Leadership and Decision-Making Program Highlights

From a leadership and decision-making perspective, we believe that leadership is a shared process based on organizational goals and measurable outcomes, not the study of the individuals typically viewed as leaders/bosses/great men. We view learning as change and transformation relative to cognition and human behavior in multiple venues. Beyond traditional learning theory, we explore theory and concepts that transcend most participants’ prior learning. Our philosophy supports the development and demonstration of organizational strategies to use cognitive, ethical, and data-informed perspectives in the decision-making process.

Key elements of the Leadership and Decision-Making program include:

• Cohort Centered - A group of highly qualified participants (maximum of 25 participants per cohort) will complete an initial set of required coursework
   
• Hybrid Delivery Model - Includes required synchronous face-to-face meetings and material work in the Virtual Classroom (online) through discussions and readings, along with self-directed/small group study
   
• Competency Based - Participants must demonstrate competency and synthesize learning across specific program competency domains
   
• Multi-Disciplinary - Provides an integrated view of leadership, learning, and decision-making in a variety of organizational settings
   
• Foundational Course – 1 required credit hour during the initial Summer semester via hybrid delivery 
   
• Core Coursework - 39 required core credit hours via hybrid delivery
   
• Elective Coursework - 18 credit hours in subject matter related to the participant’s professional practice via hybrid/internet delivery with pre-approval from the participant's Program Director/Advisor (a maximum of 15 transfer credit hours may be requested) 
   
• Pre-Dissertation Seminar - Each participant will enroll in this 3 credit course designed to develop the knowledge base in a scholarly area related to learning, leadership, and decision-making and to develop a draft Dissertation Prospectus
   
• Dissertation - Each candidate will complete and defend a Dissertation representing the culminating written deliverable for the degree (minimum of 15 Dissertation hours)
   
• Total Program - The degree programs consist of a minimum of 76 credit hours of coursework and research