Online Flexibility · Innovative Curriculum · Designed for You

Are you an emerging leader looking to acquire skills in managing change, ethical decision-making, and leading innovation within your organization?

In the Master of Science in Leadership, you will learn how to:

• Use cutting-edge strategies in innovation, design thinking, and change management
• Communicate effectively across organizations to create high functioning teams
• Make sound and ethical decisions when faced with challenges in your workplace
• Provide innovative and visionary leadership to take your organization to the next level

Program Advantages

• 100% online classes offer flexibility for your demanding schedule
• Accelerated 33-credit hour program that can be completed in 16 months
• Quality instruction from UE faculty and experienced industry professionals
• Personalized degree with four areas of concentration

Core Curriculum

Leadership Core

• LDR-505 - Leadership Theory
  This course examines leadership theory, concepts, and practice. Students will identify leaders and leadership styles and apply the knowledge to better understand and positively affect their organization, business, or institution. Self-reflection will be a focus of the class as students evaluate their leadership styles and practices to identify areas of growth and personal development.
• LDR-514 - Project Management
  Leaders will learn how to launch, lead, and support successful projects. Leaders will contrast traditional and modern project management concepts to formulate an ideal project management process for their specific organization with the freedom to create a custom framework. Concepts include leading projects, planning, motivating teams, problem-solving, change management, strategic management approaches, lean and agile project management methods to sponsor successful project plans from initial development through implementation. Project management skills are essential for every manager and leader in our modernized project-driven world.
• LDR-528 - Financial Decision Making
  Focuses on the acquisition, allocation, and management control of financial resources within organizations. Includes cost analysis, financial position analysis and strategies, reimbursement, pricing policies, budgeting, capital expenditure, analysis of financial reports, and informal and external controls. Emphasizes financial terminology and organization of financial statements. Requires analytical approach to ratio analysis and organization diagnostics.
• LDR-590 - Decision Making
  Examines decision making in leadership roles by extensive use of case studies. Material from other LDR courses is integrated into the study of decisions facing all types of organizations committed to leading and serving.
• LDR-530 - Cultural Competence & Leadership
  This course examines the competencies needed to thrive as a culturally responsive leader, while fostering growth within a diverse organization. Course participants will learn to recognize personal and institutional biases associated with discrimination and acquire the knowledge and the skill set needed to lead cross-culturally.
• LDR-543 - Strategic Planning & Execution
  This course examines the strategic dimensions of leadership. Topics include establishing a vision, strategic planning, and implementation of strategic initiatives. Students will examine strategic issues and apply their knowledge to positively affect their organization, business, or institution.
• LDR-562 - Change and Innovation in Organization
  In this course, leaders will learn how to put in place a reliable system through which an entire organization can engage seamlessly in innovation. Leaders will learn how to leverage the innovative capacities of employees to generate growth, seize opportunities, drive efficiencies, and position their organizations well for the future.
• LDR-599 - Capstone Project
  This is an experiential learning course in which students complete real-world consulting projects for start-ups or existing organizations (business, non-for-profit, civic, or educational). All teams are guided by a coach. Competencies are developed and refined in leading consulting projects, project management, teamwork, professional interaction, and communication presentation skills. Students draw upon diverse team member strengths to deliver value on their projects. The GAP Graduate Capstone course provides the student with the opportunity to apply the skill sets developed throughout the course of the program. The student will work in cross-disciplinary teams to develop recommendations for clients on real-world issues. This experience will allow the student to enhance his or her critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. The GAP Capstone projects vary in focus and are based upon the specific needs of client and the professional development needs of the student. This experience is designed to excite, challenge, and exhilarate the student with a view of how to enhance his or her skills for professional effectiveness.

Electives

Strategic Leadership

• LDR-520 - Strategic Marketing and Communication
  This course integrates long-range goal planning with dimensions of marketing and communication for organizations. Concepts, techniques, and theories related to the planning and management of marketing in organizations are introduced and applied.
• LDR-529 - Strategic Finance
  This course will build on the content in LDR 528: Financial Decision-Making by introducing advanced finance topics. Students will explore and apply advanced long-term budgeting, managing working capital, financial ratios, cash conversion cycles, and the capital budget process. Pre-Requisites Completion of LDR 528: Financial Decision-Making or comparable coursework.
• LDR-572 - Strategic Human Capital Management
  This course examines the strategic dimensions of Human Resources. Topics include establishing a talent acquisition, talent management, organizational development, diversity/inclusion, and an overview of employment law. Students will examine strategic issues and apply their knowledge to positively affect their organization, business, or institution.

Innovation

• LDR-560 - Empathy and Prototyping
  This course will provide an overview of design thinking, focusing specifically on the processes of Empathizing and Prototyping. Students will explore the application of these processes across varying fields and disciplines, while learning to identify and understand client needs and develop potential solutions to proposed problems.
• LDR-561 - Leading Innovative Teams
  This course will explore how leaders can enhance the innovation and effectiveness of teams. Students will examine innovation styles and the ways they influence their individual and team approaches to innovation processes. Students will learn creative problem-solving process and facilitation skills necessary to define complex problems, ideate, develop solutions, and create action plans in collaborative settings. Divergent and convergent thinking skills will be applied to enhance creativity and drive innovation.
• LDR-563 - Corporate Entrepreneurship
  This course will equip leaders to embrace an innovative mindset and apply entrepreneurial thinking in an existing organization or a new business venture. Students will learn about and apply theories, processes, and practices of corporate entrepreneurship to a business proposal for a new product or service.

Higher Education

• LDR-551 - Student Services Support
  This course focuses on the theoretical basis and best practices in student services in higher education with particular emphasis on financial aid, retention, recruitment, student activities, support services and residence life. Students will develop an understanding of the changing demographics and characteristics of college students in relation to academic, social, and physical needs.
• LDR-550 - Critical Issues in Higher Education
  This course will explore the academic, political, legal, governmental, financial, and other influencers that higher education leaders are forced to consider as they lead their institutions into the future. This course will build upon the content from the Policy and Historical Trends in Higher Education course, as well as the core leadership courses.
• LDR-554 - Legal Aspects of Higher Education
  This course investigates the legislation and litigation which forms the basis of education at the national, state, and local levels. Students will examine historical and current cases rendered by federal and state courts concerning procedural and substantive due process, civil rights, special populations, parent and student rights, and contractual legalities to help professionals have a sound knowledge of the pertinent legal landscape for leadership and decision making.

Non-Profit

• LDR-540 - Non-Profit Fundraising & Practice
  This course is designed for current or aspirant managers, staff, and volunteers in the non-profit sector who want to become familiar with the fundamentals of fundraising. We will look at philanthropy on a global scale and within the United States. Key areas that will be covered are funding sources; motivations for giving; methods of giving; types of funding; and developing relationships.
• LDR-541 - Managing Non-Profit Organizations
  This course will help students understand the important role non-profits play in the United States and the impact they have on communities. We will discuss the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for non-profits and their leaders. Key areas such as a mission statement, strategic planning, boards, volunteers, and careers in non-profit organizations will be covered.
• LDR-542 - Change & Innovation in Non-Profit Organization
  This course is designed for students who are interested in learning about innovation in a world that is steeped in history. While the non-profit world tends to change slowly, recent innovations are forcing change quickly. In this course we will discuss the major theories of change; the differences between personal change and organizational change; the impact of organizational change on leaders; and innovations in the world of non-profits.

Public Health

• PH-543 - Population-Based Health
  This course presents selected information, concepts, and methods from the field of public health. Topics concerning the history, organization, financing, and services of the public health system are discussed. All topics are presented from a population-based perspective. Summer.
• PH-542 - Health Systems & Policy
  The aim of this course is to provide students with an overview of the U.S. health care system, its components, and the policy challenges created by its organization. The course will focus on the major health policy institutions and important issues that cut across institutions, including private insurers and the federal/state financing programs. Attention will also be given to disparities in access to care, the role of pharmaceuticals in health care and the pricing and regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, the quality of acre, the challenges of long-term care, and the aging of the population, and the drivers of cost growth. Spring.
• PH-580 - Programs, Problems, & Policies
  This course examines the myriad of programs and policies in public health via a developmental approach to learning about health problems. The course will cover a variety of topics, including state programs and policies, maternal and infant health, program planning, research, monitoring, and advocacy. Spring.

Career Preparations

Graduates of the program will emerge with the knowledge and confidence to thrive in today’s dynamic environments and be prepared for tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Develop the skills and mindset to lead innovation and bring positive change.
2. Develop effective strategic thinking, planning, and implementation skills.
3. Communicate effectively with leaders, direct reports, and colleagues.
4. Demonstrate cultural awareness and competence.
5. Demonstrate ethical decision-making skills to address challenges faced by leaders.

Career Outlook*

The MS in Leadership program can help propel your career into several growing areas of management.

• Job growth for management occupations is projected to be 7% from 2018-28, (median annual wage for these positions in 2018 was $104,240).
• Job growth for social and community service managers is projected to be 13% from 2018-28 (median wage for these positions in 2018 was $65,320).
• Job growth for top executives and organizational leaders is projected to be 6% from 2018-28 (median wage for these positions in 2018 was $189,600).

*According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Application Requirements

When you are ready to apply, here are the requirements and documents you’ll need to get started.

1. A UE Graduate Program application
2. Official transcripts verifying receipt of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
3. Two letters of reference from the academic or professional environment
4. A personal interview with an advisor in the MS in Leadership program
5. A resumé that reflects three years of work history and goals

Apply Now!