Master of Science in Leadership

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Program Director: Stacie L. L. Morgan
Program Coordinator: Rex H. Marks
Associate Program Director of Academics: Jeremy Hodges

The Norwich University Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) program is offered to provide relevant educational experience to graduates who positively impact their organizations and communities as leaders or future leaders. Our vision is to develop graduates capable of addressing organizations’ toughest leadership challenges with character, integrity, and distinction.

It is the mission of the Master of Science in Leadership program to deliver a graduate educational experience to adults around the world that teaches them how to leverage human capacity to achieve strategic results. We do this through a blend of academic excellence and rigorous application in our students’ practical worlds using the engaged interaction of our online classroom and faculty.

Program Strategy and the Role of Student Engagement

The Master of Science in Leadership has a strong application/demonstration component that allows students to not only learn about leadership, but to also synthesize course content and demonstrate understanding through both academic assignments and professional practice.

The marketplace and global economy require understanding of strategy and strategic communication for the contemporary leader. Contemporary leaders also must understand how to lead change within their organizations or support change efforts made by others—often in an environment that is continually transitioning. Realities of the global economy have created what is now commonly called the “knowledge-based economy” and the Master of Science in Leadership is structured to provide students with tools, understanding and vision to address the leadership challenges of our time.

The Leadership Development Portfolio (LDP) is a required element of the program and a vehicle by which students assimilate course objectives into their professional role within their organization. The LDP is comprised of student work that demonstrates leadership development consistent with a plan of academic study and professional objectives. Students use the LDP to relate academic content to their professional lives and role within their organization so that they may “live what they learn.”

The core curriculum is designed to integrate major leadership issues relevant to individuals who work in organizations at either a direct leadership level, those positioned to directly lead in the future, or those individuals who aspire to lead. Current demographic trends have seen growth among younger executives and added responsibilities for those who may lack experience leading others. Contemporary workforce dynamics illustrate different values than prior generations and the need for new leaders to study topics such as emotional intelligence, knowledge management and leadership theory.

The MSL program will rely upon the quality of our engagement in our student’s practical lives to differentiate our offerings and strive toward our vision—translating theory into our students’ real-world practices every day, online, and on the fly.