Master of Arts, Communication and Leadership, M.A.

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Master of Arts, Communication and Leadership, M.A. Locations

The search for effective leadership continues today as contemporary organizations become more complex. The Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership program starts with the premise that communication is the essence of effective leadership. The student trained in communication is uniquely qualified to provide innovative leadership within the global community.

Mission

The Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership will develop exceptional communicators who are creative and who possess the interpersonal and organizational skills needed to meet the demands of complex organizations in a global society.

Vision

The Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership program will be an international leader in the development of uniquely qualified individuals to provide innovative leadership within the global community.

Purpose of the Program

In the Republic, Plato discusses the appropriate training that should be a part of educating political leaders. Since the time of the classic Greek philosophers, countless individuals have speculated about the principles of leadership. The search for effective leadership continues today, as contemporary organizations become more complex. The Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership begins with the premise that communication is the essence of effective leadership. The student trained in communication is uniquely qualified to provide innovative leadership within the global community.

This graduate program is designed for professionals who wish to build upon their current career skills or advance to a new position or organization, and for students interested in pursuing a doctorate. The complexities of relationships and the competitive nature of business demand leaders with highly polished interpersonal and organizational skills. This degree combines the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to serve in corporate and nonprofit settings, the military, government, politics or other arenas, as well as developing the research and writing skills necessary for doctoral work.

Program Goals

To provide students with an understanding of the centrality of communication in all aspects of personal and organizational life.
To develop the ability of students to read and conduct research, and apply the principles to their own organizations.
To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between students and organizational leaders concerning the requirements to achieve excellence.
To provide a historical overview of leadership perspectives from the 1940s to the present.
To foster an awareness of the communication styles and values of different cultures and how these factors influence business in a global environment.
To combine theoretical knowledge and practical skills to resolve organizational issues and improve decision-making.
To develop a framework for ethical conduct in contemporary organizations.

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an acceptable accredited United States institution or the equivalent from an foreign institution .
A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in the bachelor’s degree.
A copy of resume or CV.
Official transcripts of all previous college work, both undergraduate and graduate.
Two letters or professional reference.
A brief personal statement describing the prospective student’s interest and goals for pursuing the degree (no more than 1,000 words)

Note: Students must be admitted by both the Department of Communication Arts and to Graduate Studies. A student who is accepted pending receipt of all required documentation, must submit complete and satisfactory records within 60 days (45 days in an 8-week session and/or summer term) after the first day of registration.

Learning Outcomes Assessment / Program Assessment

Embedded within each course syllabi will be methodologies for learning outcomes assessment for that particular course. The overall program outcomes will be assessed based on student performance in the program with particular emphasis on:

Comprehensive written examinations
Capstone course consisting of a thesis or graduate project
Thesis/graduate project oral defense

Requirements For: Master - 36 Hours, 3.0 GPA

Core Curriculum 15 cr.

CA 501 - Human Communication Perspectives Credits: 3
CA 516 - Research 1 Credits: 3
CA 517 - Research 2 Credits: 3
CA 529 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credits: 3
CA 699 - The Epistemology of Communication Credits: 3

Organizational Emphasis 15 cr.

CA 505 - Organizational Leadership Credits: 3
CA 520 - Leading Organizational Change Credits: 3
CA 670 - Measuring Leadership Credits: 3
Electives Credits: 6

Graduate Project or Thesis 6 cr.

Select one of the following options:

Graduate Project
CA 700 - Graduate Project Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Comprehensive Exam
or

Thesis Option
CA 797 - Thesis Design and Research Credits: 1-3
CA 799 - Thesis - Continuous Enrollment Credits: 1
Comprehensive Exam

Notes:

A maximum of nine (9) credit hours may be transferred from other institutions. The transfer of coursework must be completed prior to admission to the Park University’s Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership Program.
The comprehensive exam may be repeated one time. A third attempt may be permitted by the school dean upon the recommendation of the program director.

Graduation Requirements

Park University grants the Master of Arts degrees upon completion of the following requirements:

Completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours.
Successful completion of Comprehensive Exam.
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for Park University courses.
Satisfaction of all requirements for a major as outlined in this catalog.
Completion of all earned credit with no more than 2 grades of C earned.
Submission of an Application for Graduation.