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Master of Arts in Leadership and Public Administration - 30 Credits

Call toll-free: 1-877-236-4723

Contact Information

Recruitment Counselor: Irene Wentzell
Contact Phone: +1 (877) 236-4723
Contact Email: graduateadmissions@centenarycollege.edu
Program Advisor: Professor Jeffrey Carter, ext. 5065

About Our Program

The Master of Arts in Leadership and Public Administration is designed to prepare participating learners for successful advancement into supervisory and management positions. This program is designed to meet the needs of managers in the public and private sectors to enhance their leadership and management skills. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of quality leadership skills, the interaction of public offices and agencies, and individual development of actual leadership abilities. Through course work and associated research, learners explore and gain an understanding of public sector management while mastering the skills necessary for exceptional leaders of the future.

Program Goals

Understand the concepts of and differences between management and leadership.
Develop requisite skills for effective personnel management and administration.
Develop the ability to perform effective employee evaluations.
Learn hands on strategies to design an employee development program.
Develop a true understanding of the importance of quality leadership and embrace a desire to become a true leader of people.

Program Benefits

Police Middle & Upper-Level Managers.
Municipal, County, State and Federal Government Managers.
Healthcare, Hospitals, Counseling Services.
Private Sector Managers.
All interested in developing quality leadership and management.

Online Format

The program is offered in an online format where the courses are delivered in the following sequence:

Two 15-week simultaneous fall/spring courses, which introduce learners to the online course format, followed by
two 8-week consecutive courses in the following fall/spring, and
two 8-week summer courses.

Learners complete the program in less than 24 months, depending on their particular fall or spring start dates.

Law Enforcement Benefits

30% Tuition Discount for Sworn Law Enforcement Personnel.
Up to six graduate credits may be transferred into this program for appropriate educational programs, e.g., NJ CPM, FBI NA, West Point Leadership Program.

Admission Requirements

The following are required for admission consideration into this program:

Completed Application
Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences or Related Fields (e.g., Criminal Justice, Health Services, Psychology, or Sociology)
Original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Minimum 2.5 required
No GRE/GMAT required
A 500 word essay on your reasons and thoughts as to taking this degree program.
Note that graduate learners must have a GPA of 3.0 in order to receive a degree. Any graduate learner who receives more than one grade of C (to include C+, C, and C-) will be dismissed from the program. (Please refer to the Centenary Course Catalog for more details.)

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Master of Arts in Leadership and Public Administration - Program Requirements

The following courses satisfy the requirements of this program.

Primary Course		3 credits
This course must be taken first.
GLP-602	Advanced Written Communication	3 credits

Required Core Courses		24 Credits
These courses may be taken in any order.
GLP-510	Introduction to Leadership	3 credits
GLP-520	Introduction to Public Administration	3 credits
GLP-530	Personnel Administration	3 credits
GLP-540	Effective Management Practices	3 credits
GLP-610	Professional Leadership Development	3 credits
GLP-620	Ethical Issues in the Public Sector	3 credits
GLP-623	Conflict Resolution	3 credits
GLP-630	Employee Evaluation and Development	3 credits

Electives (Choose one course)		3 credits
GLP-603	Organizational Behavior	3 credits
GLP-640	Organizational Communication and Decision Making	3 credits
GLP-650	Topical Issues in Leadership	3 credits

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Master of Arts in Leadership and Public Administration - Course Descriptions

GLP-510	Introduction to Leadership	3 credits
	This course introduces learners to a working definition of leadership and methods necessary for effective leadership. Learners are equipped with individual and group leadership skills. Course content includes the difference between “leader” and “manager”; evaluation of leadership skills, vision, goals, and the role of “followership.”
GLP-520	Introduction to Public Administration	3 credits
	This course examines the administrative branch of government and introduces learners to the concepts, methods, skills, opportunities, and problems in contemporary public administration. Course content includes management of resources, the role of politics in public administration, inter and intra-organizational operations, unions and management relations, and public interaction.
GLP-530	Personnel Administration	3 credits
	This course provides an overview of the personnel functions of public employees. Course content includes personnel administration, personnel policies and procedures, employee-management relations, and employee selection and development.
GLP-540	Effective Management Practices	3 credits
	This course provides learners with an understanding of the principles of management including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling within an organization. Course content includes the role of the manager, management skills and techniques, strategic planning, developing and implementing plans, and span of control.
GLP-602	Advanced Written Communication	3 credits
	This course addresses special stylistic and organizational techniques involved in preparing clear and understandable written information in today’s global business world. Specific emphasis is placed on APA formatting requirements for academic, private, and public sector communications, while simultaneously preparing learners to develop a comprehensive portfolio of their graduate education project material. This course must be taken first.
GLP-603	Organizational Behavior	3 credits
	This course explores human behavior and the overall functioning of organizational structures on three levels: The individual, the group, and the organization. Issues are explored from both a theoretical and a practical standpoint. Topics include group dynamics and group process, organizational structure, conflict management, and organizational change.
GLP-610	Professional Leadership Development	3 credits
	This course is designed to expand the learner’s leadership skills and abilities through the exploration of proven leadership principles. Topics include innovative and creative thinking, team building, using effective communication, problem-solving, supervising and training employees, power and influence, and planning for the future.
GLP-620	Ethical Issues in the Public Sector	3 credits
	This course examines the ethical dimensions of personal and professional judgments in the public sector. Learners will examine the principles, values, and ethical issues that directly impact employees in the public sector. Case studies are used to demonstrate current issues common to public sector ethics.
GLP-623	Conflict Resolution	3 credits
	This course examines the nature of conflict and the position that conflict is often necessary to the change process. Emphasis is placed on the different ways that people deal with conflict. The course explores the methods and strategies of conflict resolution; the reasons for conflict; the levels of conflict, and the types of conflict. The strategies for mediation and conflict resolution are also examined, applied, and analyzed.
GLP-630	Employee Evaluation and Development	3 credits
	This course provides learners with an understanding of the importance of effectively evaluating employees and working with them toward their continual development. Course content includes evaluating jobs and positions, matching people to vacancies, performance reviews, and career planning and development.
GLP-640	Organizational Communication and Decision Making	3 credits
	This course introduces learners to theories and fundamental concepts of communication, types of communication, feedback, manager and group decision making, and committing to a decision.
GLP-650	Topical Issues in Leadership	3 credits
	This course examines current issues in leadership. The specific issues covered will vary, and may include effective approaches to leadership, situational approaches to leadership, contemporary perspectives of leadership, and dynamics of power and politics. Current case studies will be examined to develop a clear understanding of cutting edge leadership.