Organizational Leadership, M.A.

Program Coordinator

Daniel O. Wilson, Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership

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.

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 and have earned no more than six (6) credit hours below a “B” grade. 
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 an official application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar. Application for graduation must be submitted to the Registrar no later than March 1.

For admission requirements, go to the School of School of Graduate Studies Handbook . 

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.