MA in Educational Leadership

The ultimate goal of the Master of Arts in Leadership cohort program is for you to utilize critical thinking skills to integrate your real-life experiences with your studies to prepare yourself for leadership roles in your home, organization, community, and society. You typically enter the program because you have an interest in the human side of the organizational equation, and you have a desire to acquire the knowledge and skills at will enable you to lead, coach, and mentor others in a variety of settings.

Throughout the program you will study leadership theories, current leadership issues, historical and modern-day leaders, organizational behavior, team and group dynamics, strategic leadership, organizational change, human development, ethics, and leadership for the 21st century. Each course provides multiple opportunities for a practical application of knowledge from the assignments including the leadership project, which you design to explore topics related to your own personal and/or professional interests The courses in this cohort program are designed to be taken in order as listed. Their prerequisite is acceptance to the Master of Arts in Leadership program.

Major Requirements: Leadership Curriculum (36 credit hours)

Course Descriptions:

LDRE 600 Leadership Theories and Practices (3 credits) This course explores the subject of leadership within diverse organizational and situational contexts.  Leadership theories and practices will be examined by reviewing relevant academic sources, biographies, and writings of historical and current leaders.  Styles of leadership, as they relate to different organizational configurations, are analyzed using current leadership theories.  The theoretical and practical implications of issues such as motivation, influence and power, shared decision-making, problem-solving, and visionary leadership are discussed. Practical applications of leader knowledge, skills, and abilities are discussed.

LDRE 605 Team and Group Dynamics (3 credits) Examines the need for leaders to understand group dynamics, as well as the leader’s role in facilitating the success of teams or groups in a given organization. Explores the processes of team building, interpersonal and group relations, effective problem solving, decision-making skills, and managing changes within the group setting. The emphasis is placed on the actions of individuals within a group, the relation between groups and their organizations, and the relationship between groups and their leaders.

LDRE 620 Strategic Leadership (3 credits) Exploration of how leaders strategically create and affect organizational missions, goals, and objectives. This course also considers roles leaders play with regard to inspiring, empowering, and leading organizational stakeholders through planning and implementing strategic organizational initiatives.

LDRE 660 Organizational Leadership (3 credits) Theories and concepts of individual and group behaviors are used to help understand leaders and followers at the organization level of analysis. Accordingly, leader impact on the organization is examined from the perspectives of leaders and followers.

EDL 600 Orientation to Professional Education (3 credits) Key elements of the school social system are discussed in light of Issues including power, politics, communication, and leadership. This course provides a starting point for developing a plan to create vibrant, high functioning, student focused schools.

EDL 610 Educators as Researchers (3 credits) The role of a research in leadership and education is examined. Fundamental research designs are examined and applied to research studies. The role of the teacher as a researcher is examined and applied. Research design and concepts are evaluated and applied in classroom settings.

EDL 650 Cognitive Psychology Applied to Learning (3 credits) Current development and cognitive theories are analyzed. Psychological principles of instruction are identified and applied to assessment, planning, and development of instruction. Critical motivational concepts and the psychology of individual differences are applied to instruction.

EDL 671: Human Resource Practices for Educators (3 credits) A focus on trends and issues in human resource management that challenge today’s leaders in the field of education. Human Resource (HR) practices that impact the employment relationship are presented and implications of these practices in educational organizations are examined.

LDR 680 Leadership Development (3 credits) Advances understanding, practice, and development of leadership in organizations. To this end, this course will explore effective leadership practices, important leadership skills and perspectives, impact of societal and cultural factors on development of leaders, and strategies for developing shared leadership beliefs in groups, teams, and organizations.

LDR 685 Leadership Project (3 credits) A project or experience designed by the student and approved by the major professor. The overall purpose of the project is to provide the scholar with opportunities to develop an applied leadership development plan or generate a thesis, case study or other types of original educational leadership research.

EDL 699: Special Topics (6 credits) In this course, documentation of prior educational and professional experience is compiled into an Educational Leadership portfolio. Documentation that demonstrates requisite training, experience, and/or post-Bachelor course credit is evaluated by Yeshiva Initiatives Education Programs (YIEP) and submitted to the university for approval as credits in transfer.