Why Pursue the Organizational Leadership Concentration?
The Organizational Leadership Concentration exists to equip you with knowledge, spiritual understanding, and skills to lead in a culturally diverse world. This concentration best serves those already leading, especially in experiential programs at camps, colleges, and churches globally, who desire to grow in their leadership and practice. This degree is also ideal for professionals in other vocations, considering transitions into positions in ministry with youth and emerging adults.
This M.A. in OAL, Organizational Leadership Concentration is your invitation to join from wherever you are, to collaborate in serving Jesus Christ, and advancing His kingdom through excellence in global leadership and experiential ministry. You will find our alumni applying their training and experience from this program at churches, camps, and colleges throughout the world.
Program Distinctives
Skills to Lead in a Globalized World
In our increasingly connected world, the demand for visionary, culturally intelligent, and value-driven leaders is ever-growing. The Organizational Leadership Concentration is designed to nurture a new generation of Christ-centered experiential leaders in camps, conferences, churches, and beyond. This is a unique leadership program that combines evidence-based leadership research, biblical engagement, and practical skill development.
Program Distinctives
We believe effective leadership development requires three foundational pillars:
- Spiritual maturity that owns personal faith and inspires growth in others
- Theoretical grounding to discern contextual needs through theologically sound lenses
- Practical skills of scholar/practitioners who create growth-infusing environments
The M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership, Organizational Leadership Concentration is designed to holistically elevate students’ leadership capacity by building on all three pillars with a global impact in mind. In this program, you will interact with and learn from globally renowned scholars as well as real-world experts from organizational and outdoor ministry contexts.
Flexible Learning Format
Students are able to continue working in their current vocations while completing the program in flexible learning formats. All courses are offered in modular (7-10 day intensives), hybrid (mix of online with 2- to 3-day residential sessions), or online formats. To accommodate busy work and family schedules, students take an average of 8 credit hours per semester, completing the degree in three years.
Admission Requirements
Learn more about the Admission Requirements to apply for the M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership.
OAL OL Course Requirements
OAL – Organizational Leadership Concentration students complete 38 hours of credit to graduate. They include 26 hours of core courses, and 12 hours specific to the concentration.
26 credit hours - required core:
- OAL 503 Cultural Engagement (2)
- OAL 512 Leadership and Spiritual Formation (4)
- OAL 518 Assessment and Innovation (2)
- OAL 549 Program Philosophy and Planning (4)
- OAL 662 Theology and Practice of Outdoor Ministry (4)
- OAL 663 Organizational Leadership and Staff Development (4)
- BITH 565/566/576 Biblical or Theological Studies course (4)
- OAL 682 Integrative Seminar (2)
12 hours specific to the concentration as follows:
- LEAD 611 Foundations of Organizational Structure: Finance, Operations, Governance & Legal (2)
- LEAD 621 Introduction to Nonprofits (2)
- LEAD 652 Strategic Leadership (2)
- LEAD 662 Leading Multicultural Teams (4)
And 4 hours of electives selected from the Leadership Program that include:
- LEAD 559 Organizational Change and Leadership in Ministry (4)
- LEAD 615 Entrepreneurial Marketing (2)
- LEAD 557 Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World (4)
- LEAD 558 Personal Leadership and Ethics (4)
- LEAD 631 Leading Nonprofit Organizations (4)
- LEAD 645 Mental Health and Leadership (2)
Or from other courses at Wheaton College Graduate School with Advisor’s approval.