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 nationally recognized McDonough Leadership Program offers a major that combines a range of international studies courses and foreign language with a rigorous leadership development component. 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.

Check Out the Four-Year Plan for the Major!

Requirements for the Major

Successful Application and Acceptance into the McDonough Leadership Program
Participation in the EXCEL Workshop (the orientation event for incoming McDonough Scholars)

Coursework

LEAD 101 (Foundations of Leadership)
LEAD 103 (Organizational Leadership)
LEAD 140 (Leadership Practicum I)
LEAD 201 (Theories and Models of Leadership)
LEAD 203 (Global Leadership)
LEAD 240 (Leadership Practicum II)
LEAD 301 (Ethical Leadership)

LEAD 403 (Senior Capstone Seminar)

POLS 130 (International Relations)
HIST 121 (History of World Civilizations: 1815 to Present)
POLS 340 (International Political Economy)
COMM 385 (Intercultural Communication)

Foreign Language (Four semesters or equivalent of any language other than English)

Area Studies Courses (Choose ONE: Latin America, Europe, Asia)

One Content Elective Course (See College Catalog List)

Comprehensive Leadership Oral Exam (Pass/High Pass)

International Experiential Component: One of the following (Internship Abroad, Study Abroad, Community Service Project Abroad)

Service-Learning: 125 hours of approved community service.

Learning Outcomes:

The McDonough Leadership Program is structured around three pillars: Knowledge (expanded knowledge of leadership concepts, theories, and models); Action (expanded leadership skills through guided experiential opportunities -- critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, oral communication); and Growth (the attainment of "Leadership Wisdom" through reflection, coaching, and mentoring).

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Successful Alumni

“The liberal arts naturally develop cross-over skills in many disciplines, which benefits a growing millennial management workforce. The more you can claim a skill or expertise, the more desirable a graduate becomes as a future employee.”

-Drew Schulte ’12, Support Team Lead at Athlinks

“My experience at Marietta pushed me to grow and succeed both academically and personally. As a student, Marietta College held me to a high standard of academic rigor that challenged me to do better rather than settle for the bare minimum.”

-Josh Maxwell ’11, Residence Life Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

"Marietta College really has a way of connecting you with the resources and people that will help you reach your goals."

-Alina Kielbasa ’15, Senior Research Associate at Hanover Research in Washington, D.C.

“At Marietta College, I was able to craft a one-of-a-kind experience — both on campus and around the world — that prepared me for my work in the newsroom.”

-Mary Roberts ’14, Video Producer, Marietta College

-Drew Schulte ’12, Support Team Lead at Athlinks

Just six months after his graduation, Drew Schulte ’12 found a job perfectly tailored to his experience at Marietta College at the Colorado Outdoor Education Center. Drew combined his skills as a student-athlete as well as his education in International Leadership Studies and found work in both the endurance sports market, where he helps facilitate road trail running, biking, and triathlons, and as well as at an outdoor education facility that works with businesses, schools, and professionals to help hone and develop leadership skills. Drew is pursuing a Master's of Business Administration in the Outdoor Industry at Western Colorado University, with various aspirations in business, protecting the outdoors, and playing outside.

-Josh Maxwell ’11, Residence Life Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Josh Maxwell supervises a 700-bed residence hall located a mile away from UW-Milwaukee's main campus and he supervises a team of 17 student staff (resident asssistants) and one full-time staff member (an associate residence life coordinator). He also supervises the overall community development of the building, preside over behavior meetings for college students who violating housing policies, and serve in our on-call rotation to address student and facility issues/emergencies after hours among other duties. Since leaving Marietta, he earned a graduate degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. “Between my wife, best friends, fraternity brothers, and mentors, I'll always owe Marietta an eternal debt of gratitude.”

"Marietta College really has a way of connecting you with the resources and people that will help you reach your goals."

-Alina Kielbasa ’15, Senior Research Associate at Hanover Research in Washington, D.C.

"I wanted to do an independent research project on Tuvula — a remote island in the Pacific. It is one of the least visited countries in the world, but the people at Marietta helped me do it. Dr. (Robert) McManus single handedly convinced me I could do it, and the Education Abroad Office did some amazing things to make sure I fulfilled this goal. At the time, all of it seemed so much bigger than me, but the people at Marietta made me believe that I could do it."

“At Marietta College, I was able to craft a one-of-a-kind experience — both on campus and around the world — that prepared me for my work in the newsroom.”

-Mary Roberts ’14, Video Producer, Marietta College

Mary Roberts, a native of Circleville, Ohio, returned to her alma mater in September 2018 as a video producer. She creates videos for the College to help the marketing team tell the Marietta College story. Previously, she worked with the North Platte News and Information Network as a Video Journalist. She created digital content for NBC, FOX and CBS affiliates in Nebraska, including KNOP, KIIT, and KOLN. Mary graduated with honors from Marietta with a B.A. in Broadcasting and International Leadership Studies. She also spent a semester studying Spanish at La Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru. In 2015, Mary served as a volunteer English teacher through WorldTeach. She taught more than 400 students in an underserved public school in Barranquilla, Colombia.

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