What is Global Leadership?
Whether you plan to travel the globe or enhance your career options in the United States, global leadership education is the reality of a new century marked by interdependence, rapid technological changes and the need to bridge cultural divides. Marietta's program is one of the top undergraduate leadership programs in the nation.
The McDonough Leadership Program is structured around three pillars: Knowledge, Action and Growth. Students gain an expanded knowledge of leadership concepts, theories, and models, as well as expanded leadership skills through guided experiential opportunities, which develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, oral communication. The growth potion of the program focuses on the attainment of "Leadership Wisdom" through reflection, coaching, and mentoring.




What will you learn as a Global Leadership major?
Marietta’s nationally recognized McDonough Leadership Program offers a major that combines a range of international studies courses and foreign languages with a rigorous leadership development component.
The Global Leadership Studies major also includes an international experience component in which students can choose between an Education Abroad (semester or year-long experience), a summer internship abroad, or an extensive service trip abroad.
McDonough Scholars
As a McDonough Scholar, you will become part of a tight-knit cohort of students who take leadership courses and field experiences together until they graduate from Marietta College. Graduates of the Global Leadership Studies major pursue a wide range of careers, including foreign service, diplomacy, law, international business, nonprofit work and teaching English abroad.
EXCEL
Students who apply and are accepted into the Leadership program participate in the EXCEL Workshop — the special orientation event for incoming McDonough Scholars. Students complete a foreign language requirement, as well as choose an area studies focus in either Latin America, Europe or Asia. Other program requirements include a comprehensive leadership oral exam, an international experiential component and complete 125 hours of approved community service.
More Info
Check Out the Four-Year Plan for the Major!
- Outcomes — Internships
- AmeriCorps
- British Parliament
- Disney World
- DriveSPEED Design
- FedEx
- FOX News
- HJ Heinz
- Honewell Analytic
- The Study Abroad Foundation
- White House
- Outcomes — Graduate Programs
- Georgetown University — MBA (Global Business)
- Harvard University — Law School
- Emory University — Law School
- Harvard University — Master of Theological Studies
- Baylor University — Master of Higher Education Administration
- George Washington University — M.S. in Forensics Sciences
- University of Virginia — Master of Public Policy
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology — Ph.D. in in International Psychology
FAQs
- Will I be required to complete an internship to graduate?
It is not required, but it is one of three options you must complete to graduate. The international experience options, which must be approved by the program chair, are:
- Study Abroad
- Summer Internship Abroad
- Summer Community Service Abroad
- Are there specific scholarships for Global Leadership students?
Yes! However, the majority of the scholarships are awarded to students after their first year at Marietta College.
- The Carl L. Broughton Scholarship is awarded to superior students planning to enter the world of business and who intend to participate in programs for business through the McDonough Center.
- The Sherrill and Diana Drake Cleland Scholarship is given to a student majoring in International Leadership Studies or minoring in Leadership Studies.
- The Geon Leadership Scholarship recognizes emerging leaders at Marietta College, especially qualified students in the McDonough Leadership Program.
- The Study Abroad Grant is awarded to a full-time student to help offset the cost of studying abroad.
- The Spirit of McDonough Award is a certificate of recognition given to students in the first and second years of the McDonough Leadership Program who have distinguished themselves through their commitment to citizen-leadership development.
- The William O. Whetsell Community Service Award recognizes a graduating leadership student who has exemplified the service mission of the McDonough Center in the Marietta community. This is a cash prize.
- The Bernard P. McDonough Leadership Prize is a cash prize given to a graduating leadership student who has distinguished himself or herself as a citizen-leader throughout his or her four years in the McDonough Leadership Program.