This course introduces students to core theories and practices of educational leadership across K–12, higher education, and community-based contexts. Students examine leadership frameworks such as transformational, distributed, and improvement science, while also exploring governance, accountability systems, and funding structures. Through case studies and applied projects, students build a systems-level understanding of how education organizations operate and the levers leaders use to drive improvement.

According to research from the How Institute, 95% of employees surveyed believe moral leadership is more urgent than ever before–up almost ten percentage points from just five years ago. This curriculum explores the ethical responsibilities and moral complexities faced by leaders in today’s organizations. Students will examine the philosophical underpinnings of leadership ethics and evaluate the ethical theories that comprise modern thinking on the topic. Through reflection, learners will examine their own moral and ethical values and consider how their own frames of reference impact the choices they make and how those choices will ultimately influence stakeholders and affect society. Students will also develop their own, bespoke personal code of ethics.Through case analysis, reflection, and dialogue, students will refine their thinking regarding how to build trust, lead with integrity and foster ethical cultures. Emphasis is placed on navigating gray areas, upholding accountability, and leading with authenticity in diverse professional contexts.

This course explores human behavior and dynamics within organizational settings. It is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing individual and group actions which in turn impact organizational behavior and effectiveness.The course explores theories, concepts and practices related to organizational behavior (OB) and organization development (OD) with a specific focus on topics related to individual psychology, group dynamics, employee motivation, talent development, health and stress, organizational forms and structure, and corporate culture. Learners will gain insight into the complexities of organizational behavior, the dynamic nature entities and the factors that shape business performance.

Educational leaders must navigate a complex legal and policy environment. This course provides an introduction to major areas of education law, including students’ rights, special education and disability law, Title IX, FERPA, and labor/contract issues. Students will examine foundational legal principles, landmark court cases, and federal and state policies that influence educational access, equity, and accountability. Through case studies and applied analysis, students will develop an understanding of how law and policy intersect with leadership practice and consider their implications for ethical and effective governance across the educational spectrum.

In the era when business processes and workforce structure are evolving as quickly as the technology driving them, leaders need to be able to both cope with and stay ahead of organizational change as well as manage its impact on employees. In this class, students will learn strategies for leading successful change initiatives, including building a compelling case for change, creating coalitions, building momentum, managing resistance, aggregating accomplishments and communicating effectively throughout the change lifecycle. Various change models will be critically examined and fundamental concepts will be applied to cases that depict both effective and ineffective change efforts.Students will also engage with simulations that test and refine their ability to apply key concepts as practice for deploying major business initiatives in their own organizations.

Culture diagnostics, inclusive leadership, stakeholder engagement, family/community partnerships, and change communication. Deliverable: equity-centered stakeholder engagement plan. Leaders shape and sustain organizational culture, and this course focuses on building inclusive, equity-centered environments that foster learning and belonging. Students examine how culture impacts outcomes, how to lead through cultural change, and how to engage diverse stakeholders across schools, colleges, and communities. Practical emphasis is placed on developing stakeholder engagement strategies and building authentic partnerships that extend an organization’s reach and impact.

This course examines how leaders can harness emerging technologies, such as machine learning, digitization, artificial intelligenceI, and advanced data analytics to drive innovation and business process adaptation for strategic advantage. Students will explore the organizational, ethical, and societal implications of adopting new technologies, and develop frameworks for both experimenting and applying technology tools that will lead to disruptive transformation.Through real-world case studies and hands-on projects, students will learn how to evaluate technological trends, make informed decisions, and lead teams in rapidly evolving environments. The course emphasizes responsible innovation and aligning technology strategy with organizational values and goals.

The Developing Executive Leadership Capstone integrates prior coursework and develops the advanced capabilities required for senior leadership. Research shows that C-suite success depends less on technical expertise and more on interpersonal effectiveness—skills such as communication, alignment, and change leadership. 

This final course strengthens those abilities through hands-on learning focused on vision setting, stakeholder alignment, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, executive presence, and resilience. Over the fourteen-week term, students complete an action learning project within their organization, applying new competencies each week and culminating in a presentation that demonstrates both organizational results and personal growth.