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Be a Leader of Today

MA in Diversity Leadership

Envisioning a New Generation of Professionals

The St. Thomas MA in Diversity Leadership program grounds leadership training in culture and inclusion in a way that no other program does. The content of the courses, stellar faculty and its flexible delivery modality make it a unique and innovative degree.

This interdisciplinary degree, focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, provides cultural competence to leaders ready to do meaningful work and to engrain belonging into the culture of their organizations.

The MA in Diversity Leadership is designed for busy people. It is completely online and asynchronous; so, you go online when the timing is right for you. Classes are meant to be taken one at a time, keeping your study workload manageable and enabling you to complete the master's degree in only two years.

Is this Program for You?

The MA in Diversity Leadership is designed to develop skills that build leaders at every level of an organization. Whether you’re leading a large corporation or just starting your career, you can help create a work environment where everyone can thrive.

New in Career

As you begin your career, now is the time to set yourself apart from other candidates and develop the skills needed to influence your organization from the ground up.

Mid-Career

Lead the drive toward an inclusive workplace while learning to make a positive influence on systemic, organization-wide decisions.

Advocacy

Gain cultural competence, build context and learn to advocate for a wide range of identities as you advance in your career.

Program Overview

  • Pace and Format
  • Rotating Curriculum
  • Classroom Experience
  • Simple Online Application
  • Pace and Format

    This 2-year long, part-time, online program allows flexibility to start 6 times a year.

    • Students will take 6 consecutive courses each year.
    • Each course will run independently for a 6-week time period, making the workload more manageable, so you can balance your coursework with your personal and professional life.
    • The program requires the completion of 30 credits or 12, 2.5 credit courses.

    Rotating Curriculum

    The program consists of 12, 6-week courses completed over 2 years (6 courses each year). Six courses are required and 6 are electives.

    The program offers curriculum that focuses on three interdisciplinary areas to develop proficiency:

    • Principles in Leadership
    • Culture and Society
    • Integrative Courses
    More Details on the Rotating Curriculum

    Classroom Experience

    To provide flexibility to adult learners, all courses are taught in the online asynchronous modality. For seminar components of the courses, students will be invited to attend in person or participate synchronously or asynchronous online for total flexibility.

    As students make their way through the curriculum, they will collect relevant materials in a graduate portfolio, curated in close consultation with their advisor.

    The portfolio has the goal of preparing candidates to present and effectively communicate what they've learned in interviews and career development opportunities.

    About the Online Experience and Technology Requirements

    Simple Online Application

    The online application process is simple and inclusive.

    • The process requires a brief Statement of Purpose and official transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution or university abroad.
    • The process does not require a GRE or other standardized tests; and there is no fee to apply.
    More details on Admissions & Tuition

    Pace and Format

    This 2-year long, part-time, online program allows flexibility to start 6 times a year.

    • Students will take 6 consecutive courses each year.
    • Each course will run independently for a 6-week time period, making the workload more manageable, so you can balance your coursework with your personal and professional life.
    • The program requires the completion of 30 credits or 12, 2.5 credit courses.

    Rotating Curriculum

    The program consists of 12, 6-week courses completed over 2 years (6 courses each year). Six courses are required and 6 are electives.

    The program offers curriculum that focuses on three interdisciplinary areas to develop proficiency:

    • Principles in Leadership
    • Culture and Society
    • Integrative Courses
    More Details on the Rotating Curriculum

    Classroom Experience

    To provide flexibility to adult learners, all courses are taught in the online asynchronous modality. For seminar components of the courses, students will be invited to attend in person or participate synchronously or asynchronous online for total flexibility.

    As students make their way through the curriculum, they will collect relevant materials in a graduate portfolio, curated in close consultation with their advisor.

    The portfolio has the goal of preparing candidates to present and effectively communicate what they've learned in interviews and career development opportunities.

    About the Online Experience and Technology Requirements

    Simple Online Application

    The online application process is simple and inclusive.

    • The process requires a brief Statement of Purpose and official transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution or university abroad.
    • The process does not require a GRE or other standardized tests; and there is no fee to apply.
    More details on Admissions & Tuition

    It is time for us, as a society, to move from empathy to action. Action means knowing what diversity really means, knowing the power of diversity and how to take advantage of it

    Eddy Rojas, Executive Vice President and Provost

    How Long Will It Take?

    This degree is expected to take 2 years, with just a single course at a time. This sample degree plan gives you an idea of the courses you will take each semester. While these are the program courses, this sequence is a sample and the order in which we offer the courses may vary.

    Fall Semester A

    MADL 500 Leading Self and Diverse Teams

    Fall Semester B

    MADL 610 Street Art and Social Justice

    Spring Semester A

    MADL 520 Storytelling for Inclusive Cultures

    Spring Semester B

    MADL 630 Language, Diversity, and Inclusion

    Summer Semester A

    MADL 560 Biological Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

    Summer Semester B

    MADL 620 Equity Focused Leadership: Intersectionality of Disability and Other Social Identities

    Fall Semester A

    MADL 500 Leading Self and Diverse Teams

    Fall Semester B

    MADL 610 Street Art and Social Justice

    Spring Semester A

    MADL 520 Storytelling for Inclusive Cultures

    Spring Semester B

    MADL 630 Language, Diversity, and Inclusion

    Summer Semester A

    MADL 560 Biological Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

    Summer Semester B

    MADL 620 Equity Focused Leadership: Intersectionality of Disability and Other Social Identities

    Fall Semester A

    MADL 510 Leading Inclusive Organizations

    Fall Semester B

    MADL 600 Organizational Leadership for Social Justice

    Spring Semester A

    MADL 550 Race, Culture, and Power

    Spring Semester B

    MADL 650 Intercultural Competence for Diversity Leadership

    Summer Semester A

    MADL 570 Navigating Political Polarization

    Summer Semester B

    MADL 640 Religion in Public and Professional Life

    Fall Semester A

    MADL 510 Leading Inclusive Organizations

    Fall Semester B

    MADL 600 Organizational Leadership for Social Justice

    Spring Semester A

    MADL 550 Race, Culture, and Power

    Spring Semester B

    MADL 650 Intercultural Competence for Diversity Leadership

    Summer Semester A

    MADL 570 Navigating Political Polarization

    Summer Semester B

    MADL 640 Religion in Public and Professional Life

    The Online Learning Experience

    Real-World Connections

    All courses include a seminar component with invited guest speakers who are currently active in industry, the community or working at relevant organizations to the subject matter of the course.

    Learn Across Colleges

    Solving complex issues requires leveraging expertise from different disciplines. Our program combines courses from eight different departments across the College of Arts and Sciences, Opus College of Business, and the School of Education to provide students with effective skills from diverse perspectives.

    Courses That Fit Your Schedule

    All courses are online and are asynchronous, so you’ll be able to balance your coursework with your personal and professional life.

    Topical Courses Taught By Passionate Faculty

    Meet Your Professors

    The faculty in this program have career-long commitments to anti-racist work, diversity, social change, and proven success in supporting, inspiring, and educating responsible and innovative leaders.

    Dr. Todd Lawrence

    Dr. Todd Lawrence

    Associate Professor, American Culture and Difference and English

    Todd Lawrence Bio
    Dr. Patricia Maddox

    Dr. Patricia Maddox

    Assistant Professor, American Culture and Difference, Data Analytics and Justice & Society Studies

    Patricia Maddox

    Upcoming Events

    Take the Next Steps

    Get In Touch

    Learn more about earning a MA in Diversity Leadership or the University of St. Thomas by requesting more information or attending a virtual Group Information Session.

    Graduate Student Handbook and Course Catalog

    The CAS Graduate Student Handbook and Course Catalog outlines requirements and policies for students in our graduate programs and compiles information on all of the college's graduate courses. Any issues not mentioned in this handbook are governed by general University of St. Thomas Graduate Policies.