Nov 23, 2024  
2023-2024 William R. Kellett School of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 William R. Kellett School of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Leadership and Organizational Development, M.S.


Students who have successfully completed the M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development degree from Lakeland University should be able to:

  • Communicate effectively including the appropriate use of technology.
  • Identify managerial interpersonal skills needed to motivate employees and carry out business objectives.
  • Demonstrate effective ethical, professional, and collaborative behaviors.
  • Apply the discipline of leadership to creatively engage the community in meeting its challenges.
  • Apply theory and principles of group dynamics in assuming multiple group roles and responsibilities.

Admission Requirements for the M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development in Addition to Those Listed Under General Admission Requirements

General Admission Requirements  

  • A cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 or a minimum score of 500 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required for admission. However, admissions decisions include consideration of the candidate’s application in its entirety.
  • A written statement of purpose is required, indicating how an M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development educational experience would help the applicant meet professional goals and what leadership or managerial skills the applicant would bring to this program. The statement should be limited to 250 words.
  • A current resume.

Conditional Admission Policy

For consideration of conditional admission by the Program Director in the Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development program, applicants typically have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least a 2.5 GPA. Student files will be reviewed in its entirety based on the following criteria: 

  • A Statement of Purpose that reflects educational or career experiences that would help the applicant achieve academic success in the program.
  • Current Resume.
  • Submission of three (3) letters of recommendations from supervisors or instructors that provide support and evidence of the student’s ability to achieve success at the graduate level.
  • Evidence of at least one of the following:
    • The student’s GPA is at least a 3.0 during the last two years of the baccalaureate program (calculated on a minimum of 48 semester hours).
    • A score of at least 450 on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).
    • Successful completion in six semester hours of graduate transfer coursework with a ‘B’ or better from a regionally accredited institution.
    • Demonstrated professional achievement and aptitude as evaluated by the Program Director.

Students in conditional status will be evaluated upon completion of the first six (6) semester hours of Lakeland University graduate coursework. A student who achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is fully admitted.

Exceptions to the Policy Regarding Enrollment Prior to Program Admission

  • A student with no interest in completing the Lakeland M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development degree, wanting to enroll in the CMA or CPA course sequence or business graduate certificate program may apply for admission as a non-degree seeking student.
  • Such a student may enroll in these courses provided the student meets the program and course requirements.
    • Should this student subsequently decide to pursue the Lakeland M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development degree, they need to apply for admission as a degree-seeking applicant.
    • The CPA and/or CMA or certificate coursework is applicable to the M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development degree program requirements.
  • A non-degree-seeking student is not required to complete BA 700 - Business Research Methodology  within the first nine (9) semester hours of coursework.
    • If they subsequently decide to pursue the Lakeland University M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development degree, they need to seek program admission to complete BA 700 - Business Research Methodology  within the next nine (9) semester hours of coursework.

Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development, (M.S.) Degree Requirements (30 semester hours)


Complete one of the following concentration areas OR


Complete nine (9) semester hours of any Business Administration (BA) or Leadership & Organizational Development (LO) courses offered:***

***Note:


  • Students completing a specific concentration must meet prerequisite course requirements.
  • A course used to satisfy the requirements of one concentration may not be applied to the requirements of another concentration.
  • Students completing Accounting, Finance and Supply Management concentrations are not financial aid eligible for prerequisite coursework that is outside the Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development degree program requirements.
  • If a student wishes to pursue Accounting, Finance and Supply Management concentrations and does not meet the prerequisite requirements, the student may complete the prerequisite coursework at their own expense. Prerequisite coursework may not count toward degree requirements in the concentration.

Hospitality Management Concentration


Nine (9) semester hours of BA 774 - Cooperative Education Experience-Graduate (3-6 semester hours) .

  • Students must enroll in BA 774  in their first semester in the Master’s program (M.B.A. or M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development) in order to pursue this concentration.

Human Resource Management Concentration


The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has acknowledged that the Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Leadership and Organizational Development with a concentration in Human Resource Management fully aligns with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. Throughout the world, 401 programs in 299 educational institutions have been acknowledged by SHRM as being in alignment with its suggested guides and templates. The HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates were developed by SHRM to define the minimum HR content areas that should be studied by HR students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The guidelinescreated in 2006 and revalidated in 2010 and 2013are part of SHRM’s Academic Initiative to define HR education standards taught in university business schools and help universities develop degree programs that follow these standards.

Student Designed Concentration


Students may propose a nine (9) semester hour concentration in an area of professional interest. Students may fulfill the concentration requirement by completing current M.B.A. or M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development program elective course(s) and any prerequisites, PR 750 - Cooperative Design  courses to pursue subjects or projects of interest Lakeland University may not offer, or a combination of the two. This concentration plan must be approved in advance by the Director of Graduate Business Programs.