In this advanced seminar in ethical decision making in the workplace, students will examine a variety of moral problems that arise in organizations through case studies. Students will apply three ethical theories to guide them in identifying solutions that are consistent with their own values but also logically sound and impartial to emotional appeal. This work will prepare students to identify and confront practical moral problems, especially regarding corporate social responsibility and moral leadership, and to articulate their moral positions in argumentative essay form.

This advanced course explores the theory and strategic application of performance management systems. An emphasis is placed on best practices in employee engagement, leadership development, succession planning, evaluative performance feedback, and compensation models. The ways that the changing nature of work and changing demographics in the business world are influencing performance management systems are examined, including globalization, generational differences, multinational operations and cross-cultural issues. Based on current theories and applications for performance management systems, students explore current literature and case examples to implement and support organizational development activities and increased organizational effectiveness.

This seminar examines cutting edge trends in organizational change, the current global business climate, forces driving change, and issues related to positioning organizations for the future. The topics selected will connect change with culture, existing organizational strategies, and the process of change in future directions. Major case study examples of organizational change are included in the learning process.

In this course, students study the theory and practice of objective assessment and its application to organizational leadership. The course focuses on how objective assessment is used to provide insights into readiness for leadership and management roles. Primary emphasis is on published instruments and inventories commonly used in executive coaching, organizational leadership assessment, and organizational development.

Students with interest in qualitative research, or with a desire to utilize this methodology for their respective doctoral dissertation, will be given an opportunity to greatly expand their existing knowledge base on qualitative research methodology. Students may elect to begin working on a preliminary proposal for their doctoral dissertation (or select and explore a topic of interest that may become the dissertation topic) for the culminating project in this course.

This course emphasizes inferential statistical concepts related to methods most appropriate to data and theories. The focus is on a quantitative approach to the concepts and methods of statistical inference. Topics include hypothesis testing, probability, multiple correlation and regression, t-tests, Analysis of Variance, Analysis of Covariance, and Multivariate Analysis of Variance, and nonparametric tests. Research design issues are addressed, with a focus on selecting data analysis techniques to appropriately address research questions and apply the concepts covered to various research problems and real life situations. Emphasis is on developing skills for interpreting statistical results presented in scholarly research articles.

In this course students continue drafting their dissertation from Dissertation Planning I under instructor supervision. Students working individually on their dissertation drafts focus on further refinement of the description of their topic, the final draft wording of their research questions, and beginning to write their review of the literature and research methodology with feedback and recommendations for revisions from their instructor. Students will exchange research concepts and proposed approaches about their research methodology with other students proposing similar methods (qualitative, quantitative, mixed, action). Final approval of these drafts of portions of the dissertation rests with the student's individual dissertation committees, as described in the current Dissertation Handbook, as revised from time to time. Following the procedures outlined in the Handbook, students may form their committees before, during or after their enrollment and completion of Dissertation Planning I and II.

In this course, students will analyze educationally relevant factors and historical events that have influenced educational practices, and how innovation and technology can prepare students for the future. Particular attention will be paid to educational technology and innovation. Learners will evaluate the application of theories, frameworks, and models of change with emphasis on the role of the change agent. In addition, learners will develop competencies to build organizational or institutional capacity by fostering personal growth and promoting transparency within the organizational change process, and proposing innovative, technology-focused solutions to a problem of practice.

This course offers participants a chance to explore the diverse aspects of educational politics and policy creation at all educational levels. It emphasizes the development of educational policies, the political dynamics surrounding both non-profit and for-profit learning environments, the rise of new educational technologies, and governance across various educational settings. The course will investigate the impact of societal shifts, examining significant reform movements and potential future developments in education from local to national scales. Key topics include the process of shaping educational policies, the global dimensions of educational politics, the politics surrounding learning environments, issues of inclusivity and exclusivity in education, and the dynamics of educational reform. This course is designed to be accessible and relevant to individuals working or involved in all levels of education.

In this course, students will analyze how the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can provide a structure for all learners in various contexts. Learners will assess the impact of social justice and equity work around curricula. In addition, learners will reflect on their own biases, beliefs, and practices around curriculum, culture, and learning. Professional networking will be explored.  Learners will present their refined dissertation topic.