Leadership studies

Leadership studies is a multidisciplinary academic field of study that focuses on leadership in organizational contexts and in human life. Leadership studies has origins in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, psychology), in humanities (e.g., history and philosophy), as well as in professional and applied fields of study (e.g., management and education). The field of leadership studies is closely linked to the field of organizational studies.

As an academic area of inquiry, the study of leadership has been of interest to scholars from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds. Today, there are numerous academic programs (spanning several academic colleges and departments) related to the study of leadership. Leadership degree programs generally relate to: aspects of leadership, leadership studies, and organizational leadership (although there are a number of leadership-oriented concentrations in other academic areas).

Leadership in higher education
Leadership has become one of the fastest growing academic fields in higher education At all levels, undergraduate through doctoral, an increasing number of colleges and universities have begun developing not only individual courses, but entire degree programs specifically devoted to the study of leadership.

Even among some of the more established and traditional academic disciplines such as engineering, education, and medicine, specialization and concentration areas have been developed around the study of leadership. Most of these academic programs have been designed to be multidisciplinary in nature—drawing upon theories and applications from related fields such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, and management. Such an approach, Rost (1991) has argued “allows scholars and practitioners to think radically new thoughts about leadership that are not possible from a unidisciplinary approach” (p. 2).

History of leadership as a field of study
The study of leadership can be dated back to Plato, Sun Tzu and Machiavelli; however, leadership has only become the focus of contemporary academic studies in the last 60 years, and particularly more so in the last two decades. Contemporary leadership scholars and researchers have often been questioned about the nature of their work, and its place within the academy, but much of the confusion surrounding leadership as a field of study may be attributed to a lack of understanding regarding transdisciplinary, inter-, and multi- disciplinary academic fields of study in general.

The discipline (which encompasses a host of sub-fields) is filled with definitions, theories, styles, functions, competencies, and historical examples of successful and diverse leaders. Collectively, the research findings on leadership provide a far more sophisticated and complex view of the phenomenon than most of the simplistic views presented in the popular press.

Some of the earliest studies on leadership include:


 * The Ohio State Leadership Studies which began in the 1940s and focused on how leaders could satisfy common group needs. The findings indicated that the two most important dimensions in leadership included: "initiating structure," and "consideration." These characteristics could be either high or low and were independent of one another.  The research was based on questionnaires to leaders and subordinates. These questionnaires are known as the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (LBDQ) and the Supervisor Behavior Description Questionnaire (SBDQ). By 1962, the LBDQ was on version XII.


 * The Michigan Leadership Studies which began in the 1950s and indicated that leaders could be classified as either "employee centered," or "job centered." These studies identified three critical characteristics of effective leaders: task oriented behavior, relationship-oriented behavior, and participative leadership.


 * McGregors Theory X & Theory Y developed by Douglas McGregor in the 1960s at MIT Sloan School of Management. These theories described employee motivation in the workforce. Both theories begin with the premise that the role of management is to assemble the factors of production, including people, for the economic benefit of the firm. Beyond this point, the two theories of management diverge.


 * Blake & McCanse Leadership Grid developed the orientation of "task orientation" and "people orientation" in leader behavior. They developed the leadership grid which focused on concern for results (on the one axis) and concern for people (on the other axis).

In addition to these studies, leadership has been examined from an academic perspective through several theoretical lenses:


 * Trait & Behavioral theories of Leadership: Attempt to describe the types of behavior and personality tendencies associated with effective leadership.


 * Situational & Contingency theories of Leadership: Incorporate environmental and situational considerations into leader behavior.


 * Functional Leadership theory: Suggests that a leader’s primary responsibility is to see that whatever is necessary in relation to group needs is taken care of.


 * Information-Processing Leadership theory: Focuses on the role of social perception in identifying leadership abilities.


 * Self Leadership theory: Although behaviorally oriented, the essence of self leadership theory is that behaviors are directed toward the attainment of super-ordinate goals.


 * Transactional & Transformational theories of Leadership: The transactional leader focuses on managerial reward and contingent valuation. The transformational leader focuses on motivation and goal attainment.

The first doctoral program in Leadership Studies was established at the University of San Diego in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences in 1979. The first undergraduate school of Leadership Studies was established at the University of Richmond (The Jepson School) in 1992. The Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond studies leadership as a process that can be taught. The growth of transpersonal psychology means that this field has relevance to Transpersonal business studies.

Notable leadership scholars

 * Bruce Avolio: Was Clifton Chair in Leadership at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Director of the Gallup Leadership Institute, and a Senior Research Scientist at the Gallup Organization. Currently the Executive Director of the Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking at the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business, Marion B. Ingersoll Professor, and Professor of Management at the University of Washington.
 * Bernard Bass: Was a distinguished professor emeritus in the School of Management at Binghamton University (State University of New York) and a member of the Academy of Senior Professionals at Eckerd College in Florida. He was also the founding director of the Center for Leadership Studies at Binghamton and founding editor of The Leadership Quarterly journal.
 * Warren Bennis: American scholar, organizational consultant and author, widely regarded as a pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership Studies. Bennis is University Professor and Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and Founding Chairman of The Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California.
 * Jean Lipman-Blumen: Thornton F. Bradshaw Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management Claremont Graduate University. In addition to her professorial roles at Claremont Graduate University, Professor Lipman-Blumen is co-founding director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Leadership at the Drucker Ito Graduate School of Management. She also is Director of the Achieving Styles Institute, a Pasadena-based leadership and management consulting group.
 * Stephen R. Covey: An international respected leadership authority, author of Principle Centered Leadership, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and The 8th Habit. Founder and vice chairman of FranklinCovey Company.
 * James McGregor Burns: Presidential biographer, authority on leadership studies, Woodrow Wilson Professor (emeritus) of Political Science at Williams College, and scholar at the James McGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland, College Park. He received a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1971 for his Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom 1940–1945.
 * Peter Drucker: Writer, management consultant, and self-described “social ecologist.” Widely considered to be the father of “modern management,” his 39 books and countless scholarly and popular articles explored how humans are organized across all sectors of society—in business, government and the nonprofit world.
 * Alice Eagly: Social psychologist who has published widely on the psychology of attitudes, especially attitude change and attitude structure. She is equally devoted to the study of gender and social behavior.
 * Ronald Heifitz: Co-founder of the Center for Public Leadership and King Hussein bin Talal Lecturer in Public Leadership at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
 * Robert J. House: Principal Investigator of the Global Leadership And Organizational Behavior Effectiveness Research Program (GLOBE) from 1993 through 2003. He was appointed the Joseph Frank Bernstein Professor Endowed Chair of Organization Studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1988. He has published 130 journal articles. In total, his articles have been reprinted in approximately 50 anthologies of readings in Management and Organizational Behavior
 * Jim Kouzes: Co-author with Barry Posner of the award-winning and best selling book, The Leadership Challenge, with over one million copies sold.
 * Craig L. Pearce: University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Formerly Professor of Management at the Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, Claremont Graduate University. He is currently the holder of the  Clifton Chair in Leadership at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Director of the Institute for Innovative Leadership and the author of Shared Leadership: Reframing the Hows and Whys of Leadership (2003) with Jay A. Conger.  His empirical work in the area of Shared Leadership has become the foundation to a new meta theory about how sharing leadership can affect organizational and team outcomes and performance.
 * Barry Posner: Dean of the Leavey School of Business as well as a Professor of Leadership at Santa Clara University.
 * George Reed: Faculty member in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. Before joining the faculty in 2007 he served for 27 years as a military police officer including six as the Director of Command and Leadership Studies at the U.S. Army War College. Recipient of the American Society for Public Administration Marshall Dimock Award for the best lead article in Public Administration Review, 2007.
 * Ronald Riggio: The Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology and Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College.
 * Joseph Rost: Was professor emeritus of leadership studies in the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego. Author of Leadership for the 21st Century.
 * Georgia Sorenson: Georgia Sorenson, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of leadership studies, founded the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership at the University of Maryland in 1980. It was the first academic institution to focus on leadership scholarship and education for emergent leaders, women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups.
 * Ralph Stogdill: With the publication of his first article on leadership, "Personal Factors Associated with Leadership: A Survey of the Literature," Ralph Stogdill became a leader in leadership research. This influential and much reprinted 1948 paper marked a turning point in Ralph's career, but more importantly it marked a turning point in the study of leadership.
 * Victor Vroom: Business school professor at the Yale School of Management. Vroom's primary research was on the expectancy theory of motivation, which attempts to explain why individuals choose to follow certain courses of action in organizations, particularly in decision-making and leadership. His most well-known books are Work and Motivation, Leadership and Decision Making, and The New Leadership. Vroom has also been a consultant to a number of corporations such as GE and American Express.
 * Gary Yukl: Professor of the University of Albany, is leading writer on organizational leadership.

Academic JOURNals

 * The International Journal of Leadership Studies: Representing the multidisciplinary field of leadership, the IJLS publishes theoretically grounded research that enhances knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of leadership at all levels within a variety of industries and organizations and seeks contributions that present leadership from different perspectives unique to different cultures, settings, and religions around the world.
 * The International Journal of Servant Leadership: The International Journal of Servant-Leadership is published by Gonzaga University in collaboration with the Larry Spears Center for Servant-leadership.
 * The Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies: The Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies is the Official Journal of the Midwest Academy of Management. The Journal publishes articles to advance the theory, research and practice of all aspects of leadership and organizations. Research results are preferred, but theoretical contributions and new applications are also appropriate. Although leadership topics are emphasized, any area of interest in organizational behavior, human resource management, strategy, international management, or entrepreneurship is also encouraged.
 * Journal of Leadership Studies: The mission of the Journal of Leadership Studies is to publish leadership research and theoretical contributions that bridge the gap between scholarship and practice and that exemplify critical inquiry into contemporary organizational issues and paradigms. The journal promotes interdisciplinary and interorganizational theory, fostering dialogue that transcends industry specific contexts and that explores leadership's role in improving organizational practices and human life. Published material in the journal will include research-based and theoretical papers that explicitly address leadership on various social, cultural, and organizational contexts.
 * Leadership: Leadership is an international, peer-reviewed journal designed to provide an ongoing forum for academic researchers to exchange information, insights and knowledge based on both theoretical development and empirical research on leadership. It will publish original, high quality articles that contribute to the advancement of the study of leadership. The journal will be global in orientation and focus.
 * The Leadership Quarterly: Is an international journal of political, social and behavioral science published in affiliation with the International Leadership Association (ILA).
 * Leadership and Organization Development Journal: The Leadership & Organization Development Journal explores behavioral and managerial issues relating to all aspects of leadership, and of individual and organization development, from a global perspective.
 * Journal of Leadership Education: An international, refereed journal that serves scholars and professional practitioners engaged in leadership education.

Associations and organizations

 * Association of Leadership Educators, Inc.
 * The Center for Creative Leadership
 * The Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership
 * Center for Leadership Studies
 * International Leadership Association (ILA)
 * LeadCap: Building a nation of leaders
 * National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs
 * National School of Leadership

Research centers

 * Northern Leadership Center at University of Alaska Fairbanks
 * Best Practice Institute
 * Center for Civic Leadership at Fort Hays State University
 * Center of Excellence in Research at National School of Leadership, India
 * Center for Leadership at Florida International University
 * Center for Leadership Studies at Binghamton University
 * Center for Leadership Studies at the University of Exeter (UK)
 * Institute for the Advanced Study of Management at the Drucker School of Management
 * The Institute for Innovative Leadership at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
 * Institute for Leadership Studies at Dominican University of California
 * Judkins Institute for Leadership Studies at Vanguard University
 * Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont Mckenna College
 * The Leadership Center Saint Mary's College of California
 * Leadership Institute at University of San Diego
 * Leadership Institute at University of Southern California
 * Leadership Research Institute

Educational materials

 * Leadership Sample Syllabi

Research methods in the study of leadership
Leadership has been studied using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (a combination of quantitative and qualitative) research methodologies. From a quantitative psychology orientation, statistical and mathematical modeling has been used in the development of leadership scales and in testing established leader evaluation tools. Survey methodology has also been widely used in leadership research. As such, traditional methods of analysis in survey research have also extended to the analysis of survey research within the study of leadership (e.g., cross-tabulations, ANOVAs, regression analysis, log-linear analysis, factor analysis, etc.). From a qualitative orientation, leadership research has included a host of research techniques: phenomenology, ethnography, grounded theory, interviews, case studies, historiography, etc.

Online searchable directory of leadership education programs
The International Leadership Association received a grant from the C. Charles Jackson Foundation to create an online searchable directory of leadership education programs. This resource launched in beta version in June 2010.

Academic programs
The following is a list of doctoral, masters, and undergraduate degree programs related to the study of leadership. With some notable exceptions (particularly in regard to the list of doctoral programs), this list does not include programs related to specific sub-areas of leadership (e.g., educational leadership, health care leadership, environmental leadership). The programs listed primarily focus on leadership, leadership studies, and organizational leadership.

Given that the study of leadership is interdisciplinary, leadership-related degree programs are often situated within various colleges, schools, and departments across different university campuses (e.g., Schools of Education at some universities, Business Schools at other universities, and Graduate and Professional Schools at still other universities). As such, at the doctoral level leadership related degree programs primarily include: Ph.D., Ed.D., and executive doctoral degrees (depending on the situation of the program within the university). At the masters level leadership related degree programs primarily include: Master of Science, Master of Arts, and executive Masters degrees. At the undergraduate level leadership related degree programs primarily include: Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees as well as leadership certificate and minor programs.

Doctoral programs related to the study of leadership

 * Alliant University: PhD in Leadership
 * Alvernia College: PhD in Leadership
 * Andrews University: PhD in Leadership
 * Antioch University: PhD in Leadership & Change
 * Arizona State University: Ed.D. in Leadership & Innovation
 * Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines): PhD in Leadership Studies
 * Barry University: PhD specialization in Leadership
 * Binghamton University: PhD in Organizational Behavior (specialization in Leadership & the Center for Leadership Studies)
 * Boston College: PhD in Organization Studies (specialization and faculty expertise in leadership)
 * Bowling Green State University: Ed.D. in Leadership Studies
 * California Institute of Integral Studies: PhD in Transformative Studies, (Hybrid Program)
 * Capella University: PhD in Organization and Management, Leadership Specialization
 * Cardinal Stritch University: PhD in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning & Service
 * Chicago School of Professional Psychology, The: PhD in Organizational Leadership
 * College of Notre Dame of Maryland: PhD in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations
 * Cranfield University (U.K.): PhD Managing Executive Learning, Management and Leadership Development, and Organizational Learning
 * Creighton University: Ed.D in Leadership
 * Dallas Baptist University: Ph.D and Ed.D in Leadership Studies
 * Eastern University: Ph.D in Organizational Leadership
 * Edgewood College: Ed.D in Educational Leadership
 * Gannon University: PhD in Organizational Learning and Leadership
 * George Washington University, The: Ed.D. Executive Leadership
 * Gonzaga University: PhD in Leadership Studies
 * Grand Canyon University: Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership
 * Illinois State University: Education/leadership (PhD in PK-12 Administration or PhD/Ed.M. in Higher Education Administration)
 * Indiana Institute of Technology: PhD in Global Leadership
 * Indiana University of Pennsylvania: PhD in Administration & Leadership Studies
 * Indiana Wesleyan University: Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership
 * James Madison University: PhD in Strategic Leadership
 * Lancaster University (U.K.): Management Learning and Leadership
 * Lincoln Memorial University: Ed.D. in Executive Leadership
 * Louisiana State University: PhD in Human Resource and Leadership Development
 * Marian University: PhD in Organizational Leadership
 * Mountain State University: Doctor of Executive Leadership
 * National School of Leadership, India: PhD in Leadership
 * North Carolina A&amp;T University: PhD in Leadership Studies
 * Northeasten University: Ed.D. with Organizational Leadership and Communication specialization


 * Northcentral University: PhD specialization in Organizational Leadership
 * Northwestern University: PhD in Management and Organizations and Sociology (concentration in Leadership)
 * Nova Southeastern University: Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership
 * Our Lady of the Lake University: PhD in Leadership Studies
 * Pepperdine University: Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership
 * Regent University: PhD and D.S.L. in Leadership Studies
 * Saint John Fisher College: Ed.D. in Executive Leadership
 * Saint Mary's University: Ed.D. in Leadership
 * Shenandoah University: DProf program in Organizational Leadership
 * Simmons College: PhD concentration in Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions
 * Spalding University: Ed.D. in Leadership Education
 * Stanford University: PhD in Organization Studies (Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies)
 * Teacher's College (Columbia University): PhD in Adult Learning and Leadership
 * Union Institute & University: PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Ethical & Creative Leadership
 * University of Arkansas: PhD in Public Policy with a specialization in Public Policy Leadership
 * University of Central Arkansas: PhD in Leadership Studies
 * University of Colorado, Colorado Springs: PhD in Leadership, Research, and Policy
 * University of Exeter (U.K.): PhD in Leadership Studies
 * University of the Incarnate Word: PhD Organizational Leadership
 * University of Laverne: Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership
 * University of Louisville: PhD in Educational Leadership and Organization Development
 * University of Maryland: Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership and Policy Studies Specialization
 * University of Maryland, Eastern Shore: PhD in Organizational Leadership
 * University of Nebraska, Lincoln: PhD in Management with Leadership emphasis
 * University of Oklahoma (offered only to military): PhD in Organizational Leadership
 * University of San Diego: PhD in Leadership Studies
 * University of San Francisco: Ed.D. in Organizations & Leadership
 * University of Victoria (Canada): PhD in Leadership Studies (focus on social justice, school and/or community emphasis and life-long learning)
 * Vanderbilt University: PhD in Community Research and Action
 * Walden University: PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Leadership and Organizational Change Specialization
 * Western Kentucky University: Ed.D. with Organizational Leader specialty
 * Wilmington University: Ed.D in Organizational Leadership

Masters programs related to the study of leadership

 * Albertus Mangus College: M.A. in Leadership
 * American College, The: M.S. in Leadership
 * Antioch University Seattle.M.Sc Management and Leadership
 * Augsburg College: M.A. in Leadership
 * Asbury Theological Seminary: M.A in Christian Leadership
 * Azusa Pacific University: M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Bastyr University: M.A. Applied Behavioral Science Degree in Consulting & Coaching in Organizations
 * Bellevue University: M.A. in Leadership
 * Bethel University: M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Biola University: M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Cabrini College: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * California Institute of Integral Studies: M.A. in Transformative Leadership (Online Program)
 * Cameron University: Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
 * Canisius College: Master's in Communication and Leadership
 * Central Connecticut State University: Master of Science in Educational Leadership
 * Chapman University: M.A. Organizational Leadership
 * Chatham University: M.A. in Leadership and Organizational Transformation
 * College Of Mount Saint Joseph: M.S. Organizational Leadership
 * College Of Saint Catherine, The: M.A. Organizational Leadership
 * College of Saint Mary: Master in Organizational Leadership
 * Colorado State University (online): M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Daemen College: M.S. in Executive Leadership and Change
 * Dominican University: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Duquesne University: Several Master's Degree Programs
 * Drake University: Adult Learning and Organizational Performance
 * Eastern University: M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Fort Hays State University: Department of Leadership Studies, Master of Liberal Studies
 * Forum for the Future/Middlesex University (UK): MA in Leadership in Sustainable Development
 * Fresno Pacific University: Master's in Leadership and Organizational Studies
 * Fuller Theological Seminary Master of Arts in Global Leadership
 * Geneva College: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Gonzaga University: M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Hawai'i Pacific University: M.A. in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development
 * Illinois State University: Education Administration and Foundations (Education/leadership: PK-12 Administration and College Student Personnel Administration
 * Indiana University-Purdue University: M.S. Organizational Leadership and Supervision
 * Karlshochschule International University: Consecutive Master (M. A.) in Leadership
 * LaGrange University: Master's in Organizational Leadership
 * Lincoln Christian University (Lincoln, Illinois): M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Lewis University: M.A. in Leadership
 * Lourdes College: Master of Organizational Leadership
 * Mansfield University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Marietta College: Executive Masters in Leadership Studies
 * Marquette University: Master in Leadership Studies
 * Marshall University: M.A. in Leadership Studies
 * Maryville University: M.A. in Leadership Education
 * Mercy College: Master of Organizational Leadership
 * Mercyhurst College: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Mountain State University: M.S.S.L. in Strategic Leadership
 * National School of Leadership, India: Master of Leadership Sciences (MLS)
 * National University: M.S. in Organizational Leadership


 * Neuman College: M.S. in Strategic Leadership
 * North Central College: Master of Leadership Degree
 * Northeastern University: M.S. in Leadership
 * Northern Kentucky University: M.S. in Executive Leadership and Organizational Change
 * Northwestern College: Master of Organizational Leadership
 * Northwestern University: M.S. Learning and Organizational Change
 * Norwich University: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Nova Southeastern University: M.S. in Leadership
 * Nyack College: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Our Lady of the Lake University: M.S. in Leadership Studies
 * Palm Beach Atlantic University: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Pennsylvania State University: Master of Leadership Development
 * Pfeiffer University At Charlotte: M.S. Organizational Change and Leadership
 * Purdue University: M.S. in Technology, Organizational Leadership Concentration
 * Quinnipiac University: M.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * Regent University: M.A. in Leadership Studies
 * Rider University: M.A. in Organizational Leadership
 * Roberts Wesleyan University: M.S. in Strategic Leadership
 * Royal Roads University: M.A. in Leadership
 * Saint Edwards: M.S. in Organizational Leadership and Ethics
 * Saint Ambrose University: Master of Organizational Leadership
 * Saint Mary's College of California:
 * Saint Mary of the Woods College: Master in Leadership Development
 * Saint Mary's College of California: M.A. in Leadership
 * Seton Hall University: M.A. in Strategic Communication and Leadership
 * Shenandoah University: MS in Organizational Leadership
 * Southern New Hampshire University: M.S. Organizational Leadership
 * Stanford University: M.A. in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies
 * Trinity Western University: M.A. in Leadership
 * University of Exeter (UK): PgCert/PgDip/MA Leadership Studies by Distance Learning
 * University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign: Educational Organization and Leadership
 * University of Pennsylvania: Master of Organizational Dynamics
 * University of Saint Francis: M.A. in Leadership Studies
 * University of San Diego: M.A. in Leadership Studies
 * University of San Diego: M.S. in Executive Leadership (School of Business)
 * University of San Diego: M.S. in Global Leadership (School of Business)
 * University of San Francisco: M.A. in Organizations & Leadership
 * University of South Florida: MSM in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
 * University of Southern California: Executive Masters of Leadership
 * University of Southern Maine: Master of Leadership Studies
 * University of Texas, El Paso: Master of Leadership Studies
 * University of Victoria (Canada): Master's Degree in Leadership Studies
 * Vanderbilt University: M.Ed. program in Organizational Leadership
 * Virginia Commonwealth University: M.Ed. Leadership Studies
 * Viterbo University: M.A. in Servant Leadership
 * Western Kentucky University: MA Leadership Dynamics and Graduate Certificate in Leadership Studies
 * Widener University: MS in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership or Psychology Doctorate and MBA Joint Degree Program
 * Woodbury College: Master of Organizational Leadership
 * Worcester Polytechnic Institute: M.S. in Operations Design and Leadership

Undergraduate programs related to the study of leadership

 * Albertson College: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Alice Lloyd College: Leadership Education Program
 * Appalachian State University: Minor in Leadership Studies
 * Asbury College: Leadership Studies Concentration
 * Baldwin-Wallace College: The Brain Leadership Program, Minor in Leadership Studies
 * Bellevue University: Leadership B.A., College of Arts and Sciences
 * Brescia University College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada:Major in Dimensions of Leadership
 * California State University, Chico: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Central Michigan University: Leadership Minor
 * Chapman University: Bachelor of Arts, Organizational Leadership Minor
 * Christopher Newport University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Claflin University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Columbia College: Leadership Studies
 * East Tennessee State University: Minor in Leadership Studies
 * Fitchburg State College: Leadership Academy
 * Fort Hays State University: Department of Leadership Studies
 * Georgetown University: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Leadership)
 * Graceland University: Leadership Minor
 * Hardin-Simmons University: Minor in Leadership Studies
 * Hollins University: Certificate in Leadership Studies
 * Humboldt State University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Idaho State University Minor in Leadership Studies
 * Indiana University, College of Arts and Sciences: Leadership Minor
 * Indiana University, School of Health: Leadership Minor
 * Kansas State University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Lincoln Memorial University: Bachelors in Management and Leadership Studies
 * Marietta College: Leadership Studies Major & Minor
 * Marquette University: Organizations & Leadership
 * Methodist College: Tally Leadership Program
 * Middle Tennessee State University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Mississippi State University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Morehouse University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Mount Ida College: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Mountain State University: Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
 * National University: Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
 * North Central College: Organizational Leadership Minor
 * North Central University: Leadership Development Minor
 * Northern Kentucky University: Bachelors in Organizational Leadership
 * Peace College: Leadership Studies Major
 * Pennsylvania State University: Bachelors in Organizational Leadership


 * Purdue University: Organizational Leadership/Supervision
 * Regent University: B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Management
 * Renaissance College, University of New Brunswick: Bachelor of Leadership Studies
 * St. Norbert College: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Seattle Pacific University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Texas A&M University: Leadership Studies Concentration
 * University of California, Berkeley: Technology & Leadership Studies Program (Engineering)
 * Thomas Edison State College, B.S. in Organizational Leadership
 * University of California, Davis: Contemporary Leadership Minor
 * University of Central Florida: The LEAD Scholars Program
 * University of Colorado at Boulder: Presidents Leadership Class and the Leadership Residential Academic Program at Williams Village
 * University of Denver: Pioneer Leadership Program Minor
 * University of Kansas: Leadership Studies Minor
 * University of Maryland: Minor in Leadership Studies
 * University of Minnesota: Leadership Minor
 * University of Missouri: Leadership & Public Service Minor
 * University of Nebraska, Lincoln: Leadership & Communication Minor
 * University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Leadership and Civic Engagement Minor
 * University of North Carolina, Wilmington: Leadership Studies Minor
 * University of Northern Iowa: Leadership Studies Minor & Certificate
 * University of Rhode Island: Leadership Minor
 * University of Richmond: Jepson School of Leadership Studies
 * University of San Diego: Leadership Studies Minor
 * University of South Dakota: Leadership Studies Minor
 * University of South Florida: Leadership Studies Minor
 * University of Southern California: Critical Approaches to Leadership Minor
 * University of Southern Maine: Leadership and Organizational Studies, B.A.
 * University of Texas, Permian Basin: Leadership Studies Major & Minor
 * University of Utah: Minor in Leadership Studies
 * Virginia Military Institute: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Residential Leadership Community of Virginia Tech
 * Wartburg College: Wartburg College Leadership Certificate Program
 * Washington State University: Leadership Minor
 * Western Kentucky University: Certificate in Leadership Studies
 * Westminster College: Leadership Studies Minor
 * West Virginia University: Leadership Studies Minor
 * Williams College: Leadership Studies Concentration
 * Wright State University: Organizational Leadership Major