Accelerated Online MBA – Leadership

Essential Skills & Insights

Courses in the Lindenwood University Accelerated Online MBA Leadership program will prepare you to lead with clarity in complex environments—uniting strategy, people, and execution with data-informed, AI-enabled decision-making.

• Strategic Leadership Development: Define competencies and coach leaders to elevate performance.
• Leadership Communication: Craft clear, persuasive messages that align stakeholders and inspire action.
• Strategic Human Resource Management: Lead workforce strategy and align talent acquisition, management, and retention strategies with business goals using workforce analytics.
• Organizational Change & Development Processes: Design and steer change with organizational development frameworks, measure adoption, and evaluate impact.

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AI-Powered Learning, Real-World Impact

Our accelerated online programs integrate opportunities to engage with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool for learning and career preparation. Students apply AI in ways that build authentic skills and mirror how businesses are leveraging it across industries. We emphasize ethical and responsible use, ensuring that students develop the judgment to apply AI appropriately. This approach helps graduates enter the workforce with both technical knowledge and a clear understanding of AI’s role in their discipline.

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Admissions Requirements

For admission to your Accelerated Online Leadership MBA, simply complete the 2 step application process.

1. Complete the Graduate Admissions Online Application by visiting my.lindenwood.edu/register
2. Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) showing a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
   
   Only transcripts with the final degree posted are required if you attended multiple institutions.
   
   Request your official transcript to be sent directly to Lindenwood University Accelerated Online via one of the methods below:
   • Electronically to: [email protected]
   • By Mail to:
     Office of Admissions
     Lindenwood University Accelerated Online
     8205 S Priest Dr #11480
     Tempe, AZ 85284
   • By Fax to: 480-393-1826

Curriculum Overview

From organizational leadership to strategic leadership, coursework for your Lindenwood University MBA Leadership Accelerated Online program reflects a real-world organizational model to equip you to take on business leadership challenges in any industry even before you earn your degree. The online MBA leadership track fosters exceptional leadership development in key areas such as strategic leadership and competency development, leadership communications, strategic human resources management, and organizational change and development processes. This business leadership degree program prepares graduates for advanced leadership roles as operation leads and C-suite executives.

Students in the MBA Leadership emphasis will complete 4 of 5 required electives courses in the leadership concentration along with the MBA core coursework. The MBA coursework provides a robust foundation in business fundamentals and supports your development of analytical thinking, strategic planning, and advanced communications skills.

Foundation Coursework – 6 Credit Hours

Foundation courses are provided to support student readiness for MBA coursework and are required if students have not taken prior undergraduate courses:

Code	Title	Credits
ACCT 51010	Financial Accounting Concepts	3
MGMT 56070	Statistics and Quantitative Analysis	3

Financial Accounting Concepts

This course is the examination of generally accepted accounting concepts and their influences upon the preparation, analysis, and use of financial statements and reports. It is designed for individuals entering the program without any academic background in accounting.

Statistics and Quantitative Analysis

This course consists of an examination of the application of statistical analysis in business and the use of quantitative techniques in managerial decision making. Topics include measures of central tendency, probability and distribution, sampling and statistical inference, techniques of statistical analysis, and modeling techniques.

Major Coursework – 15 Credit Hours

Code	Title	Credits
ACCT 51011	Managerial Accounting	3
FIN 52010	Financial Policy	3
MGMT 56030	Management Practices	3
MGMT 66080	Business Policies and Strategies	3
MRKT 55010	Marketing Principles and Issues	3

Managerial Accounting

Concepts and techniques for producing and using accounting information for management decisions will be examined in this course. Topics include cost behavior, break-even analysis, cost management systems, marketing/production decision models, capital, and operational budgeting. Prerequisite: ACCT 51010 or ACCT 21010.

Financial Policy

This course introduces the student to the major techniques of financial management. Topics will include financial markets and sources of financing, financial analysis, forecasting and planning, security valuation, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure. Prerequisite: ACCT 51010 or FIN 32000.

Management Practices

In this course, students will study classical and modern management theories of organization; the functions of management; external and/or environmental aspects bearing on managerial responsibility; development of practical management policy as guides to managerial decision-making; and human aspects of management including motivation, workplace equity and demographic diversity. This course includes the use of case studies to apply theory through practice. Prerequisite: ENGL 17000.

Business Policies and Strategies

This course is the capstone MBA offering, utilizing a top management perspective. Students explore the practices and problems that confront the modern business organization through business simulation studies or case study analysis. This course is to be taken during the student’s last term of the MBA program.

Marketing Principles and Issues

This course introduces students to the principles of marketing, the role of marketing in society and in organizations (for-profit and nonprofit), and the factors that influence marketing decision-making. Activities include the study of planning, pricing, promotion, and distribution of products and services to consumer and business markets. The course will increase students’ overall understanding of marketing as a business discipline; utilize systematic approaches to diagnosing and solving marketing problems and issues; and analyze and develop organization-wide marketing strategies as well as strategies for individual programs, services, or products.

Quantitative Coursework – 3 Credit Hours

Code	Title	Credits
MGMT 56080	Business Analytics	3

Business Analytics

This course introduces business analytics, by providing an overview of ‘big data’, data analytics/business intelligence, as well as hands-on use of mainstream commercial data analytics toolsets. Applications will include sport management, marketing, purchasing, and finance oriented analyses. Students will also gain an understanding of data warehouses, data management, and web analytics. Prerequisite: MGMT 56070.

Leadership Emphasis Coursework – 12 Credit Hours

To earn an MBA with Leadership emphasis, you must complete a minimum of four elective courses from one business discipline and achieve a grade of B or better in each course, plus complete one additional MBA elective course.

Code	Title	Credits
MGMT 56037	Organizational Change and Development	3
MGMT 56053	Leadership Competencies	3
MGMT 56057	Leadership Strategies	3
HRM 56510	Strategic Human Resource Management	3

Organizational Change and Development

Organization development (OD) is the process of planning and implementing interventions to create interpersonal, group, intergroup, or organization-wide change. This course presents the theoretical foundations of organization development as an applied behavioral science. Students will also be introduced to many types of interpersonal, intra-group, intergroup, and organizational interventions that are used to effect comprehensive and lasting changes. Prerequisite: MGMT 56030 or MGMT 56035.

Leadership Competencies

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of leadership competencies and their application to organizational and personal success. Students will evaluate how effective leaders use these competencies to analyze critical challenges and opportunities and create solutions to enhance organizational effectiveness and a high level of engagement in those they lead. Students will analyze their own key leadership strengths and evaluate how to apply their strengths to create organizational success. Utilizing this information, students will also complete a personal development plan to improve and enhance their own leadership effectiveness.

Leadership Strategies

This course focuses on the development of strategic thinking and the ability to develop and implement strategies that enable an organization to create and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. Current strategic theories are integrated with strategic practice. Additionally, readings in corporate responsibility focus on how the organization should be managed in the best interests of all stakeholders.

Strategic Human Resource Management

This course is an overview of human resource management and will include exploration of such topics as staffing, training and development, performance management, compensation, labor relations, and employment law, with a primary focus on strategic execution, which integrates HR programs and policies within the framework of an organization’s strategic direction.

Program Length Details

Lindenwood University’s (LU) Accelerated Online programs offer you choice and flexibility to support your education journey. Time to complete a master’s degree can vary based on course load, transfer credits, and individual pacing. You will tailor a course schedule that keeps you in the driver’s seat.

• Transfer Credit: LU allows 9 transfer credits toward a master’s degree and you can complete your degree in as few as 24 credits.
• Accelerated Courses: LU’s online programs offer 10 5-week terms per year. By enrolling in two courses per term, you can potentially begin and complete your master’s degree in 8 months.
• Frequent Start Dates: LU offers multiple start dates throughout the year so you can begin your studies when you are ready allowing you to graduate sooner.
• Personalized Degree Plan: LU academic advisors will work with you to tailor your degree plan to support your education goals while balancing your personal and professional responsibilities.