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2017-2018 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
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 Return to: Academic Programs
The Bethune-Cookman University master’s program in Organizational Leadership is built upon the values of its founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in civic participation and social responsibility The program trains leaders who can analyze the socio-economic and cultural forces producing rapid change, who are able to understand the impact of such change on various workplace environments, who will be innovative leaders within their workplace, and who can assist in moving their organizations forward to meet change productively and effectively.
The program provides a solid foundation in the theory and practice of civic participation and social responsibility in the historical and contemporary context at the national and international levels. It develops and enhances personal and professional skills in individuals who have or will assume a leadership role within the for-profit and non-profit, public and private sectors of the economy. Its interdisciplinary structure prepares leaders with the political, communication and advocacy skills needed to meet the challenges of a global economy.
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Master of Science in Transformative Leadership=39 Credit Hours
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of their first term. Returning students attend virtual class during the first week of each subsequent term focusing in part on orientation for the upcoming term.
Semester I: Foundations of Leadership Total=9 Credit Hours
The first semester emphasizes a foundation in the literature of leadership theory and critical thinking. The course content and the program pedagogy work together to prepare students to identify, analyze, and evaluate issues and problems of leadership within organizations.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of their first term. Returning students attend virtual class during the first week of each subsequent term focusing in part on orientation for the upcoming term.
Semester II: Leadership Skills Total= 10 Credit Hours
The second semester emphasizes developing the interpersonal leadership skills needed for leadership and the quantitative and qualitative skills required to do action research.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of their first term. Returning students attend virtual class during the first week of each subsequent term focusing in part on orientation for the upcoming term.
Semester III: Organizational Leadership Total= 10 Credit Hours
In these courses, focus will be placed on leadership within organizations and communities.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of their first term. Returning students attend virtual class during the first week of each subsequent term focusing in part on orientation for the upcoming term.
Semester IV: Global Leadership Total=10 Credit Hours
It is in the fourth semester that leadership transformation and its impact on society is fully developed. Coursework in this semester emphasizes the ability of a leader to see beyond traditional boundaries and barriers to a changing world where all peoples and economies are intricately bound together in a virtual universe.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of the first term. Returning students attend virtual class sessions during the first week of each term focusing on orientation to their courses and critical course content matters.
Semester I: Foundations of Leadership Total=9 Credit Hours
The first semester emphasizes a foundation in the literature of leadership theory and critical thinking. The course content and the program pedagogy work together to prepare students to identify, analyze, and evaluate issues and problems of leadership within organizations.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of the first term. Returning students attend virtual class sessions during the first week of each term focusing on orientation to their courses and critical course content matters.
Semester II: Leadership Skills Total= 10 Credit Hours
The second semester emphasizes developing the interpersonal leadership skills needed for leadership and the quantitative and qualitative skills required to do action research.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of the first term. Returning students attend virtual class sessions during the first week of each term focusing on orientation to their courses and critical course content matters.
Semester III: Organizational Leadership Total=10 Credit Hours
In these courses, focus will be placed on leadership within organizations and communities.
Virtual Orientation
There is a required virtual orientation for all new students at the beginning of the first term. Returning students attend virtual class sessions during the first week of each term focusing on orientation to their courses and critical course content matters.
Semester IV: Global Leadership Total= 10 Credit Hours
It is in the fourth semester that leadership transformation and its impact on society is fully developed. Coursework in this semester emphasizes the ability of a leader to see beyond traditional boundaries and barriers to a changing world where all peoples and economies are intricately bound together in a virtual universe.
Degree Requirements:
All students must successfully complete all required coursework with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. All students must complete and successfully defend either an Action Research Thesis or Action Research Capstone Paper.
If a student does not complete and defend their thesis and capstone paper in LEAD 650 or LEAD 652, the student will be required to enroll in LEAD 651: Action Research III. In this course the student will continue the work and writing of his/her thesis. Credit will be given upon successful defense of the thesis/capstone paper. No student can graduate from a degree program without being enrolled at the University.
Thesis Track
Thirty-nine semester hours to include LEAD 601 , LEAD 605 , LEAD 611 , LEAD 613 , LEAD 615 , LEAD 621 , LEAD 623 , LEAD 625 , LEAD 638 , LEAD 640 , LEAD 645 , and LEAD 650 (plus one credit in LEAD 651 every semester until thesis completion). Students in the second, third, and fourth terms of the program are required to register for the appropriate section of LEAD 699 - Action Research Thesis/Capstone course.
Non-Thesis Track
Thirty-nine semester hours to includeLEAD 601 , LEAD 605 , LEAD 611 , LEAD 613 , LEAD 615 , LEAD 621 , LEAD 623 , LEAD 625 , LEAD 638 , LEAD 640 , LLEAD 633 , and LEAD 652 (plus one credit in LEAD 651 every semester until Capstone project completion). Students in the second, third, and fourth terms of the program are required to register for the appropriate section of LEAD 699 - Action Research Thesis/Capstone course.
Graduation Criteria:
Graduate students must successfully complete the following assessment requirements to earn the M.S. in Organizational Leadership degree:
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA or better
- Complete 39 semester hours of graduate work
- Successfully complete an action research thesis (Thesis Track) or Capstone project (non-thesis track)
- Present and defend the Action Research Thesis or Capstone project to a panel of reviewers
Course Curriculum:
The curriculum of the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is planned around three themes and four levels. The three themes are: Leadership, Ethics, and Action Research.
The Leadership theme emphasizes the organizational and community aspects of leadership. Within this section, curricular emphasis is on educational, business, and political leadership and management theory. The post-industrial society’s organizations are constantly exploring new and more effective ways of leading that respond to a new global ethic. Courses in organizational leadership and civic engagement will examine theories of leadership and management with respect to changes in society, such as, globalization, technology, diversity, and collective behaviors.
The Ethics theme emphasizes a continuous process of critical reflection that involves identifying, abstracting, and synthesizing leadership assumptions, customs and values through a critical pedagogical process which concentrates heavily on the ethics of Transformative Leadership. This theme begins in the course in LEAD 605 - Critical Reflection & Transformative Leadership. This course introduces the student to a pedagogy that emphasizes critical thinking and emancipatory learning. Through a focused, academic inquiry into the traditional approaches to leadership, including the study of their own leadership styles, learners explore innovative and visionary leadership directions. Consistent with the emphasis on critical thinking, the course titled Ethical Decision Making ,LEAD 613, uses a case-study approach to consider with social and philosophical precision the ethics of Transformative Leadership. The course elaborates what it means to serve as transformative leaders focused on values such as justice, emancipation, and compassion. Finally, the course titled Social Justice for Multicultural Global Leadership - LEAD 623, considers how various understandings of justice relate to leadership in varied cultural contexts, with an emphasis on restorative justice and conflict resolution.
The final theme is Action Research. Students learn to lead change through data-based decision making. Working on this research project constitutes practical leadership experience necessary for this course of study. Students will select their action research topic based the needs of their workplace or research context, with an emphasis on solving real problems faced by those in such contexts. Action research is defined as a methodology which has the dual aims of action, i.e., bringing about change in the community or organization, and research, i.e., the process of scientifically analyzing by either a qualitative or a quantitative approach some problem in the organization. Action research optimally will begin a continuous process of re-evaluation of the problem or issue through planning, action, critique and feedback. The student will be led through his/her thesis by steps corresponding to semesters. The first step involves an overview of action research methodology and the second step entails classes on statistics and research methodology. The third step involves implementing the action research at the workplace through data gathering and application. The last step consists of analyzing the data and writing the thesis. Throughout the process, the student will have structured help from a faculty advisor.
In addition to three themes, the program has four levels associated with the semesters. The first semester involves introduction to the literature of leadership. The second semester introduces the student to the tools and methodology of action research. The third semester increases in breadth and complexity by including theoretical and applied coursework in organizational and community structures and processes. It is in the third semester that the student is expected to collect the data for his/her thesis. The final semester emphasizes transformation; the student studies the global community and begins to see himself/herself as an ethical responsible contributing and effective leader. The student normally completes and defends his/her thesis during this semester. If additional time is needed, the student may sign up for a single credit of thesis continuation coursework in the subsequent semester.
The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is an interdisciplinary degree which does not require a specific undergraduate course of study. Nevertheless, the coursework is substantially more demanding, requiring exceptional critical reflection, writing requirements, extensive reading assignments and an action research thesis that requires incorporation of course content into a workplace leadership situation.
Virtual Orientation: Students are required to attend an initial virtual session residency, scheduled at the beginning of each term. Intensive virtual mid-term sessions are also required and held in each course. All courses have additional scheduled virtual class sessions during the semester (generally once per each course module). These cirtual meetings are held on-line using virtual course delivery systems that require audio/video capabilities. While travel is not required, full participation is expected.
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