School of Professional Studies

Master's of Professional Studies | Strategic Leadership 
Course Requirements & Descriptions
    
Strategic Leadership Degree 30 Hours

12 Hours Core Courses:

• PRST 6100 - Professional Environment Issues and Ethics (3)
  Overview of ethics in general, with practical tools for assessing ethical dimensions of professional life, diagnosing or identifying the moral issues at hand, and then developing reasonable options to address particular moral and ethical issues. 
• PRST 6110 - Leadership and Communication (3)
  This course focuses on leadership as a function of communication behavior. Through discussion, cases and exercises, participants will explore effective communication strategies within an organizational setting. The course will cover team leadership skills, rhetorical sensitivity, charisma and practical suggestions for improving leadership effectiveness. 
• PRST 6300 - Research Methods (3)
  The student and application of research methods appropriate to professional studies. The course will provide a general introduction to research methods, as well as providing practical exposure to Problem Statements, Literature Reviews, Writing the Research Proposal, and Organization of the Research Report. Quantitative and Qualitative Research methodologies will be covered.
• PRST 6998 - Professional Project
  Taken during the final semester of the program. Students should begin planning the project when they enter the program. Please consult with your advisor about appropriate topics and submit your proposal for approval prior to entering the final project course.
  The Professional Project is the last requirement for the MPS Degree, serving as the integrative culmination of the program of study. It should be a substantial piece of independent research or a significant professional project that is logically consistent with the theme and content of the program of study. Student’s work should demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of a body of professional literature related to a specific topic. The Project should grow out of the program of study and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use the knowledge gained from this program of study.

  
  Choose 15 Concentration/Certificate Hours:

• PRST 6040 - Human Resources Management (3) 
  Analysis of theories, policies, procedures, practices and regulations relevant to attracting, retaining and directing a competent work force. Analysis of the basic personnel function with emphasis on the fact that all managers are “personnel managers.” Integration of scientific theory, procedures, instruments, and federal regulations into personnel selections, placement, and security programs.
  
  
• PRST 6200 - Globalization and the Professions (3)
  The purpose of this course is to assess the impact of globalization on professional life. The course examines globalization as it relates to commerce, information flow, mass media, government, health care and education.
  
  
• PRST 6105 - Project Planning and Scheduling (3) 
  Contemporary methods used in project planning and scheduling; emphasis on critical path method (CPM) with computer application; solution of actual problems stressed.
  
  
• PRST 6310 - Leadership in Organization (3)
  Designed to inform the individual about the structure and behavior of actors at all levels of the organization. Through various exercises such as written assignments and discussion, the student will be able to understand “why” and “how” organizations operate and function under dynamic leadership. 
  
  
• PRST 6421 - Strategic Organizational Program (3) 
  Developing a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of strategic organizational program planning and evaluation with a focus on relevance of strategic planning, effective and efficient program delivery plans with formative and summative evaluations for intentional learning and practical application in the workplace. 
  
  
• PRST 6500 - Foundations of Leadership (3)
  Students will study leadership from a historical and contemporary perspective. Topics cover historical development, leadership theories, personal assessment, values and ethics, motivation, power, followership, group dynamics, diversity, controversy with civility, change process, and citizenship.
  
  
• PRST 6700 - Conflict Management and Negotiation (3)
  Negotiation and Conflict Management presents negotiation theory—strategies and styles—within an employment context. A different topic will be presented each week. In addition to the theory and exercises presented in class, students practice negotiating with role-playing simulations in threaded discussions and chat. Students also learn how to negotiate in difficult situations, which include abrasiveness, racism, sexism, whistle blowing, and emergencies. The course covers conflict management from two perspectives. From a first party perspective you will be directly engaged. As a third party, you will develop and enhance your skills in helping others deal directly with their conflicts, mediation, investigation, arbitration, and helping the system change as a result of a dispute.
  
  
• PRST 6721 – Managing Emergency Volunteers (3)
  This course will focus on the management and benefits of using Internal Volunteer Organizations, External Volunteer organizations and Spontaneous Volunteers to support an agency’s preparedness and increase capacities during crises response to incidents, emergencies, or disasters. (The course includes an overview of Managing Community donations.)
  
  
• PRST 6730 - Leadership in Public Safety (3)
  This course examines the history and development of leadership within public safety organizations. Principles, styles, and theories of leadership, management, and administration are discussed.
  
  
• PRST 6770 - Computer-Based Decision Modeling (3)
  Topics covered within the course include basic business spreadsheet modeling, decision support using spreadsheet models, and optimization of business decisions using spreadsheet models. Models will be multidisciplinary in nature, stemming from areas such as operations, finance, and management. The contextual interpretation of results and their use in decisions will be emphasized.
  
  
• PRST 6800 - Organizational Skills and Development (3)
  Analysis of theory, practice and skills involved in leading organizational change, including: aligning change with the organizational strategy, understanding changes as part of a system, understanding the dynamics of and managing resistance to change, creating a vision to inspire others to become a part of the change process, the use of goal setting, feedback and incentives to promote change, and aligning individual’s roles to support change. The course will blend learning from the texts and skill building.
  
  
• PRST 6810 - Internship (3)
  Internships offer the student an opportunity to observe and work in a professional setting while gaining valuable “on the job training”. Internships for the Master of Professional Studies program should fit within the framework of the intern’s concentration area (Strategic Leadership, Human Resource Leadership, Training & Development or Healthcare Administration). The intern must complete ten hours of work per week for 15 weeks (one semester) to receive three hours of credit. Course objectives will be established by the instructor in collaboration with the intern and field supervisor for the internship. The field supervisor will coordinate the work of the intern and provide an evaluation at the conclusion of the internship while the instructor for the course will be responsible for assigning the final grade.
  
  
• ELPA 6560 - Small Group Leadership (3)
  Through activities in this course, students will explore their leadership skills specifically related to forming compatible achieving groups capable of completing tasks to complement the organizational vision. Students will examine the classic and contemporary literature on topics effecting groups such as conflict, collaboration, negation, power issues, decision making, compromise strategies, and team building.
  
  
• JOUR 6450 - Public Relations Management (3)
  This program is meant to introduce many of the key aspects of public relations management through the readings of and understanding of public relations principles and case studies.
  
  
• LDSP 6000 - Current Issues and Cases in Leadership (3)
  Based on a global and cross-discipline perspective, this course provides a study of the current trends and practices in public and private sector leadership. Students will read and discuss current news, research, and case studies and will be required to complete independent and collaborative projects. Instruction will be provided on where to track trends in leadership and how to use the case method. Specific topics may vary depending upon the current trends but will generally include personal mastery and leadership development, leading organizations into the future, values-based leadership and corporate citizenship, collaborative leadership, global leadership and diversity, stakeholder relations, knowledge management, a comparative study of the roles of leaders in business, public and nonprofit (civil society) organizations, leadership at the grassroots and board levels, the impact of technology on leadership.
  
  
  

  Elective (3):

  Choose any PRST 6000 course or course approved by advisor.