The Master of Science in Community Leadership degree is a 36-credit degree. Students can earn the 36-credit degree in two years entirely through online study.

There is a call for renewed focus on local leadership that is collaborative in the face of diverse constituencies, competent in overcoming seemingly intractable social problems, and committed to positive and ethical social change. An understanding of governance, salient community needs, and the gap that exists between them is of increasing importance. These issues are just some of the areas that the MSCL will cover.

The degree emphasizes

• Understanding interconnections and the ecology of community; systems thinking
• Program design, evaluation and sustainability
• Leading, motivating and empowering others
• Appreciating diversity; collaborating with diverse groups
• Communicating effectively and persuasively; consensus building
• Ethical decision-making; balancing community and individual goals

CURRICULUM

(1) Community Leadership Core - 15 credits

Ethics in Community Organizing

Through readings, lectures, discussions and case studies, students develop knowledge of moral issues in public life and basic ethical concepts relevant to community-based organizations. Students will gain understanding of the ethics surrounding social interventions and will discuss current ethical challenges facing those engaged in leading change at the local level. Focus will be placed on the ability to recognize ethical challenges and to make informed ethical decisions.

Interagency Collaboration

In a world of limited resources, an important key to maximizing effectiveness is cooperation and collaboration with other agencies. In this course, students will learn techniques for stakeholder analysis and influence mapping and will study how coalitions and partnerships at the local and regional levels are formed and maintained. They will be sensitized to various uses of power at the community level, practice key communication skills, and learn techniques for building consensus.

Organizational Design and Development

Students learn modern concepts of organization and the behavior of individuals, groups, and the organization in the local and regional environment. By adopting the perspective that the essential work leaders do is to design (and co-design with others) preferred futures, students will study organizational principles that have been used to make community organizations more efficient and effective. Current topics of interest include organizational structure and function, strategic planning and management, organizational life cycles, talent deployment, vision, and adaptability.

Leadership, Community and Change

The core of leadership is the ability to understand one's context in a changing world and to act purposefully. This course explores community as a primary cultural, social, political, and economic context. As such, leading in and for community inevitably compels one to reconcile and balance multiple tensions, e.g., the individual vs. common good, pragmatism vs. idealism, local community vs. the larger society. Questions addressed in this course include: What is community, and what kinds of leadership are necessary for healthy communities? How can communities succeed in adapting to global forces of change? What role can businesses and government play in sustaining community? And, what can one person do to make a difference?

Leading Self and Others Through Purposeful Creating

Creating powerful community change toward a sustainable future requires purpose, congruence and balance in our lives, and an ability to proactively envision and create what's important rather than reacting to problems. Students will articulate key elements of their purpose and values, and begin to apply a framework for developing vision, assessing current reality, organizing conflicting priorities and creating results that can be applied at the individual, organizational and community levels. They will also identify and develop strategies for managing common "success barriers" we create for ourselves as individuals and leaders.

(2) Leadership Core – 12 credits

Introduction to the Graduate Study of Leadership

This course will introduce students to classical and current views of leadership and to the process of graduate-level scholarship. Students will gain a foundation in theories and models of leadership; assess their own leadership style; and learn to develop and answer research questions in leadership.

Organizational Communication for Leaders

This course is designed to examine the theoretical and applied literature in the field of organizational communication relevant to organizational leadership. The different perspectives on organizational theory – the classical, systems approach, cultural, etc. – will be studied and compared. In addition, such applied topics as organizational socialization, conflict, and the impact of technology on organizational communications will be investigated.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict is a fact of everyday professional and personal life. If conflict is mishandled, it can be a source of considerable stress and lead to lost productivity. Much of the success and satisfaction we find in life is determined by how we respond to conflict. Leaders especially must respond well in conflict situations and should willingly accept the consequences of their conflict responses. Additionally, leaders are often asked to help resolve conflict among others. What does it take to be "response able" in conflict situations? This course explores theories, methods, skills, and practices associated with successfully engaging in the dynamics of conflict interactions.

Leading People and Managing Relationships

Bringing about change in an organization – no matter what one's position – requires a unique set of skills. Leaders must be effective in working multiple contexts and directions simultaneously. As organizational roles shift frequently and more work is done through virtual teams or is performed by those outside the organization, managing relationships with team members, contractors, and volunteers becomes critical. This course builds on emerging theories of emotional intelligence and self-leadership as they are applied in today's fluid organizational contexts.

(3) Electives – 9 credits

Students may choose electives from courses from any graduate program at Duquesne (pending approval).

TRANSFER CREDITS

Up to six elective credits may be transferred into the master's program through professional, life and/or military experience or prior graduate academic experience. Please contact a Duquesne advisor to discuss opportunities.