Online MBA in Leadership and Change Management
Lead teams and guide organizations through change.
Concordia University Chicago’s MBA in Leadership and Change Management combines graduate business study with focused coursework in leader development, communication, decision-making, coaching, and organizational change. Explore how leaders develop people, communicate decisions, and help organizations identify, implement, and sustain change.
The 36-credit program includes a 24-credit MBA core and a 12-credit Leadership and Change Management specialization. CUC offers this MBA fully online. Course scheduling and your completion timeline depend on your approved degree plan; confirm current availability with an advisor.
Program Highlights
What to know |
|---|
36 credits total |
24-credit MBA core |
12-credit Leadership and Change Management specialization |
Four Leadership and Change Management specialization courses |
Online program; confirm course scheduling with an advisor |
With 6 convenient start dates, you can begin when it works best for you!
Please visit the Admission & Tuition page for important application deadlines and start dates.
Why Pursue an MBA in Leadership and Change Management?
Organizations face changes in technology, customer expectations, regulations, and competition. Leaders must communicate direction, develop people, make decisions with incomplete information, and help teams adapt while keeping work aligned with organizational goals.
CUC’s Leadership and Change Management specialization adds coursework in coaching and development, leadership communication and decision-making, organizational renewal, and change processes to the MBA core. The curriculum combines leadership practice with a broader business perspective.
- Explore how leaders train, mentor, and coach individuals and teams.
- Examine how leaders cultivate and sustain organizational development and professional growth.
- Study communication and decision-making in contemporary organizational settings.
Leadership and Change Challenges
Leaders guide people through changes that can affect roles, routines, culture, and priorities. They may need to explain why change is needed, listen to employee concerns, coordinate decisions across teams, and support adoption over time.
CUC’s Leadership and Change Management courses examine leader development, communication, decision-making, and organizational intervention. The curriculum gives students a structured way to study how leadership practices and change processes affect people and organizational goals.
Career Outlook and Data
Management analysts recommend ways to improve organizational efficiency. Their work may include gathering information, developing solutions, and recommending new systems, procedures, or organizational changes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of management analysts to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, with about 94,100 openings per year on average. The median annual wage was $101,860 in May 2025.
These figures describe management analysts nationally across industries, experience levels, and education backgrounds; they are not salary estimates or job guarantees for CUC MBA students. BLS reports that management analysts typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and several years of related work experience. Requirements vary by role and employer.
10%
Projected employment growth, 2025–2035
94,100
Average annual openings, 2025–2035
$101,860
Median annual wage, May 2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts. National occupational data; not specific to CUC graduates or MBA holders.
Where Can Leadership and Change Management Apply?
Leadership and change management skills can be relevant across businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions. Depending on experience and employer requirements, related career areas may include leadership development, organizational development, change management, management consulting, operations, human resources, and process improvement.
Job titles and requirements vary by employer. Senior management roles often require substantial related experience, while change, organizational development, and analyst roles have different qualifications. Review current job postings and employer requirements for the roles and locations that interest you.
Leadership and Change Management Curriculum
The MBA in Leadership and Change Management requires 36 credits: a 24-credit MBA core and 12 credits in the specialization. The Leadership and Change Management specialization consists of four 3-credit courses. The 2026–27 academic catalog is the source for current degree and course requirements.
| ID | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBAL 6005 | The Leader as Trainer, Mentor and Coach | 3 |
| MBAL 6010 | Leader Development: Cultivating, Sustaining and Renewing the Organization | 3 |
| MBAL 6015 | Leadership Communication and Decision Making | 3 |
| MBAL 6020 | Agents of Change | 3 |
The MBA capstone prerequisite is a grade of B or higher in all MBA core courses. Confirm course sequencing and availability with an academic advisor.
The MBA core includes business analytics, economics or global marketing, accounting, financial management, design thinking, applied artificial intelligence, leadership and ethical decision-making, and a capstone. Review the catalog for the complete core requirements and course options.
Explore AI with business judgment
CUC students have access to BoodleBox, a shared generative AI workspace. The MBA curriculum includes business analytics and Applied Artificial Intelligence, giving students an academic context for examining how AI may support research, analysis, and problem-solving. In leadership and change management, AI may assist with organizing information or exploring options, but leaders should check its output against reliable evidence, organizational context, privacy expectations, and professional judgment. Use BoodleBox only as directed by your instructor, evaluate its output, and do not enter sensitive or confidential information.
Lead with Purpose
Leadership and change decisions affect employees, customers, organizations, and communities. At Concordia Chicago, MBA study connects business knowledge with the university’s values of Truth, Freedom, and Vocation. In Leadership and Change Management, leading with purpose means communicating honestly, developing people, acting with integrity, and considering how organizational change affects those it serves.
A Faculty Perspective
Dr. Lynn Hunnicutt, Dean of the College of Business, discusses how CUC’s values and MBA curriculum shape the way students approach business problems.
Who Should Consider This MBA?
This specialization may be a fit if you lead or support teams, organizational development, operations, human resources, or business transformation and want to deepen your leadership and change management knowledge within a broader MBA curriculum. Students bring different academic and professional backgrounds. Review admission requirements and discuss your experience, goals, and course plan with an Admissions counselor.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees depend on the current academic year, course plan, and applicable charges. CUC’s tuition guarantee may keep the tuition rate unchanged while your course of study remains uninterrupted; separate fees may change. Review current graduate tuition, financial aid, employer assistance, and military education benefits with Admissions and Student Business Services.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and meet CUC’s current graduate admission requirements. The specialization page identifies these application materials:
- A completed application.
- An objective statement describing your education and career goals.
- Official transcripts from institutions that granted your degrees.
- Two letters of recommendation.
The current CUC page states there is no GRE requirement or application fee. GPA requirements and additional documentation depend on the applicant’s circumstances. Review current requirements with Admissions before applying.
FAQ
The 2026–27 catalog lists 36 credits: a 24-credit MBA core and a 12-credit Leadership and Change Management specialization.
The four 3-credit courses are The Leader as Trainer, Mentor and Coach; Leader Development: Cultivating, Sustaining and Renewing the Organization; Leadership Communication and Decision-Making; and Agents of Change.
CUC offers this specialization in a fully online format. Confirm current course availability and your degree plan with an academic advisor.
Depending on prior experience and employer requirements, related career areas may include change management, leadership development, organizational development, management analysis, operations, and human resources. The degree does not guarantee a specific role.
The BLS projects 10% employment growth for management analysts from 2025 to 2035, with about 94,100 openings per year on average. The median annual wage was $101,860 in May 2025. These are national occupational data, not job placements or salary outcomes for CUC graduates.
Plan Your Next Step
Explore whether the Leadership and Change Management specialization fits your experience and goals. An Admissions counselor can help you review current program requirements, course availability, costs, and application steps.
Featured MBA in Leadership and Change Management Content
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