Southwestern College Professional Studies

Online Graduate Leadership Degree Program

The Southwestern College Professional Studies Master of Science in Leadership program prepares the learner for leadership positions in various organizations. The online graduate leadership degree learner develops skills required to become a more effective leader in military, government, healthcare and education organizations, as well as small business, non-profit or corporate environments. The program emphasizes practical application of relationship management; best leadership practices, which are strongly supported by research; and successful examples of leadership styles and organizational structures with a global and ethical perspective. The MSL graduate exhibits competency in interpersonal and written communication and also demonstrates the essential leadership practices of inspiring a vision, encouraging others to act, data-driven strategic planning and ethical reasoning, which are all necessary for leaders in today’s society. The Master of Science in Leadership degree program is designed so that learners can use resources provided throughout the program to apply their leadership skills to leading change and quality initiatives. Students learn practical problem solving and how to evaluate the most effective ways to lead their organizations. The Master of Science in Leadership degree program also may inspire learners to continue in additional graduate degree programs. If you are interested in business schools in Kansas, Southwestern College Professional Studies can help you gain an in-depth understanding of leadership skills that can help you emerge as a leader in your chosen profession.

Contact an admissions counselor today for more information about our online graduate leadership degree program.

Program Outcomes

The greatest demand in the world today is not for managers, but for leaders. Southwestern College’s Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) program prepares individuals in any industry for leadership positions. Southwestern College’s Master of Science in Leadership program is a 36-hour degree program. Courses are six weeks long and are available completely online. The degree may be completed in 1.5 years of continuous part-time study. Learn relationship management and leadership skills to become more effective in any organization, whether military, corporate, government, health care, small business, education or non-profit. The emphasis is on practical application of key leadership principles in contemporary organizations.

1. The learner demonstrates s/he has gained breadth and depth of understanding of key leadership concepts.
2. Learners demonstrate that they are recognized by their current employers as excellent candidates for advancement and/or are qualified for key leadership positions within their chosen field.
3. The learner demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of the ethical implications of leaders.
4. The learner exhibits poise and confidence in verbal and written communication.
5. Learners demonstrate that s/he has been and will continue to be a life-long learner.

Required Courses

Major Courses

LEAD500 Leadership Styles and Theories
LEAD505 Organizational Leadership and Ethics
LEAD510 Leadership in Context
LEAD515 Leadership Communication and Conflict Resolution
LEAD520 Leadership Coaching
LEAD560 Leading Change in Organizations
LEAD565 Knowledge Based Leadership
LEAD570 Leadership for the Future
LEAD575 Organizational Structures and Behavior
LEAD580 Practical Problem Solving for Today’s Organizations
LEAD585 Leading Quality Improvement Initiatives
CAPS600 Graduate Project

Course Descriptions

LEAD500 Leadership Styles and Theories

The course will cover fundamentals of leadership, definitions of leadership, and an introduction to the tools available for research in leadership. Emphasis is on the application of theoretical concepts to actual organizational settings and situations, culminating in the determination of participant’s dominant leadership style and articulation of a personal leadership profile.

LEAD505 Organizational Leadership and Ethics

The course will provide an understanding of the distinction between leadership and management in organizations. Theory is mixed with contemporary examples of the ethical challenges facing today’s leaders. Participants consider ethical frameworks (e.g., individual ethical competency, organizational system as an ethical agent) in organizational decision making.

LEAD510 Leadership in Context

Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of how economic, social and/or political events and relationships—whether local, national or worldwide—affect organizations and impact culture and community. Participants will develop a plan of action for dealing with that impact.

LEAD515 Leadership Communication and Conflict Resolution

The course will teach leaders to hone and refine important communication and conflict resolution skills including interpersonal and small group communication, persuasion, media communication, and crisis communication.

LEAD520 Leadership Coaching

The course will help learners coach, mentor and empower future leaders. The course will review coaching theories and models as well as the theoretical and applied aspects of teamwork. Participants will focus on building the skills of collaboration. Participants will articulate a personal leadership development plan.

LEAD560 Leading Change in Organizations

Participants will learn to navigate the world of needs assessment tools in order to build an organization’s ability to operate on the consistent generation of information. Systems used to analyze information and implement change resulting from data will be covered through case studies, individual, and group exercises. Participants will develop practical tools for engaging people at all levels of an organization through inevitable change.

LEAD565 Knowledge Based Leadership

The course will cover the integration and alignment of strategic planning, mission, and vision with goals and objectives to position organizations to transition to a knowledge based environment. Participants will develop a plan for capturing “tribal knowledge” and using that knowledge to create and communicate a shared vision.

LEAD570 Leadership for the Future

Participants will learn to identify trends, implement change initiatives, maximize resources, and develop a response to changing workforce dynamics. This course provides a thorough foundation in the methods used when leading project initiatives.

LEAD575 Organizational Structures and Behavior

Participants will learn decision making models, principles of organizational hierarchy, and how organizations are impacted by leadership styles. Participants will analyze how their own leadership behavior impacts others through 360-degree feedback.

LEAD580 Practical Problem Solving for Today’s Organizations

Working from current and relevant case studies, learners will develop the skills to make real-world, real-time decisions.

LEAD585 Leading Quality Improvement Initiatives

The course will address the importance of implementing quality principles integral to leadership which will benefit stakeholders, provide an understanding of the philosophies underlying quality, emphasize the importance of employee empowerment, deal with issues surrounding teams and group dynamics, and develop an awareness of process improvement and its role in building solid effective organizations. Learners will be qualified to earn the credential of Certified Quality Improvement Associate.

CAPS600 Graduate Project

All learners in graduate MBA, Management and Leadership programs will be required to submit a professional electronic capstone portfolio as a graduate requirement in this course. This course includes an applied leadership project designed to demonstrate how to plan, implement, and integrate progressive initiatives for highly successful organizations by using the five practices of exemplary leadership based on Kouzes & Posner’s international research on leadership. Learners’ projects from this course are included in the final capstone portfolio submitted. The capstone portfolio is a tool for learners to document and demonstrate they have met specific institutional and program learning outcomes. Prerequisite: Completion of all courses in the learners’ program.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the Master of Science in Leadership program, candidates must submit the following:

Southwestern College Professional Studies Graduate Program Application form – Application forms are accepted on an ongoing basis. No application admission fee is charged. Complete the online application.

Official transcripts of all prior college/university coursework – Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

Print a copy of the transcript request form and mail the request to the institution which awarded your bachelor’s degree.

Two confidential letters of recommendation – using the Graduate Recommendation Form (at least one from a current or former employer).

A one page Admissions Essay – submit your written statement electronically to graduate@sckans.edu or via mail or fax to 316.688.5218.

Resume- Applicants should have at least three years of professional work experience.

All international learners must show evidence of their English language ability by providing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) report. A score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer-based test) on the TOEFL is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to the MSL program.

Applicants who hold bachelor’s degrees from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country will receive a waiver of the TOEFL. Applicants who are from native English speaking countries are not required to take the TOEFL.

Admission requirements may differ for international learners, or for learners whose undergraduate degrees were awarded outside of the United States. Please contact an admissions counselor for more details.

In addition to the above, it is recommended that candidates have a working knowledge of word processing and presentation software.

A candidate’s file must be complete before an admissions decision may be made. It is the responsibility of each candidate to provide all of the information requested above. Candidates will receive a letter of admission to the program.

Meta

The greatest demand in the world today is not for managers, but for leaders. Southwestern College’s master of science in leadership program prepares people in any industry for leadership positions.