,000 and $70,000 per year. The highest salaries and greatest job growth is expected to be in the healthcare industry. Average salaries for non-profit and government agencies are about $73,000 per year. Top executive management positions often offer stock options and bonuses as incentives and most executive managers earn over $100,000 per year.

There is no specific information about jobs for graduates with a master´s degree in leadership but the degree qualifies individuals for many of the same positions as MBAs. The current job outlook for positions in this field is cautiously optimistic. The recent economic recession had a negative impact on businesses causing staff cutbacks, but there is evidence that job growth is improving and should continue to improve over the next several years. Job candidates with experience and degrees from recognized business schools will have the best opportunities.