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About the Communication and Organizational Leadership Master's Degree

Why Choose Cedarville’s Online MA in Communication and Organizational Leadership (MACOL)?

Because as a leader today, you need more than just good ideas — you need the skills to lead with conviction and influence your organizational culture for good.

In a world overwhelmed with noise, employers are looking for leaders who can cut through the clutter, share their vision clearly, and build strong, purpose-driven teams. Cedarville’s fully online, 33-credit program will equip you to do just that.

Through this biblically grounded degree, you’ll:

  • Strengthen your communication skills to connect and lead with impact
  • Learn to manage complex team dynamics with integrity and wisdom
  • Develop strategic thinking to drive meaningful change in your organization

Choose from four tracks to customize your degree:

  • Professional Leadership
  • Digital Communication and Marketing 
  • Healthcare Management
  • Social Media and Cybersecurity
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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

  • Biblical Worldview
    All courses are built on the solid foundation of Scripture.

  • Online
    All courses are offered in an online format, with flexible part-time and full-time completion options.

  • Cutting-Edge
    This combined degree and its unique tracks make the MACOL one of a kind among evangelical Christian universities.

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Biblical – Communication is central to the Christian life. The MACOL will prepare you to make a Kingdom difference by communicating and leading with both conviction and compassion. Each course is infused with truth from God’s Word, which is the foundation for everything you will learn. 

Academically Relevant – Not only will you receive an education grounded in biblical truth, you’ll also engage with the cutting edge of communication theory and practice. Our professors will equip you with the knowledge to speak thoughtfully about today’s communication challenges and to develop practical strategies for addressing them.

Supportive — Your dedicated program advisor will support you while you pursue your degree and balance your studies with other commitments.

Customizable – You will tailor your degree to your unique God-given gifts and career goals by choosing one of four tracks: professional leadership, digital communication and marketing, healthcare management, or social media and cybersecurity.

Online – Courses are offered in a convenient online format so you can study from anywhere in the world.

Flexible — No matter what you’re balancing with your studies, you’ll have the freedom to fit your studies into your life. With seven-week online courses you can take at your own pace, you can complete the 33-credit MACOL degree in under two years.

Practical  — You’ll be equipped to create a better system of communication within your organization. Learn to create an organizational culture where every member can flourish. During your studies in the MACOL program, you’ll develop both the soft skills needed to lead well and the biblical, ethical framework to use them in a way that glorifies God.

Affordable — The MACOL is within reach with affordable tuition and available financial aid.

What Can You Do With a MACOL?

A master’s degree in communication and organizational leadership will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities. Here is a sampling of positions that the MACOL will prepare you for:

  • Chief Communications Officer
  • Vice President of Marketing and Communications 
  • Social Media Strategist
  • Digital Media Manager
  • Communications Manager
  • Healthcare Communications Director
  • Nonprofit Executive Director
  • Healthcare Policy Analyst
  • Healthcare Program Coordinator
  • Cybersecurity Communications Specialist
  • Social Media Security Analyst

Admission, Costs and Aid, Start Dates

Admission Requirements — Get to know the MACOL’s admission requirements, then start your free application.

MACOL Admission Requirements

Costs and Financial Aid — Your decision to pursue quality, Christian graduate education is a valuable investment in your career and development. Cedarville strives to help you make the most of that investment with competitively priced programs and financial aid options.

MACOL Cost Information

Program Start Dates — Applications are accepted throughout the year. You can enroll and begin classes in August, October, January, March, May, or July.

Program Curriculum

You’ll take 21 credits (eight core courses) as part of the 33-credit Master of Arts in Communication and Organizational Leadership:

  • Communication Theory and Leadership
  • Communication Research Methods
  • Team Dynamics
  • Strategic Planning and Communication
  • Public Opinion and Communication
  • Managing the Organizational Message
  • Exploring Communication Literature
  • Communication Leadership in Context

Then, you will customize your degree by choosing a 12-credit track based on your career goals:

Professional Leadership

  • Biblical Leadership
  • Project Management
  • Management and Leadership of Organizations
  • Applied Leadership

Digital Communication and Marketing

  • Social Media Analytics and Campaigns
  • Strategic Marketing Planning
  • Responding to the Marketplace
  • Project Management

Healthcare Management

  • Healthcare Systems
  • Healthcare Policy and Data Analysis
  • Quality Management in Healthcare
  • Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Social Media and Cybersecurity

  • Social Media Analytics and Campaigns
  • Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • Foundations of Risk Management
  • Enterprise Security Architecture

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers graduate and undergraduate programs with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you choose the degree or program that is the best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Graduate
  • Online
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From Our Faculty:

  • In today’s world, leadership is often evaluated based on the success of a cause and its results. Our program seeks to go beyond this by ensuring that both the cause and the means to achieve it are rooted in a biblical foundation, enabling leaders to make decisions that help both their organizations and communities flourish.

    Cedarville’s mission is to educate students who will lead and serve in all areas of life, and this program furthers that mission by offering a Christ-centered approach to communication. In an increasingly polarized world, the need for leaders who can communicate truth and grace has never been greater. Our program empowers students to navigate the complexities of modern leadership with a biblical perspective.
    Andrew Harris, PhD, Program Director, Associate Professor of Communication
    Andrew Harris
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Program Contacts

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Kelley Anderson

Graduate Enrollment Advisor for Business, Communication, and Innovation

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Nick Carrington, PhD

Associate Professor of Communication

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Andrew J. Harris, PhD

Associate Professor of Communication

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Maggie Hess

Director of Graduate Admissions - Online and Ministry Programs

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Tiffany Thomson, PhD

Assistant Professor of Communication

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Robert W. Plaster School of Business

Program News

  • The Scharnberg Business and Communication Center with campus clock and torch banner in foreground.

    Trustees Approve Seminary Launch, Advance Strategic Growth Initiatives

    Cedarville University’s Board of Trustees approved strategic initiatives supporting long-term growth, including launching a seminary and expanding academic programs. Trustees also approved a new budget, faculty hires, promotions and measures to maintain affordability.
  • Jon Greenwood

    CU Lead Launches to Develop Trusted Leaders

    In a world hungry for integrity, humility and purpose in its leadership, Cedarville University is responding with action. CU Lead — a new leadership initiative grounded in biblical principles — is equipping students and professionals to serve others, foster trust and deliver lasting results.