Organizational Leadership, M.A.

Program Coordinator

Hunter S. Taylor, Dean, School of Business and Design

Overview

The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership provides graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary for upper-level management positions. The course work consists of a Foundation Core, an Organizational Leadership Core, and a Culminating Experience. The curriculum focuses on skills required for leaders to have a positive influence on their organizations. Candidates in the program are provided with an in-depth study of the organizational leadership and management concepts that are relevant to every manager, regardless of the organization or industry. 

The stated purpose of the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program is to prepare leaders with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to further the mission of their organizations. Program graduates will have the skills to interpret and apply current research findings and conduct relevant leadership research. The program is designed to develop leaders that will positively influence organizations and communities through team building, financial stewardship, conflict resolution, and strategic planning. The courses require application and investigation through rigorous data collection and analysis.

Educational Outcomes

The goals and student learning outcomes for the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership are:

Goal 1: (Leadership Theory) Students completing the graduate program in Organizational Leadership will demonstrate in-depth mastery of effective leadership practices to include team leadership, financial leadership, ethical leadership, change management, and diverse leadership.

• Student Learning Outcome 1.1:  Students will compare and contrast leadership theories and apply them effectively in developing organizational solutions. 
• Student Learning Outcome 1.2:  Students will identify his/her own leadership style and examine how his/her individual style impacts followers.
• Student Learning Outcome 1.3:  Describe the stages of team development and identify the key actions leaders can take to facilitate team development in each stage.
• Student Learning Outcome 1.4:  Apply and evaluate alternative methods of revenue generation and allocation.
• Student Learning Outcome 1.5:  Access the role and responsibility of business in society, both locally and globally.
• Student Learning Outcome 1.6:  Explain multiple types of diversity affecting workgroups, including racial, gender, cultural, socio-economic, and generational diversity.

Goal 2: (Critical Thinking) Students completing the graduate program in Organizational Leadership will demonstrate mastery of critical thinking skills to analyze leadership issues and to create solutions supported by leadership literature and best practices.

• Student Learning Outcome 2.1:  Evaluate theoretical and practical aspects of organizational leadership to develop innovative strategies based on best practices that help the organization achieve operational and strategic goals.

Goal 3: (Change Management) Students completing the graduate program in Organizational Leadership will be able to apply change management strategies to practical situations in organizations.

• Student Learning Outcome 3.1:  Students will apply leadership theories to their own organization or previous experience.
• Student Learning Outcome 3.2:  Students will apply change management strategies to practical situations in organizations.

Goal 4: (Research Skills) Students completing the graduate program in Organizational Leadership will design and conduct research, collect and analyze data and use data to support decisions.

• Student Learning Outcome 4.1:  Students will identify credible scholarly sources using various mediums for research within the leadership discipline.
• Student Learning Outcome 4.2:  Students will apply the elements of APA style.
• Student Learning Outcome 4.3:  Students will identify plagiarism. 

Goal 5: (Communication Skills) Students completing the graduate program in Organizational Leadership will communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Student Learning Outcome 5.1:  Students will communicate their ideas in writing using clear, concise, and scholarly written language.
• Student Learning Outcome 5.2:  Students will produce a written research project that follows APA formatting guidelines.
• Student Learning Outcome 5.3:  Identify and evaluate the core components of organizational communication in a variety of organizations and across a range of communication media.

Requirements for Admission

All applicants to the Master of Arts should submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

1. A completed School of Graduate Studies application, online at www.chowan.edu/school-graduate-studies;
2. A non-refundable application fee of $50.00, payable to Chowan University;
3. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a minimum grade point average of 2.5;
4. An official transcript of all previous academic work beyond high school, to be sent directly from each institution attended;
5. One professional recommendation;
6. A personal statement
7. A current resume;
8. International Students also submit:

• A satisfactory TOEFL score, unless English is the student’s native language or the language of instruction.
• Transcripts, certificates, and/or diplomas from any institution outside the United States. These must first be submitted to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation before being mailed to the School of Graduate Studies.  Application for WES evaluations may be found at www.WES.org. 
• A Statement of Financial Responsibility, along with a letter from student’s or sponsor’s bank showing amount to cover one year of graduate study.
• All application materials should be in place at least 90-days in advance of the beginning of the semester.

Types of Admission Status

Admission for graduate study at Chowan University is granted in the following categories:

Full

An applicant who meets all criteria for admission may be granted full admission. 

Provisional

If the applicant has failed to meet any of the requirements for full admission, the Dean of Graduate Studies may decide to extend the offer of provisional admission to that applicant. In this case, the Dean will communicate a list of conditions that must be satisfied within the first six hours of graduate work completed at Chowan University. Any exceptions to this “six-hour” rule must be approved by the Dean at the time of the provisional acceptance decision and indicated in the letter of acceptance. Once the student meets these conditions, he or she will be granted full admission to graduate study at Chowan University. 

Special

An applicant who wishes to take courses for professional and/or career enhancement as a non-degree seeker or who desires enrollment to Chowan University to take courses for transfer to the institution in which he or she is enrolled as a degree candidate may be admitted under special status. Non-degree seekers must submit a School of Graduate Studies application and official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions. Students seeking transfer hours must submit a School of Graduate Studies application and a letter from the dean or director of the program in which she or he is regularly enrolled, indicating good standing. 

Transfer Credits

A maximum of six semester hours may be accepted from a regionally accredited graduate program toward the fulfillment of requirements for a graduate degree at Chowan University. The University Registrar interprets the transfer policy, approves courses for transfer, and certifies students for graduation.

Credit will not be given for courses taken more than six calendar years before applying for admission to graduate study. Only courses with a grade of “B” or “A” will be considered for transfer and must be substantially parallel to Chowan University courses. Credit will not be given for courses taken to obtain another master’s degree.

Courses accepted in transfer are recorded as credit only. The grade point average used for administering policy and for graduation is computed on academic credit earned at Chowan University.   

Students currently enrolled in any of the graduate programs at Chowan University must have prior written approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator to take courses from another institution for transfer credit.

Students are expected to take the appropriate courses offered by Chowan University once they enter the program. Permission may be granted to take courses offered by other institutions when the appropriate course is not offered by Chowan University or when it is more convenient for the University to approve a course for transfer than to offer the course by special arrangement. Strong undergraduate students at Chowan University may be permitted, under special circumstances, to register for graduate courses with the permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Graduate level courses may not be counted toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Graduation Requirements 

1. The student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate level work. 
2. The student must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on all graduate work attempted. 
3. A student who wishes to complete a graduate degree from Chowan University must complete the last twenty-five percent of the credit hours required for the degree in residence.
4. The student must discharge all financial obligations to the University.
5. The student must have the recommendation of the faculty and approval by the Board of Trustees.
6. A student must choose to meet the requirements of the catalog under which he or she entered or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation, but may not use both interchangeably. Major and minor requirements must come from the same catalog. A student who has returned to Chowan after a break in enrollment of more than one semester must choose to meet the requirements of the catalog under which he or she was readmitted or the catalog in effect at the time of graduation, but may not choose the catalog under which he or she originally entered Chowan. The candidate must indicate on the application for graduation the catalog under which he or she intends to graduate.
7. All degree candidates, including transfer students, are allowed six (6) years from the date of enrollment at the University to satisfy the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of enrollment. After six (6) years, the current requirements must be met.
8. Any substitutions or changes in course requirements must be recommended by the department chair and approved by the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
9. The student is responsible for making official application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar. Application for graduation must be submitted to the Registrar no later than March 1.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree requires 30 credit hours, with a research paper or internship project as a culminating experience. The program consists of a Foundation Core, an Organizational Leadership Core, and a Culminating Experience.