How Long Does It Take to Learn Leadership?

While recently teaching in a week-long leadership class, several of the students complained to the organization’s training coordinator (after just two days in class when they signed up for five), saying they felt the “topic” of leadership could be “covered” in the first three days and that a full week of leadership training was “stretching it out.”?These comments made me very curious about what their expected outcomes were of a week-long leadership class, which sparked this question:?How long does it take to learn leadership??

I asked this to one of my colleagues, Dr. Jeremy McMullen, a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, and a Master in Arts in Educational Leadership and he said, “It’s a lifelong process.”??I love this answer because it is simple, straight forward and it is just that, a life-long process.?Leadership is learned behavior.?Wouldn’t it be nice if it could be “covered” in just a few days?

Leadership is Both Science and Art

Leadership is both science and art.?There are scientific theories that must be artfully applied in leadership which originate in other disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and behavioral sciences along with those that are emerging through the concentrated study of leadership and the leadership processes, such as a focus on followership.?The study of leadership is so different from other sciences that it should be recognized as a specific, stand-alone, discipline of “leaderology.”? For a person to be able to apply these scientific theories first they need to know the terminology, the basics of the theory and theoretical approach, and how to evaluate the effect of the application to the other situational factors.?Then, they need to learn how to apply it.?

Much like an artist attempting to paint a picture and apply the color wheel, spatial perspective and vanishing points, lighting and shading to create a recognizable image that can be used.?Just like an artist’s artwork, leadership develops and changes as the leader learns and applies new scientific theories to their practice of leading.?This process of learning leadership is not a finite process, but an ongoing process that changes and morphs based on the leaders, the followers, and the situation.?The leadership process is also influenced by the inputs, throughputs, and outcomes of the open system model of the leadership process which can take years to happen.?

But to learn leadership, as specified in terms of formal education, can take anywhere from two to sixteen years, depending on how much you want to learn and what level of degree you want to attain.?College degrees generally fall into four categories: associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral. Each college degree level varies in length, requirements, and outcomes.?Let’s look at the various levels of leadership education available in the U.S.?

Leadership College Degrees in Order from Lowest Level to Highest Level:

Keep in mind, this is a general description and college degrees have unique prerequisites, curricula, requirements, and outcomes, all of which vary by level, and by institution.?Most undergraduate programs are four years or less.?Graduate programs can run from 12 months to 10 years.?There are also special “graduate certificate” programs which range from one to two years, in addition to or in conjunction with the degree programs.

Leadership Associate Degrees?(Average - Two Years)

Associate degrees fall into three categories:?Associate of Applied Science?(AAS), Associate of Arts (AA), and Associate of Science (AS).?The typical length of time to complete these degrees is one to two years.?The typical required credits to complete each of these is sixty credit hours.

Normally offered by community and technical colleges,?an associate degree?includes roughly two years of coursework. Depending on the discipline, students may also complete practical requirements, internships and practicums which are common in healthcare and?technology programs.?An applied associate degree in accounting, education, or technical fields can lead to entry-level positions in finance, teaching, or information and computer technology.

An associate of arts includes foundational coursework for a Bachelor of Arts, while an associate of science degree equips students with skills to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree.?Many?associate degrees?prepare students to enter the workforce immediately upon completion. ?There are several AA and AS degree offerings in Leadership, although most are online through community and private colleges.

Leadership Bachelor’s Degree (Average - Four years)

Many different leadership degrees are offered by private and public colleges and universities.?Bachelor's degrees include?roughly 120 credit hours of coursework. To enroll in a bachelor's degree program, students need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. ?Individuals with an associate degree can also enter a bachelor's program, often transferring as many as sixty credit hours into the degree.

There are traditional (face to face), hybrid, and online bachelor’s degrees in diverse types of leadership such as:?Organizational Leadership, Strategic Leadership, Public Leadership, Sports Leadership, and Educational Leadership to name a few.?

The first two years of a bachelor's degree consist of general education requirements and introductory classes for a student's major. During the second two years, students take advanced courses in their major. Learners may complete a cumulative capstone project, paper, or practical requirement.

With a bachelor's degree, learners can enter careers in business, information and computer technology, education, and healthcare. Depending on the field, a bachelor's degree is sufficient for mid-level and managerial positions.

Leadership Master's Degree (Average - Two Years)

The variety of master's degrees attests to the unique requirements, outcomes, and opportunities associated with earning a master's degree.?Master's programs?blend coursework, projects, and research requirements. Master's programs normally last two years and end with a thesis, capstone project, or cumulative examination to prove the “mastery” of the topic. ?Applicants to master's programs need at least a bachelor's degree.

Working professionals and individuals who want to move into senior leadership and administrative roles benefit from earning a master's degree. ?A master's degree also leads to doctoral work in a specific discipline. Students can?apply for scholarships?to help pay for their master's degree.?In addition to a master’s degree in leadership, there are also Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Laws (LL.M.), Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Publishing (M.Pub.), Master of Science (MS), Master of Social Work (MSW), etc.?

Leadership Doctoral Degree (Average - Two to Ten Years)

A doctorate is the highest level of formal education available. Doctoral programs can last from two to ten years and include coursework, comprehensive exams, research requirements, and a dissertation depending on the type of doctoral degree pursued.?There are two basic types of doctorate degree, the research doctorate, and the professional doctorate. ?A research doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy - Ph.D., Doctor of Education - Ed.D., Doctor of Business Administration - D.B.A., etc.) requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement.?The professional doctorates must have a total time to degree (including prior study at bachelor's level) which provide the knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice.??

Doctoral programs require students to have a master's degree, although some doctorates incorporate a master's as part of the curriculum. Many doctoral programs set a specific schedule for completion, but some doctoral programs last for many years due to the subjective nature of research and completion of the dissertation.

In many fields, a research doctorate meets the requirements to teach at institutions of higher education. With a doctorate, individuals working in business can excel to executive positions. Lawyers need a JD, physicians need an MD or a doctor of osteopathy (DO), and chiropractors must have a DCM to practice.

Some of the doctoral degrees that students can earn include Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Juris Doctor (JD).

Some of the Doctoral degrees you can earn specifically in leadership include ?Organizational Leadership, Situational leadership, Transformational Leadership, Sports Leadership, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Education Leadership, Strategic Leadership, and several others.?

Not Including Military or Private Professional Leadership Training

Military and professional leadership training also need to be considered and respected when you study how long it takes to learn leadership.?For the purposes of this article, we are not going to explore these, but it is appropriate to say that this type of leadership training is also ongoing and takes longer than a few days to “cover” the topic(s) of leadership.?

So, What’s The Answer?

I’m first going to answer this question with some questions:?

• Can you learn how to play any musical instrument professionally in just a few days??
• Can you learn how to sculp a beautiful statue out of marble or paint a masterpiece in just a few days??
• Can you learn how to be a professional ball player (you pick the sport) in just a few days??

So, what makes people think they can learn leadership in just a few days??Leadership, like learning how to play a musical instrument, paint a watercolor, draw a picture, play professional sports, or learn and perform almost any other skill-based activity isn’t something that can be learned in just a few days.?But the good news is, it is possible to learn leadership… it just takes a significant investment in time, effort and energy, plus lots of "O.J.T.," correcting mistakes, and some learning from failure to learn, and a lifetime to master!?

About the Author:?Dr. Chris Fuzie is the owner of CMF Leadership Consulting. Chris is a Leaderologist, developer, trainer, consultant for leadership of public, private, profit, and non-profit organizations. Chris holds a Doctor of Education (Ed. D), M.A. and B.A. in Organizational Leadership, and has graduate certificates in Human Resources and Criminal Justice Education. Chris is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a former National Instructor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Chris is the author of "Because Why... Understanding Behavior in Exigencies." and of "S.C.O.R.E. Performance Counseling: Save the Relationship, Change the Behavior." Chris is an honorably retired Lieutenant/Commander from the Modesto Police Department after 28 years of public service, and currently is the Business/HR Manager for a District Attorney’s Office in California.