Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Leadership Program

Courses

Course Info on SIS

Master's Courses: Design Your Degree Pathway

The Master’s program prepares students to address complex organizational and community challenges through values-driven leadership. Core coursework emphasizes leadership theory, organizational change, and equity frameworks, while focused pathways provide opportunities for specialization in applied, skills-based areas. Students may then choose to pursue one of four Specializations, or design an individualized Custom Pathway by selecting courses across multiple specializations.

All students begin with four foundational courses (12 credits) in leadership studies that build essential skills for leading people and organizations. From there, you can tailor your experience by choosing one of four specializations—or design your own individualized custom pathway (ICP) by combining electives and specialization courses that match your personal and professional goals.

Leadership Specializations:

  • Organizational Learning and Leadership
  • Sustainable and Impact Investing
  • Negotiation and Communication
  • Strategic Planning and Evaluation

Master's Course List

Core Courses

LEAD 246 Historical Legacies/Awareness in Research/Practice

LEAD 248 Organizational Change, Leadership, and Influence

LEAD 249 Laws, Policies, and Practices of DEI

LEAD 266 Interpreting and Communicating with Data

You can find course listings and requirements for each specialization below:

  • LEAD 247 Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
    LEAD 254 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
    LEAD 255 Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation
    LEAD 256 Research in Action

  • Students pick 4 of the following courses (12 credits)

    LEAD 254 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
    LEAD 255 Intergroup Dialogue
    LEAD 256 Research in Action
    LEAD 297 Final Project/Experiential Capstone in area of Specialization
    *NEW* LEAD -Special Topics: People, Culture and Organizational Development (in development) 
    *NEW* LEAD Special Topics- Introduction to Learning and Development (in development) 

    OTS 251 Educational Theory for Allied Health Professionals (by permission for students working in health care/health -related fields)
    UC Foundations in Applied Organizational Leadership (in development)

    Students take 2 electives (6 credits)

    4 Core (12) + 4 Specialization Courses (12) + 2 Electives (6) = 30 credits

  • Students take 4 specialization courses (12 credits)

    UEP 0184-01 Fundamentals of ESG and Impact Investing.
    UEP 0185-01 Impact Investing for Catalytic Impact: Filling Capital Gaps. 
    UEP 186 Community-Based Investing – Systems & Practice
    UEP 187 Blended Return: Impact Investing Measurement Tools and Processes

    Students take 2 electives (6 credits)

    4 Core (12) + 4 Specialization Courses (12) + 2 Electives (6) = 30 credits

  • Students pick 4 of the following courses (12 credits)

    LEAD 247 Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
    LEAD 254 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
    LEAD 255 Intergroup Dialogue and Facilitation
    LEAD 297 Final Project/Experiential Capstone in area of Specialization.

    UC Strategic Communication for Leadership (in development)
    UC Foundations in Applied Organizational Leadership (in development)

    Students take 2 electives (6 credits)

    4 Core (12) + 4 Specialization Courses (12) + 2 Electives (6) = 30 credits

  • Students pick 2 of the following courses (12 credits)

    *NEW* DEIJ -Special Topics: People, Culture and Organizational Development (in development)
    UC Data Driven Decision Making (in development)
    UC  Foundations in Applied Organizational Leadership (in development)
    OTS 288 Outcomes Measurement and Monitoring* (by permission and only for students working in health care/health-related fields) 
    UEP 184 Fundamentals of ESG and Impact Investing
    UEP 187 Blended Return: Impact Measurement Tools and Processes

    Students take 2 required courses (6 credits)

    LEAD 256 Research in Action
    LEAD 297 Final Project/Experiential Capstone

    4 Core (12) + 2 Specialization Courses (6) + 2 Required Courses (6) + 2 Electives (6) = 30 credits

Certificate Courses: Deepen Foundational Knowledge

Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Leadership certificate is designed to quickly familiarize you with the key concepts and important tools you need to successfully lead strategic organizational change. The certificate requires three core courses and one elective.

Certificate Program Courses

LEAD 247 Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
LEAD 248 Organizational Change, Leadership, and Influence
LEAD 249 Laws, Policies, and Practices of DEI
LEAD Elective:

  • LEAD 246 Historical Legacies/Awareness in Research/Practice
  • LEAD 254 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
  • LEAD 255 Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation
  • LEAD 256 Research in Action
  • LEAD 266 Interpreting and Communicating with Data