Program of Study
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The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Organizational Leadership at Fort Hays State University is a 30-credit-hour program that leads students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to foster effective leadership in modern, diverse organizations.
The program curriculum is comprised of three streams -- core curriculum, organizational leadership concentration, and electives
-- plus a culminating experience.
Core Curriculum
The courses in the core curriculum focus on leadership theory, knowledge, and data analysis.
IDS 802
Ways of Knowing in Comparative Perspective
A comparative, critical exploration of the nature, kinds, worth, and limits of human knowledge. Roughly equal amounts of attention are given to (A) the sciences, (B) the arts and humanities and (C) a selection from a menu of such special topics as mathematical knowledge, epistemic relativism, moral knowledge, religious knowledge and the role of the search for knowledge in well-lived human lives.
LDRS 801
Theoretical Foundations of Leadership
This course provided exposure to the large body of organizational leadership theory and research. Both historical and contemporary approaches were examined in detail requiring students to analyze the research critically from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Course material also focuses on organizational leadership in multiple contexts and levels of analysis (individual, team, organization and community).
LDRS 810
Qualitative Research Methods in Leadership
An in-depth understanding of the scientific method and its application to qualitative research. Students develop a research question, collect and analyze data and develop conclusions for qualitative methods. Appropriate means are explored to present and disseminate the research in order to help organizations and communities make accurate and informed decisions.fffb00
Organizational Leadership Concentration
The courses in the organizational leadership concentration area focus on the discipline of organizational leadership and
challenge students to deepen their knowledge, collaborate with others, and demonstrate excellent communication skills.
LDRS 802
Organizational Systems, Change and Leadership
This class challenges students to embrace a systems view of leadership and organizational change at the organizational level. Students compare, contrast and critique both seminal and modern theories and models of organizational learning, knowledge creation and organizational capacity building and apply them to their own organizational settings. The course enhances systematic thinking and develops comprehensive understanding of core competencies required to initiate and sustain change in organizations.
LDRS 807
Leadership in Teams and Collaborative Environments
This course examines the leadership process in the context of team and group dynamics. It investigates process and content issues of team building, interpersonal and group relations, and effective problem solving and decision making skills in collaborative environments. The course places particular emphasis on the relationship between teams within business organizations and external constituents.
SOC 621
Advanced Sociological Research
An applied and technique-oriented course in which students learn to perform basic and advanced statistical analysis of quantitative data using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and complete a research project involving the development of a theory-driven hypothesis(es), as well as testing of the hypothesis(es) through data collection or acquisition, analysis of the data and the reporting of conclusions. Graduate students will be required to collect data and learn additional statistical techniques.
LDRS 811
Organizational Intervention Strategies
Students learn to apply leadership concepts and assessment techniques to the design, delivery and analysis of leadership development interventions. Students develop practical applications to leadership development programs on individual, unit and organizational levels.
Elective Courses
Elective courses allow each student to tailor six credit hours to meet their specific needs, interests,
and career goals. I elected to take the following courses.
LDRS 670
Leadership and Personal Development
The focus of this course will be on you as the leader from an individual perspective. It will be an introduction to the principles and practices of positive interpersonal relationships for leadership development. The course will be based on each student's perception of their own life experiences that have helped them reach this level in their leadership development journey (Past), where they are now in that journey (Present), and their personal leadership goals (Future).
MGT 614
Training and Development
This course examines the functions of training and development as applied in both large and small business environments. The role of training and development in the current business environment is considered with regard to learning theory, learning objectives, instructional methods, and needs assessment. Focus will be placed on evaluation of training effectiveness and emerging concepts in workplace education. Graduate students will complete all the course requirements and, in addition, complete an argument paper in support or against a timely training and development topic.
Culminating Experience
The culminating experience requires students to complete a three-credit-hour project.
More information about my project can be found HERE.
LDRS 670
Leadership and Personal Development
This course is designed for students in the final stages of their graduate program. Activities include practical experience in an organization which will allow the student to participate in a meaningful leadership experience.