New in Career
As you begin your career, now is the time to set yourself apart from other candidates and develop the skills needed to influence your organization from the ground up.
Be a Leader of Today
MA in Diversity Leadership
Envisioning a New Generation of Professionals
The St. Thomas MA in Diversity Leadership program grounds leadership training in culture and inclusion in a way that no other program does. The content of the courses, stellar faculty and its flexible delivery modality make it a unique and innovative degree.
Through development of knowledge and skills in intercultural competency, this interdisciplinary degree equips graduates to be transformational leaders and to create cultures of belonging in their workplaces and communities.
The MA in Diversity Leadership is designed for busy people. It is completely online and asynchronous; so, you go online when the timing is right for you. Classes are meant to be taken one at a time, keeping your study workload manageable and enabling you to complete the master's degree in only two years.
Is this Program for You?
No matter where you are in your career, the MA in Diversity Leadership program equips you with the skills to stand out, drive meaningful change and advocate for others.
Mid-Career
Lead the drive toward an inclusive workplace while learning to make a positive influence on systemic, organization-wide decisions.
Advocacy
Gain cultural competence, build context and learn to advocate for a wide range of identities as you advance in your career.
Program Overview
Rotating Curriculum
The program consists of 12, 6-week courses completed over 2 years (6 courses each year). Six courses are required and 6 are electives.
The program offers curriculum that focuses on three interdisciplinary areas to develop proficiency:
- Principles in Leadership
- Culture and Society
- Integrative Courses
Classroom Experience
To provide flexibility to adult learners, all courses are taught in the online asynchronous modality. For seminar components of the courses, students will be invited to attend in person or participate synchronously or asynchronous online for total flexibility.
As students make their way through the curriculum, they will collect relevant materials in a graduate portfolio, curated in close consultation with their advisor.
The portfolio has the goal of preparing candidates to present and effectively communicate what they've learned in interviews and career development opportunities.
Simple Online Application
The online application process is simple and inclusive.
- The process requires a brief Statement of Purpose and official transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution or university abroad.
- The process does not require a GRE or other standardized tests; and there is no fee to apply.
This 2-year long, part-time, online program allows flexibility to start 6 times a year.
- Students will take 6 consecutive courses each year.
- Each course will run independently for a 6-week time period, making the workload more manageable, so you can balance your coursework with your personal and professional life.
- The program requires the completion of 30 credits or 12, 2.5 credit courses.
The program consists of 12, 6-week courses completed over 2 years (6 courses each year). Six courses are required and 6 are electives.
The program offers curriculum that focuses on three interdisciplinary areas to develop proficiency:
- Principles in Leadership
- Culture and Society
- Integrative Courses
To provide flexibility to adult learners, all courses are taught in the online asynchronous modality. For seminar components of the courses, students will be invited to attend in person or participate synchronously or asynchronous online for total flexibility.
As students make their way through the curriculum, they will collect relevant materials in a graduate portfolio, curated in close consultation with their advisor.
The portfolio has the goal of preparing candidates to present and effectively communicate what they've learned in interviews and career development opportunities.
The online application process is simple and inclusive.
- The process requires a brief Statement of Purpose and official transcript from an accredited undergraduate institution or university abroad.
- The process does not require a GRE or other standardized tests; and there is no fee to apply.
See the Impact
Hear from four current students how the MA in Diversity Leadership program has impacted their day-to-day lives. For more from Kaia, Amanda, Jayce and Marilee, read the Newsroom story.
Marilee McGraw
"Through these courses, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I am fired up about social justice and look forward to working closely with patients and clinicians in creating more equitable places and spaces. This degree provides credibility and the knowledge to work inclusively across diverse groups."
— Marille McGraw
Registered Nurse, advocate for healthcare equity
Kaia Hirt
"I chose this program because I want to do my part to see people from diverse backgrounds thrive in the workforce. I want to support people in reaching their potential and expressing their creativity — not in spite of their identities, but because of the gifts and strengths they possess as a result of their identities."
— Kaia Hirt
Education Department Program Coordinator, Augsburg University
Amanda Pyle
"This program has helped me become comfortable having uncomfortable conversations and advocating for change within our agency and not just in the community we serve. It has given me new language and resources to present needed DEI related changes to both my team and to my executive management colleagues, backing up messaging with research."
— Amanda Pyle
Director of Community Services, Golden Gate Regional Center
Jayce Alexander
"There have been numerous opportunities that have opened since starting the program. The access to network is one important element. Another is the certifications or job openings that professors share and encourage us to apply for. The connection with my professors has impacted my professional growth because of the time and effort they put into students. It truly feels like they care about their students and want to support them in any way they can."
— Jayce Alexander
Senior DEI Coordinator, City of Minnetonka, MN
Marilee McGraw
"Through these courses, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I am fired up about social justice and look forward to working closely with patients and clinicians in creating more equitable places and spaces. This degree provides credibility and the knowledge to work inclusively across diverse groups."
— Marille McGraw
Registered Nurse, advocate for healthcare equity
Kaia Hirt
"I chose this program because I want to do my part to see people from diverse backgrounds thrive in the workforce. I want to support people in reaching their potential and expressing their creativity — not in spite of their identities, but because of the gifts and strengths they possess as a result of their identities."
— Kaia Hirt
Education Department Program Coordinator, Augsburg University
It is time for us, as a society, to move from empathy to action. Action means knowing what diversity really means, knowing the power of diversity and how to take advantage of it
Eddy Rojas, Executive Vice President and Provost
How Long Will It Take?
This degree is expected to take 2 years, with just a single course at a time. This sample degree plan gives you an idea of the courses you will take each semester. While these are the program courses, this sequence is a sample and the order in which we offer the courses may vary.
Fall Semester A
MADL 510 Leading Inclusive Organizations
Fall Semester B
MADL 600 Organizational Leadership for Social Justice
Spring Semester A
MADL 550 Race, Culture, and Power
Spring Semester B
MADL 650 Intercultural Competence for Diversity Leadership
Summer Semester A
MADL 570 Navigating Political Polarization
Summer Semester B
MADL 640 Religion in Public and Professional Life
The Online Learning Experience
Real-World Connections
All courses include a seminar component with invited guest speakers who are currently active in industry, the community or working at relevant organizations to the subject matter of the course.
Learn Across Colleges
Solving complex issues requires leveraging expertise from different disciplines. Our program combines courses from eight different departments across the College of Arts and Sciences, Opus College of Business, and the School of Education to provide students with effective skills from diverse perspectives.
Courses That Fit Your Schedule
All courses are online and are asynchronous, so you’ll be able to balance your coursework with your personal and professional life.
Topical Courses Taught By Passionate Faculty
Meet Your Professors
The faculty in this program have career-long commitments to anti-racist work, diversity, social change, and proven success in supporting, inspiring, and educating responsible and innovative leaders.
Dr. Todd Lawrence
Associate Professor, American Culture and Difference and English
Todd Lawrence Bio
Dr. Patricia Maddox
Assistant Professor, American Culture and Difference, Data Analytics and Justice & Society Studies
Patricia MaddoxNon-Degree Option
If you've been out of school for a while or aren't sure about pursuing a full degree, taking non-degree classes might be an ideal choice. Admitted non-degree students will still participate as a full class member with a variety of students and faculty members. This option allows for you to take a total of up to four courses (10 credits) in the program. From there you can evaluate whether the program's offerings fit your goals and if so, then you may apply for degree-seeking status through a new application. All credits earned as a non-degree student are eligible for transfer into degree-seeking if approved.
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Take the Next Steps
Get In Touch
Learn more about earning a MA in Diversity Leadership or the University of St. Thomas by requesting more information or attending a virtual Group Information Session.
Graduate Student Handbook and Course Catalog
The CAS Graduate Student Handbook and Course Catalog outlines requirements and policies for students in our graduate programs and compiles information on all of the college's graduate courses. Any issues not mentioned in this handbook are governed by general University of St. Thomas Graduate Policies.