Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership
Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership
Grounded in 21st-century leadership principles and Boston College’s academic excellence, the MS in Leadership shapes leaders for today’s world. The program fosters self-aware, purpose-driven individuals who lead with integrity and a global perspective. Graduates are prepared to inspire, solve complex problems, and create a future of possibilities for themselves and their organizations.
At a Glance
A meaningful leadership development journey for a career with purpose.
In a rapidly changing world, effective leadership requires a different capabilities, and the M.S. in Leadership is uniquely designed to help you build the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to excel in your career. Grounded in Ignatian principles–BC's DNA–our program emphasizes leadership excellence and the pursuit of a full, meaningful life.
Throughout your studies, you will engage in deep self-reflection, develop a strong sense of self-awareness, and learn how to lead change within organizations and society. The curriculum fosters critical and strategic thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to creating just and purposeful organizations..
Program learning outcomes require the demonstration of various motivations, actions, and capabilities derived from the program’s three principles found in the Philosophy of Leadership Excellence.
Enriching one’s spirit
- Demonstrate the capability of consistently striving to serve a higher purpose with expectations for high achievement with the desire to advance the common good in service to others.
- Demonstrate the capability of thoughtfully seeking guidance for their thinking and actions, shaped by their values, ethics, and ethos of high moral character.
- Demonstrate a progression of cultivating self-awareness and committing to life-long learning and growing as human beings.
- Demonstrate and show developmental progress from the daily habit of reflection, being accountable for continuously improving one’s thinking, actions, and decision-making.
- Demonstrate mastery in discernment and critical thinking processes to formulate challenges comprehensively and employing analytical and integrative thinking before seeking to resolve these challenges.
Engaging all
- Demonstrate consistently caring for and being compassionate towards others by demonstrating kindness and the giving of self to others.
- Demonstrate mastery of fostering dignity and belonging, emphasizing deep respect for diversity and difference.
- Demonstrate mastery of interacting with others with empathy, generosity, and grace.
Creating the future
- Demonstrate a willingness to facilitate exploring, experimenting, and embracing innovation to discover new paths forward.
- Demonstrate boldness, vision, and capabilities for leading change with others for creating tangible results for an organization and society.
- Demonstrate implementation skills that are consistent with building a more just and humane workplace and society.
Step 1: Select Your Pathway
M.S. in Leadership Track
Designed for new professionals with fewer than eight years of full-time work experience.
This includes the following six required core courses, plus four courses within a concentration or four free electives:
- Daring to Lead
- Leadership Fundamentals: Articulating Your Leadership Vision and Values
- Leading Change from the Middle
- The Self-Aware Leader
- Problem Solving Through Critical Thinking
- Women and Men for Others
M.S. in Leadership: Executive Leader Track
Designed for seasoned professionals with more than eight years of full-time work experience.
This includes the following six core courses offered in a 7-week online format, plus four courses within a concentration or four free electives:
- Leading Thinking
- Leading Change and Execution
- Strategic Management of Innovation
- Emotional/Social Intelligence Deep Dive
- Fostering Dignity and Belonging
- The Just Leader
Step 2: Customize Your Degree
In addition to the core requirements, students may choose between two options:
Four specialization courses (in addition to six core courses)
Whether you are interested in managing the public relations division of a growing non-profit, working as a project manager for a large corporation or government entity, or marketing your own services or products, our courses are designed to match your interests and industry needs. With a strong core designed around leadership principles, you will be prepared to handle the challenges of this highly competitive and creative field.
Required Courses
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ADLP8300 | Strategies for Communications |
| ADLP8301 | Media Relations and Community Engagement |
| ADLP8302 | Business & Marketing Analytics |
| ADLP8304 | Social Media Influence and Content Creation |
| ADLP8304 | Cross Cultural Communications |
| ADLP8306 | Evolution of Marketing Strategies in the Digital Era |
Four specialization courses (in addition to six core courses)
Today’s organizations are increasingly partnering with their human resources departments to evolve their business strategy and respond to changing workforce needs. The Human Resources Management Concentration focuses on the knowledge and competencies you’ll need to build healthy and sustainable organizations, establish HR practices that attract and nurture the talent organizations need, and lead with confidence and credibility.
Required Courses
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ADLP8501 | Talent Management |
| ADLP8503 | HR Analytics |
| ADLP8502 | Employment and Labor Law |
| ADLP8500 | Human Resource Development |
Four specialization courses (in addition to six core courses)
In a fast-growing, ever-evolving, and increasingly complex field, the Project Management Concentration provides the adaptive management and problem-solving competencies you’ll need. You will learn how to effectively plan projects and manage and mitigate risk while maintaining high standards of quality. You will also develop your team management skills, gaining key strategies to balance stakeholders’ competing demands. This concentration prepares you to lead in a range of professional domains, including information technology, healthcare management, cybersecurity, and beyond.
Required Courses
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ADLP8600 | Project Management |
| ADLP8603 | Agile Methodologies |
| ADLP8601 | Risk Management/Quality Management |
| ADLP8604 | Agile Product Ownership |
| ADGR 8203 | Stakeholder Management and Procurement |
In a world marked by what military leaders call VUCA–volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity–today’s leaders need to know how to lead their organizations through change. Courses within this competency focus on adaptability, innovation, data-driven processes, strategic thinking, and more.
Sample Courses
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ADLP8001 | Data Driven Decision Making |
| ADLP8000 | Art and Science of Strategy |
| ADLP9902 | Applied Leadership Project |
The most effective leaders know how to inspire and develop the people around them and build resilient, inclusive teams and organizations. Courses within this competency focus on key skills and capabilities that will enable you to be a persuasive, ethical, and fair leader.
Sample Courses
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ADLP8101 | Flourishing Through Inclusion |
| ADLP8100 | Power, Influence and Persuasion |
| ADLP8102 | Leading High Performing Teams |
In today’s data-driven world, leaders need to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of their practices and respond quickly. Courses in this competency focus on accountability, finance, and the possibilities of generative AI for leaders.
Sample Courses
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ADLP8201 | GenAI Basics for Leaders |
| ADLP9000 | Internship |
| ADLP | Creating Trust Through Accountability |
Our Faculty
Our faculty have the "know why" and the "know how" to guide students toward leadership excellence. They blend theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, drawing from their diverse backgrounds, which include 8 Ph.Ds, 3 EdDs, 5 MBAs, and 4 JDs, as well as experience as retired senior military officers and leaders/consultants with Fortune 100 firms. Additionally, faculty credentials feature five published authors and two elected National Academy of Public Administration fellows, ensuring a rich combination of leadership experience and scholarly insight.
Meet Our Faculty
Our faculty combine real world experiences to demonstrate how to apply new knowledge and tools in the workplace.
Gregory P. Noone, Ph.D.
A retired U.S. Navy Captain, Greg is a senior program officer at the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies, training personnel in the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights. An expert in Ignatian leadership, he also teaches the foundational "Daring to Lead" course in the MS in Leadership program.
Frances Johnston, Ph.D, Ed.D.
Fran is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) with 30 years of experience helping leaders and teams grow, with a focus on emotional intelligence and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“In Dr. Noone’s class, I’m learning how the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) molds the learning environment to the student based on their life experiences in order to enhance the outcome for each individual. This is exactly what I encountered so far at BC. The professors and classes are amazing. I can’t say enough great things about my experience here.”
Financial Aid
We know that a BC education is a worthwhile but significant investment. We're committed to helping you affordably achieve your educational goals while treating each student and their family equitably. Financial aid and payment plans may be available for students taking a minimum of six credits across a semester.
Apply
PrintWhen applying to the MSL, you will have to select either the Leadership Track or the Executive Track. Admission to either of the two tracks is dependent on an applicant’s level of professional experience.
Leadership Track: The Leadership track is the pathway for applicants who are early in their careers. Applicants with less than 8 years of full-time work experience should apply for this track.
Executive Track: The Executive Track of the MS in Leadership is the pathway for applicants who have a minimum of 8 years of full-time work experience. Successful applicants to the Executive Track not only have significant years of worked experience, but also demonstrated leadership experience including managing people, processes, or projects. Note to international students: because of its online format, the executive track does not support F-1 visas.
Application & Deadlines
Application fee: $60 (to be paid as part of the online application)
If you are mailing a hard copy of any application materials, please send them to:
Boston College
Woods College of Advancing Studies Admissions Office
St. Mary's Hall South
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Résumé
Upload a copy of your transcript. Be sure to include all of your relevant professional experience.
Standardized Tests
The Woods College MS in Leadership does not require the GRE or GMAT for admissions. If you believe your scores would enhance your application, please feel free to submit them. Our GRE reporting code is 7534 and our GMAT reporting code is 44X-HX-07.
For all non-native English speakers, the TOEFL (reporting code 3276) or IELTS (if applicable) is required. Please view the International Students page for required test scores. If your undergraduate degree was conducted in English, you may be eligible for a TOEFL waiver. Please contact Woods College Admissions if you believe you qualify for a waiver.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. If you have been out of school for less than 5 years, one of these letters must speak to your academic abilities and should come from a professor, academic advisor, or other person who would be able to discuss your academic record. We prefer that one letter of recommendation be from an academic source, and another from an employer or person in a supervisory capacity who can speak about your interests and experience.
Letters must be sent directly from recommender either through online application portal or directly to Woods College. We will not accept letters that are not in a sealed envelope mailed directly from recommender or emailed directly from recommender.
Please note: Letters of recommendations should be provided by Professional or Academic recommenders.
Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to your online Application Form for purposes of application review. However, official transcript(s) must also be submitted upon acceptance/matriculation. Both undergraduate and graduate transcripts are required.
Please mail transcripts to:
Boston College
Woods College of Advancing Studies Admissions Office
St. Mary's Hall South
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
If your academic institution provides electronic transcripts please indicate wcasadm@bc.edu as the recipient.
Boston College Alumni and Current Students
Your BC transcript must be formally requested from the Office of Student Services and submitted to the Woods College. Woods cannot request or access transcripts independently.
Official Transcript Submission for International Applicants
All students who have, or are currently attending, an institution outside of the United States must provide a detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation indicating the conferral of an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
This evaluation is not just an English translation, but a document provided by an accredited evaluating agency that shows all grades, course titles, credit hours, United States degree equivalency, grade-point average (GPA), and date of degree conferral.
This detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation must be submitted to complete the application.
Please request a detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation for all international institutions where a degree was conferred from one of the following agencies:
Educational Credential Evaluators | Center for Educational Documentation | World Education Services Inc. |
Applicants whose Native language is not English are required to demonstrate English language proficiency, for required scores, visit our International Student page.
Interview
International Students: For all international students and non-native English speakers, interviews are conducted as part of the application process. The purpose of the interview is for the admission committee to gain a better sense of an applicant and how the program fits his or her academic and vocational needs. Additionally, the interview provides the committee an opportunity to answer a student’s specific questions and to address the unique needs one may have in transitioning to Boston College. The interview will last no more than 15 minutes. Qualified applicants will receive information on how to schedule an interview once their application has been received and initially evaluated.
Program Director Interviews: in some cases, the program director may request an interview with a candidate to better assess their qualifications for the program. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted directly.
Personal Statement
To be uploaded to your online Application Form.
Length – 500-750 words. Address the prompt provided to you in the application.
Questions
If you have additional questions not listed here, please contact Michael Campitelli at michael.campitelli@bc.edu
Can I apply to the Executive track if I do not have 8 years of experience?
Yes, you can apply for the Executive Track and your qualifications will be assessed by the committee. However, in most cases admission to the Executive Track will be restricted to those with a minimum 8 years professional experience to ensure that both you and your peers have the best learning experience.
If you meet the criteria for admission to the MSL but do not have the minimum qualifications for the Executive track, you will be admitted to the standard Leadership Track.
Do you offer admission to international applicants?
Yes, international applicants are welcome to apply and upon formal admission, are eligible for a student visa. (Please note that TOEFL or IELTS scores are required.) Please note international students pursuing the program with a student visa will need to complete the program in 1.5 years (3 academic semesters).
What if my GPA is not 3.0? Am I still eligible to apply for the program?
Yes, you are welcome to apply. We will consider your application and weigh a variety of factors to determine whether we are able to offer you admission. For particular applicants, we may be able to grant admission into the program with particular conditions noted (for example, passing the first two courses with a B or better in each during the first semester).
Is there an option to take courses as a nondegree student?
Yes, qualified, accepted non-degree students may enroll in select non-degree courses. Please review the process and course options.
How much does the program cost?
Tuition and financial aid information can be found on the tuition and aid webpage.
Do you offer graduate course credit transfer?
Students can transfer in up to 6 credits (usually equivalent to 2 courses). Decisions on whether to accept transfer credits will depend on an assessment of whether the courses to be transferred fit within the Masters of Science in Leadership and Administration curriculum.
How long does it take to complete the degree?
This is variable and is largely based on how many courses a student takes at any given time. If you take 2 courses per semester, you can complete the degree in 18 months.
Can students work full-time and pursue this degree?
This is certainly a possibility and we have designed the program to be flexible to accommodate a variety of scheduling needs.
Do you offer graduate student housing?
No. Boston College does not currently offer housing for graduate students but our Office of Residential Life does have a staff member who can help you find off-campus housing.
Does Woods College require an enrollment deposit?
Yes, admitted students who confirm their enrollment must pay a $250 enrollment deposit. The enrollment deposit is not an additional fee, and will be applied directly to your student account and will be deducted from your tuition bill. Anyone hoping to defer their enrollment will have to pay the deposit before their deferment request will be processed.
Do I have to select a concentration?
No, you have the option of selecting a concentration if you wish. You also have the option of simply taking free electives. Elective courses are categorized under leadership competencies (Leading people, Leading Change, Leading Results) to help you identify courses that might be of interest to you. You can take electives from any or all of the competency groups.