MA in Leadership and Management

Program of Study

The Program of Study leading to the Master of Arts in Leadership and Management requires completion of a minimum of 39 credits of course work. The core curriculum of 27 credits develops the essential foundation for the Program. The required core curriculum encourages breadth of learning in general leadership and management without technical specialization.

A baccalaureate degree is required for admission. Computer competency in word processing, presentation software and spreadsheet applications is required.  Applicants who have recently earned a baccalaureate in Business, with a superior academic record, may be granted advanced standing upon admission into the Program. Students with advanced standing may waive up to nine credits from the core curriculum.

All requirements for the degree must be completed within seven years from the date of admission. Students must maintain a 3.0 (B) Cumulative Grade Point Average to remain in Academic Good Standing. Students whose Cumulative Grade Point Average falls below 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation status. Students on Academic Probation will be given three semesters (in which they register for a course) to raise their Cumulative Grade Point Average to 3.0. Failure to do so, or receiving more than two grades below a B, will result in Academic Dismissal from the graduate program. These provisions do not apply to students admitted provisionally; provisions governing that status are identified in the Letter of Admission.

Courses are scheduled primarily on weekday evenings for the convenience of students. Part-time graduate Leadership and Management students may enroll in a maximum of six credits during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students who wish to study full-time (more than six credits per semester must receive permission from the Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business). 

Students completing this Program of Study will understand:

• theory and practice of effective leadership and management;
• applications of economic theory and financial analysis in effective decision-making; and,
• concepts and principles of effective communication

Students will be able to:

• create holistic approaches to decision-making grounded in leadership and business principles;
• express critical thinking through strategic, ethical, socially responsible, well-reasoned action and communication;
• demonstrate objectivity in gathering and analyzing information in management and leadership decision-making processes;
• examine organizational problems, develop sound solutions, and evaluate consequences of actions; and,
• integrate scholarship into personal and professional leadership capacities that transform individual lives, organizations and society.

Students will recognize the importance of:

• taking ethical approaches to leadership and management decisions;
• maintaining personal integrity;
• respecting the integrity, individuality and potential of colleagues; and,
• fulfilling social responsibility.

Curriculum (39 Credits)

Central Core (27 Credits)

          BUS-501 Managing in Complex Environments (3)
          BUS-530 Financial Analysis (3)
          BUS-538 Data Driven Business Decisions (3)
          BUS-558 Leadership and Leading (3)
          BUS-560 Marketing Management (3)
          BUS-651 Strategic Organizational Leadership (capstone) (3)
          COM-505 Business Communication (3)
          ECO-548 Economic Theory in Management (3)
          PHL-521 Ethical Issues in Leadership (3)

Review of a student's admissions essay and/or GRE or GMAT exam scores may result in a student being required to complete ENG-503 Graduate Writing within their first nine credits at Notre Dame. Students who do not have a background in Financial and managerial Accounting must successfully complete BUS-537 before enrolling in BUS-530.

Concentration or Individualized Specialization 12 Credits

Students may select either an individualized specialization or a concentration to complete their Program. Students who do not select one of the program concentrations may complete 12 credits of coursework in any area of special interest in business, economics, communications, knowledge management, nonprofit management, computer studies, leadership, or project management. 

**Specializations in Financial Management, Information Systems Management, Marketing Management, Project Management and Public Relations & Communication Management are not being offered at this time.

Health Care Administration Concentration

The Health Care Administration concentration provides the student with a comprehensive frame-work for understanding the U.S. health care system, including institutions, professionals, economics of health care markets, financing of health care services as well as ethical issues arising from technology advances in health care delivery.

          Students must take four of the following courses:

          BUS-520 Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System (3)
          BUS-521 Health Care Economics (3)
          BUS-523 The Business of Healthcare (3)
          BUS-525 Health Services Financing (3)
          NUR-518 Health Policy (3)
          BUS-580 Coached Leadership Practicum (3) may be substituted for the final health elective with permission of the Department Chair.

Human Resource Management Concentration

This concentration prepares students to integrate and apply the theories, principles and methodologies of human resource management focusing on its strategic role in today's organizations. Concentration courses prepare students to perform effectively in the expanded role of human resources now responsible for reshaping organizational structures and cultures, building strategic partnerships and designing customized solutions for internal clients.

          BUS-500 Human Resource Management (3)

          Students must take three of the following courses:

          BUS-540 Human Resource Development (3)
          BUS-541 Legal Issues in Human Resource Management (3)
          BUS-542 Performance Management Systems (3)
          BUS-545 Compensation Strategies (3)
          BUS-562  Leading Organizational Development and Change (3)
          BUS-580 Coached Leadership Practicum (3) may be substituted for the human resources elective with permission of the Department Chair.

Independent Study

Students interested in the Independent Study option (BUS-698) must coordinate their project with the Chair of the Business and Economics Department and the full-time faculty member who will work with the student guiding the project. One three-credit independent study course may be chosen.

Accreditation

The Master of Arts in Leadership and Management is accredited by Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP)

ACBSP promotes excellence in business education. It focuses on strong student learning outcomes and teaching excellence.