As a follow up to the Servant Leadership Companies list, I finally got around to compiling a list of servant leadership academic programs. You can see the list at modernservantleader.com/academic-programs-list/ or click the screen shot of the table below.

About the List

There are many great schools, universities, foundations and even churches educating individuals on the principles and benefits of servant leadership. However, to the best of my knowledge, a compiled list did not yet exist. Therefore, as more people asked me about these programs, I determined we needed a list to share for prospective students. This list is the result of that work. However, this is a living list – it is expected to grow and change over time. Please, if you have an institution or program to add, review the requirements below and contact me or add a comment at the bottom of the list.

Features of the List

The following attributes are captured in the table for quick and easy reference:

Institution: The name of the College, University, Foundation, Non-Profit, Church or otherwise considered parent/hosting organization.

Program Type: We tried to identify a classification for the type of program:  Degree (college degree related, included bachelors, associates etc.), certificate or non-certificate (for non-college-credit courses), and many unique variations. As you may see, some programs did not fit neatly into one of these categories.

Campus or Online: To determine whether the course require attendance on site, physically in a classroom, or enable online participation as well. Many have both options. Some were unclear.

City: Self explanatory. Primarily for campus-based program. For the online course, we chose the headquarters or associated campus location.

State / Region: Self explanatory. Primarily for campus-based program. For the online course, we chose the headquarters or associated campus location.

Description: A (very) brief description of each program. For more information, please visit the associated URL.

URL: The website address. Note: where possible, the actual hyperlink takes you directly to the program, though the institution’s homepage may only be displayed in the table.

Requirements for Inclusion

In order to be considered for this list, an organization must meet the following qualifications. If you are familiar with the Servant Leadership Companies List, you will see strong similarities. I may update these qualifications from time to time.

1. For-Profit / Non-Profit / Government: All types of organizations will be considered. Unlike the companies list, I chose to include churches in this list as there seems to be a manageable number fitting the qualifications.

2. Recurring Programs Only:Unfortunately, there are simply too many one-off courses, that do not repeat with some degree of regularity, to track. Therefore, for consideration in the list, a program must be clearly established to occur with some predictable regularity.

3. References to Servant Leadership: There must be a publicly documented reference to program and the servant leadership principles or content covered within.

I hope you enjoy the list. Please help us keep it updated by providing feedback, additions and changes.

Credit: A special thank you to Barbara, who helped compile the original list.

From my servant leadership writing these past several years combined with following Michael Hyatt’s Blog, I’ve become familiar with the publishing industry. While I am no expert, it seems to me that publishing is evolving into an alternative to the advanced degree. Publishing, alone, will not replace advanced degrees. However, many authors  realize comparable benefits to graduates of advanced programs. These benefits include:

1. Publishing Quality Matters: There are cheap education options that border on “degrees for sale”. However, to attain a quality degree, it takes a lot of time and effort. It’s the same with publishing. Nowadays anyone can publish – which is both good an bad. Bad because there’s a lot of junk out there, but good because more quality is also exposed, through hard work and an investment of time.

2. Publishing Creates Opportunities: Good content is consumed, followed and shared. Good authors are therefore validated by their audience. For example, authors of recognized content are more likely to get an interview, meeting or other opportunity. It is the same with advanced degrees. If you have a quality masters or doctorate, you are more likely to get that interview, meeting or other introduction.

3. Publishing Availability: Advanced education was once only available to a privileged minority. Now, most of the developed world has this opportunity. Publishing followed a similar pattern. What used to require amazing content, the right connections and a hefty amount of luck, is now available to anyone.

Advanced degrees are in no danger of being replaced by publishing models. However, while educational institutions increase flexibility with online courses and evening schedules, more professionals are finding similar benefits from publishing. It is nice to know the variety of publishing options provided by advances in technology increases the opportunities for authors dedicated to quality content. Of course, it should be no surprise that the best results will obtained by those who achieve both an advanced degree and publishing success.

I had someone ask me the other day why I decided to get my MBA when I did if I thought the timing mattered. I did not have some grand scheme to relay to him that showed some great wisdom in my own timing. However, I did appreciate the “real world” experience I had before obtaining my MBA.

I went back for my MBA after approximately 4 years in the workplace. During those 4 years, I held 4 different IT roles. While I am certain I would have still benefitted from the MBA right after undergraduate, the experiences in those 4 years clarified my studies.

To put it another way, whenever I have read books on leadership they always made sense. However, it wasn’t until I held a leadership role or two that these books suddenly made REAL sense. Instead of reading the text and thinking, “cool, I like that idea”, the thoughts now are “Ah-Ha! Why the heck didn’t I think of that, I must make sure and do that next time”. The lessons stick better, you retain more and the reading seems more exciting.

In essence, this is what “real world” experience gains you before an MBA. There is no magic formula, no secret timeline. But in the end, I do believe you will be better served getting a few years under your belt before going back for an MBA.

Thinking about going back to school? Trying to decide on an MBA or MS? No worries, just choose the rest of your career path (and no pressure either, by the way).

When I was preparing for graduate school, I was torn over whether to pursue an MBA or a Masters, when a professor asked me: Do you want to be a CIO or a CTO. This advice stuck with me.

If it’s a CIO you want to be, you may want to consider the MBA. The business skills, strategy and management expertise will server you well. If it is a CTO you want to be, the Masters degree, especially in a Science field, will gain you the respect of the technical staff and establish more technical credibility. Of course, both will truly server you very well in either role.

If you are incredibly smart, or just a glutton for punishment, you can, of course, do both. I’m no glutton though.