You've felt a desire for something more, to become the leader you've been called to be.

You’re ready to take the next step in your career, to assume a greater level of leadership and control over your future. The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) will equip you to lead others with genuine confidence and balance. This program is designed for working professionals with two delivery options to provide the flexibility you need to earn your degree while continuing to work in your current role. You can enroll in the 100% online format available from anywhere, or the face-to-face in-person format that meets two nights per week at our Mission Valley campus in San Diego.

This program will equip you to fulfill your calling, with courses such as Managing in a Changing Environment, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Team Leadership and Collaboration, and more. In addition, you can also earn an optional six-unit concentration in either Innovation & Entrepreneurship or Project Management. 

Mentorship and Support

Benefit from an exceptional level of personal mentorship and support from an interdisciplinary program faculty — helping you really do it, not just know it.

Effective Leadership

Becoming a leader requires a set of unique skills; the ability to understand and lead people, time, and relationships requires strength, confidence, and creativity. 

PLNU’s MAOL is a direct response to the need organizations express for individuals who know how to thoughtfully lead in today’s complex and changing social and economic environment.

In this program, you will examine the art and skill of decision-making and problem-solving within the political and cultural context of an organization. 

Whether you choose the 100% online option or the face-to-face classroom experience, you will work in a collaborative learning environment that will provide you the opportunity to develop a professional and personal network of people who share your goals. You will also use technology to test team building and communication skills, a dynamic that mirrors what you will experience outside the classroom in the marketplace. 

Student Profile

Designing a Leader

Candace Gray, M.A. in Organizational Leadership (20) shares the indelible impact PLNU's master's program has had on how she leads her team as a mechanical engineer at technology company General Atomics.

Read More

The M.A. in Organizational Leadership is an approved program under PLNU's WASC Regional Accreditation, WSCUC. Since it is not a business degree, it is not an Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) approved program.

Are you ready to take the next step and apply?

We’re here to make the entire process a simple one. We’ll walk you through the application process, answer your questions, and get you one step closer to earning your degree.

Program Start Date(s):

• Spring 2023 Quad I - January 9, 2023

• Spring 2023 Quad II - March 13, 2023

• Summer 2023 Quad I - May 8, 2023

• Summer 2023 Quad II - July 3, 2023

• Fall 2023 - August 28, 2023

Application Deadline(s):

• Spring 2023 Quad I – December 19, 2022
• Spring 2023 Quad II - February 22, 2023

• Summer 2023 Quad I - April 19, 2023

• Summer 2023 Quad II - June 14, 2023

• Fall 2023 - August 9, 2023

All applications submitted after these dates will be reviewed based on availability of space.

Start Application

The Selection Process

The educational context at PLNU will challenge you to live a full life that integrates the pursuit of knowledge with beliefs, values, and actions. While honoring diverse perspectives and beliefs, Christian values and principles are woven into our educational experience. We understand your application is not only a reflection of you as a student; it reflects you as a person. At PLNU, we holistically evaluate your academic history, work and life experience, background, and circumstances to determine admission into a graduate program. Your GPA is an important piece of your application, but if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, you may still be eligible for admission based on your application package as well as our exceptions policy.* Therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor, who will advise you regarding your qualifications and provide specific information about the admission-under-exceptions process.

To be admitted into PLNU's MAOL program, you must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, as evidenced by an official transcript.

If you have any questions about your qualifications or the program in general, we encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor.

*Exceptions Policy: If you have a GPA below 3.0 in your baccalaureate degree, you will need to speak with your enrollment counselor for more information on the exceptions materials needed for your particular program.

Application Checklist

Note: The application is completed entirely online with the exception of transcripts, which can be submitted electronically or directly to PLNU, and test scores, which should be submitted electronically.

1. Submit an online application for admissions (including $50 non-refundable application fee, which is waived for PLNU alums, current or former military and their dependents, and PLNU employees).
2. Submit official transcripts with proof of earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.* (If you are a PLNU alumnus, please notify your counselor to have your transcripts retrieved. You do not need to request transcripts from the PLNU Office of Records.)
   
   Official transcripts must be sent to:
   Point Loma Nazarene University
   Office of Graduate Admissions
   3900 Lomaland Dr.
   San Diego, CA 92106
   
   Official electronic transcripts must be emailed to:
   gradprocessing@pointloma.edu
   
   *Please note, official transcripts must be sent directly from the regionally accredited institution.
3. Provide a personal statement on why you wish to participate in the MAOL program in which you address the following:
   • Describe your current philosophy of leadership.
   • Explain your relevant academic and professional experience.
   • Describe your future career or life goals.
4. Submit professional resume.

Start Application

PLNU's MAOL program develops leaders who are well prepared to serve in today’s dynamic organizations. Students will gain knowledge and skills that are necessary to lead by transforming their organization through the development of people and processes, and implementing initiatives to maintain a competitive advantage.

You will be prepared for careers in business, industry, government, and the nonprofit sector. Opportunities include leadership and management positions in the following areas:

• Human Resources
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Health-Care
• Talent Development
• Education
• Business Operations
• Ministry

Professionals working in nonprofit organizations, government agencies, churches, community-based institutions, and businesses will further enhance their leadership competencies through this degree designed to apply leadership principles to real-world situations. Students will examine the art and skill of decision-making and problem-solving within the political and cultural context of an organization. Working in collaborative learning teams will provide students the opportunity to use technology to test team-building and communication skills, a dynamic that mirrors today's real-world work environment.

For information about the courses required for the Organizational Leadership, M.A. program, view the PLNU Catalog

View Catalog