Business: Organizational Leadership Course Descriptions

Graduate 2020-2021

BUS 600 Finance and Accounting for Leaders (3)
This course will prepare non-financial leaders to understand the financial implications behind organizational decisions. This will involve the presentation and interpretation of accounting information from the perspective of the user. This course will study basic financial statements as well as examine the cost components for manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies and their relevance in decision-making. This course will offer an overview on net present value and its importance in organizational decisions.

CIS 610 Understanding Technology (3)
This is an introductory technology course on understanding and using information technology. It focuses on communications using computer technology, the digital revolution, the Internet, and the Web. It covers the fundamental computing concepts surrounding the digital age including software, hardware, data, people, communications, and procedures. It also examines ethical issues in the information age and investigates emerging technologies that could impact individuals as well as organizations in the future. This course is required for all students who do not have a technology-related degree and is a prerequisite to MGT 620.

ECO 655 Global Economic Awareness (3)
This course has two distinct parts. The first part is a comparison of the different economic systems around the globe. In this section, students examine the economic structures of different nations as well as the different roles for government. The second part of the course focuses on international trade. Students examine the theories that guide trade and the role of international economic institutions such as the World Trade Organization.

LGS 625 Legal Issues in Organizations (3)
This course includes a review of various legal issues found in organizations, including employer liability, employment contracts, discrimination, hiring practices, labor relations, and regulation by administrative agencies.

MGT 610 People in Organizations (3)
This course explores individual, group and organizational processes to increase understanding of self and others in organizations. Emphasizes awareness, self-development, and self-management in the context of organizational issues such as conflict resolution, negotiations, team performance, and leadership opportunities.

MGT 620 Managing Information, Technology and Projects (3)
This course addresses significant concepts and issues related to managing information, technology, and projects from both strategic and tactical perspectives. Emphasis is given to addressing challenges associated with the evaluation, section, implementation, and management of information and technology related systems that serve to increase an organization's efficiency and competitive advantage. This course has a significant emphasis on effective project management practices.

MGT 640 The Changing Workplace (3)
This course will focus on the dynamic nature of organizations and change. Since the organizational environment changes continuously, the course is by nature a topics course. Additionally the course will introduce the student to change at the individual, group and organizational levels so they can function effectively as catalysts for change or as members of a change process.

MGT 675 Leadership: Communication and Influence (3)
Communication concepts and theories that describe and explain interactions among organizational members at all levels are examined in this course. Key to this examination is the opportunity for students to observe, analyze and practice effective interaction patterns. Topics of discussion include: upward, downward and horizontal communication; formal and informal communication (grapevine); superior-subordinate communication; performance evaluation; information overload; conflict and negotiation; power, politics, and influence; and organizational culture.

MGT 680 Organizational Research and Change (3)
Prerequisite(s): 24 hours completed in the MSOL program
This course focuses on the knowledge and skills to improve organizational effectiveness by identifying, diagnosing, and formulating solutions to problems in the workplace. Topics include the research process, exploratory research, qualitative and quantitative methods, action research, and reporting of findings. Emphasis will be on the understanding necessary to lead planned change and renewal in organizations through application of collaborative, systematic skills and methods.

MGT 690 Organizational Research and Change II (3)
Prerequisite(s): MGT 680
This course builds on the foundation of MGT 680 and other MSOL courses. The student will identify an organizational problem or opportunity in an organization with which they are familiar and apply a research method to gather data to clarify the nature of the problem and then propose solution. This is the capstone course in the MSOL program.

MOL 600 Exploring Leadership (3)
Prerequisite(s): Must be taken in the first nine hours of course work
This course explores the meaning of leadership across time, culture and contexts and also examines classic writings on leadership, the most recent leadership theories and research, and popular contemporary management books on leadership. Special attention will be given to theories that emphasize the role of values and ethics in leadership. Students also begin assessing their own leadership skills.

MOL 605 Methods of Organizational Research (3)
This course introduces the organizational research process, the ethical issues involved in organizational research, the methodologies employed to analyze data, and the appropriate methods of effectively reporting organizational research results. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking and analysis.

MOL 675 Seminar in Org Leadership (3)
A course which examines current topics in Organization Leadership. Students pursue topics or subjects of current interest that are not part of the regular curriculum.

MOL 690 Integrative Project (3)
Prerequisite(s): MOL 600, PSY 610/MGT 610 and MOL 605 plus successful completion of 24 hours in MSOL program
This course is an integrative experience in which the student applies the knowledge, skills and understanding developed in the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program. This seminar allows for a structured approach as individuals work on their own independent projects. It also provides opportunities to learn and share together about those projects and the process of doing an applied academic project. The project itself may take a variety of forms and will result in a formal report demonstrating program learning. This course is designed to be completed in the final semester of the program.

PHI 660 Ethical Issues in Organizations (3)
This course will examine some of the moral issues facing both private and public organizations and those who occupy leadership roles within them. Case studies will focus on timely, contemporary ethical issues in business, society and government.

PSY 610 People in Organizations (3)
Crosslisted MGT 610. This course explores individual, group and organizational processes to increase understanding of self and others in organizations. Emphasizes awareness, self-development, and self-management in the context of organizational issues such as conflict resolution, negotiations, team performance, and leadership opportunities.

PSY 635 Social Influence (3)
This course is an in-depth look at how people influence each other's attitudes and behavior, with an emphasis on management applications. A variety of influence methods will be examined.

SOC 680 Culture & Technology (3)
This course addresses how technology drives much of social and cultural change, and these technological innovations and changes often happen first in the world of work. New technology brings new winners and new losers in most social systems. New technology almost always comes with grand promises of its potential but lack of planning for its failures, negative side effects and the losers it often leaves. A better understanding of these technology-caused social forces can help leaders and managers prepare for the impact of technology on their organization, their workers and their communities.