The M.A. in Leadership Development (MLD) and the undergraduate leadership program (LEAD) in the Attallah College of Educational Studies offer an accelerated masters degree program option for undergraduate students that enables them to begin taking MLD course work in their senior year and receive a master of arts degree within 1 year of finishing their undergraduate studies.
The mission of the Master of Arts in Leadership Development (MLD) program is to cultivate courageous, reflective and creative leaders committed to the growth of their own leadership capacity as well as that of the communities, organizations, institutions and networks to which they belong. This graduate program is designed to enhance professional practice for those who envision themselves as generative leaders, who can build and sustain healthy, equitable systems and change in the public, non-profit and private sectors. Such leaders seek to understand and to work ethically with others in diverse virtual, global and local settings.
The accelerated masters degree option is designed principally for students from across the university who are pursuing the undergraduate minor in leadership studies (LEAD). This option offers selected exceptional students a seat in Chapman University’s MLD program and makes them eligible for scholarship money awarded to outstanding incoming master’s students. Admission is selective.
Prospective accelerated MLD candidates must apply to the program by the accelerated application date. Successful candidates will be notified of provisional acceptance on the same dates as the rest of the MLD cohort they are joining. Admission will become final upon completion of their undergraduate degree and successful satisfaction of all admission requirements.
If accepted to the MLD program, students can take up to 12 graduate-level credits from the MLD Program during their senior year (only 6 of which may be double-counted towards undergraduate requirements).
Admission procedures
Students eligible for early admission into Chapman University’s Master of Leadership Development (MLD) program must meet the following criteria.
- Leadership minors must complete the following undergraduate Leadership courses by the end of the spring semester of their junior year (minimum of 90 credits have been completed or will be completed prior to start of the course in order to enroll in a graduate course): LEAD 101 or LEAD 301, and LEAD 297 and LEAD 397. These courses:
- Must have been taken at Chapman University.
- May only have been taken once.
- Must have been taken for a letter grade where the option exists.
- Must compute to a core GPA ≥ 3.00.
- Before November 1 of their junior year, the student seeking early admission should confer with the undergraduate LEAD Program coordinator to review requirements and establish a plan to successfully complete the requirements for early admission. Completed applications to the MLD Program are due by the appointed admissions deadline.
- Applications will be reviewed by a committee of LEAD and MLD program faculty, who will identify a slate of finalists for consideration by the graduate MLD program faculty. Candidates selected by the MLD faculty will be notified of provisional acceptance on the same dates as the rest of the cohort they are joining. During their senior year, MLD students in the Accelerated MLD Program will be advised and mentored primarily by the undergraduate LEAD and graduate MLD program coordinators.
- Students meeting the stated requirements will be admitted to the MLD program on a conditional basis until the following criteria for admission are met:
- Students in the LEAD minor must complete any remaining requirements, including their leading change/”applied” capstone requirement (e.g., LEAD 380 or LEAD 385 or LEAD 485/MLD 585 or LEAD 490 or equivalent) and the integrative capstone seminar (LEAD 497).
- Completion of any outstanding major and/or general requirements.
- Participation in the cohort admissions interview.
- Conferral of undergraduate degree by the university.
- Cumulative GPA at graduation ≥ 3.00.
Conditionally admitted students may select from among the following courses:
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