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BVU Academic Catalog 2024-2025
Organizational Leadership (MA)
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The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership provides the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively lead people in an ever-changing work environment. In today’s competitive job market, the right knowledge and experience as well as an advanced degree distinguishes job applicants. A bachelor’s degree often is no longer sufficient to distinguish oneself from the competition.
The field of leadership has witnessed an explosion of advances since the end of World War II. Consequently, mastering leadership requires curriculum focusing on theory and application, asking students to engage comprehensively-researched perspectives of leadership to understand the science, skills, and art of leadership as well as apply their knowledge by practicing further leadership skill development. Therefore, the degree prepares professionals for a range of positions from senior management, non-profit administration, and various business leadership roles, as well as enhancing individuals’ membership on and leadership of various boards of directors and other community leadership roles. Whether currently in leadership roles or seeking leadership roles, the program augments learners’ abilities for critical and strategic decision making, personal development of leadership strengths, and more effective engagement in the art and science of leadership practices among diverse individuals. The program serves working adults as they focus ethical leadership development on enhancing their ability to inspire innovative, systemic change in their world. With intentionality, the program engages students in creative processes designed to build a bridge between academic theory and real-world application.
The word “leader” is tossed around freely with too few people rising to the challenge and becoming true, effective leaders for their organizations. Our Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership places an emphasis on the awareness and understanding of self and others necessary to become an effective leader regardless of the context of leadership.
The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership consists of 30 semester hours concluding with the student’s choice of culminating experience, a capstone or mentorship. The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership offers focused coursework to uniquely prepare graduates to excel in leadership. With a strong emphasis on strategic and critical thinking, creative and ethical decision-making, skills assessments, and application of learning, the program develops graduates prepared to lead with character. The program allows students to graduate with a general degree in leadership or with a specialization in Human Resources Leadership, Healthcare Leadership, or Sport Leadership.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Through employing critical thinking and reasoning, written communication competency, and appropriate research and data analysis skills, at the completion of the program graduates will be able to:
- Understand foundational leadership principles and theories;
- Critique models of teambuilding and group function while improving those skills;
- Engage ethical questions leaders face; and
- Evaluate the role of leadership in shaping organizational culture including emphases on diversity, participative management, human resources needs, and reflective practices.
Graduates culminate their programs with a capstone experience reflecting academic discipline and workplace/community application through a critically-analyzed written document.
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Degree Requirements
Courses with a grade lower than “C-” do not count toward the degree and must be repeated.
Degree Requirements - Human Resources Concentration
Degree Requirements - Healthcare Concentration
Degree Requirements - Sport Leadership Concentration
Course Delivery and Schedule:
The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership is an online degree. Working professionals may pursue the degree while maintaining full- or part-time employment through a series of structured 8-week term offerings via Buena Vista University’s online graduate programs. The program is designed to offer flexibility for students, allowing completion within 20 months Post-Baccalaureate, assuming the student maintains consistent enrollment. As part of undergraduate studies, students may take up to four courses (12 credits) applied toward the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree. See Admission Requirements for the Organizational Leadership Plus One Program. Typically, students enroll in one graduate course per 8-week term. The various course formats meet the 45 contact hours required per graduate course.
Admission Requirements: Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership
All potential students must apply directly to and be accepted into the program prior to enrolling. Students seeking the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership must fulfill the following minimal requirements:
- Hold a Baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning.
- Have a 2.75 undergraduate grade point average. Students with less than a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average may apply for admission consideration. The same materials below are required plus an admission interview with the Organizational Leadership Program Director.
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning previously attended.
- Complete the graduate application form.
- Submit two letters of recommendation from personnel equipped to speak to the candidate’s preparation for graduate study.
- Submit an essay answering the specific prompt provided on the application form.
- Have access to minimum technology requirements.
- Be accepted. Students will be notified in writing of the decision by the Program Director of the Organizational Leadership Program.
Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership Plus One Program
Prospective students who are within 30 hours of completing a baccalaureate degree at Buena Vista University may seek early admission which allows students to apply up to 12 credits earned while still an undergraduate to the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree. See course descriptions for courses eligible to be taken as an undergraduate. The student must possess a 3.0 GPA in his/her undergraduate major coursework and complete the Intent to Enroll form on Beavernet to be considered to take the graduate level courses while yet an undergraduate. Such early admission is provisional. See Provisional Admission Status.
To be eligible students must meet each of the following:
- be a current BVU student;
- junior or senior standing;
- have completed a minimum of 12 credits hours of BVU coursework at the 300/400 level with a 3.0 GPA in those credits; and
- hold a 3.0 BVU CGPA or higher.
Application Procedures: Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership
Apply online at bvu.edu/grad.
- Complete the application form, including the response to the essay prompt: In a response of no more than 400 words, detail the importance of the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership to your career, professional, and/or personal growth path.
- Obtain two letters of recommendation from personnel able to comment on applicant’s graduate-study readiness and career goals. Recommenders’ information will be submitted during completion of the online application and the recommender will receive the request electronically.
- Request official transcripts be forwarded to the Graduate Programs Office.
Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership Plus One Program Application Process
Interested students complete the intent-to-enroll form found in BeaverNet for the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. Students are asked to communicate with the Graduate Student Success Specialist and the Director of the program, and/or their academic adviser prior to completing the Intent-to-enroll form.
Usually within 48 hours, the Program Director and/or Graduate Programs Student Success Specialist will request a meeting with the student and/or communicate the enrollment decision to the student, his/her academic advisor, the Registrar, graduate admissions processing, and the Graduate Programs Advisor.
Once admitted to the bac +1 program, the student meets with his/her academic advisor to plan specific course sequencing in the appropriate term to facilitate completing the four courses and potentially entering the graduate Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program upon completion of the Integrative Application Analysis Assessment.
Students are expected to take the bac + 1 courses in the following order: ORGL 404 , ORGL 406 , ORGL 408 , and ORGL 440 . The courses do not need to be taken in immediately subsequent terms, but careful attention must be given to how the courses fit into the student’s course plan and their desire to begin as a full graduate student in the remaining 6 courses. Students who choose the bac + 1 program are not required to continue to the graduate program, or continue immediately, although most do.
Once admitted to the bac + 1 program, the Registrar notes OLP1 on the student record to note his/her desire to complete the bac + 1 courses.
Students are encouraged to complete the intent-to-enroll at their earliest qualification to allow for maximum flexibility in integrating the courses into their program of study.
Having successfully completed the four courses with no lower than a grad of C- in each, students must complete the Integrative Application Analysis successfully to be able to waive the graduate-level equivalents for the courses (GRAD 500 , ORGL 504 , ORGL 506 , and ORGL 508 ) in their graduate program. See the Graduate Student Success Specialist or Program Director for more information about the Integrative Application Analysis.
Admission Timelines: Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership
A new cycle for the organizational leadership program begins terms 1, 3, and 5. Applicants are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible. The Organizational Leadership Program Director will review completed applications; notice regarding the admission decision will be communicated typically within 48 hours of receiving a completed application.
The application materials are available online at bvu.edu/grad.
Admission Decision: Provisional Admission Status
Students who apply for full admission status and who are deficient in one or more of the requirements for full admission may be granted provisional status. Deficiencies must be removed after 9 credit hours of graduate coursework taken at Buena Vista University to continue in the program. Students will be informed in writing of the decision if provisional status is granted.
Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership Plus One Status
All students are provisionally admitted to the bac + 1 program. To maintain enrollment in the bac + 1 program, students must earn an overall GPA of 3.0 in the bac + 1 courses with no course grade lower than a C-. Students earning less than a C- in any “bac + 1” course may be discontinued in the program. Academic progress is formally reviewed three times per year (after fall, spring, and summer semesters). The director of the program reviews individual course grades in each of the bac + 1 courses each term they are offered.
Storm Lake undergraduates admitted to the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership bac + 1 program are permitted to enroll in one Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership course per term within a semester which may permit them to enroll for a total of 18 credit hours within a semester period.
When feasible, students will be encouraged to not engage 18 credit hours in a semester’s time. A blanket academic action is filed in the Registrar’s Office allowing for such practice with the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership courses.
Storm Lake campus students must complete an “Enrolling in a Bac + 1 Course” academic action informing the Registrar during which Term they wish to enroll in the specific bac + 1 course. The student and program director are the only required signatures.
Storm Lake undergraduates must maintain a minimum of 12 credits of engaged academic work at the Storm Lake site each semester.
Students successfully completing the bac + 1 program must apply for full admission as a graduate student. The full graduate application process typically is begun during the initial weeks the student is enrolled in the final bac + 1 course (ORGL 408 ) for the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. The Graduate Programs Student Success Specialist communicates with students reminding them of the timeline for completing the full graduate application.
Special Admission Status
Students may be allowed to take up to 9 graduate-level credit hours from BVU without seeking a master’s degree or graduate endorsement. Candidates must be granted special permission to enroll in courses under these circumstances by the director of the specific graduate program. Permission will only be granted if there is course space available, with full admission candidates given first priority for registration in these courses. Students must complete an application form specifically for non-degree, non-endorsement, and non-certification status in the courses. After 9 credits, students will not be allowed to continue enrollment until full admission is sought and gained. At that time, courses previously taken may be transferred into full master’s degrees or endorsement programs, with permission of the current graduate program director.
Admission Appeal
Students may appeal a negative admission decision. A formal letter of appeal must be written to the Director of Graduate Programs outlining the concerns regarding the admission decision. The case is forwarded to an appeals panel comprised of the Provost, the Vice President for Enrollment Services, and the Dean of the school of the graduate program. The student may request an interview with the panel. After review of the evidence provided by the applicant, the panel makes a second ruling with regard to admission.
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