Online Leadership Courses

This course is designed to develop graduate students’ language and writing abilities within academic and professional genres. Topics will include writing coherence, logic, and processes; audience and situation awareness; development and support of ideas; and language formality and accuracy.

This course is designed to introduce graduate business students to the conventions and expectations of academic and professional writing and to develop their abilities to follow those conventions. Particular emphasis will be given to research writing, style, and organization. Additional topics will include best practices for creating clear, concise, and effective professional writing.

This course is an overview of human resource management and will include exploration of such topics as staffing, training and development, performance management, compensation, labor relations, and employment law, with a primary focus on strategic execution, which integrates HR programs and policies within the framework of an organization’s strategic direction. Lab fee may be required.

In this course, students will study classical and modern management theories of organization; the functions of management; external and/or environmental aspects bearing on managerial responsibility; development of practical management policy as guides to managerial decision-making; and human aspects of management including motivation, workplace equity and demographic diversity. This course includes the use of case studies to apply theory through practice. Lab fee may be required.

This course is an analysis of primary factors affecting individual and group behavior in organizations and examines the structure and behavior within organizations that impact performance, morale, and profitability. Lab fee may be required.

Organization development (OD) is the process of planning and implementing interventions to create interpersonal, group, intergroup, or organization-wide change. This course presents the theoretical foundations of organization development as an applied behavioral science. Students will also be introduced to many types of interpersonal, intra-group, intergroup, and organizational interventions that are used to effect comprehensive and lasting changes. Lab fee may be required.

This course is designed to develop an understanding of the function and context of the leadership role in formal organizations through the examination of leadership research and theories of leadership effectiveness. The basis for exercising influence and the situational factors affecting leadership are examined. Emphasis will be on understanding the leadership function as well as developing thinking and action capabilities for improving individual leadership effectiveness. The culminating project will require students to document their own leadership style. Lab fee may be required.

The course focuses on the development and implementation of corporate strategies that enable an organization to create and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. Current strategic theories are integrated with strategic practice. Additionally, readings in corporate governance focus on how the corporation should be managed in the best interests of the investors and other stakeholders. Lab fee may be required.

This is a culminating experience-based course which emphasizes the student’s ability to utilize learned material in real-life application. The student will be required to implement knowledge gained throughout the program to an organization. This application will potentially enhance the student’s leadership by providing specific feedback and opportunities for thoughtful reflection. Lab fee may be required.

Leaders and managers must be able to understand and use financial statements and reports to evaluate and communicate performance. Leaders must be able to apply financial information for making decisions. This course will focus upon basic financial information used by non-financial managers. This course introduces the student to both Financial and Managerial Accounting Principles. Topics covered are Basic Financial and Accounting Principles, Balance Sheets, Income Statements, Cash Flow Statements, Key Ratio Analytics, Performance Factors, Interest and the Cost of Money, Debt vs. Equity, Time Value of Money, and Capital Budgeting. (Note: FIN 52010 may be substituted for FIN 52005 in the MA in Leadership Program; however, FIN 52005 cannot be substituted for FIN 52010 in the Master of Accountancy (MAcc), MBA, or MS programs). Lab fee may be required.

This course introduces the student to the major techniques of financial management. Topics will include financial markets and sources of financing, financial analysis, forecasting and planning, security valuation, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure. Lab fee may be required.

This course introduces students to methods of employee training and to the role that employee training plays in organizational planning. Particular emphasis will be given to needs analysis, program design and delivery, training methods, learning theory, learning styles, and evaluation and testing. Lab fee may be required.

This course examines basic law as applied to employment issues. Topics include equal employment, affirmative action, employment-at-will, constructive and unlawful discharge, wage and hours issues, mandatory benefits, safety and workers compensation, protected classes, disability issues, workplace accommodation, labor relations, and record keeping requirements. Lab fee may be required.

This course provides students with an overview of global business and trade within the framework of today’s dynamic business environment. The course also looks at how historical perspectives influence and shape current events. Topics to be covered include globalization, trade theories, governmental influence on trade, cross national trade agreements, and an introduction to capital markets and foreign exchange. The course also examines how businesses interact with the cultural, political, ethical, legal, and economic environments of multiple nations. An overview of international business strategies is also provided. Students will be expected to demonstrate understanding of these concepts and issues through various applications. Lab fee may be required.

This course will help students understand organizational communication theories, models, and processes. Focus will be on application of these principles in organizational communication speaking exercises; and the use of effective communication skills in management and leadership settings. Lab fee may be required.

This course focuses on the contribution of small groups and teams to organizational functioning. Students examine how group and team membership, role dynamics, work habits, and decision-making behavior affect the overall effectiveness of organizations. Lab fee may be required.

This course is the study of terminology, principles of contract law, and ethical issues applicable to the contractive problems in the operations of a business, including relevant provisions of the uniform commercial code. Particular emphasis will be given to application of the principles of law by the entrepreneur/manager in operating the business, legal liability, and the legal aspects of a business in difficulty. Lab fee may be required.

This course examines a blend of concepts relating to operations management, in both the manufacturing and service sectors. Operations management topics include production planning, inventory management, statistical process control, project management, product design, six sigma, lean manufacturing, and computer integrated manufacturing. Lab fee may be required.

In this course, the graduate student designs and implements a research project to address a problem existing in his/her professional setting. The research project is designed cooperatively with a faculty advisor. The project results will be in a written report that is submitted to the advisor and program director and an oral report that is presented before an identified audience. The course is taken within the last twelve credit hours of an approved graduate program and with permission of the advisor. If the research project is not completed within the semester for which the student is registered for the course, the student must register for an additional credit hour extension course the following semester (excluding summer sessions) until the project is completed. Lab fee may be required.