Courses

This course introduces the student to leadership and service in higher education. Included is an abridged overview of various eras of higher educational history from the Ptolemaic dynasty to modern times, emphasizing modes of teaching and learning, educational leadership, and student life through the ages. In the modern context, this course compares contemporary campus cultures, objectives, and settings, including public, private, and for-profit colleges, adult learning centers, online colleges, community colleges, universities, and professional/research institutes. An introduction to campus governance structures and leadership and service delivery areas are included. (4 units)

This course examines the critical factors influencing student access, choice, and success in higher education. Students will explore how individual, institutional, and systemic factors shape pathways to college enrollment, decision-making, and academic achievement. Topics include the impact of socioeconomic status, race, gender, and geographic location on college choice, the role of financial aid and institutional support, and the policies and practices designed to promote student success. Through analysis of research and case studies, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the barriers and opportunities that affect diverse student populations. The course also emphasizes strategies for supporting students in making informed educational choices and achieving academic and personal success in higher education. (4 units)

This course explores the principles and practices of designing effective learning experiences for diverse learners across various contexts in the classroom and co-curricular environments. Students will investigate ways faith and learning are integrated within learner-centered activities. Students will explore research on best practices in student learning, integrating faith and learning, course design, program development, and assessment and program evaluation strategies. (4 units)

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the practice of research and research design. The course develops an understanding of the principles, processes and techniques used in social science research. Topics will include reading and evaluating dissertations, identification of quality research design criteria, and development of quality hypothesis statements and research questions. Students will use this information to evaluate their own thinking about research questions and develop potential research design descriptions.

The purpose of this course is to introduce the principles and methods for descriptive and inferential statistics. The course will focus on understanding how descriptive and inferential statistics can be applied to effectively interpret data. Students will be required to utilize statistical software to select basic statistical tests and interpret results.

The purpose of this course is to present an examination of quantitative methods and designs that are utilized in social science research. Areas of focus include measurement, sampling, and design issues in generating and testing research questions. Students will be required to utilize statistical software to select complex statistical tests and interpret results.

This course examines the theoretical foundations of qualitative research methods and techniques applied in social science research. Students will be exposed to a wide array of research methods, design, measurement, analysis, and interpretation techniques that are crucial in descriptive research. Students will learn how to analyze human behavior, perceptions, and reactions as well as the meanings people give to their experiences.

This course investigates strategies for promoting sustainable organizations by studying individual and group behavior within organizational settings. Key course concepts focus on organizational infrastructure, motivational strategies, ethical strategies, and leading change. Theories and frameworks studied are foundational principles of the program. This course also examines principles for leveraging conflict management strategies to promote positive organizational relationships and ethical outcomes.

This course examines effective principles of communication critical for effectiveness within diverse organizations. Principles focus on opportunities for administrators to reflect on their own communication style and examine the components of effective communication strategies. Students will address the challenges inherent to effective communication present in today's multicultural, multilingual work environments. Students will apply strategies for addressing routine and unexpected organizational communication challenges and situations.

This course prepares administrators for gaining insight into identifying the barriers that exist within organizations that mitigate opportunities for diversity and inclusion. Students will survey the effects of culture on administrative strategies and actions, and policies and procedures. They will analyze strategies for leveraging diversity to promote greater organizational inclusivity and productivity. Ethical considerations and motivation for diversity are emphasized.

This course focuses on the development of knowledge and skills needed to maintain competitive advantage and sustainability in today's dynamic organizations. Special attention will be on the analysis and application of strategic approaches to overcoming barriers for organizational optimization, as well as methods for planning and driving support needed for implementation of change objectives that support the organization's mission.

The Comprehensive Experience will assess the student's knowledge of the theoretical foundations in organizational administration. Students will identify and answer research questions by integrating and synthesizing knowledge from a broad range of content areas covered in the first two years of study. The emphasis of this course is to demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the field of study ensuring that all students advancing to candidacy have internalized the central knowledge, critical thinking, and ethical skills necessary to be effective practitioners, leaders, executives, scholars, and professors. Successful completion of a defense experience must be completed prior to advancing to candidacy.

Students will be guided through the research process after completing the dissertation proposal. This will include the development and completion of the dissertation. Students will work with their dissertation advisors both individually and in small groups. During the final iteration students will defend their dissertation in a public oral examination open to all members of the University community. Although the defense is concerned primarily with the dissertation research and its interpretation, the examining committee may explore the student's knowledge of areas relevant to the core of the dissertation problem. Students will finalize their dissertation manuscript for publication.