The Master of Science in Management and Leadership (MSML) degree provides a graduate academic learning experience designed to develop managerial and leadership skills within a values-centered framework. The degree program provides an opportunity for functional and technical specialists to acquire knowledge and develop competencies to allow for successful transition to effective front-line supervisors, functional managers, and team leaders in 21st century organizations. In addition to understanding and applying contemporary management and leadership theories, students also will create a personal development plan, receive individual leadership coaching, complete a service-leadership project in the community, and undertake an applied consulting project in a client organization.
Four learning objectives are central to the MSML curriculum:
- Increase self-awareness and personal understanding.
- Develop strong working knowledge of managerial and leadership capabilities in a values-centered framework.
- Develop competency in managing people and teams within public and private organizations.
- Increase multicultural competencies.
This 36-unit program, which may be completed in as few as four trimesters, utilizes a leadership and systems theory orientation to the expansion of management and leadership capacities. Concepts from organization theory and the behavioral sciences-such as enhanced self-awareness, group dynamics, organization and work design, and culture-provide the foundation for the development of advanced knowledge and skills, including improved managerial and leadership influence and impact and multicultural competency. Emphasis is placed on the application of these concepts to current issues facing organizational managers, such as increasing influence, alignment, conflict management, systems thinking, team, productivity improvement, and overall organizational performance. The first session is a weekend integrative workshop that creates a collaborative learning environment among the students as they complete strategic learning contracts and form anchor groups. Students will have an opportunity to review their learning contracts with a staff or faculty member in the second trimester of the program. The short integrative workshops in the third and fourth trimesters focus on team and organization systems. Systems learning is used to revisit the learning plans and implement an Education-to-Community Service Project (E2C) which forms the basis of an E2C Capstone Project.
Courses are offered through evening, weekend, integrative workshops, and short residential modes that provide a highly interactive learning environment. This four-trimester program is designed to be completed in 16 months. The integrative workshop courses are completed in the anchor groups, and students will have the flexibility to vary the pace of the program, even though a cohort format is encouraged. Courses are offered at the West Los Angeles and Irvine graduate campuses.
Course work can be applied to waive 5 units from the Fully Employed MBA core courses and 12 units from the elective requirements for the Leadership and Managing Organizational Change concentration.
Standards and Measurements of Achievement for MSML Students
Satisfactory completion of 36 units of course work is necessary for graduation. While it is expected that course work will be completed by the fourth trimester, students may take a more flexible schedule. Degree work in the MSML program must be completed within three calendar years from the date on which the student begins work at Pepperdine University. In rare cases, the associate dean may grant a limited extension of time to complete the degree. Standards of achievement and methods of assessing student performance in each course are delineated in each course syllabus at the outset of the academic term. Through the duration of the MSML Program, a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is required to maintain satisfactory academic standing. Each course in the MSML curriculum must be passed with a grade of “C-” or better. A course in which a grade lower than “C-” was earned must be retaken and completed with a passing grade. A course may only be repeated once, and in all cases, both grades will remain on the student’s transcript and be factored into the cumulative GPA.
Student academic performance is monitored by the Fully Employed Program Office at the end of each term, and any student falling below the 3.0 GPA minimum is subject to academic probation. Students placed on academic probation will be notified in writing and informed of the conditions applicable to the probationary status. Among these conditions is a reduction in academic unit load, limiting enrollment to four (4) units of MSML coursework per trimester for the duration of the probationary period. The probationary status will not be cleared until the student has reached the minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Students who fail to regain good standing within the time frame specified in the initial notification of probation will be subject to dismissal from the MSML Program. Other circumstances that may lead to dismissal include:
- Cumulative GPA falling below 3.0 at any point in the Program
- Earning any grade lower than a “B” while on academic probation
- Earning a grade lower than a “B-” in more than two courses within the Program
- Earning a grade lower than “D” in any course
In addition, the program director, upon recommendation of the Program Committee, may counsel a student to withdraw from the program based on the committee’s assessment that the student’s performance, conduct, and/or potential do not align with the program’s objectives.
Access to Online Courses
On-ground students may, upon approval, complete up to one-third of their program unit requirements through the online course modality. Those who wish to enroll in an online course may submit a request for consideration on a space-available basis. Prior to the formal submission of the request, students should consult with their advisor to understand the potential impact of taking the desired on-ground course on their overall program completion plan and timeline. Requests are individually reviewed by the Program Office, and approval is not guaranteed.
Change in Program Modality
Students are generally expected to complete their program coursework in the same modality they had chosen upon program entrance. Under compelling and verifiable circumstances, a student may formally petition for a permanent change in program modality (i.e., from online to on-ground). Petitions should be directed to the Program Office, detailing the nature of the circumstances and providing relevant documentation.
Pathways to MSML
Students who have completed the Bachelor of Science in Management program and who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below may waive up to 5 units of MSML coursework and complete the MSML program with as few as 31 units. To be considered eligible, students must submit an application for the Pathways to MSML and have completed the BSM Program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Students who earned a grade of “B” or higher in the equivalent BSM course would be able to waive up to 5 units of MSML coursework as follows:
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