School of Education

Master of Arts in Police Leadership Courses

Core Courses

Foundation Courses

Leadership and Organizational Theory
Communication Skills for Leaders
Organizational Change
Foundations of Leadership: an Intellectual and Ethical Practice
Communication, Conflict and Decision Making

Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.

Foundation Courses (Select 2 of the Following 5 Courses):

Leadership and Organizational Theory (EDLD 801 - 3 Credits)

Examine how educational organizations develop and change.
Discover how leaders and followers interact within organizations from several theoretical and conceptual perspectives.
Observe the workings of educational institutions and programs.
Interview educational leaders.
Analyze your own understanding and practice of leadership.

Communication Skills for Leaders (EDLD 802 - 3 Credits)

Understand writing, listening, speaking and group process skills needed by leaders.
Participate in a communications assessment process.
Develop a personal plan to improve your communication skills.

Organizational Change (EDLD 803 - 3 Credits)

Understand the theoretical and practical dimensions of change within organizations and social change.
Review models of strategic planning and leadership issues.
Examine research on organizational innovation and analyze cases of successful and unsuccessful change.
Design planning strategies.
Prerequisite: EDLD 801.

Foundations of Leadership: an Intellectual and Ethical Practice (EDLD 807 - 3 Credits)

Understand the responsibility of educators to be attentive to the ethical aspects of relationships and decisions.
Review case-studies to examine ethical issues.

Communication, Conflict and Decision Making (EDLD 845 - 3 Credits)

Examine strategies for analyzing and dealing with conflict between individuals and groups.
Study effective communication processes and decision-making strategies.
Practice problem analysis and resolution, negotiation, collaborative relationship and team building.

Research Courses (Select 1 of the Following 2 Courses):

Research Design, Analysis and Critique I (EDLD 621 - 3 Credits)

Review historical and ethnographic approaches to collecting and analyzing information.
Conduct research using historical and qualitative methods.

Community Assessment and Evaluation (EDLD 851 - 3 Credits)

Learn research procedures appropriate for assessing community wants, needs and resources.
Evaluate program outcome and staff performance.
Review research design, sources of data and methods of data collection.

Concentration Courses (12 credits)

Advanced Police Theory and Practice (EDLD 750 - 3 Credits)

Examine the philosophies, theories and practices of American policing.
Study the influences of social movements and politics in policing.
Review hallmark police research and legal decisions during the past century.
Reflect on the role of gender and race.
Explore emerging issues, problems and programs in schools, business organizations, faith communities, social service agencies and grassroots groups.

Police Leadership, Administration and Change (EDLD 752 - 3 Credits)

Understand the development of the police organization, structure, leadership and administration.
Identify the principles of police leadership within a contemporary police organization and the changing role of policing.
Examine the current state of the police-community relationship, crime trends, the role of economics, and other issues.
Meet with state, local and community leaders in policing.

Police Law (EDLD 751 - 3 Credits)

Study current laws, court decisions and other legal theories that affect policing and the community.
Review hiring, disciplining, collective bargaining, budgeting and training.
Examine the relationship of these laws with the ethical decision making of police officers and its relationship with the community.

Community Building, Dynamics of Community Organizations for Police (EDLD 753 - 3 Credits)

Examine the processes and dynamics necessary for police agencies and their personnel to play an active, direct role in identifying and organizing the community.
Understand fiscal resources necessary to build effective partnerships to develop of a cooperative problem-solving community.
Research and develop recommendations on a police-community issue based on the dynamics and community organization.

Electives (9 credits)

Work with a faculty adviser to design a program of elective study that enhances your personal and professional growth. Sample courses include:

Police Studies (EDLD 754 - 3 Credits)

Designed for students enrolled in a professional peace officer education post-baccalaureate program in partnership with St. Thomas.

Advanced Professional Peace Officer Education (EDLD 755 - 3 Credits)

Participate in an in-depth learning experience in a police or community agency in a training, leadership or supervisory position.

Integrative Seminar (EDLD 780 - 1 Credit)

Critically reflect upon your learning.
Examine cases through various frames.
Read leadership literature.

Topics in specialty areas could include:

Community Mediation and Justice
Human Resources
Management
Media Relations
Organization and Leadership
Public and Community Relations
Technology
Training and Development