Course Descriptions

The Master of Science in Leadership degree is comprised of twelve classes with the capstone course being the Leadership Project (LEAD 590). Each of the classes is three semester hours resulting in a 36 hour program.

Coursework includes:

Master of Science in Leadership Course Descriptions

Leadership Styles and Theories – LEAD 500
The course will cover fundamentals of leadership, definitions of leadership, and an introduction to the tools available for research in leadership. Emphasis is on the application of theoretical concepts to actual organizational settings and situations, culminating in the determination of participant’s dominate leadership style and articulation of a personal leadership profile.

Organizational Leadership and Ethics – LEAD 505
The course will provide an understanding of the distinction between leadership and management in organizations. Theory is mixed with contemporary examples of the ethical challenges facing today’s leaders. Participants consider ethical frameworks (e.g., individual ethical competency, organizational system as an ethical agent) in organizational decision making.

Leadership in Context – LEAD 510
Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of how economic, social and/or political events and relationships whether local, national or worldwide, affect organizations as well as impact on culture and community. Participants will develop a plan of action for dealing with that impact.

Leadership Communication and Conflict Resolution – LEAD 515
The course will teach leaders to hone and refine important communication and conflict resolution skills including interpersonal and small group communication, persuasion, media communication, and crisis communication.

Leadership Coaching – LEAD 520
The course will help learners coach, mentor and empower future leaders. The course will review coaching theories and models as well as the theoretical and applied aspects of teamwork. Participants will focus on building the skills of collaboration. Participants will articulate a personal leadership development plan.

Leading Change in Organizations – LEAD 560
Participants will learn to navigate the world of needs assessment tools in order to build an organization’s ability to operate on the consistent generation of information. Systems used to analyze information and implement change resulting from data will be covered through case studies, individual and group exercises. Participants will develop practical tools for engaging people at all levels of an organization through inevitable change.

Leader, Followers, and Shared Vision – LEAD 566
The course will cover the integration and alignment of strategic planning, mission, vision with goals and objectives to position organizations to transition to a knowledge based environment. Participants will develop a plan for capturing “tribal knowledge” and using that knowledge to create and communicate a shared vision.

Leadership for the Future – LEAD 570
Participants will learn to identify trends, implement change initiatives, maximize resources, and develop a response to changing workforce dynamics. This course provides a thorough foundation in the methods used when leading project initiatives.

Leader Behavior in Applied Settings – LEAD 576
Participants will learn decision making models, principles of organizational hierarchy, and how organizations are impacted by leadership styles. Participants will analyze how their own leadership behavior impacts others through 360 degree feedback.

Practicum Stages One-Four - LEAD 581, 582, 583, 584
Participants will experience work under the direction of mentoring relationships provided by a proficient veteran in the field and an academic advisor. Students will have the opportunity to improve leadership skills in field experience which stretches and tests their abilities. Students will learn to utilize personal strengths effectively and to build awareness about how their strengths and weaknesses are perceived by followers in real-life settings.

Leadership Project – LEAD 590
Prerequisite: This course should be taken after completion of at least 30 hours in the program. Based on a project of choice pertinent to the learner’s needs, the learner will develop a plan to integrate a number of initiatives including collaboration in decision making, building flexible organizations to navigate the flow of change, an incentive structure that rewards leadership development of employees, and other progressive initiatives. This course will examine how to plan, implement, and integrate these initiatives to achieve highly successful organizations.

Leadership (MSL)