Organizational Leadership, (M.A.)

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program provides students with a theoretical understanding and practical tool set to prepare them to impact the learning capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations. Further, students will be able to access experiential learning opportunities in which to apply theory-informed tools and methods and leadership philosophies to socially responsible practice and applied innovation. This degree will provide pathways for students to become practitioners and/or scholars of organizational leadership and associated research.

Successful completion of the M.A. in Organizational Leadership will prepare students to influence and invigorate organizations around the world as scholars, practitioners, or entrepreneurs. Graduates will have the ability to impact organizational and system transformation, innovate across commercial, public, and social contexts, build solutions for complex social challenges, and translate leadership theories into real-world management and socially responsible practice. Students will develop a strong foundation in the theory and application of various contemporary leadership models, including both vertical and horizontal approaches to leadership. Further, students will enhance their ability to critically analyze research and data for the strategic and ethical implementation of organizational or societal initiatives.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of this degree program, graduates will be able to:

1. Leverage existing research to inform decision making at operational and strategic levels of an organization.
2. Apply learned communication skills and awareness of cultural differences in global and domestic business interactions.
3. Apply contemporary leadership models and/or theories to support organizational effectiveness in a global environment.
4. Analyze problems from a diverse perspective, propose effective solutions, and evaluate the impact of executive decisions.
5. Assess the ethical and strategic performance of business entities, taking into account decision making processes in domestic and global organizations.
6. Apply leadership and innovation frameworks to identify problem points, mitigate organizational, and system challenges.
7. Evaluate entrepreneurial concepts and business strategies in order strengthen leadership qualities.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all required credit hours, including all required courses.
2. Satisfactory completion of the Social Justice Practicum.
3. Successful completion of capstone or thesis.
4. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
5. Submission of completed graduation application and full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees.
6. Faculty approval for graduation and recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the conferral of the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

Social Justice Practicum

The Social Justice Practicum (SJP) is a nonclinical and non-discipline-specific experiential practicum. Students gain the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to utilize collective power and social justice strategies to build a more equitable society.

The SJP is designed to help students learn how to work alongside different communities as agents of social change and serves as the catalyst for students to realize and understand their strengths and responsibility to contribute to social equity.

The SJP unites the academic institution and larger communities and is an anchor of student learning at Adler University. This experiential learning process includes attending monthly workshops to explore civics, intersectionality, and community organizing and completing a practicum at community-based organizations to work on projects that will strengthen the social justice missions of our community partner members.

All students must complete the SJP before advancing onto any clinical or discipline-specific training, respective of the program in which they are enrolled. SJP requirements include:

- Completion of a minimum of 200 hours at an approved SJP site.
- Completion of online modules. 

- A formal SJP presentation at the Social Justice Symposium. 

- Students must receive a grade of “Pass” for the midterm and final evaluation to receive credit for completing the SJP.

The SJP may not be waived, and life credit is not admissible to meet this requirement.