Course Descriptions for the Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership and Communication
OL/MB 607 The Dynamics of Leadership (3)
Leadership has emerged as one of the most critical and controversial topics in our current business environment. In this course, different styles of leadership are explored along with the techniques and practices that are used by successful leaders. This course will include the analysis of cases that demonstrate effective as well as non-effective leadership behaviors and their impact on organizational effectiveness.
OL 610 Research and Writing (3)
This course will assist students in refining their written communication skills in order to successfully complete their graduate degree. The ability to be an effective writer is necessary whether students will be doing basic research or applied/action research. Students will be introduced to the principles of excellent academic writings as well as the fundamental components of research. This course will also help students develop and produce effective email writing, business reports, business plans, and projects.
OL 611 Organizational Change and Development/Transformational Leadership (3)
This course focuses on the process of implementing change as the key facet and fundamental challenge in managing organization change. Its purpose is to help students gain an understanding of how organizational change is achieved and what is needed to develop the skills needed to be a transformational leader. Students will examine the various theories and concepts of change, along with experiences and dilemmas in practice that will help them gain an understanding of what contributes to the carrying out of successful and lasting change.
OL/MB 500 Critical and Ethical Decision Making (3)
Every professional will have to manage conflict and negotiate effectively in a wide variety of situations. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, students will take on the identity of “reflective practitioners” to develop an understanding of conflict and its dynamics; strategies and processes for eliciting cooperation and producing supportive professional environments; the skills and strategies that can be applied to everyday work.
OL 612 Research Methods and Design (3)
This course will provide an overview of the important concepts of research design, data collection, statistical and interpretative analysis, and final report presentation. The focus is not on mastery of statistics, but on the ability to recognize which methods are best suited for specific projects and how to design such research to attain useful results. Students will be introduced to quantitative and qualitative methods for conducting meaningful inquiry and research. They will gain an overview of research intent and design, methodology and technique, format and presentation. The course will develop each student’s ability to use this knowledge to become more effective as leaders. Students will learn how to develop a hypothesis, a research problem and related questions; frame the problem with the correct research method; collect data that accurately addresses the research problem; and use data to make decisions.
OL/MB 613 Organizational Communication (3)
Students will be introduced to a variety of communication strategies and learn how to use them effectively as a leader and professional in communicating with an organization’s stakeholders. The contents of this course include personal communication styles, media and tools for the manager, organizational communications climate, cross-cultural communications challenges, the process of adapting communication to the specific needs of the audience, and cultivating and nourishing communication networks
OL 614 Strategic Planning and Leadership (3)
This course focuses on questions of mission, vision, strategy, and implementation. All organizations face challenges that require strategic responses. To work effectively with these challenges, leaders need knowledge and skills in strategic planning, setting and aligning goals with the organization’s mission; understanding demand for services and resource constraints; leading organizational change; defining measures of success; improving work processes; motivating staff and other stakeholders; cultivating relationships and working through crises and environments in transition.
OL 615 Leadership and Diversity (3)
Leadership skills are essential to lead and manage diverse, high performing goal organizations. This course delivers critical knowledge and skills in ethical cross-cultural leadership and aims to develop leaders. The students will be asked to demonstrate depth of knowledge required to participate as leaders in local and global societies.
OL 616 Conflict Resolution and Negotiation (3)
Every professional will have to manage conflict and negotiate effectively in a wide variety of situations. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, students will take on the identity of “reflective practitioners” to develop an understanding of conflict and its dynamics; strategies and processes for eliciting cooperation and producing supportive professional environments; the skills and strategies that can be applied to everyday work.
Either: Technology for Leaders or Organization Culture and Team Building
OL 617 Technology for Leaders (3)
This course explores the intersection of leadership, technology, and innovation in today’s fast paced and ever evolving environment. Through the lens of organizational effectiveness, students will recognize ways to build personal power and use technology to influence an organization. Broadly, students will learn to use technological tools to communicate effectively with outside stakeholders and drive growth of an organization.
OL 618 Organization Culture and Team Building (3)
The course will focus on relevant social, personality, and cognitive psychological theories and models used to create and maintain effective work groups and teams in organizations. Students will become familiar with current theories and practices concerning composition, size, types of tasks, resources, leadership diversity, roles, goals, organizational factors, interpersonal processes (including decision-making), training, interventions (including conflict resolution), to help ailing groups get back on track, commitment and other elements that contribute to the construction of effective teams.
OL 625 Capstone (3)
This course will further develop a project or paper initiated in the Research Methods course that demonstrates proficiency in the topic chosen. It must be approved by faculty and demonstrate research design and development. Each student is required to submit their written work and prepare a power point/prezi/google docs presentation of their work and participate in an oral defense. The defense may be delivered on-campus or remotely via technology (Adobe Connect, Zoom,etc.) .