Degree Requirements for MA

Listed below are the program's current degree requirements, the requirements that go into effect in Fall 2024 can be found here: New MA Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 graduate-level credit hours in approved courses with Leadership and Diversity and Inclusion content. Coursework is a combination of face-to-face and online classes. 

Core Seminar (3)

LDST 705 Professionalization Seminar in Leadership Studies

Equity and Social Diversity (12)

Four courses (3 credit hours each) totaling 12 graduate credit hours. Courses are categorized into three pathways:

Pathway 1: US Race and Ethnicity

Pathway 2: Women, Gender and Sexuality

Pathway 3: US Social Differences

Students must develop a concentration in one pathway by taking at least one 6 credit hours of coursework in any one of the three pathways. Courses must be selected in consultation with a faculty advisor.

At least 1 course (3 credit hours) must be taken in a pathway other than the concentration.

A current list of approved courses for each pathway can be found on the Approved Pathway Courses list. The course list continues to grow and is updated regularly. If you’re unsure about whether or not a specific course will count for a specific pathway, please contact Amy Leyerzapf (amyley@ku.edu).

Leadership Studies (12)

Four courses (3 credit hours each, all completed fully online) totaling 12 graduate credit hours:

  1. LDST 710 History and Theory of Leadership Studies (3)
  2. LDST 720 Leadership Ethics (3)
  3. LDST 730 Managing the Work of Leadership (3)
  4. LDST 740 Leadership and Power (3)

Capstone (3)

LDST 850 Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Capstone (3)

This course is required of all admitted students in the final semester of their degree program and provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the interdisciplinary knowledge they have gained.

Supplemental Coursework

LDST 700 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion (3)

This course is required for all provisionally admitted students and is offered as an optional course to all admitted students prior to their first semester of the degree program.

Final Exam

All MA students must pass a final oral exam and defense of their capstone project.