Master's in Leadership
Our curriculum will challenge you. Your cohort and faculty will explore deep questions about our identities, histories, and institutions, while developing skills and tools to create positive, real-world impact. Upon completion of the program, you will be prepared to address complex organizational and community challenges through values-driven leadership. Core coursework emphasizes leadership theory, organizational change, and equity frameworks, while custom pathways provide opportunities for specialization in applied, skills-based areas. You may choose to pursue one of several specializations or design an individualized pathway by selecting courses across multiple specializations. Graduates of the program will be prepared to lead in higher education, nonprofits, government, community-based organizations, and the private sector. You will be equipped to design and implement strategies that advance equity, strengthen organizational capacity, and respond to evolving workforce and societal needs.
Our curriculum emphasizes:
- Expansive and ethical leadership
- Systems thinking and organizational change
- Equity-driven strategy and decision-making
- Cross-sector collaboration and policy influence
- Service-oriented leadership
Program Format
- This master’s program is a fully online program and can be completed either full-time or part-time. Academic requirements for both part-time and full-time study are the same.
- Courses are available in fall, spring, and often in summer as well
- Both part-time and full-time master's students are eligible for tuition scholarships
*If you are unsure if you are eligible for part-time study due to an international visa, please email our International Center.
Program Objectives
The Master of Arts in Leadership Program will enable students to do the following:
- Understand and navigate historical legacies that have shaped the context of today’s society
- Lead with strategic insight, emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and integrity
- Utilize evidence-informed decision making
- Build coalitions and influence organizational dynamics.
- Design and implement change initiatives that promote parity and justice
- Create and adapt narratives and communications for effective implementation
Office of Graduate Admissions
We invite you to learn more about this program.
Programs Requirements and Timelines
- The master's program consists of 10 courses for a total of 30 credits
- Full-time students typically complete the program in 1-2 years.
- Part-time students typically complete the program in 2-3 years.
Course Requirements
The master's curriculum is built around essential focus areas central to theoretical understanding and practical application. Students all build shared principles in taking the four core courses. From there, learning branches off by either a custom pathway or a specialization. Each path has its own set of requirements. Review the courses and specialization details.
Transfer of Credit
Leadership master’s students may apply for transfer of credit for graduate-level courses taken at Tufts or at other institutions. Certificate students may not transfer in courses taken outside of Tufts to satisfy certificate requirements. However, DEIJ-L certificate students who apply for and are accepted into the Leadership master’s program may transfer certificate credits to the master’s degree.
It is recommended that students apply for transfer credit at the beginning of their graduate program. Please email the Program Manager for more information on submitting a transfer credit request.
A maximum of two courses* may be transferred and used to fulfill requirements for the master’s degree, subject to the following conditions. Credits transferred must:
- Carry a grade of B- or better (courses taken as pass/fail cannot be transferred)
- Not have been counted toward another degree**
- Have been earned in graduate-level courses at a properly accredited institution
- Have been taken within the past five years
**Courses taken in the duration of a degree program are eligible for transfer credit only if a transcript notation or documentation from the institution confirms the course was in excess of degree requirements, and withheld from calculation in overall earned credit hours, GPA, and honors.