Master of Organizational Leadership

Core courses include leadership theory, conflict management, strategic planning, communication in organizations, leading change, and more.

You choose your electives from a long list that includes servant leadership, ethical and social responsibility of business, human behavior in organizations, not-for-profit sectors, and managing across cultures. That means you cater your degree to your personal and professional goals and interests.

Our 30-credit-hour program can be completed in a little over two years by taking one course per session for 12 sessions. We offer two, eight-week sessions in the fall; two, eight-week sessions in the spring; and one summer session. Class meets once a week for four hours in the evening which allows students to continue working full-time.

We also offer the program in an accelerated format. You could earn an MOL in as few as 12 months.

Contact us to learn more. 

The quality of an Ambrose education is not just an outcome, it's an experience crafted by knowledgeable professors in every class and fostered through dialogue, not lecture.

• Our MOL classes average 14 students, so you get more individual attention from faculty.
• Faculty members are equally committed to students and scholarship, with many engaged in research.
• What you learn in class matters in the real world. In the Work-Based Action Project, students apply what they've learned to meaningful projects at work or in the community.
• Our holistic approach to the study of human behavior, rooted both in the liberal arts and sciences and in business, also considers the ethical dimension of leadership.
• Our program has immediate value. Learn it today and apply it tomorrow. How? Watch this video about our MOL program.

Amber Brackey '17 MBA, '18 MOL, earned two graduate degrees from the St. Ambrose University College of Business and gained a deeper level of professional knowledge that is recognized and appreciated. Read Amber's story. 

Saye Beipa ‘13 MOL previously had studied leadership as an undergraduate at the University of Liberia in the capital city of Monrovia, and came to the US eager to learn more. After establishing roots in Muscatine, Iowa, he discovered St. Ambrose had precisely the program he wanted. "My vision is to take this program back to my country so that students in all African countries will hear about it and will come to enroll. I am thinking big." Read Saye's story.

• Kelly Dalton '08 MOL is a Senior Engineering Manager at Rockwell Collins. He mentors employees, handles performance issues, and recruits new hires. Kelly says his position is a direct result of what he learned in the MOL program.
• Katie Roemer '15 MOL is a Compliance Specialist for Genesis Health System. She said the program deeply impacted who she is, how she does her job, and the support she provides to others in her role with Genesis.
• Eric Page '13 MOL is the Regional Director for Carnegie Communications. Between the time he enrolled in the MOL program and the day he collected his degree, Eric took a job at the University of Iowa, where he earned three promotions in Strategic and Enrollment Communications Operations. Before joining Carnegie Communications, Eric was Iowa's Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and Communications, leading a full-time staff of 28.
• Carol Beach '15 MOL is a Team Lead in the Business Resource Center for Alliant Energy, her second promotion since entering the MOL program.
• Jake Montague '14 MOL, is a Container Specialist for John Deere Harvester Works. While working on his MOL, he accepted the position in which he supervises a team of 34 UAW employees on the factory floor. Jake says since earning his degree, he is more willing to take on leadership roles at his church and in his community.     

The Master of Organizational Leadership program is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

St. Ambrose University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Financing a master's degree might seem daunting, but our students quickly learn that a St. Ambrose education is affordable and worth every penny.

2022-23 Tuition

Tuition is $733/credit hour for seated and online classes; fees are listed below.

Tuition Assistance

Many employers offer tuition assistance. Check with your Human Resources office to determine if these benefits are available. If so, you can apply for deferred payment or contact our Financial Aid Office for more information.

The St. Ambrose University College of Business offers a limited number of research assistantships. Email the MOL Program Coordinator for an application.

If you are a veteran, admissions specialist Natalie Woodhurst can help you determine if you have benefits available and how to best invest those in an SAU education. Graduate students enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester (3 credit hours in the summer) are eligible for a low-interest federal loan of up to $20,500 this academic year.

Apply by going to the FAFSA website or get more information on the Graduate Admissions page. 

Core Courses (24 credits)
MOL 501 Leadership Theory
MOL 529 Conflict Management
MOL 540 Leadership Communication
MOL 625 Leading Organizational Change
MOL 691 Dialogical Skills
MOL 701 Strategic Leadership
MOL 715 Leadership Work Action Project
MOL 716 Leadership Research Paper

Electives (6 credits). Choose two.
MOL 515 Decision-Making and Leadership
MOL 557 Building Effective Teams
MBA 621 Human Behavior in Organizations
MOL 635 Servant Leadership
MOL 645 International Issues in Leadership
MOL 655 Political and Civic Leadership
MOL 710 Ethics in Leadership
MOL 790 Independent Inquiry in Leadership
MOL 792 Special Topics 

Read MOL course descriptions

Take the next step to earning your master's degree and apply to the Master of Organizational Leadership program or read the admission requirements.