curriculum
The Masters of Arts in Leadership is an exploration of the nature and forms of leadership required to steward public organizations in the 21st century. This 19 month hybrid online program is designed to promote real and effective change in the participants and in their organizations through a rigorous program grounded in a collaborative leadership model.
The cohort-based program employs a modular design, which provides maximum flexibility in accommodating the needs of an adult learner who may be employed full-time. In addition, the multi-format design adds value to the participant and his or her organization, by helping the learner to create a network of professionals who act as peer-mentors both during and after the program.
The program requires successful completion of 33 units, and the completion of a learning portfolio. Thirty-three units are earned in the program core curriculum described below. Upon approval from the program director 3 units may be transferred from graduate courses taken at other accredited colleges or universities, or courses taken as electives within Saint Mary's College.
Module I: The Practice of Building a Learning Community
In this course, learners will focus on deepening their skills in the areas of critical thinking, interpersonal communication, and reflection. Learners will also develop their capacity to attend to how they influence others—and are influenced by others, and other elements of becoming a viable learning community.
Module II: Values, Ethics, and Decision-Making
Globalization, multiculturalism, technological advances, and the ever-turbulent nature of organizational life require new kinds of knowledge and skills on the part of leaders. This course seeks to provide foundational knowledge toward developing practical knowledge in leadership suitable to the 21st century through the exploration of personal values, beliefs and world-views and the role they play in our individual and collective lives.
Module III: Leadership Theory
This module focuses on learners’ understanding of historical and contemporary theories of leadership, and critically examines the assumptions and values that are implicit in these respective theories. Learners complete this module with a thorough understanding of 21st Century Leadership practices, an understanding of the fundamental differences between leadership and management and their personal definition of leadership.
Module IV: Global Contexts for 21st Century Leadership
Systems Theory is a contemporary telling of an ancient and perennial story about the world as alive, dynamic, and interrelated. Because leadership is a relational activity that takes place in complex social organizations, Systems theory and the thinking it fosters, is particularly useful to practitioners of leadership in the 21st century.
Module V: Leadership in Action
This module is the initial bridge from theory to praxis within the program. Module V presents an opportunity for the investigation and analysis of the connections within the first four modules, beginning with a look inward through self-exploration, continuing toward personal leadership goals, and ultimately to action based on such goals.
Module VI: Sustainable Organizational Change
This module is designed to provide learners with the assessment, learning, and research tools necessary to effect sustainable change in their own organizations. Participants will learn in greater depth about two specific inquiry strategies--action research and cooperative inquiry—and will have the opportunity to practice one of them.
Module VII: Building Cross-Cultural Capacity
The purpose of this course is to 1) deepen our awareness of the complexity of cross-cultural issues and develop skills to engage other people successfully across these differences; and 2) develop capacity to value and approach differences requires a willingness to move across a line, or boundary, which defines that difference.
Module VIII: The Public Policy Making Process
This course is designed to enhance learners’ understanding of the workings of the public policy process as it relates to leadership. Learners will gain perspective on the interaction of individuals within and outside of organizations to the policies and practices of the organizations in both the public and private sector.
Module IX: Future of Leadership
In this module learners examine ways of implementing change in their organizations, with an emphasis on employing the 21st Century Leadership practices. As an alternative to leader-driven change, learners will explore ways of using various strategies of engagement based on genuine human participation and interaction on both a micro and a macro level.
Module X: Personal and Organizational Learning
During this course learners will have an opportunity to demonstrate 21st Century leadership practices that have been explored and applied over the course of the program. This will include group reflections on the learning that has been gained through their research projects and guided reflection on personal and professional learning. The four-day retreat will be the vehicle for tying this together.
Module XI: Project Proposal Development
This course focuses on the development of a final project proposal for the Master’s Degree in Leadership Program. The Leadership project is to demonstrate the student’s capacity to apply leadership toward personal and organizational learning and change in the learner’s home environment, including, but not limited to, their place of employment, community or neighborhood.
