Leadership, M.S. *

OSRHE Program Code: 052
CIP Code: 130406
Major Code: 3603
Option Codes:

• 3604 - American Indian Leadership
• 3605 - College Teaching
• 3606 - Higher Education Administration
• 3607 - Professional Studies
• 3608 - Training and Development

Purpose

The degree program prepares graduates who have the professional knowledge and skills to be effective leaders who are committed to service, excellence, and collaboration and who inspire and empower individuals within their realm of influence to be caring, socially responsible citizens. 

Student Learning Outcomes - Professional Core

1. Examine ethical decision-making practices.
2. Utilize leadership theory to solve organizational challenges through collaboration and relationship building.
3. Utility current trends to critically reframe leadership.
4. Demonstrate culturally sensitive practices.
5. Evaluate the andragogical model through effective leadership practices.

Student Learning Outcomes - American Indian Leadership Option

1. Connect indigenous theory to practice.
2. Develop a solution-based action plan that is effectively communicated to stakeholders.
3. Engage in research to improve practice.
4. Connect leadership theory to improve practice.

Student Learning Outcomes - College Teaching Option

1. Analyze discipline-specific information to promote student success.

Student Learning Outcomes - Higher Education Administration Option

1. Describe concepts and practices in an organization’s financial environment.
2. Interpret counseling and support strategies to enhance communication.
3. Analyze issues to foster student participation and access to resources.
4. Build an organizational program based on assessment, evaluation, and research.
5. Develop a solution-based action plan that is effectively communicated to stakeholders.
6. Engage in research to improve practice.
7. Connect leadership theory to improve practice.

Student Learning Outcomes - Professional Studies Option

1. Engage in research to improve practice.
2. Connect leadership theory to improve practice.

Student Learning Outcomes - Training and Development

1. Conduct a needs analysis to identify current and future training needs within an organization.
2. Evaluate training methods and technologies that are appropriate for the organizational population as well as the training content
3. Evaluation the success of training initiatives.
4. Facilitate organizational training and development programs in a variety of settings.
5. Design organizational training and development opportunities.

Admission, Retention, and Graduation

Admission. Beyond the admission requirements for the Graduate College, admission to the Leadership, M.S. program requires:

1. Program GPA requirement* of
   • 3.00 overall undergraduate, OR
   • 3.25 in the last 60 hours undergraduate, OR
   • Earned master’s degree from an accredited university
2. Through the Graduate College Admission Portal, submit the following program admission documents. All materials are to be receieved by 5:00 pm on October 1, March 1, or July 1. If these dates fall on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the last business day prior to the holiday or weekend.
   • Leadership Philosophy including long-term career goals and how a master’s degree will facilitate the stated goals. (two pages typed, double-spaced, with one-in margins)
   • Three (3) names and emails of individuals who will complete recommendation forms.
   • Plan of Study
   • Statement of Academic Integrity and Honesty

The program’s Admission Committee will review all materials and will make a recommendation concerning admission to the program. A formal interview and/or other materials may be requested by the committee at its discretion.

*Conditional Admission. For individuals who wish to pursue a degree, but are unable to meet the undergraduate GPA requirements, conditional enrollment may be allowed as follows:

• A graduate program GPA of 3.5 must be obtained for 12 credit hours of course work taken at Northeastern State University, and all other admittance requirements must be completed during first semester of enrollment.
• Full admittance will be considered by the Admissions Committee at the completion of 12 credit hours upon the written request of the student within the semester deadlines for admissions.
• No more than six credit hours will be allowed to be taken in any semester until fully admitted into the program.
• Second semester of enrollment must be authorized by the candidate’s advisor.

Advisement. The Graduate College assigns students an advisor upon admission to graduate studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make an appointment with the advisor prior to enrollment to discuss policies and procedures relevant to the degree program. Confering with the student, the advisor develops the plan of study, assists in the selection of classes, and counsels the student.

Candidacy. After completion of twelve (12) credit hours, but before eighteen (18) credit hours, students will contact their assigned advisor to complete the candidacy process. To meet candidacy requirements in the M.S. Leadership program, candidates must complete the following:

1. Meet with Advisor to complete and file Admission to Candidacy Form.
2. Formal admission to the M.S. in Leadership program.
3. Twelve (12) hours of coursework.
4. Degree plan on file and approved by the advisor, program chair, and the Dean of the Graduate College.  Subsequent changes made to the degree plan require prior written approval by the advisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
5. Statement of Understanding on file and signed by the candidate, the advisor, program chair, and the Dean of the Graduate College.
6. Maintain minimum graduate program GPA of 3.00.
7. Regardless of the number of hours earned prior to candidacy, fifteen (15) graduate credit hours must be earned after candidacy has been awarded.

Retention  and Graduation Requirements

1. Students must continue to meet the Graduate College’s Retention Standards to be retained in the program. See the Academic Information page for more information.
2. Students are encouraged to monitor degree progress using the degree audit system in the goNSU portal.
3. Students must meet Graduate College policies detailed in Academic Information and Master’s Degree Requirements regarding GPA, minimum grades, coursework age, residency and institutional / state regulations governing degree conferral.