Master of Arts in Leadership
- Details
- Category: All Course
- THE PROGRAM
The Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) Program is an interdisciplinary, collaborative, post-graduate program designed to meet the needs of mid-career leaders. It provides an innovative and highly flexible approach to self-motivated learners to pursue a degree in the context of a learning community. As an interdisciplinary program, it is open to qualified individuals with a variety of professional backgrounds, including church administration, business, education, and health care.
Behind the crafting and mounting the MAL Program is a philosophical presupposition that good leadership education must be good and holistic. The conviction was that leadership was absolutely necessary for the ongoing efforts of developing human beings to their full God-given potential. The term “Education” fits appropriately in the conceptualization of leadership education that is offered by the Adventist University of Africa (AUA). Webster’s dictionary shows that the term carries two Latin roots—“e” which means “out”, and “ducere” which means “to lead.” Simply put, true education has to do with leading the learner by eliciting the best of what the learner ought to become.
As has been observed by Maxwell, “everything rises and falls on leadership.” If “education” means “leading out,” then leadership education is doing what education is all about. For AUA “leadership” is the coordinating ethos of all the programs that the institution offers. With this understanding, the intention of the MAL is to shoot for the stars in developing leaders who will make a qualitative difference in our contemporary society both inside and outside the church.
- Be a holder of a baccalaureate degree from a recognized university with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (on a 4 point scale) or its equivalent. For practical professional degrees like MAL, applicants with a minimum GPA of 2.5 may be admitted on probation and must earn a 3.00 or better after two sessions/semesters. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to continue with the program if they remain on probationary status after two semesters/sessions.
- Have four years of professional experience at a workplace.
- Be recommended in writing by the previous university where the baccalaureate degree was earned. (That University must also send to AUA admissions’ office direct, the original transcript of the applicant.). Other recommendations from a colleague in service of the relevant discipline and another one may be required from a local Church Elder where the applicant has his/her membership.
- Non-English speaking applicants must demonstrate their ability to study in English by:
- A passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- A passing score on the British Council English Language (International English Language Test) or
- An English proficiency certification from a recognized university.
- Research Methodology,
- Foundations,
- Coaching and Developing Others,
- Human Resources Leadership,
- Strategic Leadership and Organizational Change,
- Organization and Management,
- Decision-Making and Problem Solving,
- Financial Leadership,
- Selected Issues in Leadership and
- A project.
Electives are selected from other university courses, usually in the areas of Biblical Studies and Theology. The four domains of learning –Being, Doing, Knowing and Relating inform the process of leadership education.
- To meet the needs of mid-career leaders.
- To develop cross-functional management skills as well as applied cognitive and behavioural skill sets necessary to be an effective leader.
- To provide students with a very extensive knowledge-based and expertise in the art of effective leadership involving initiation, management, and mastery of change in organizations.
- To enable students to explore the critical leadership theories, paradigms, strategies, and styles that are used to solve problems effectively in a contemporary global environment.
- The Church in Africa is young and growing quite rapidly numerically. This young church needs men and women, who will give direction, develop people fully to their God-given potential, cast expanding the vision for a better future, and craft appropriate strategies to accomplish the necessary tasks.
- To develop leadership for Africa through AUA is a world church strategic direction to advance the Mission of God more effectively. Leaders who are equipped with appropriate competencies to lead more effectively and efficiently are needed in Africa.
- Leaders who are developed at AUA are apt to acquire leadership competencies that are grounded in the African realities and to be contextually relevant in their approach.
- Moreover, the global talent that is utilized to develop leaders at AUA creates synergistic dynamics which enable both the institution, faculty, and students to be diversity competent and lead effectively in any culture.
- It is also cost-effective to develop leaders right here within the continent because overseas education is popular but expensive and less relevant for Africa. So, the Leadership Development Program at AUA is a program of choice, provides services of choice, and calls for investments of choice.
