Inspire corporate and personal change through ethical, strategic, and profitable leadership skills.

Become an inspirational leader with a Master of Science in Leadership offered by the Dunham College of Business. An advanced degree in leadership helps prepare professionals to guide teams, implement change, and drive performance. Houston Christian University’s online MS in Leadership combines Biblical principles and business fundamentals to develop ethical, strategic leaders.

The online MS in Leadership combines Biblical principles with business fundamentals to develop ethical, strategic leaders through customized leadership development applicable across corporate, ministry, non-profit, or public service settings. The accelerated 30-credit program enables completion in just three semesters through convenient eight-week online terms, allowing working professionals to quickly advance without career interruption.

Leadership master’s graduates experience significant salary increases and gain access to management positions with six-figure earning potential. The degree prepares professionals to transition into executive roles, lead organizational change, and drive strategic performance across industries.

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Program Overview of the MS in Leadership

Houston Christian University has structured its MS in Leadership to be accessible and achievable for working professionals. The 30-credit program has:

  • No prerequisites, making it open to candidates from any undergraduate background
  • 8-week online terms, enabling completion in just 3 semesters by taking 2 classes per term
  • Online classes running every semester (Summer, Fall & Spring)

Degree Plan for MS in Leadership

Review degree plan

Curriculum and Course Structure

The 30-credit program consists of eight core courses (24 credits) and two electives (6 credits), building comprehensive leadership capabilities from theoretical foundations through practical application.

Core Leadership Development

  • Leadership Theory and Foundations – Examine major leadership models and approaches while integrating biblical principles of servant leadership and organizational stewardship. Explore how leaders and followers interact within organizational structures to develop a solid theoretical framework.
  • Organizational Behavior and Team Dynamics – Understand how individuals and groups function within organizations through study of motivation theories, personality impacts, decision-making processes, and stress management. Build the behavioral foundation needed to lead diverse teams across cultural and functional boundaries.
  • Executive Communication – Develop competencies in interpersonal communication, technology-mediated interaction, intercultural dialogue, and conflict management. Integrate traditional communication principles with modern information systems to maximize leadership effectiveness in diverse environments.
  • Ethics and Values-Based Leadership – Address ethical decision-making within a Christian worldview by exploring moral dilemmas, integrity in professional roles, corporate social responsibility, and stakeholder theory. Learn to align profit objectives with obligations to society while making principled decisions.
  • Change Leadership and Innovation – Guide organizational transformation through strategies for addressing resistance, fostering innovation cultures, implementing strategic initiatives, and managing the human dynamics of change while maintaining stakeholder trust.
  • Strategic Thinking and Global Leadership – Conduct organizational analyses, assess strengths and weaknesses, and develop improvement strategies. Examine competitive positioning, international business considerations, and cross-cultural management while learning to align leadership decisions with long-term organizational objectives.
  • Financial and Operational Stewardship – Make sound fiscal decisions through accounting and finance principles, budgeting processes, financial planning, and systematic approaches to gathering and evaluating information for problem-solving and resource allocation.

Specialized Elective Options

Choose two courses to customize your degree based on career objectives:

  • Coaching and Mentoring – Develop comprehensive coaching methodology, theories, frameworks, and techniques for leadership development and succession planning.
  • Nonprofit Leadership and Governance – Master nonprofit governance structures, stakeholder management, board-leadership relationships, fundraising strategies, donor cultivation, and grant processes.
  • Public Sector Leadership – Navigate government organizational structures, functions, and challenges while aligning goals with public policy objectives.
  • Project Management – Apply standardized project management methodologies across industries including engineering, construction, business, and education sectors.
  • Advanced Servant Leadership – Deepen understanding of servant leadership philosophy and biblical integration to create organizational interdependency through focus on others’ development.

What Can I Do with a Master of Science in Leadership Degree from HCU

Who Should Pursue a Master’s in Leadership?

A master’s in leadership appeals to professionals seeking to:

  • Transition from an individual contributor role to a people or project management position
  • Lead change initiatives in an existing leadership role
  • Launch a consulting business focused on leadership training and development
  • Leverage leadership skills in a ministry or non-profit setting
  • Complement technical or functional expertise with strategic leadership abilities

Typical Managerial and Executive Leadership Roles

The focused leadership development provided in an MS in Leadership program leads to expanded career opportunities across industries. Typical roles pursued with this degree include:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Operational Officer (COO)
  • Executive Pastor
  • Consultant
  • Vice President / Senior Director
  • Operations Manager
  • Regional Manager
  • Senior Project Manager
  • Head of Business Unit
  • Executive Director
  • Founder/CEO of startup

By earning an advanced leadership credential backed by strategic management capabilities, MS in Leadership graduates unlock their highest echelon of career advancement and income potential. The coursework also equips entrepreneurial students to found and scale their own ventures through leadership competencies like strategic planning, change management, talent development, and results-driven execution.

Opportunities for Master of Science in Leadership Graduates

The modern organization requires a pipeline of visionary, empowering, and achievable leaders ready to drive meaningful progress. An MS in Leadership degree helps prepare executives, managers, directors and other professionals seeking maximum leadership impact across business, nonprofit, government, and ministry sectors.

With real-world applicable course modules and instruction from accomplished business faculty, an MS in Leadership unlocks career advancement possibilities matching your ambition and passion for leadership.

Benefits of Earning an MS in Leadership

Houston Christian University’s 30-credit leadership master’s degree equips students with essential leadership competencies, including:

  • Strategic Thinking – Evaluate organizational performance, set vision-driven goals, and develop executable growth strategies.
  • Managing Change – Diagnose needs, identify solutions, and lead teams through transformation while minimizing disruption.
  • Influential Communication – Connect with diverse stakeholders through impactful written, verbal, non-verbal and digital communication.
  • Organizational Behavior – Leverage psychology and group dynamics to boost team collaboration, inclusion, engagement and output.
  • Ethical Judgment – Employ Biblical teachings to guide values-based decision making as a principled leader and role model.
  • Global Mindset – Operate effectively across cultures and geographies to seize international opportunities.

Common Career Opportunities

These in-demand skills open doors to leadership positions across functions like:

  • Human Resources
  • Marketing
  • Information Technology
  • Finance
  • Sales
  • Ministry
  • Non-Profit Management

Graduates are also empowered to thrive as independent consultants and small business owners.

Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows master’s degree holders earn median salaries 16% higher than bachelor’s holders—a gap that exceeds $500,000 over a 40-year career. Management occupations earned a median annual wage of $122,090 in 2024, with the field projected to grow faster than average through 2034.

Graduates pursue executive roles (COO, VP, Executive Director), human resources leadership, operations management, management consulting, project management, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship. The degree’s versatility applies across corporate, ministry, nonprofit, government, and education sectors.

High-demand positions include Human Resources Manager ($136,650 median), Training and Development Manager ($125,040), Project Management Specialist ($98,580), Operations Manager, and Management Consultant. Each role requires strategic thinking, team development, change management, and communication excellence—competencies this program develops.

Immediate post-degree salary impacts vary by prior experience and industry but typically range from 18-32% increases over comparable candidates without advanced degrees, according to Payscale data.

For professionals currently earning $60,000-$80,000 who advance to six-figure management positions post-graduation—a common trajectory for leadership graduates—the degree typically pays for itself within 18-24 months through increased compensation alone.

The degree opens access to six-figure management positions and provides negotiating leverage for raises and promotions within current organizations.

Admission Requirements

If you’re ready for a fulfilling journey in Leadership, Houston Christian University welcomes you to apply. Get started today:

Program Admissions Requirements

  1. Official Transcripts – Official transcripts should be sent directly to OnlineVerification@HC.edu from the college or university that awarded your bachelor’s degree. Transcripts from any additional coursework since that time should also be submitted.
  2. Personal Statement – Please submit a personal statement, between 300 and 500 words, sharing your desire to attend the HCU Online Graduate School and how you feel a degree from HCU will assist you in your academic and professional careers.
  3. Résumé/CV – Email a current resumé to OnlineVerification@HC.edu.

Begin your leadership training with the Master of Science in Leadership at Houston Christian University

For more information about the MS in Leadership program or its courses, please contact the program coordinator.
John Wesevich, DBA
John Wesevich, DBA
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Assistant Professor of Leadership
(281) 649-3669
Accreditation

Houston Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral degrees.