M.A. in Organizational Leadership

The minimum requirements for acceptance are as follows:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 Scale)
  • Conditional admission is considered on a case by case basis for those not meeting this requirement.
  • This admission process will be based on a holistic evaluation of the candidate’s body of academic and professional experiences.
  • Candidates who apply for an alternative admission must submit a resume and any other credentials that verify their professional experiences.
  • Students admitted under the alternative admission requirements are conditionally admitted and must achieve a 3.0 GPA in the first 6 credits of graduate courses. 
• Application and Fee
• Official copy of Transcript(s)
• The GRE or GMAT IS NOT required for admission into this program.
  

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Application Process

1. Apply for admission

• Visit the WKU Online Admission Page for more information.
  
  • A Step By Step Guide for completing the application process: Application Tutorial
  • There is a $65 application fee.
• Complete the WKU Domestic and International Graduate Application
  • Under Planned Course of Study Section, Choose:
    • Category of Study >>> Masters
    • Planned Course of Study >>> Organizational Leadership (0467)
      

2. Submit Required Materials:

• OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
  • Request at least one official transcript showing the completed degree from accredited institutions other than WKU.
  • The transcript must be forwarded from the college or university registrar electronically or directly to the Graduate School. 
  • Send your official transcripts from each college attended to Graduate Admissions. 
    
    • You may request electronic transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse. This speeds up the admissions process considerably. If your school is not listed with the Clearinghouse, please contact them directly to see if they have another process in place for electronic submissions or request that an official copy be sent by mail.
• For additional information on university admission requirements please visit the Graduate School Admission Page.

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Deadlines for Admission Applications & Transcripts

The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership requires 30 credit hours.

Below is a list of program requirements and the semester in which the courses may be available via web through WKU Online, which refers to semester-based online courses or self-paced through On Demand.

Core Requirements (15 hours)
LEAD 500	Effective Leadership Studies (Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)
LEAD 525	Leadership Ethics (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
LEAD 600	Capstone in Leadership Experience (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
EDFN 500 OR SOCL 513 OR LEAD 560	Research Methods (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer) Quantitative Methods of Social Research (Fall, Spring, and Summer) Applied Research Methods in Organizational Leadership (Fall and Spring)
LEAD 530 OR LEAD 540 OR LEAD 550 OR LEAD 565	Organizational Change (Fall, Spring, and Summer) Leading Teams (Fall, Spring, and Summer) Leadership in Global Context (Fall, Spring, and Summer) Leadership Coaching within Organizations (Fall and Spring)
Electives (15 hours)
ADED 611	Adult Development and Learning (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
AMS 520	Resource Management (Spring)
AMS 671	Quality Management (Spring)
BA 592	Special Topics in Business (Fall and Spring)
COMM 561	Multinational Organizational Communication (Fall)
EDFN 500	Research Methods (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer)
GERO 501	Perspectives in Aging (Fall and Spring)
GERO 503	Policy Foundations of Aging Services (Spring)
HCA 540	Health Care Organization and Management (Fall)
PS 520	Elements of Public Administration (Winter)
SOCL 513	Quantitative Methods of Social Research (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

With the approval of the instructor and based on prior academic experience, career aspirations, and/or matriculation concerns, students may select other electives.

Please note the following as you plan your program of study:

• Additional course options are available on campus. Please click HERE to see the full schedule of classes.
• Students can also choose to enroll in a graduate certificate program and use up to 12 hours of courses to fulfill their elective requirements with advisor approval. 
• A list of available graduate certificates can be found HERE.
• Students may transfer up to 12 hours from another graduate program or institution to fulfill program requirements (if courses meet transfer requirements and advisor approval).

Financial Aid: Eligibility Requirements and the Application Process

Financial Aid includes grants, scholarships and loans for educational purposes. To qualify for federal student aid you must meet certain requirements. General eligibility requirements can be reviewed on the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/basic-criteria. Here are a few basics to keep in mind:

• Your eligibility is determined through an application process. So, your first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Even if you doubt your eligibility, apply. Approximately 90% of those who apply qualify for some form of aid. A step-by-step guide through the application process can be found at wku.edu/financialaid/applying/how-to-apply.php.
• Distance learning courses are treated the same as face-to-face courses. If your application is approved, you may elect to take web, on demand or face-to-face courses.  Distance courses through On Demand require same semester completion and an On Demand Agreement.
• You must be classified as a degree-seeking student to qualify. Degree seeking normally refers to an  associate, baccalaureate or master degree. However, some stand-alone certificates are also eligible.
• Certificate Program Eligibility:  As a general rule, if you are seeking an undergraduate certificate (certificate only; no degree), the program must require at least 16 credit hours, 15 weeks of instruction and be clearly tied to a profession. If you are seeking a graduate certificate (certificate only; no degree), the program must require at least 8 credit hours, 10 weeks of instruction and be clearly tied to a profession. For additional information on certificate eligibility, please email fa.help@wku.edu. Certificates may also be earned in conjunction with degrees at the associate, baccalaureate and master levels. Degree seeking students at the associate, bachelor and master levels will be awarded financial aid based on the primary degree listed.
• You must be registered at least half-time to receive aid (6 credit hours for undergrad students; 4.5 credit hours for grad students).
• You must meet federal and state regulations regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible. The complete SAP Policy is available at wku.edu/financialaid/sap.php.
• The WKU School Code for the FAFSA application is 002002.

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Veterans and Active Military

WKU is a military friendly school. Veterans and active military are required to file additional forms for military tuition assistance. The Office of Veterans Affairs unit that helps ensure all appropriate information is on file. For additional information visit wku.edu/veteran/ or email va.questions@wku.edu. 

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Helpful Resources

• WKU Student Financial Assistance | Email: fa.help@wku.edu | Phone: 270-745-2755 | Website: wku.edu/financialaid
• WKU Scholarship Information, including scholarships for transfer students: wku.edu/scholarship/
• Guide to Financial Aid: finaid.org
• FAFSA Worksheets, Tips and Pointers: studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out
• Student Aid: Types, who qualifies and how to apply: studentaid.ed.gov
• Scholarships: How to find them, how to apply, and types of scholarships: studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships
• WKU Online's article on filing early to reduce long-term debt: wkuonline.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/one-simple-step-to-reduce-your-college-debt/.

Academic Department

Program Advisor: Dr. John Baker
Phone: (270) 745-5149
Email:john.baker1@wku.edu
Website: wku.edu/leadership/graduate/masters.php

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WKU Online

Email: learn.online@wku.edu
Phone: (270) 745-5173
Toll-Free: (888) 4WKUWEB / (888) 495-8932
Website: wku.edu/online 

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The Graduate School

Email: graduate.school@wku.edu
Phone: (270) 745-2446
Website: wku.edu/graduate