Business and Organizational Leadership, M.S.

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Overview

The Master of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership (BOL) prepares individuals to assume greater leadership roles in the workplace and in their communities. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the curriculum offers a Franciscan, values-based, and global perspective to the study of leadership, organizational strategy, and effective management practices. Through intensive study, critical reflection, and experiential learning projects, students explore their personal philosophy of effective leadership and develop plans for mastering key leadership competencies. Consequently, graduates are better prepared to lead and develop healthy, productive organizations and make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Program Design and Required Courses

The Master of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership (BOL) is designed in a unique accelerated format which enables students to complete the entire program in 12-18 months. All courses integrate work and learning experiences and are taught by faculty who are practitioners/scholars with significant leadership and management experience.

The program consists of 30 required credits, which are delivered as ten (10) 3-credit courses in intensive eight-week modules. All courses are highly interactive, through online discussions and creative assignments. Each course includes research, reflection, and experiential learning components. The final Capstone involves the completion of an individual project and a presentation offering flexibility to each student with one of three options: Master’s Thesis, Practicum experience, or a Service Project with an approved organization.

REQUIRED CLASSES - Students are first introduced to the personal and professional competencies that are needed to be an effective leader, followed by the development of organizations and the application of leadership competencies. Students learn the values of social responsibility, ethics, and civic engagement in developing a global perspective on major societal leadership challenges throughout the world. The program’s Capstone Seminar provides students with an opportunity to synthesize knowledge and demonstrate mastery of key competencies in the field of strategic leadership.

Program Outcomes

Successful graduates of Neumann University’s Master of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership will be able to:

Clearly describe their personal philosophy of leadership.
Apply the theories of strategic leadership to life and work situations.
Demonstrate leadership in working with groups.
Understand the strategy development and planning process for corporate and nonprofit organizations.
Understand the systemic forces that drive change in organizations and individuals.
Analyze public policy and legal issues in today’s global society.
Demonstrate a worldview of complex problems and their potential solutions.
Articulate the principles of the Catholic Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, with a particular focus on how those principles are applied to strategic leadership issues.

Admission Requirements

Applicants with a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution are eligible for entrance to the Master of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership program, subject to the approval of the Program Director. Acceptance is on a competitive basis after submission of all credentials and an interview. All applicants must submit the following:

A completed Graduate Student Application, online through www.neumann.edu/apply.
Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
Letter of intent which outlines why the applicant wishes to pursue the degree.
One official, professional letters of reference.
Current professional resume.

Once all admission materials have been received and processed through the Office of Admissions, the graduate Program Director will arrange for an interview, if appropriate, following a review of all candidate credentials.

Progression/Retention/Graduation Requirements

To progress in the Master of Science in Business and Organizational Leadership, all students must maintain an overall “B” average (cumulative 3.00 GPA) in all required courses and demonstrate satisfactory participation in the program. No more than two “D” or “F” grades may be incurred during the entire program, for which the student must re-take and successfully pass a failed course before proceeding to the next course. A third “D” or “F” grade will result in a student being dismissed from the program. Completion of all degree requirements for the program must not exceed five years. Exemption to this time limitation must be applied for in a written request to the Director of the program. Graduation from the program is contingent upon the student (1) submitting a signed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar on or before the date specified in the Academic Calendar; and (2) successful completion of all course work.

A limit of three Incompletes given. The total number of Incompletes a student may receive in the MSOSL program is limited to three, with exceptions for Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or due to medical necessities verified by a doctor.

Academic Advisor: The Program Director, also serves as the academic advisor for all students in the BOL program. Questions regarding specific course work should be directed to the course instructor. All other academic questions or advising requests should be forwarded to the Program Director, Rina Keller, MPA, MSS, LSW, via e-mail: kellerr @neumann.edu or 610-361-5211.