The MA in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Professional Studies provides the most flexibility for students.* This program allows students to concentrate on the practical study of leadership that will allow them to foster proficiencies in areas that may be helpful for career advancement. Given the emerging workforce development needs, this program supports advanced professional skill sets in various subject areas. The requisite Claremont Core® classes and Capstone Action Project that students must complete develops an additional skillset of independent research, critical thinking, problem solving, and organized communication.
*Students can transfer up to 15 graduate credit hours into the program to create a unique area of interest. Credits must meet degree requirements and be applicable to the degree program plan. Please read the Admissions section, below, for more details on credit transfers.
Do you have credits for a graduate degree, but never earned your degree?
Claremont Lincoln now offers a way to complete your master's degree with the Professional Studies concentration.
The M.A. in Organizational Leadership aligns with the mission of Claremont Lincoln University to produce leaders capable of respecting differences and collaborating with those of diverse viewpoints to resolve problems.
As a graduate of the M.A. in Organizational Leadership with a Professional Studies concentration, you'll be equipped to enhance your leadership performance and extend your influence in your current vocational field. This degree can apply to a broad range of occupational fields, including:
Students can transfer up to 15 graduate credit hours into the program to create a unique area of interest. Credits must meet degree requirements and be applicable to the degree program plan.
A completed Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required to apply to Claremont Lincoln University. Neither a GRE or GMAT score is required for enrollment.
The Admissions process has been streamlined for applicants to complete the online application in 15 minutes or less. Unofficial Transcripts and a current Resume or CV are required to be uploaded with the online application. The Enrollment Committee will then review the application and determine an acceptance status within 24 business hours. A determination letter will then be sent, and in return, an acknowledgment of its receipt will be needed. The Admissions, Financial and Student Services Team will finalize any other necessary items to complete Enrollment.
Claremont Lincoln University reserves the right to request additional items as deemed necessary by the enrollment committee to determine student readiness for the graduate level workload. Claremont Lincoln University reserves the right to accept, provisionally accept, or deny students upon the evaluation of all admission documents.
The Professional Studies concentration is taken along with courses from The Claremont Core®. These courses teach the engagement skills necessary to implement the theories and ideas of professional studies.
To complete the Professional Studies concentration, students need to take the Core® courses, then complete their program courses by either transferring credits or selecting from among Claremont Lincoln University's Masters of Organizational Leadership (MOL) courses, listed below.
In an increasingly interconnected world, leaders who want to make positive, sustainable change need to develop the critical perspectives and collaborative skills necessary to reach across traditional barriers of ideology, culture, and faith. At CLU, we put development of these capabilities at the center of our degree programs. The result is the Claremont Core®, a sequence of four innovative courses. Progress through the Core takes you through a process of self-awareness and steadily evolves towards engagement with others and society at large. Learn More.
Claremont Lincoln's master's degree programs all have the distinct advantage of being 100% online, providing the flexibility to determine how and when coursework is performed. CLU master's degree programs can be completed in 15 months at a low cost of $18,000. In addition, the Admissions process has been streamlined for convenience. Neither a GRE or GMAT score is required to apply or be admitted.
Claremont Lincoln University is a non-profit, "online-by-design", graduate university providing socially conscious education and multiplying social impact through the work of its students in the world.
As a nonprofit university, Claremont Lincoln University is focused on the student's learning experience as well as their career success. Funds received from donations, endowments and tuition go directly to curriculum and to enriching our students' education.
Since CLU is both online and nonprofit, the university is able to serve students who are not well served by traditional institutions and universities— allowing the university to deliver the innovative education its founder and benefactor David C. Lincoln envisioned.
Claremont Lincoln University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.
The Commission has confirmed that Claremont Lincoln University has satisfactorily addressed the Core Commitments to Student Learning and Success; Quality and Improvement; and Institutional Integrity, Sustainability, and Accountability and is found to be in substantial compliance with the WSCUC Standards of Accreditation.
To obtain a copy of Claremont Lincoln University's WASC accreditation, please contact:
David Carter
Accreditation Liaison Officer
Student Achievements & Accreditation
Claremont Lincoln University has entered into a complaint agreement for private non-profit institutions with the California Bureau of Post-Secondary Education (BPPE).
Department of Consumer Affairs
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA. 95833
Chief Complaint Unit
Phone: 916-431-6959
Email: bppe@dca.ca.gov
Fax: 916-263-1897
Here is what some of our current and past students are saying about Claremont Lincoln University. We are committed to being a student-centered community and are proud of how we have continued to establish dialogue and long-lasting relationships with our graduates by showcasing their action-oriented and impactful work across the globe.
"I have had an association with seafaring for fifty years, having served in the British Merchant Navy at the beginning of my working career. In later years, I served as a board trustee with the Seamen's Church Institute in Philadelphia, and more recently I began volunteering as a chaplain. I realized that I could use my Capstone project to bring value to the needs of the seafarer mission."
"When I chose my Capstone project I selected a project that would create value, there are many research questions that a student may choose. In my view, it is better to find an issue that will enable a benefit that translates to value in use. This then ensures that the time and effort spent on the research will endure and be meaningful."
"Prospective students can expect to be challenged to grow as leaders, collaborators, and change-makers in their field and sector. The knowledge provided by the Social Impact program combines high level theoretical and critical thinking with practical grassroots implementation of learning and tools. This program equips students to become transformational leaders."
"In addition to growing academically, personally, and professionally, I hope students gain a community of thought partners and allies rooted in the mission of social change, love, and justice."
"CLU has been such a blessing to my life. CLU helps strengthen my leadership skills through mindfulness, meaningful dialogue and collaborations that allow us to suspend assumption, approach non judgmentally and create strong foundations of shared vision in order to not forget the human part of our world, as we seek our purpose and deeply feel and understand our "why" in our journey towards change."
Many hard working professionals contribute to a Claremont Lincoln University education. Here are just a few of the great faculty and staff that you will meet at CLU:
Jack Abbott has over 40 years' experience in business. He is currently an Adjunct Faculty member at Claremont Lincoln University, Brandman University, and Owner of JBA & Associates. As an adjunct faculty member with the University of Phoenix, Jack was twice honored as Outstanding Faculty for Southern California. Jack earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and has a BS from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
Suzanne Atkin's education started on the job including at organizations as diverse as the World Bank, the Department of Defense, and high tech companies. She is also owner of Workplace Harmony, a training and consulting firm. As an executive secretary, she became aware of communication and how it can be less or more effective. After returning to higher education as an adult learner, she earned two Bachelor of Science degrees: in Social Science and Communication Studies. After earning her MA in Communication Studies, she now teaches in the social sciences for several universities. Her interests include the change process, identity, relationships, and communicating in the digital age.
Ludmila Battista has been an online college professor for over 16 years in the education and professional studies field, most recently focusing on the increasingly ubiquitous area of mindfulness and meditation in enhancing personal and professional development. She has served as a faculty advisor for student organizations, lead curriculum and course development and facilitated outcomes-based assessment integration into courses. Her research/interests include project-based learning, motivating and engaging students in higher education and supporting special needs students.
Manuel De La Torre, MBA, EdD, has over 15 years of multidisciplinary experience in architecture, real estate, urban planning, project management, military human resources, university administration, and organizational development. After receiving his doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a focus on entrepreneurship and transformational change, he became a business consultant supporting change management, value creation and sustainable growth practices in small to global organizations.
Donna DiMatteo-Gibson received her Bachelor of Arts in both Speech Communications and Psychology from the University of San Diego. She also has two Masters of Science degrees in the areas of psychology and industrial-organizational psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) which is now called Alliant International University. In June of 1999, she graduated from CSPP with a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Dr. DiMatteo-Gibson has been teaching online graduate and undergraduate courses since 2001 and enjoys it immensely. She also has own consulting practice where I work with different organizations to improve organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction.
Carlos Guzman has a PhD in Psychology from Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center in San Francisco, an M.S. in Counseling Psychology and a BA in Psychology from California State University Fullerton. He primarily teaches mindfulness and doctoral courses in diversity, research and statistics. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, as well as Saybrook and California State University Fullerton Alumni Associations and a contributing scholar for the Journal of Children and Schools for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Christine Lustik, PhD is owner of Mindfulness in Organizations, LLC. Christine trains individuals and groups within education, non-profit, healthcare, government, and corporate organizations how to practice Mindfulness with the goal of increasing focus and resilience and decreasing stress and chaos. Christine thrives on creating training for each individual organization to introduce Mindfulness in a way that works with their culture and goals.
Previously, Christine spent 14 years in the online education arena of higher education, as Director of Distance Education, instructional designer, and faculty member. Much of that time was spent at Western Wyoming Community College supporting the education and community needs of a very large rural area in Southwest Wyoming.
Christine earned her Masters and Doctorate in Education from Capella University, with a focus on leadership and online education. She has also completed two Mindfulness Teacher Training programs, with a focus on bringing the practice of Mindfulness into organizations in a sustainable way and connecting Mindfulness with nature whenever possible.
In addition to loving being a CLU faculty member, Lauren Moulton-Beaudry is the Director of Ethics and Education for Front Porch where she directs the Front Porch Ethics Service and Front Porch University. As a change agent in her organization, Lauren and her team have developed and sustained corporate-wide service excellence and leadership training efforts.
The Reverend Jeremy D. Nickel earned an MDiv from the Pacific School of Religion and an MA in Alternative Liturgical Practices from the Graduate Theological Union, both in Berkeley, CA. Ordained a Unitarian Universalist minister in 2011, he served Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist congregation in Fremont CA until June of 2017. After leaving congregational ministry Rev. Nickel founded SacredVR and then Project EvolVR to create spiritual resources and a Health and Wellness community in Virtual Reality. He has led meditation sessions and taught for over two decades in real life as well as online and in Virtual Reality. His interest primarily lies in the intersection of technology and spirituality.
Sue K. Park holds a PhD in Practical Theology and ordination in Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad. Deeply rooted in faith communities, Sue's research interests include interfaith relations, spirituality, Asian American theology, and feminist theories/theology. She also holds a BA from University of Florida, an MDiv from Duke University, and an STM from Union Theological Seminary.
Lyvonne "Proverbs" Picou is a preacher, poet, educator, and creative social entrepreneur. She is the founder of beautiful scars, a storytelling agency focused on addressing sexual trauma, healing, and resiliency. Lyvonne graduated from Yale Divinity School with a Master of Divinity and Columbia Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and teaches spin classes for fitness and fun!
Stephanie Varnon-Hughes, PhD, is the Director of the Claremont Core at Claremont Lincoln University, and an award winning teacher and interfaith leader. She is the host of the religion & culture podcast In Times Like These and author of Interfaith Grit: How Uncertainty Will Save Us. Varnon-Hughes was a co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, a peer reviewed journal, and its sister publication, State of Formation, an online forum for emerging religious and ethical leaders. She holds a PhD from Claremont Lincoln University, an MA and STM from Union Theological Seminary and her undergraduate degrees are in English and Education, from Webster University.
Earn your master's degree online in 15 months for only $18,000 while developing the skills, behaviors & mindset required to improve the world for the benefit of all.
The Master of Arts in Sustainability Leadership is an interdisciplinary degree program that examines how organizational decision-making and activities impact society, the environment, and the organizations' own prosperity – or the triple-bottom line of the new economy: people, planet, and profit. The program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed in the areas of development, the natural world, and organizational leadership, to assess and effectively lead socially responsible initiatives. [learn more]
The M.A. in Human Resources Management degree is designed for HR professionals as well as managers that lead people in a professional setting. The content will expose students to all aspects of people management including understanding the human resources functions, enhancing their ability to apply key HR legislation, learning the key elements of a total compensation system, developing important skills for attracting and selecting employees, discovering the purpose and process of talent management, and applying HR analytics to decision-making. [learn more]
The Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration (MHA) is designed for current and future leaders in healthcare with the desire to strengthen their skills to lead in team-based, diverse, and innovative settings. Due to the often complex and dynamic nature of the healthcare administration field, this online master's in healthcare administration (MHA) program seeks to provide the skills necessary to lead positive change in organizations, maintain ethical governance, and increase effectiveness in the day-to-day managing of healthcare departments in a HIPAA compliant environment. [learn more]
The M.A. in Social Impact teaches you to envision and implement programs that generate positive and sustainable impact within your community—and beyond.
If you are an emerging leader with an entrepreneurial spirit, the M.A. in Social Impact can help you develop the social justice, social entrepreneurship, and human rights perspectives you need to be the catalyst for new social endeavors in your community. [learn more]
Learn the science of making organizations effective. Our changing world forces organizations of all kinds – from companies to non-profits to governments to adapt and evolve. Change is constant, and winners in the 21st century must focus on building collaboration among leadership and stakeholders. [learn more]
CLU's mission is to educate leaders capable of reaching across differences to create a more just and sustainable world.
Your impact on this world can become transformative as you develop the social, religious and political perspectives, collaborative engagement, and self-reflection skills you need to become an interfaith ambassador. [learn more]
You can aspire to a high-level healthcare management career in hospitals and healthcare businesses. In this accelerated healthcare master's degree you will develop a mastery of the financial, social, medical, and market issues that are transforming healthcare businesses today. [learn more]
CLU produces graduates who are prepared to transform communities, neighborhoods, and regions by facilitating collective, innovative solutions. You can be a leader in community-based organizations, government, and elected positions. Our grads craft more purposeful, innovative, and engaged civic communities. They cultivate communities' capacity to address the complex challenges that they face. [learn more]
Students will master the foundations of leadership, diversity, strategic planning, ethics, finance, legislation and governance within Higher Education faculties and populations. [learn more]
The core of any organization's success has always been the quality of its people. Businesses that can attract and retain the top talent start with a leg up on their competition. As a master of human resources management, your role can be pivotal and your career can be endlessly flexible. [learn more]
This program provides the most flexibility for students. The program supports advanced professional skill sets in various subject areas and students can transfer up to 15 graduate credit hours into the program to create a unique area of interest. [learn more]
This program is designed to enhance student expertise in leading technical teams, integrating and managing technological advancements, balancing technology, culture, ethics, and innovation for strategic planning, policy development, and directing digital transformation efforts. [learn more]
Master's
$18k Total
100% Online
Flexible
15 Month
No GRE or