May 21, 2024  
2021-2022 Catalog 
    
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2021-2022 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

 

Organizational Leadership
  
  
  
  

  • OL 605 Ethics in Leadership

    In this course, we examine the theory and practice of ethical leadership in organizations. The terminology, theories, and practice of the ethics of organizational leadership will inform analyses of the ethical dimensions of organizational leadership. Case studies will provide the context of analysis and application.
    Credits: 3
    Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Organizational Leadership Masters program of the Executive Leadership Certificate program


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  
  
  

  • OL 611 Ethics in Leadership

    In this course, we examine the theory and practice of ethical leadership in organizations. The terminology, theories, and practice of the ethics of organizational leadership will inform analyses of the ethical dimensions of organizational leadership. Case studies will provide the context of analysis and application.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  
  

  • OL 613 Human Behavior in Organizations

    This course is an in-depth review of the current theories about the behavior of individuals and groups within organizations. We will examine the behavioral knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective leader in today’s organizations. Topics including individual differences, attitudes, decision making, motivation, group structure, team building, communication, leadership, power and politics, social responsibility, organizational ethics, and diversity management.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 614 Leading for Creativity and Innovation

    This course is designed to familiarize students with the collaborative creative process as well as factors that influence the success of team-based creative endeavors. Topics include the basic cognitive processes that underlie creativity, personal influences on creativity including: traits, attitudes, and cognitive abilities, the elements of the creative process, and social forces such as team and organizational climates influencing the creative process in teams.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 615 Strategic Leadership

    This is an advanced integrative course on the process of systematically formulating and implementing firm strategies. Topics are covered from a general management perspective and include setting corporate goals and objectives, analyzing external competitive environments, understanding business models, identifying strategy options, and designing appropriate organization systems and structure for implementation of plans. International and e-business issues are integrated throughout.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 616 Leadership Action Project I

    This course and its successor, OL 617 Leadership Action Project II, are required for the Organizational Leadership Master of Arts degree; they are not applicable to the Operational or Executive Leadership Certificate programs. The purpose of these courses is to accomplish a capstone project in Organizational Leadership, culminating students experiences at WOU and validating them as master practitioners. The project requires students to conduct extensive research and analysis of the students own organization, the industry and external environment, the organizations competitors, internal organization, and business level strategy. This analysis will culminate in the development of a narrated PowerPoint presentation and a two-page proposal detailing a key problem or opportunity facing your company or organization as well as a proposed recommendation to address the problem / opportunity.
    Eligible for the RP grade option.
    Credits: 3
    Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Organizational Leadership Masters program and have completed all the required courses and most electives before enrolling in this course


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 617 Leadership Action Project II

    This course and its prerequisite, OL 616, are required for Organizational Leadership Master of Arts degree; they are not applicable to the Operational or Executive Leadership Certificate programs. The Leadership Action Project is an integrative capstone experience spanning the final two quarters of the Organization Leadership program. In this second course of the sequence, the student is required to recommend appropriate solutions for the project identified in the prerequisite (OL 616) and create an implementation plan for the best alternative solution. The action project must integrate at least two courses in the program and is intended to provide real value to the student as a learning process and to the sponsoring organization as a final result.
    Eligible for the RP grade option.
    Credits: 3
    Prerequisite: OL 616  and enrolled in the Organizational Leadership Masters program and have completed all the required courses and electives before enrolling in this course


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 618 Advanced Leadership

    Examines the art and science of leadership with a focus on the organizational environment. Topics will include leadership qualities and skills, the importance of vision, leading people through change, leadership and values, organizational climate, the leader as teacher, and effective delegation. The course will include a leadership analysis of key leaders in an industry or profession.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 619 Leading Organizational Change and Development

    This course is designed to familiarize students with the topics and challenges around today’s changing organizations. We will examine how organizations anticipate change and what leadership is needed to effectively manage that change. Topics include change management, organizational development, sustainability, leading change, organizational environments, and implementation strategies.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 622 Critical Thinking for Leaders

    This course is designed to enable students to improve their intellectual skills with an emphasis on critical thinking as a leadership skill. Topics include Socratic questioning, the eight elements of reason, nine intellectual standards, egocentric and sociocentric thinking, and becoming an advanced thinker. This course will include the application of critical thinking in making decisions and solving problems.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 624 Talent Management

    Talent management is the science of using strategic human resource planning to improve business value and to make it possible for companies and organizations to reach their goals. Everything done to recruit, retain, develop, reward and make people perform forms a part of talent management as well as strategic workforce planning. The course focuses on talent management strategies and initiatives which are integrated with organizational strategy and bottom line objectives.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 625 Executive Coaching

    This course is designed to familiarize students with the knowledge needed to create collaborative, innovative, and thriving teams within their organizations. Students will strengthen their management wisdom and interpersonal skills to build effective teams capable of successfully navigating and proactively responding to the ever-changing demands of the organization. Topics include the leadership skills needed to create and sustain effective teams including: personality and group dynamics, emotional intelligence, the cost of incivility in organizations, and the importance of succession planning for organizational health.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 626 Leading Sustainability

    This course examines the role of leaders to understand sustainability and advance sustainable initiatives in their organizations’ operations. We will examine the current sustainability research, efforts, and impacts. Students will conduct research related to the future of sustainability and organizations. Topics including leadership, innovation, strategies, financial implications, and measuring performance.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 627 Leadership: Keys to Mental and Physical Health

    This class will cover theories of maladaptive, adequate and optimal psychological functioning. In addition, we will study the processes which may lead to the development of adaptive functioning and its maintenance and how these processes may be brought into play in the individual’s environment or community. Moreover, this class will examine the interplay between mental health and social issues and support systems.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 628 Leadership and Work-Family Balance

    This course is designed to familiarize students with the issues involved in work-family balance. Through qualitative data collection and collaborative class discussion, students will offer an assessment (to a particular industry) on the benefits of leaders and how they influence work-family balance. Topics include the historical content, gender issues, as well as empirical research on the influence of leaders.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 631 Fundamentals of Leadership

    This course is designed to provide a basic introduction to leadership by focusing on what it means to be a good leader. Emphasis in the course is on the practice of leadership. The course will examine topics such as: the nature of leadership, recognizing leadership traits, developing leadership skills, creating a vision, setting the tone, listening to out-group members, handling conflict, overcoming obstacles, and addressing ethics in leadership. Attention will be given to helping students to understand and improve their own leadership performance.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 632 Building Effective Teams

    This course provides students with opportunity to increase self-awareness of their existing teamwork skills, develop stronger teamwork skills, as well as learn and apply social psychological principles aimed at increasing group effectiveness. Topics covered include: group development, social interdependence, group communication and decision making, managing conflict, enhancing group creativity, and leveraging diversity. Course activities may include several large scale group projects and meetings with other students in their groups outside of regularly scheduled class time.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 633 Organizational Communication

    This course is designed to orient students to significant theoretical perspectives on organizational communication and apply those perspectives to various aspects of organizational life. Detailed case study analysis of organizational communication provides the basis for explanation and evaluation.
    Credits: 3
    Prerequisite: Enrolled in either the Organizational Leadership Masters program, the Operational Leadership Certificate Program, or another Masters degree program at Western Oregon University


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 634 Leading Across Cultures

    Today’s leaders must be able to communicate and lead effectively and efficiently across cultures domestically, as well as internationally. This class will demonstrate the importance of understanding culture, leadership, and the interaction between them in different contexts. We are typically familiar with the culture(s) we live in, but what happens when we move across cultures and the rules change? What if we are expected to communicate, collaborate or even lead the ‘culturally different’? What do we need to know to be effective and efficient cross-cultural leaders? This cross-culturally focused course is designed to address these questions, along with many others. In this class we will focus on leadership effectiveness across cultures.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024
  

  • OL 690 Leadership Action Project

    This course is required for the Organizational Leadership Master of Arts degree; The purpose of this course is to accomplish a capstone project in Organizational Leadership, culminating students’ experiences at WOU and validating them as master practitioners. The project requires students to analyze an organization, identify organizational challenges or opportunities for enhancement, propose and evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend a final solution (or solutions)  along with an implementation plan. This project will culminate in the development of a written paper for a class project and an oral PowerPoint presentation and defense of the project to your graduate committee.
    Eligible for the RP grade option.
    Credits: 3


    Check course availability in Winter 2024

    Check course availability in Spring 2024