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Master of Organizational Leadership

Change your organization for the better and prepare for the leadership challenges of tomorrow.

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SNU Master of Leadership

Program Overview

Let SNU equip you with the knowledge and experience needed to build and lead successful teams. SNU’s unique Master of Organizational Leadership can prepare you to reach your loftiest goals and excel as a visionary, with coursework in servant leadership, intercultural and global perspectives, conflict resolution and more. You’ll be ready to face successes and challenges as you work toward your goals along with your organization’s.

With this unique program, you can earn your master’s degree and the Zig Ziglar Legacy Certificate by taking classes completely online with other driven adult students. Your courses will be taught by true leaders in the field who understand what it takes to be a success in today’s fast-paced and demanding workplace. Upon graduation, you’ll have the skills and knowledge you need to step into a variety of careers or create a business of your own.

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6
week course format
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2
start dates per year
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Graduate in as few as
18 months
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33
total credit hours
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$490
per credit hour
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Learn entirely online

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How it Works

Earning a degree while working full time or raising a family has never been more possible. Here’s why adult students are thriving and reaching their goals at SNU:

  • Classes take place entirely online.
  • Students focus on one class at a time to ensure true mastery and prevent overwhelm.
  • Students study alongside other adults in similar stages of life.
  • Instructors with vast amounts of industry experience guide students through courses.
  • Textbooks are delivered directly to your door at the beginning of each class.
  • A dedicated student success advisor guides students through the duration of their studies.
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Courses

The Master of  Organizational Leadership program is designed to instill leadership skills in students that will enable them to build effective, diverse teams across industries. In this program, you will learn foundational leadership principles, communication strategies, conflict resolution, and more.

FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL LEADERSHIP

Credit hours: 3
This course examines the foundation of leadership based on three guiding principles: Character, Culture and Christ.  Using these principles, learners are challenged to continually refine personal character, charged with creating inclusive and engaging cultures, all while modeling Christian principles of servant leadership. Learners will begin to develop a personal philosophy of leadership and understand how personal preferences influence leadership skills.  Additionally, the course explores fundamental leadership theory helping to frame a personal philosophy of leadership..

LIVELAST LEADERSHIP: LEARNING HOW TO SERVE

Credit hours: 3
This course examines the intersection of leadership and servanthood as it relates to changing circumstances, motivating individuals, and actualizing a vision within an organization.  Theoretical and experiential aspects of servant leadership are presented so that learners can understand how to apply these principles in everyday life, the work environment, and the community.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP: LEADING WITH AN INTERCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Credit hours: 3
It is critical that emerging leaders continually develop leadership skills with   global and cross cultural perspectives. This course continues to challenge learners to engage with the Taxonomy of Cultural Responsiveness, which is a perspective woven throughout the Masters program helping leaders engage intercultural learning. Using the Christian principle of Imago Dei, learners will synthesize how the notion that all people are made in the image of the Divine Creator impacts leadership perspectives and philosophy.  All people matter in the Kingdom, and it is imperative that culturally competent leaders integrate these principles into personal leadership ideology and decision making practices.

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR: VALUING DIVERSITY TO CREATE INTERCULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

Credit hours: 3
This course examines leadership and culture and how they influence the functioning of groups within institutions.  Continuing to build with the Taxonomy of Cultural Responsiveness, the goal is to cultivate insight and respect for diversity and inclusion through the exploration of various cultures quite different from the learner’s own experience as well as develop frameworks for leading across those cultural dimensions.  Strategies for effective leadership that include diversity and cultural sensitivity are emphasized. 

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING

Credit hours: 3
Strategic and focused planning efforts are a critical skill for leaders.  Learners are guided through the development of a strategic plan, which is necessary for effective organizations.  Learners will explore the processes needed for strategic planning, which include evaluation of previous planning models, organizational structure, needs assessment, SWOT analysis, development of objectives, allocation of resources, and an approach for administering the plan. 

COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP: WORKING WITH TEAMS

Credit hours: 3
This course analyzes a variety of practices essential to group dynamics in order to understand the principles, structures, and values of building and leading effective teams, involving managing different personalities, cultures, conflicting political agendas, and varying skill levels of members. Additionally, learners will explore the importance of securing resources and managing the expectations of senior executives or other stakeholders internal or external to the organization seeking collaborative relationships throughout organizations.

ETHICAL LEADERSHIP: MAKING CHALLENGING DECISIONS

Credit hours: 3
Learners are presented the relationship between leadership and ethics and challenged to evaluate a leader’s role in fostering ethical behavior within the organization.  Beyond examination of ethical systems and ethical issues, this course attempts to understand the ways in which ethics is central to the very act and process of leadership through an exploration of current case studies and relevant world events.

CONFLICT NEGOTIATION AND RESOLUTION: LEADING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS

Credit hours: 3
This course examines the elements of leadership incorporating caring for others throughout the conflict resolution process.  Foundational theories on conflict resolution as well as basic counseling and listening skills will be explored. Examination of how the application of these theories and skills can be utilized to resolve disputes both interpersonally and organizationally are a focus within the course. Case studies, reading materials, and simulations are utilized to create dynamic learner focused experiences. 

EMBRACING CHANGE: THE INNOVATIVE LEADER

Credit hours: 3
This course focuses on planning and implementing change within organizations and provides frameworks and tools necessary to implement that change.  Examination of both personal and organizational approaches to change are utilized to analyze case studies, complete exercises, and engage in dynamic group discussions. Learners are encouraged to recognize opportunities for change in organizations and understand how to manage change when it is presented. 

HUMAN RESOURCES AND FINANCE

Credit hours: 3
People within an organization are arguably the most valuable resource, therefore, knowing how to find, lead, and motivate people is critical to the success of the leader and ultimately the organization.  This course introduces techniques and skills helping leaders train, support, evaluate, and properly resource divisions or areas within organizations.  Case studies are used to help the learner identify issues and opportunities for leadership to impact members of organizations.  Learners will encounter challenges with budgets, personalities, and political environments within organizations and apply leadership theory and practice with the intention to improve the quality of the employees experience within the system. 

LEADERSHIP CAPSTONE

Credit hours: 3
The capstone course is designed to generate and promote reflection, critical thought, intercultural responsiveness, and application of leadership knowledge and skills.  Learners will develop an initiative for a real-life project related to personal, work, or community leadership that will provide the opportunity for application of effective leadership practices that balances theoretical and practical awareness of leadership principles.  Discussions are utilized to engage learners and promote a more comprehensive understanding and connection of leadership skills, theories and practice to learner’s leadership settings.

Upcoming Start Dates

 

Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Online

Meet the Program Director

Dr. Michael Houston

Leadership

As a life-long educator, Dr. Houston brings 20+ years of higher education experience to the Master of Organizational Leadership program at SNU. As the program developer and director, Dr. Houston seeks to help learners journey through a graduate leadership program that takes a different approach to leadership education and training. He believes that leadership is rooted in a love for others, and that principles of Imago Dei govern our influence and relationships with others.

Prior to coming to Southern Nazarene University, Dr. Houston has served in various positions in Student Life at Azusa Pacific University and Pepperdine University in southern California, and Seattle Pacific University in Washington state. Dr. Houston is passionate about helping learners understand more about who they are, and how they may have an impactful influence on those around them.

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Dr. Houston models healthy leadership by supporting his wife of 20 years, Tara, who is a Dean of Students at Harding Fine Arts Academy High School, and caring for their two boys, Caleb and Nathan.

Hobbies or fun fact: He loves spending time hiking and backpacking in the mountains of Colorado or relaxing on the beaches of California with family. He also enjoys a round of golf or fishing with friends.

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Admissions Steps

Enrolling at SNU is a simple process. With rolling start dates, there’s no need to wait months at a time to begin your educational journey. Once you have earned your bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, take the following steps:

Step 1. Apply online at degrees.snu.edu/apply

Step 2. Complete your FAFSA at fafsa.gov using school code 003149

Step 3. Send official transcripts to SNU at pgsadmissions@snu.edu or ATTN: SNU PGS Admissions, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008.

Locations

Online

Online classes are specially
designed for professional &
graduate studies.
Phone: +1 (405) 491-6332
pgs@snu.edu

Program Resources

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Michael Houston Q&A

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Program Director Q&A with Michael Houston, Ph.D.

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