Mar 29, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2016-2017 Graduate Catalog 
    
ARCHIVED 2016-2017 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Leadership Studies, MLD


Program Structure

The Master of Leadership Studies Degree (MLD) program enables students to develop a broadened perspective about themselves and others so as to better inform and practice leadership within their communities and work places. The courses track both the behavioral and humanistic strains of research in the study of leadership, identifying the common challenges of leadership that cut across, business, community and cultural contexts. Students engage in reading and discussion with peers about the big issues of leadership that lead to the development of the whole person, beginning with questions of values and integrity.

Students must complete a total of 33 credit hours to receive the Master of Leadership Studies Degree: 18 credit hours in the core, 12 credit hours in a course of study and three credit hours in a project. Students must take at least five 600-level courses to complete degree requirements, including the Leadership Studies Capstone or Thesis.

Core Requirements (All MLD Degree Seekers):


Courses of Study


MLD students are allowed to include MLD 695 - Internship  as an Area of Emphasis or MLD Elective within their program.

Professional Leadership


The course of study in Professional Leadership prepares students for successful careers in a variety of contexts by enabling them to further develop their knowledge of leadership, organizational behavior and group dynamics. Students interested in leading within a business or organization will benefit from the coursework discussion and case studies that are required in the program. Students will study issues involving leading across cultures, and will explore how to lead during a crisis and in a variety of other contexts and settings. Through an in-depth study of leadership, students will develop strategies that will enable them to gain more followers, make better decisions and lead more effectively.

Sports Leadership


The course of study in Sports Leadership prepares students to start or advance careers in a wide variety of sports-related areas. Students interested in administrative roles, whether coaching or athletic program direction, in either K-12 or higher education settings, will benefit from the coursework required in this degree program. Similarly, students wishing to pursue careers in the front offices of sports organizations will also find the mix of pre-professional and writing-intensive liberal arts courses very useful. Finally, students with long-term interests in representing athletes in an agency capacity, could, very helpfully, complete this degree before attending law or business school.

Higher Education Leadership


The course of study in Higher Education Leadership prepares students for successful careers in college and university administration in a variety of areas; student affairs, admission, athletic and academic administration. The program is designed to prepare practitioners for positions of leadership in higher education through an integration of theory-based course work and extensive experiential work in a graduate assistantship or practicum setting. Students completing the program will be able to successfully incorporate leadership and human development theory with day-to-day operational experience and professional reading, writing and thinking skills into essential areas of college and university administration.

Social Entrepreneurship


The course of study in Social Entrepreneurship prepares and encourages students to start and manage businesses and other organizations that contribute to the public good by helping to create more fair trade opportunities, manage environmental resources more responsibly, alleviate poverty, and pursue justice, peace and health issues.

Social entrepreneurship organizations may be non-profit or for-profit ventures, and new or already established businesses. Students may focus on the broader aspects of visioning, starting and marketing such organizations, or on the more technical, day-to-day and long-term business, financial or management aspects of such ventures. The social entrepreneurship program builds on several North Central College programs, both graduate and undergraduate, curricular and extracurricular, which have for years encouraged involvement in social causes. The program also builds on the college’s church-related origins and its long history of ministry and service to the world.

Capstone (3 credit hours)


Upon evaluation of a student’s transcript and life experiences, the Graduate Committee on Leadership Studies may waive requirements in certain areas, thereby allowing a student more flexibility in choosing his or her remaining courses.