Master of Arts in Community and Organizational Leadership (MACOL) Program Requirements

Faculty

• Peggy Cain, Program Director

Master of Arts in Community and Organizational Leadership Courses

Admission to the Master of Arts in Community and organizational Leadership Program

This program prepares graduates for leadership positions in a variety of community organizations and settings. It prepares them to develop deeper relationships with community members, organize grassroots efforts and dialogue, lead and manage non-profit organizations, business human resources programs, social service and community outreach programs, advocate in public policy arenas, and communicate with and teach relevant audiences.  Students will be prepared to work in settings such as: non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, community organizing and outreach, government public affairs departments, social service agencies, business and nonprofit human resources, public education outreach, environmental organizations, public health, economic development, corporate foundations, philanthropy, arts organizations, religious communities, ethnic affairs programs, elected offices, and community planning. Students also have the option of selecting a specialized track within the program: Organizational Leadership with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Emphasis, which prepares graduates for organizational leadership positions including human resources, the Trauma and Restorative Justice Emphasis, which prepares graduates to understand impacts of trauma and integrate trauma-informed and restorative practices, or the highly-customizable Comprehensive Track.

Philosophy Statement

Democracy is strongest when informed citizens participate actively in decision-making in their communities. This program aims to strengthen and improve the work of many types of community groups and organizations working to help people meet their basic needs, inform citizens on issues, and involve people in decision-making through advocacy efforts and community organizing. The program structure models the collaborative philosophy that undergirds the program. The program is cross-disciplinary, incorporating faculty from various disciplinary backgrounds. The program also integrates the expertise of members of the community through an advisory board, class placements with community organizations, guest speakers, and team teaching with local experts.  Classes in the program build on the life and work experience that students bring to the program. Classes are highly experiential and active. Class assignments are often competency-based, incorporating real-life tasks similar to those students encounter in their jobs and community settings. Some class projects will serve specific community organizations. The Capstone Project will integrate students’ learning from the entire program and provide an opportunity to design an in-depth project tailored to the students’ interests and professional goals that serves the needs of a particular organization or group in the community.  Graduates of the program will be equipped with specific skills and knowledge to serve the community today, as well as the ability to learn, reflect, and adapt to the rapidly-changing contexts in which they will be working. The program content is organized within the following program standards:

Leadership: Students will demonstrate skills in leading formal organizations (non-profit, government, philanthropy) and informal community efforts.

Management: Students will demonstrate skills in managing formal organizations (non-profit, government, philanthropy) and informal community efforts.

Community Development, Organizing and Advocacy: Students will demonstrate skills in conducting research in communities, and use those skills to effectively and creatively facilitate participatory decision-making, community organizing, and advocacy in public policy arenas.

Communication: Students will communicate ideas to audiences in oral, visual, and written forms to establish knowledge, to increase understanding, or to advocate for a particular position.

Critical Thinking: Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts, events, and other positions, before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.

Collaboration: Students will demonstrate self-awareness, understanding of effective group dynamics, and project management skills.

Creativity: Students will combine or synthesize new ideas, practices, or expertise in original ways that are characterized by innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.

Program Description

Program content is organized into core classes, elective classes, and a capstone project or internship. The core has three parts: community organizing and advocacy, leadership and management, and communications. Students may complete the 21-hour core and receive a Certificate in Community Leadership. For those wishing to pursue the Master of Arts, elective options enable students to specialize in one of three areas, choose a mixture of courses, or to pursue Organizational Leadership with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Emphasis, Trauma and Restorative Justice Emphasis, or Comprehensive Track. The capstone experience integrates knowledge and skills students have learned throughout the program and enables students to apply that knowledge and skill in an individualized way to serve a community organization.

Program Requirements

Students must complete the 21-hour core to receive the Certificate in Community Leadership. A minimum of 35 credit hours is required for graduation with the Master of Arts degree. A maximum of nine credit hours of graduate-level transcripted credit may be accepted from another accredited college or university. The accepted coursework must fall within the guidelines of Westminster’s graduate programs. Courses completed at other graduate institutions must carry a grade of B or better to be eligible for transfer credit.

Although a minimum of 35 credit hours is required, students may desire, or need to complete, additional hours to enhance their graduate degree. Planning this graduate degree program is the responsibility of students in collaboration with their advisors.

Retention in the Program

School of Education courses may only be repeated once. The student must:

• Design and file an acceptable program plan with the Program Director.
• Maintain a grade point average of 3.0. Courses in which a grade of C- or lower is awarded do not count toward graduation requirements. A grade of C- or lower in two courses will result in dismissal from the program. School of Education courses may only be repeated once; a grade of C- or lower on the retake will result in dismissal from the program. All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• Complete the program within six years, or begin to lose credit for courses older than six years.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for a master’s degree, students must satisfy the following conditions:

• Meet all credit hour and other course requirements.
• Maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above.
• Be enrolled at Westminster University during the semester in which they wish to graduate.
• Maintain good academic standing.
• Earn a grade of C or higher in all graduate courses.

Note: Only graduate-level coursework may be applied toward a degree or certificate requirements. The final responsibility for being informed about, and adhering to, graduation requirements rests with the student.

Graduate Certificate in Community & Organizational Leadership

Graduate Certificate in Organizational Leadership

Graduate Certificate in Trauma-Responsive Leadership

Master of Arts in Community & Organizational Leadership

Master of Arts in Community & Organizational Leadership: Trauma and Restorative Justice Emphasis

Master of Arts in Community & Organizational Leadership:  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Emphasis