Course Descriptions

Master of Science in Leadership and Ethics (M.S.L.E.) degree

Emphasis in Higher Education

BUS 8013 - Research Methods (Three credit hours)
An in-depth examination of research methods in the social sciences with an emphasis on business research. The course provides advanced quantitative and qualitative research tools necessary to conduct major business research projects. Topics in research methods include Primary and Secondary Data Analysis, Sampling, Survey Design, and Experimental Designs.

LDR 7113 - Foundations of Leadership (Three credit hours)
Historical and contemporary leadership theories and concepts with an emphasis on the moral dimensions of leadership and ethics. Competencies and influences of leaders and followers are contrasted, and students gain insights through personal leadership and character assessments.

LDR 7223 - Mission, Vision, and Values (Three credit hours)
Study of the critical nature and relationship of mission, vision, and values to individuals and organizations. Identification and development of personal and organizational core purposes and values that direct strategies and define measures of success.

LDR 7343 - Corporate Governance and Ethics (Three credit hours)
An examination of present-day governance standards, the corporation as an artificial person, the responsibility of directors to govern corporations, the proper role of CEOs and other executives, and how shareholders can influence management decisions. Course topics include the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, as amended, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as other case studies and readings. This intensive study is designed for business leaders, graduate business students, and others interested in governance challenges facing organizations and those who lead them.

LDR 8003 - Ethical Decisions in Organizations (Three credit hours)
A study of how decisions and actions incorporate ethical issues. Individuals, organizations, and societies are influenced in significant ways by the ethical principles they use to make decisions. The course examines, from a Christian perspective, the ethical foundations, responsibilities, and consequences of decisions and practices in our society. Study includes the use of case studies illustrating the application of ethical theory in situations that students will likely encounter in their careers.

LDR 8993 -Designing and Executing Strategies (Three credit hours)
Analysis of internal and external structures and forces of organizations to determine core competencies and strategies. Development of ethical leadership and management processes for increasing quality and innovation.

BBL 8033 Christian Foundations (Three credit hours)
Understanding of Christian values and perspectives by examination of basic elements of the Christian faith. Through the study of the literature and theology of the Christian scriptures, candidates explore relationships among Christian faith, values, and practice.

Three hours from the following:

LDR 7003 - Executive Leadership Development Seminar (Three credit Hours)
A capstone experience which allows participants to explore, discover, and affirm their core values and understand how these are manifested in their personal leadership style. The goal is to spur the development of leaders who operate from a foundation of the highest ethical standards as a strategic key to profitability and long-term sustainability. (Same as BUS 7003)

LDR 7011 - Contemporary Topic Seminar (Each course, one credit hour)
Three one-credit seminars addressing the challenges of business leadership and ethics from industrial, contemporary, and future perspectives. Soderquist Distinguished Fellows and other world-class leaders serve as adjunct faculty.

Electives:

LDR 7993 - Building Teams (Three credit hours)
An experiential approach to application of the skills and attitudes necessary for building and leading effective teams. Topics include communication and motivation theories, group formation and behavior, group decision-making processes, conflict management, negotiation, facilitation, and organizational support structures.

LDR 8113 - Leading Change (Three credit hours)
Recognition of social and economic pressures for change. Adaptation of an ethical change process within diverse organizational settings. Forecasting and designing alternative futures for organizations. Expansion of a conceptual framework for lifelong applied learning and the development of strategic change and implementation plan.

LDR 8263 - International Business Practicum (Three credit hours)
An approved 10- to 14-day business experience in an international setting. Required of candidates in the International Business Concentration.

LDR 8333 - Global Leadership & Ethics (Three credit hours)
Cross-cultural and global perspectives highlight competitive advantage through diversity. Application of universal standards of leadership and ethics in multiple organizational settings.

LDR 8903 - Selected Topics (Three credit hours)
A course offering students opportunities to study subjects of special interest. May be offered on a group basis in a classroom setting or as independent study under faculty supervision.

BUS 8263 International Business Practicum (Three credit hours)
An approved 10- to 14-day business experience in an international setting. Required of candidates in the International Business Concentration.

Higher Education Emphasis (HED)

HED 7113 - History and Philosophy of American Higher Education (Three credit hours)
A study of the historical development of American higher education. The course reviews significant changes within the higher education system, focusing on higher educational institutional philosophy, objectives, and functions. This serves to lay the foundation for understanding higher educational programs, issues, and trends. Included as a focus of the course is an overview of the development and issues in Christian higher education.

HED 7663 - The College Student: Issues, Policies, and Programs (Three credit hours)
A foundational examination of student characteristics, demographics, beliefs, and cultural patterns in North American higher education. Major theories are reviewed that will assist the educational leader in developing policy and programs to maximize learning in the collegiate environment.

HED 7993 - Administrative Leadership in Higher Education (Three credit hours)
Analysis of leadership theories and concepts as they relate to utilizing higher education resources to manage change. The course incorporates current higher education trends and issues as contexts for inquiry and analysis into leadership of the various functional areas of higher education.

HED 8223 Educational Program Development and Implementation (Three credit hours)
Application of learning from core courses in practical ways to provide solutions to real-world problems within an educational setting. Students examine program purposes, outcomes, planning models, transfer of learning models, budget development and evaluation. The culminating project is the development of an educational program related to the student's professional goals. Prerequisites: six hours of HED