Master of Arts in Women's Leadership

Developing and understanding women's leadership requires a foundational knowledge of leadership theory and practical skills. The M.A. in Women's Leadership combines a first-rate education with highly qualified, supportive multi-disciplinary faculty, hands-on experience, and career-enhancing skills.

This graduate degree will be interdisciplinary, and although students will study theoretical backgrounds, the degree will emphasize application and experiential learning. Study and application of women's leadership principles allow graduate students to use knowledge of women's issues as a vital force for change in today's world.

At the heart of this degree is a women's leadership practicum requirement. The practicum affords unique opportunities far beyond the classroom walls in women's centres, businesses, non-profits, community arts councils and museums, legal offices, domestic violence shelters, and more. A commitment to improving the social, economic, and public policies supporting women is a more important admission criterion than a particular academic discipline background.

This interdisciplinary program will provide research opportunities and educational exposure to leadership theory, multiple perspectives, and cross-disciplinary scholarship modelled by faculty at The W who are already experts in research and publication on women's issues in health, education, law, history, literature, management, entrepreneurship, medicine, and government.

There are a variety of opportunities to work with existing programming at The W. For example, W.S. graduate students will help plan and implement Mississippi N.E.W. Leadership programs for undergraduate women in partnership with The W's Center for Outreach and Innovation, the Center for Women's Research and Public Policy and the federal Stennis Center for Public Policy. They will be active mentors in The W Leadership Program.

Another practicum option will be to develop content modules for the bipartisan women's "READY TO RUN" program in partnership with the Stennis Institute for Government at M.S.U.

Master's candidates may also partner with senior women's studies majors and minors in projects, promoting both mentorship and collaborative research.

Mississippi University for Women (MUW) provides high-quality undergraduate and graduate education for women and men in various liberal arts and professional programs while maintaining its historical commitment to academic and leadership development for women. Mississippi University for Women emphasizes a personalized learning environment in all of its educational programs offered through the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education, College of Business and Professional Studies, and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Mississippi University for Women delivers selected programs and courses through distance education formats to provide educational opportunities throughout Mississippi and the United States while addressing the unique educational and public service needs of northeast Mississippi and adjoining counties in northwest Alabama. Mississippi University for Women supports research, scholarship, and creativity to enhance faculty development and student learning and advance knowledge in its disciplines.

Today we offer men and women a distinctive education that features class-sizes designed to make education personal - almost 60% of our classes have fewer than 20 students; professors who are committed to mentor students, a curriculum that stretches intellect and instills leadership, and a community that is as energetic as it is welcoming.

Our three colleges feature more than 50 outstanding majors and concentrations. Outside of class, more than 75 campus organizations make campus life dynamic, interesting, and fun.