Course Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 52 graduate credit hours with a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.0.
Planning & Integration
Liberal Learning
Individualized Learning Strategies
Designed and executed by the student based on the area of graduate study and learning preferences, these strategies (classes, independent studies, work projects, etc.) are engaged to enhance understanding and competence development in relation to each of the following aspects of an individually-tailored focus area.
Individualized Program Culmination
Designed and executed by the student based on the area of focus and learning preferences, one of the following approaches is chosen.
- Supplementals (Electives)
- Integrating Major Project
AP 502
LEARNING PLAN REVIEW
Throughout the second quarter, students finalize their Learning Plans, convene their Academic Committees (comprised of themselves, their Professional Advisor, and their Faculty Mentor) to review their Learning Plans, and upon initial approval, submit their Learning Plans to the Mastery Review Committee (MRC) for approval.
AP 528
ASSESSMENT AND INTEGRATION 1
This session includes orientation of Professional Advisors, and provides opportunity to integrate and apply dynamics of reflective practice, self-assessment, liberal learning, and ongoing collaboration.
AP 548
ASSESSMENT AND INTEGRATION SEMINAR 2
This session provides further opportunity to integrate and apply dynamics of reflective practice, self-assessment, liberal learning, and ongoing collaboration.
AP 558
ASSESSMENT AND INTEGRATION SEMINAR 3
This session provides further opportunity to integrate and apply dynamics of reflective practice, self-assessment, liberal learning, and ongoing collaboration.
AP 578
ASSESSMENT AND INTEGRATION SEMINAR 4
This session provides further opportunity to integrate and apply dynamics of reflective practice, self-assessment, and liberal learning, as well as planning for program progress.
LLS 425
EXPLORING MODES & PROCESSES OF SYSTEMATIC INQUIRY
This seminar provides students with an opportunity to develop the Liberal Learning Skills through exploring modes and processes of systematic inquiry. Students develop researchable questions and use these questions to gather and critically evaluate information and identify appropriate research methodologies. In addition, students practice searching, managing and analyzing information sources and building integrative literature reviews.
LLS 435
UNDERSTANDING PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE SEMINAR
This seminar provides students with an opportunity to develop the Liberal Learning facilities through understanding personal and organizational change. Multiple dimensions and dynamics of change and the roles and responsibilities of professionals as change agents are explored. Special emphasis is placed on analyzing change processes using both linear and systems models and formulating interventions to facilitate productive change in the workplace (profit and nonprofit).
LLS 445
IMPROVING INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS
This seminar provides students with an opportunity to develop the Liberal Learning Skills through improving interpersonal dynamics. Students are introduced to various models for working collaboratively with diverse constituents over multiple contexts. In addition, students are provided opportunities to strengthen their interpersonal relations and communications skills (per context) by learning and practicing strategies and techniques that foster skill development.
LLS 475
EXERCISING EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
This final seminar provides students with an opportunity to develop the Liberal Learning facilities through exercising effective leadership. Major themes of each of the previous seminars are integrated within the concept of effective leadership in a changing world. Key theories and principles relative to the management/leadership continuum are examined as well as the implications of current trends for the future of leadership both in general and within students' personal/professional contexts.
AP 510
MAIN THEORIES
This area addresses knowledge and understanding of theories, models and/or theoretical frameworks - including implications for practice - that are most relevant to the Focus Area.
AP 520
METHODS OF RESEARCH
This area addresses the systematic gathering of data and interpretation of findings as practiced within the Focus Area and/or related fields.
AP 530
SPECIALIZED SKILLS
This area involves identifying skills that are particular to the profession and the context(s) in which these skills are applied. The emphasis is on actual demonstration of specialized skills used in practice.
AP 540
COMMUNICATION MODES
This area involves facility with communication modes relevant to professional practice in the focus area. It requires an understanding of the relationship among key communication variables (the message, the method, the audience, and the context), a repertoire of communication strategies, and a dexterity or ease of access permitting the professional to adapt communication strategies to changing situations as necessary.
AP 550
ORGANIZATIONAL AND INTERPERSONAL DYNAMICS
This area addresses the human and structural issues that professionals encounter within practice (work) environments, providing students with the opportunity to consider how their professional role affects and is affected by systems, technology, structure and other people within their practice settings.
AP 560
LARGER CONTEXTS
This area addresses the issues and problems of the student's focus area within a context that includes at least one of the following: the historical development of the profession over time and its future direction (temporal); the relationship between the profession and the society within which it exists (social, multi-cultural); and/or, the nature of the profession globally (international).
AP 570
ETHICAL ISSUES
This area addresses the relationship between beliefs and assumptions regarding humanity, good/evil, right/wrong, etc., and behavioral outcomes (including conflicts).
AP 574
REFLECTION ON PRACTICE
This area addresses the interplay between thinking, doing and reflecting in the often-ambiguous and complex contexts of daily practice.
A&S 491
ADMINISTRATIVE THEORY AND BEHAVIOR
This course concerns theoretical concepts and empirical research relating to administrative behavior in organizations with special reference to educational organizations. Concepts are examined within the typical decisional framework of supervisors, chief school business officers, principles, and superintendents, and similar positions in the helping professions. Assignments are individualized.
Prerequisites:
Status as an Advanced Masters Education student is a prerequisite for this class.
AP 585
SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE I
Student selects a second area from among Theories, Research, Skills, Communication Modes, Organizational/Interpersonal Dynamics, Larger Contexts, Ethical Issues, and Reflection on Practice in which to develop and demonstrate competence.
AP 586
SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE II
As an option to the Integrating Project, student may elect to develop and demonstrate an additional four areas of professional competence from among Theories, Research, Skills, Communication Modes, Organizational/Interpersonal Dynamics, Larger Contexts, Ethical Issues, and Reflection on Practice.
AP 587
SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE III
As an option to the Integrating Project, student may elect to develop and demonstrate an additional four areas of professional competence from among Theories, Research, Skills, Communication Modes, Organizational/Interpersonal Dynamics, Larger Contexts, Ethical Issues, and Reflection on Practice.
AP 588
SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE IV
As an option to the Integrating Project, student may elect to develop and demonstrate an additional four areas of professional competence from among Theories, Research, Skills, Communication Modes, Organizational/Interpersonal Dynamics, Larger Contexts, Ethical Issues, and Reflection on Practice.
AP 589
SUPPLEMENTAL COMPETENCE V
As an option to the Integrating Project, student may elect to develop and demonstrate an additional four areas of professional competence from among Theories, Research, Skills, Communication Modes, Organizational/Interpersonal Dynamics, Larger Contexts, Ethical Issues, and Reflection on Practice.
AP 591
INTEGRATING PROJECT PROPOSAL
A concise, well-honed document that clearly delineates the student's readiness to engage in the Final Integrating Project as well as the project's nature and scope. The topic under investigation should be supported by relevant literature in the field and the use of appropriate methods of inquiry.
AP 592
FINAL INTEGRATING PROJECT
The Integrating Project is an original, independently conducted project that incorporates elements of theory, practice, knowledge, and skill and demonstrates integration of the Liberal Learning Skills with the professional Focus Area. It serves as the culminating Learning Activity of the program and is intended to make an original contribution to the student's professional field. The topic of the Integrating Project is chosen by the student with the approval of the Professional Advisor and the Mastery Review Committee and typically involves a practice-based problem with an appropriate intervention.
LLS 410
PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
This domain examines the physical, cognitive and spiritual dimensions of personal development and performance. Central questions include: Who am I and what should I become? What habits of mind, attitude, and behavior might I improve upon? How can I construct personal meaning and inform future actions from my experiences? Embedded in these questions are the core concepts of learning and change, choice and consequence, identity, and various dimensions of self. Seminars in this domain might address topics such awareness, agency, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, motivation, reflection, resilience, and self-discipline.
AP 501
LEARNING PLAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
This course explores the aims of graduate education with particular focus on the program of study leading to the Master of Arts in Integrated Professional Studies: its purpose, scope, philosophy, key roles, and processes. Special emphasis is placed on developing a working draft of the Learning Plan for the individualized portion of the program (i.e., the Focus Area), attaining a fuller understanding of individual fields of professional study, and applying Liberal Learning Skills in professional practice. The process is initiated for establishing an academic committee consisting of the student, the Faculty Mentor, and a Professional Advisor (an established practitioner in the student's professional Focus Area).
Prerequisites:
Status as a MAAPS student or departmental permission is a prerequisite for this class.
LLS 420
INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
This domain focuses on one?s ability to both communicate effectively and understand the meaning of others? communications. To develop interpersonal effectiveness, one must overcome the barriers that result from differences in culture, race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, and socio-economic status. Interpersonal effectiveness requires self-awareness, cultural competence, and skills in active listening, building trust, dialogue, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Central questions include: How can we improve interpersonal relationships in both personal and professional domains? How can we make decisions and solve problems together? What are the dynamics of and processes for collaboration? How do we understand and use the human/computer interface as tool to enhance communication? Seminars in this domain might address topics such as intercultural communication, valuing human similarities and differences, interpersonal communication, and 21st century human-computer interfaces and interactions.
LLS 430
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
This domain explores the larger systemic contexts within which individuals function. As the world grows increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to understand and navigate people-in-groups (organizational, societal, and global) becomes increasingly critical. In this domain, students broaden and deepen their capacity to make a difference at ever-widening levels of system. Central questions include: How do we engage as organizational resources, community participants, members of society and global citizens? How do we get along? How do we get work done? How do we both fit-in and remain unique? Seminars in this domain might address topics such as project management, leadership, organizational culture, career management, performance improvement, context scanning, global citizenship, trend analysis, cross-cultural agility, and future visioning.
LLS 440
VALUES EFECTIVENESS
This domain examines the ability of individuals to recognize and analyze their own values and those of others in order to find effective ways to translate those beliefs into effective action. When individuals expand awareness of their own choices and recognize the choices of others, they can live their own lives more effectively and successfully mediate conflicts with others. Central questions include: What should I do in this situation? Why did he/she/they decide to do things that way? That is so clearly wrong ? isn?t it? Seminars in this domain might address topics such as ethical reasoning, decision-making, values-clarification, priority setting and courage in action.
lls 450
INQUIRY EFFECTIVENESS
This domain focuses on developing methods and processes of inquiry that can be applied in any of the other domains. Adults must be able to engage in self-directed inquiry in order to understand and act effectively in their personal, professional, social, and civic lives. In this domain, students learn methods for systematically and strategically exploring questions, problems, ideas, and experiences. Central questions include: How do I formulate viable questions? What information do I need to understand a problem and what is the best way to obtain it? What are different ways to analyze an idea? How can I make sense of what I have experienced? Seminars in this domain might address strategies and methods to generate and engage primary research; to gather and manage information; to organize, analyze and present data; and to pursue targeted methods of inquiry.