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As an institutionally accredited university, GCU emphasizes quality education that prepares our students to make positive contributions in their field. In addition, GCU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. Some of the core programs in our business college have earned accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Visit the Colangelo College of Business accreditation page to learn more.
Pursue your dream of stepping into a leadership role and effecting positive organizational change
During your coursework for this MS/MBA program, you will explore leadership styles and consider how to refine your own leadership skills.
You will examine servant leadership in the context of its biblical basis. You will be required to consider how to embody the principles of servant leadership in a way that empowers people and communities.
The leadership competencies you will be taught are immediately applicable to your current career and include:
Critical thinking and analysis
Interpretation
Ethical problem-solving
By itself, the MBA degree is a potentially valuable credential that may help you in a demanding and diverse workforce.1 Earning a dual degree will further set you apart from other candidates. By completing this joint degree program, you may demonstrate your commitment toward exceptional management, efficient operations and ethical decision-making.
Some of the career paths that may be related to this program can include the following:
Administrative services manager
General and operations manager
Human resources manager
Management analyst
Chief executive
Sales manager
Training and development manager
Personal service manager
Logisticians
Project management specialist
Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialist
Median annual wage for top executives as of May 20232
Number of new jobs estimated for top executives from 2022 to 20323
1 Hayes, A. (2023, April 30). Is An MBA Worth It? Investopedia. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
2 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Top Executives as of May 2023, retrieved June 5, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as top executives, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.
3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Top Executives, retrieved June 5, 2024.
Many professionals may decide to earn a graduate degree in a business-related area when they feel they are ready to pursue potential career advancement, such as by stepping into a leadership role. You can set yourself apart from the crowd by earning both an MBA and an MSL degree simultaneously. Demonstrate your commitment to professional excellence and continuing development by advancing your credentials. At GCU, you will have opportunities to reflect upon various leadership styles and consider how to improve your own leadership skills.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) are degrees that naturally complement each other. The Colangelo College of Business at Grand Canyon University has blended them into a dual program that can provide opportunities for you to accelerate your learning. Work toward a career in business leadership and help the future of business management.
This dual degree program is a comprehensive course of study that examines core principles in finance, economics and marketing. GCU’s Christian community emphasizes the values of servant leadership and ethical decision-making within business contexts.
Graduate students choose the degree programs at GCU in part because of the convenience and flexibility of the online learning environment. You can benefit from being able to access the coursework from virtually anywhere on a schedule that fits your needs. With our digital learning platform, you’ll become a member of a supportive and engaged online learning community. Connect to qualified instructors and enjoy thoughtful discussions with your peers as you work toward dual degree completion at GCU.
Online: $665 per credit [More Info]
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
To better inform your development of your career plans, GCU has compiled the following frequently asked questions and answers.
While dual programs are often demanding and time-consuming, earning two degrees at the same time may help you pursue career advancement prospects. Enhancing your academic credentials may be well worth your efforts, as it can differentiate you from other applicants when applying for a job.
An MS in Leadership degree focuses on the core aspects of leadership studies, helping you gain relevant knowledge and applicable skills in that area. An MBA in Leadership covers a more diverse set of business topics outside of solely leadership. The joint degree programs available online are typically distinct but may complement each other depending on your career objectives.
A dual degree program, such as the MS/MBA dual degree from GCU, lets you earn two credentials in your chosen field. When you pursue a dual degree, you’re working on two separate degrees from two departments or colleges simultaneously. The dual degree unites two programs and coordinates classes with a set of unified curriculum.
If you enroll in a joint degree program, it is indeed possible to earn both an MS and an MBA simultaneously. Typically, a joint degree program will require more credits for completion, which can increase the amount of time it takes to graduate.
The MS/MBA dual program at GCU begins with fundamental coursework intended to build a strong academic framework. The business leadership curriculum emphasizes communication strategies for connecting with audiences and various stakeholders. Servant leadership is another major focus of the joint degree program.
You will examine core competencies such as:
As you progress through the MBA/MSL coursework, you will conduct an in-depth examination of advanced principles of leadership and business management. Economics, marketing management, managerial finance and operations management are all core subject areas you will explore.
Other key concepts you will be taught include:
