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A Bachelor’s vs. Master’s Degree in Leadership, & What You Will Learn from an Advanced Degree

No matter what field of study or industry you are in, there is most likely one constant across the board – solid leadership. Every successful industry, organization, educational institution and team has effective and motivating leaders in place. Despite the rapid changes that technology has brought to nearly every industry today, solid leadership skills and experience remain a constant foundation for survival. That is why earning a leadership degree is not an obsolete degree path, but rather a strategic investment in your future, regardless of all the changes happening in the environments around us.

As an aspiring leader, you may have a good idea of your next step: an advanced leadership degree. However, which degree option is the right one for you – a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in leadership? Many students out there today have a Bachelor’s degree – perhaps in business, management, or another related field. Some stay put, while other ambitious leaders consider the Master’s in Leadership option. If you are weighing your options, you may have questions like, “Do I need to transition my Bachelor’s degree, and would a Master’s level program be worth it?”

These answers will rest on your career goals. Fact of the matter is, each educational path can get you places—the right one will get you exactly where you want to go in your career.

A Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership

A Bachelor’s in Leadership is a great path for someone who wants to learn the fundamentals of management, and develop the leadership skills needed to get a foot in the door (or move up) in an organization. Goodwin College offers a Bachelor’s level Management and Leadership training program that teaches students the leadership skills necessary to make in impact in today’s workplace. Students not only learn key communication and ethics skills that employers are seeking, but also how to best manage innovation and change within an organization.

In pursuing a Bachelor’s in Leadership, you can expect to take courses in Leadership Theory and Practice, Team Dynamics and Individual Skills, Organizational Supervision, Talent Development, Positive Mentoring, and more. In essence, you will learn how to lead. You will develop the skills for managing a team or staff, as well as the skills needed to oversee the operations of a business – from budgets to project management.

While many Bachelor’s programs are the traditional four-year, full-time format, there are flexible options available if you are already working or balancing obligations. Goodwin’s Leadership and Management program, for example, is designed for the working and busy adult. Specifically, the leadership courses are available fully online or in a hybrid online / in-person format. Most of the program courses are offered in an accelerated 7 ½ week format and there are six class starts annually, allowing students flexibility in there start dates for required courses. A Bachelor’s in Leadership degree is a great, flexible option for anyone who does not yet have a college degree, and is looking to learn the key leadership skills that are fundamental to thriving in the business world.

A Master’s Degree in Leadership

When comparing and contrasting between a Bachelor’s vs Master’s degree in leadership, one thing is clear: a Master’s degree is the next-level choice. If you are considering earning a Master’s in Leadership degree on top of your Bachelor’s – and looking to climb to the top of that career ladder – a leadership-focused Master’s degree can be your ticket up. Goodwin’s Master’s in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) for example, is designed to prepare aspiring leaders for successful, impactful, and top-level roles.

While MSOL students come from all areas of study, many have prior business, administrative, or management training at a Bachelor’s level, or understand the basics of effective leadership in the workplace. The MSOL degree is designed to take a deeper dive into leadership theories and best practices, to refine and build more valuable, versatile, and heightened leadership skills.

In a typical MSOL curriculum, you can expect to study advanced leadership topics such as data-driven decision-making, negotiation and conflict response, operations management, and strategies for leading organizational change through systemic planning and implementation. These in-depth MSOL courses provide the insights and resources needed to advance your career and make a positive impact within an organization. Through these courses, you will:

  • Develop your existing skillsets and gain further insight into the most effective organizational leadership strategies
  • Become skilled in the most up-to-date data collection methods and research tools for increased workplace productivity
  • Learn and master successful talent acquisition and performance management techniques

Many Goodwin graduates find successful leadership careers in thriving Corporate companies, as well as Education institutions, Manufacturing facilities, Non-Profit organizations, and State/Federal agencies.

Like Goodwin’s Bachelor’s degree program, the Master’s in Organizational Leadership has flexible scheduling options available for working students. Our flexible MSOL program is available fully online, with an accelerated course structure and a Master’s degree that can be completed in just 20 months part-time.

Everyone’s educational and career journey is unique, and choosing between a Bachelor’s vs. Master’s degree in Leadership should come down to personal alignment with your individual goals and aspirations. If you are wondering what the best option is for you, contact Goodwin College to learn more about our Bachelor’s in Management and Leadership and our Master’s in Organizational Leadership programs – both available online, part-time, and in accelerated formats. Call 800-889-3282 today.