The need for strong leadership across all sectors has never been greater, and the nature of leadership in the 21st century is changing.
Organizations are demanding authentic leaders who can generate trust, empower others, and find innovative answers to today’s problems and challenges.
When you earn a master’s in leadership online at Walden, you can gain the knowledge required to become a globally competent and ethical leader. This master’s degree in leadership is designed to help leaders build the necessary knowledge base and skills to meet the ever-evolving challenges of a complex world. The content and activities encompassed in the leadership degree program help prepare leaders to seek and find innovative answers to novel problems and challenges, deploy effective strategies to facilitate change and manage conflict, and inspire individuals to work together toward a shared vision for a better future. Moreover, Walden’s online master’s in leadership program helps prepare students to create positive change through effective leadership.
With four optional specializations, you can deepen your leadership and human resource management skills or design your own specialization to meet your professional goals.
Receive a graduate-level certificate after successfully completing the first four courses in the program, giving you a valuable credential while you work toward completing your MS in Leadership.
Graduates of this program will be prepared to:
When you complete your online master’s in leadership, you may be able to receive credit for four courses when enrolling in the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, which can save you time and money. Call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336 to determine eligibility and learn more.
Find detailed information for the general specialization of this program, or all other specializations of this program, including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt. At the master’s level, Walden University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) and MS in Accounting are the only programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The MS in Leadership is not accredited by the ACBSP. Please visit our accreditation page to see the list of Walden accreditations.
Walden’s MS in Leadership program offers a General Program as well as a variety of optional specializations to help you meet your personal and professional goals.
This multidisciplinary master’s degree programme provides in-depth knowledge on sustainable development and sustainability leadership. The programme provides students with an understanding of organisation and leadership theory in the context of sustainability. It also provides students with an understanding of research methods for sustainable decision-making. The education lays a solid foundation for those seeking to lead or manage sustainable initiatives in the workplace, community and the world.
The master’s degree programme is grounded in four core premises:
1. Sustainability requires new forms of organising, especially when it comes to project-based organisations involving diverse stakeholders.
2. Organising and leading sustainability requires new and diverse leading and organising skills, understanding and knowledge for managers and leaders of sustainable projects.
3. Organising and leading sustainability requires a new way of thinking sustainability within and between organisations. Current research on social entrepreneurship and social innovation can reveal new methods and strategies with regards to this.
4. Methodological and methodical knowledge and understanding are needed to enable leaders to make sustainable decisions.
Based on these four premises, the programme bridges together the fields of organisation theory, leadership, project management, social innovation and social entrepreneurship so that together new ways of organising and leading sustainability can be created. This will enable students to rethink commonly held perceptions of leadership and organisational development.
In this programme students are taught to reflect upon organisational and leadership challenges linked to organisational development and sustainability. This programme provides students with knowledge and critical understanding of current research in the fields of leadership and organisation, project management, social entrepreneurship and social innovation in the context of sustainability and sustainable development.
This master's programme is also focused on action and doing via diverse projects and even via the thesis work. This is a way to develop students’ professional, conceptual and human skills so that as for example future sustainable leaders and social entrepreneurs, they will drive sustainable changes and have the capacity to make informed decisions about organisational and leadership issues in the management of sustainable organisations and projects.
Finally, embedded in this program is the idea that sustainability can be reached if individuals rethink commonly held perceptions of leadership and organisational development.
TeachingLectures, seminars, and workshop enable interaction in small and large class. Group work is used to generate discussions about sustainability, especially while doing case studies. Study visits and guest lectures connect learning with practice. Individual papers, individual studies and the thesis work enable to focus and gain specific and in-depth knowledge to master the subject at hand.
This programme lays a solid foundation for those seeking to work as key players in project management and organisational development environments, and where the broader issues of societal development are important. The skills acquired will be relevant for managers in local, national and international governmental bodies, the private and non-profit sector and in consultancy work.
The entrepreneurial content of the course is designed to stimulate and encourage students to initiate projects, businesses or organisations with the purpose of working towards sustainable development.
Knowledge and understanding
Skills and competences
Judgement and approach
Master's Degree (60 credits).
Degree of Master of Arts (60 credits) with a Major in Leadership and Organisation.
The Henley MA Leadership has been developed following extensive research at Henley Business School into the leadership and leadership development challenges faced by today’s leaders and managers. It has a flexible approach and you can choose to take 1 stage, 2 stages or the full Master’s programme.
Stage 1 – Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership
Stage 2 – Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership
Stage 3 – MA Leadership
The programme has involved significant collaboration and consultation with a wide range of leaders from small and large corporate organisations, the public sector, government departments, social enterprises, as well as leadership development specialists known as the Henley MA Leadership Advisory Group.
This has resulted in a Masters-level programme based on best practice leadership development, and draws on Henley’s heritage and reputation for an pragmatic in-depth approach to developing practising managers and leaders, through peer group learning, work-based practice and reflection.
The Henley MA Leadership is a flexible part-time programme that fits with your life and working commitments and is designed for anyone currently in either a leadership role or managerial role with significant leadership responsibilities.
The Henley MA Leadership offers real, tangible opportunities to put leadership knowledge into practice, with particular attention to ethical, responsible and purposeful leadership, supported by a team of faculty with practical experience of current organisational challenges.
Discover and become the leader you’ve always aspired to be – a leader who is analytical, self-knowing and with a strong sense of responsibility. A leader who understands how to make individuals and teams thrive – and with the confidence to develop leadership in others and take your organisation forward.
This programme has a blended design, with a combination of face-to-face workshops supported by facilitated on-line activities and self-study between sessions. All workshops include a mix of teaching, interactive group activities and action learning sets, supported by personal tutors and coaches. These workshops are delivered by our highly experienced faculty team.
Most modules are compulsory , but both Stage 1 and Stage 2 include one module where there are elective choices, to provide the opportunity for programme members to engage in deeper study of specific topics and contexts personal to them but within the overall subject area.
Elective Modules – Options
This programme currently offers the following elective module options:
The options offered for electives may vary and will be updated as required.
* If you have previously attended other Henley Business School leadership development programmes, or equivalent, you can choose the Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning elective in Stage 1. You are required to produce a 3,000 word written summary of your prior experiences for assessment, to be submitted before the deadline for the Stage 1 elective.
Leadership has always been a critical element of organisational success, but only recently has its value been adequately recognised in an educational context. The scope of this MSc covers defence and the wider security sector.
This MSc is designed to appeal to those interested in or involved with leadership. Its primary audience will be those with personal experience of leadership practice and who are keen to expand and improve their knowledge and understanding of leadership theory and practice.
The scope of the MSc covers defence, the wider security sector and public services.
Upon completion of the MSc you will be able to:
The advisory panel consists of senior representatives from Defence and the wider security and defence industry sectors. It includes a former Defence Minister among the defence stakeholders.
The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) accredited the degree at the Level 7 Award in Strategic Leadership. At the start of your year two studies, you will be invited to take up Student Membership of the ILM, the cost of which will be borne by Cranfield University. Membership lasts for approximately twelve months, during which access is provided to ILM online resources. Upon successful completion of year two, or the postgraduate diploma stage, you will be awarded ILM Level 7 in Strategic Leadership and become eligible for corporate ILM membership at the level of Fellow.
The Defence Leadership MSc is a three year part-time Executive MSc made up of 13 taught three day modules delivered in 7 schools, 3 schools in years one and two.
Module 13 (Research Methods) is at the beginning of year three and is a precursor to the research based dissertation which completes the schedule of study.
Individual project
A 20,000 word research-based project selected by you and focused on an aspect of leadership.
Assessment
There are a variety of assessments including assignments and exams
This qualification will take you on to a thorough understanding of defence leadership in its widest setting, within and beyond the defence sector, in theory and in practice.
If you are working, or aspiring to work, in a position of influence across the wider health and social care community, this MSc is for you. The programme is targeted at aspiring healthcare professionals who wish to apply for leadership and management positions within health and social care, as well as those already working as allied health professionals, clinical scientists, nurses or doctors. The course is also suitable for those working in a variety of non-clinical roles, for example commissioners, quality improvement managers, clinical auditors, risk management, team leaders, social workers, patient advocates, or in the voluntary sector.
Three specialist pathways are available which enable you to tailor the programme to meet your individual needs:
The Leadership and Management pathway can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Other pathways are available on a part-time basis only.
The programme will provide you with opportunities for in-depth self awareness, critical reflection on your own style of leadership, and the opportunity to develop the qualities and decision-making skills of an effective change-agent.
You will gain insight into your personality traits and type, influencing style, emotional intelligence, team role, learning style, resilience and how to use this understanding to build a team. Developing the skills and knowledge required to effectively implement change and inform your actions with an evidence base, you will gain a range of pragmatic tools to enable you to apply theory to practice.
There will also be an opportunity to learn about research methodologies and undertake a project utilising your leadership and change management skills.
The programme will be delivered through lead lectures, workshops, seminars, master classes, Action Learning Sets, group work and critical debates to provide a framework to underpin the development of critical thinking and sharing in the learning process. The approach will be ‘flexible’ – blended learning where face-to-face sessions are the predominant delivery method supported by the University’s Virtual Learning Environment.
The aim across all pathways is to promote a values-driven, authentic approach to leadership and to develop effective change agents who are able to improve the quality of care. Throughout each pathway, reflection will be applied to determine the type of leader you are; the type of leader you aspire to be (and why); and the action that will be taken to further your leadership development. This will be supported by group work, debate, action learning sets, coaching, self-awareness tools, work shadowing opportunities, master-classes, coaching and student-led seminars. The aim is to create a learning community conducive to critical reflection.
The attendance is daytime, approximately three hours per module, however some modules incorporate online units of study. In addition we provide work shadowing and one-to-one coaching opportunities.
The assessment strategy will focus on the synthesis and critical application of theory to practice in relation to your current or future leadership role. A variety of assessment strategies will be utilised to provide balance including essays, presentations, portfolios, a leadership development plan, reflective diaries, seminars, online discussion and the undertaking of a project. You will be assessed both formatively to support your development and summatively to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes.
The programme team comprises staff from the Faculty of Health and Social Care, the Evidence Based Practice Research Centre and Edge Hill Business School, many of whom publish in international journals and present at national and international conferences.
An additional network of executive/senior professionals within health and social care will provide you with opportunities to learn from their experience through coaching and work shadowing opportunities.
In an increasingly competitive health service, health and social care staff need to continually seek opportunities to add to their portfolio of qualifications in order to advance their careers. This is especially true for allied health professionals, clinical scientists, doctors, nurses and social workers where a postgraduate qualification is increasingly deemed desirable and essential.
For those students aspiring to work in leadership and management roles within health and social care, the programme will equip with you with essential transferable skills that will enable you to apply for a wide variety of roles within service improvement, project management, audit, governance, quality, commissioning, business operations, risk and patient safety.
This MSc Leadership Development programme will equip you with a range of leadership and change management skills. It provides a highly relevant qualification which demonstrates a commitment to continuous professional development and also gives you an advantage over your peers.
This postgraduate programme is designed to offer professionals the opportunity to engage in systematic and analytical enquiry into the theory and practice of leadership and management in education. Students will use the knowledge and skills gained to improve their own practice, in leadership and management roles, across the whole range of educational institutions and related organisations.
While keeping a concern for people and human flourishing at its forefront, the course will strengthen your understanding of advanced scholarship in educational leadership and management, and of how the established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge. Using this approach, you will be able to critically examine the organisations and systems in which you work, and achieve outcomes for stakeholders.
This course will encourage you to specialise in your particular areas of interest, reflecting your professional role and future career goals in education leadership and management.
Modules are normally taught at early evening sessions. Full time students usually attend between three and four days a week. Part time students in full time employment usually take three years to complete the full MA and they normally attend one evening in the autumn semester and two in the spring/summer semester.
The programme provides opportunities to engage with current research covering a broad range of issues and recent thinking, and is informed by active research and scholarship in the development of educational leadership and management theory and practice. The University of Roehampton’s School of Education undertakes leading research, and is committed to working in partnership with people, families and communities. The school also puts an emphasis on the development of students in their professionalism and commitment to social justice. The programme has an international profile and brings together students at postgraduate level from around the world.
You will study leadership and management in educational contexts from international perspectives to develop your knowledge, understanding and practice. Specifically, modules will cover aspects such as leading teaching and learning, developing staff and teams, organisational theory and strategy. These modules will take a people-focused approach, to understand the complexities of individuals and teams, and wider groups such as the staff, the organisation itself and beyond.
The programme enables you to specialise in particular areas of interest by giving a choice in your assignment and dissertation topics so your study has an immediate relevance and also prepares you for your future development as a practitioner and as a researcher.
If you are currently in a senior management position, then a special route may be possible for you depending upon your experience and courses completed with organisations such as the National College for Teaching and Leadership.
A key aspect of the Education Leadership and Management MA is the undertaking of a piece of research. You will study the foundational skills and concepts in academic enquiry, and planning for your specialist research. Your research will be in the form of a dissertation, as a means of critically enquiring into and developing knowledge about an issue or question relevant to your study.
Compulsory and Required modules
Compulsory and/or required modules may change when we review and update programmes. Above is a list of modules offered this academic year.
Optional modules
Optional modules, when offered as part of a programme, may vary from year to year and are subject to viability.
Careers in leadership and management in schools, colleges, universities and early years settings; working in government organizations and educational charities; consultancy; training industries and further academic study at PhD level. Research areas include education policy, enhancement and quality, inspection and review systems.
We know that effective leadership and management does not happen by chance. This practice-related course is aimed at all health care professionals who want to develop the knowledge, skills and qualities to be an effective health care leader. This leadership and management course is designed to give you the confidence to try new and creative approaches to the workplace, deal with complex leadership situations and provide effective patient and service outcomes.
This leadership and management course is designed to give you the confidence to try new and creative approaches to the workplace, deal with complex leadership situations and provide effective patient and service outcomes.
If you want to implement quality improvements that are locally lead, patient-centred and clinically driven, this Masters course will help you:
The full course runs full-time or part-time over one year giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
FULL-TIME
PART-TIME
This course is delivered on a modular basis. You will attend study days throughout the duration of the module. You will be provided with opportunities to contextualise all leadership learning to your own health care organisation. You can study the course on a part-time or full-time basis (international students are only able to apply for the full-time route). If you study full-time, you will study more than one module at a time.
The course allows for a variety of assessments, depending on the module you will be undertaking, and include:
Additional support is available through Blackboard, our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which can be used via the internet. Not only will you have easy access to course materials such as handbooks, lecture handouts, and videos it will also give you the opportunity to participate in discussion boards and online exchanges with staff and fellow students.
Students have gone on to make a significant impact on patient care through their application of enhanced leadership and management skills, qualities and attitudes that they have applied to an existing managerial role.
Once qualified, you will be in a fantastic position to apply for roles in management or change direction in order to move up the career ladder.
Studying on the course will place you in a strong position to take on a leadership role and to further progress your career within the field of health care management. Similarly the content of the course will assist you in providing quality care for patients and lead service improvement utilising recognised tools and techniques.
Students already studying on the course report how their leadership development went hand in hand with the work-based and work- related learning that they have undertaken. Students describe how their leadership skills have been enhanced through application of learning within their own organisation. Self assessment of their own role as leader has revealed an enhanced level of understanding about the context of the organisation, decision-making, strategy development and implementation. Furthermore they learnt how strategic planning is undertaken within their own organisations.
Students realised that networking with people who could assist them deal with a leadership situation was so important to their role that they then purposefully sought out individuals in order to establish relevant links. For others the networking activity increased the students’ confidence to seek out work-based relationships with people in the organisation that they would never have considered in the past.
This work-based learning course enables the student to contextualise learning within their own organisation and to:
Current students place great importance to the processes involved when work related, work-based learning is used to support leadership development. Elements of work-based learning include thinking and reflecting on work practices, reviewing and learning from experience, and problem-solving within a working environment. This in turn positively influenced leadership development whereby the students developed a conscious awareness of their role, skills, skill level and style of leadership that gets the best result.
The MSc in Educational Leadership (with Specialist Qualification for Headship) is a work-based Master’s course designed to enable aspiring school leaders and managers to gain a Master’s degree which contributes to the development of the knowledge, understanding and skills required to allow them to articulate and enact informed strategic vision, values and aims in relation to professional practice.
The MSc in Educational Leadership course has at its heart the Specialist Qualification for Headship (SQH) which is embedded in the Into Headship modules. This element of the programme will be accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and so this work-based Master’s course incorporates both a professional and academic award.
The development of the Into Headship modules is the result of an ongoing formal collaboration with the Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL), Local Authorities, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), Education Scotland, four other Universities and the highly successful SQH Western Consortium (Universities of Glasgow, Stirling and Strathclyde). Building on the success and impact of previous programmes, including the MSc in Educational Leadership (with Scottish Qualification for Headship), this new programme is designed to take account of current policy and the professional standards framework (GTCS, 2012) to offer participants an opportunity to develop strategic leadership and management competencies.
The programme, which is introduced for the first time in 2015, offers an opportunity for participants to further develop their professional learning and strategic leadership and management practices in a supportive, flexible, creative and challenging learning environment.
The Into Headship modules EDUP021 (Into Headship 1) and EDUP022 (Into Headship 2) will be accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
The MSc in Educational Leadership (with Specialist Qualification for Headship) programme will comprise three stages:
Middle Leadership
Into Headship
Extended Induction
Prior to 2018, candidates may undertake EDUP021 Into Headship 1 and EEDUP022 Into Headship 2 as a Postgraduate Certificate. After 2018 these modules will form the Diploma stage of this qualification.
Stage one: Middle Leadership
The aim of this stage is to develop an understanding of the principles underpinning middle leadership for those aspiring to lead and manage the improvement of educational practices which impact on outcomes for children and young people in their setting and/or wider educational community. During stage one students will undertake one of the core modules, either EDUP001 Engaging critically with professional practices (20 credits at SCQF level 11) or EDUP007 Examining Professional Practices: Work-Based Learning (20 credits at SCQF level 11), then complete the Postgraduate Certificate with EDUP003 Middle Leadership: principles and practices (40 credits at SCQF level 11).
Stage Two: Into Headship
The aim of this stage is to foster a future orientated strategic stance to initiate and lead change for improvement through engagement with the school community. This will be achieved through building and applying sound knowledge and understanding of strategic leadership and management theories and practices in the context of the role of the headteacher. The modules will enable participants to develop an understanding of the place of values in leading a school community and explore ways of addressing some of the challenges this poses as well as enhancing the interpersonal and personal skills, confidence and resilience for those preparing to move into headship. This stage will provide an opportunity to develop practice in the use of critical enquiry and reflection to enhance participants’ strategic leadership practices and to evaluate and strengthen the impact of these practices on the school community. This stage is designed to enable participants to develop the strategic leadership and management competences as specified by the by the appropriate professional standards provided by the GTCS in Scotland to facilitate their transition into headship.
Stage Three: Extended Induction
During stage three participants will complete the MSc in Educational Leadership (with Specialist Qualification for Headship) through undertaking the final two modules in the programme EDUP023 Extended Induction 1 (20 credits SCQF level 11) and EDUP024 Extended Induction 2 (40 credits SCQF level 11)
This course is offered on a part-time basis only. The period of study is normally three years for the MSc, although this programme is unlikely to be taken over three consecutive years. Candidates must complete six modules for the MSc degree. The modules will be delivered through a blended learning format designed to facilitate both individual and collaborative work. The format is a mix of face-to-face seminar days, guided self-study, online and work-based learning.
The MSc in Educational Leadership (with SQH) develops knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance leadership and management practices and support career-long professional development.
The Leadership MA will explore and critique educational leadership and management theory, research and practice and encourage students to reflect on and challenge their own practice as educational leaders or managers. Students investigate how the intersection of policy and practice influences leaders and managers of schools, institutions and systems, and examine how leaders and managers can improve the quality of teaching and learning.
This programme provides students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of how leaders and managers can nurture relationships with their communities, investigating how leaders and managers can address issues of race, gender and class within educational organisations to improve student outcomes. Students will be able to join a professional network with other participants from London and around the world.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of one core module (30 credits), three optional modules (90 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits).
Core modules
The key topics of educational leadership and management will be considered. Learning-centred leadership and system leadership will be defined and its main features discussed. The cultural context is also examined. Key matters of managing educational improvement and change are examined and attention given to strategies for managing change effectively. An introduction to the field of school improvement and effectiveness research will be provided.
Optional modules
Students choose a maximum of three optional modules. Other elective modules offered within the IOE may also be taken, subject to approval.
*Modules available from the University of London International Programme (subject to confirmation). NB. These are distance learning modules only.
Dissertation/report
Students undertake a dissertation of 20,000 words.
Teaching and learning
Teaching is delivered through face-to-face teaching, facilitation, multimedia presentations and activity-based learning. Each module is supported by materials on our virtual learning environment. The programme is assessed through coursework and the dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Leadership MA
The Leadership MA is a proven programme which our students have found to be invaluable in enhancing their current roles. A significant number have used both the skills and the qualification as a platform for career advancement. Typically they move into senior leadership positions within their selected phase of working. Subsequently many move on to headship or principalship. A smaller number elect to continue their exploration of education through doctoral studies.
Graduates of this programme are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working as principals/head teachers, while others have jobs as university academics.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
Though academic in focus the programme is practical in terms of application. Students develop skills in leading staff, working with teams, professional issues of supporting and challenging motivation, leading change, assessing research claims and developing research-engaged institutions. Wider philosophical and value stances are explored and these are particularly pertinent in working in a truly global context.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
The quality and range of the Department of Learning and Leadership's research and development work derives from its excellent reputation, not least for promoting new knowledge for and about leadership, in London, nationally, and internationally.
The department supports educational and public sector leadership for improving the life chances of individuals and communities, working in partnership with practitioners and policymakers at the critical edge of research and practice.
The department is at the forefront of developing research, new knowledge and publications for and about leadership and learning.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Learning & Leadership
78% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This course will teach you to lead with confidence. It addresses the human and learning dimensions of organisations. It is this human focus that sets the Monash Master of Leadership apart.
Whether your work is in industry, the public or community sectors, or in formal education settings, if you aspire to take the next step in your career, then this course is for you.
Your leadership potential will be developed through a blend of formal and informal approaches that promote learning and transformation. You will feel confident to lead organisational learning and innovation and to unleash creativity at a time when the need for this has never been greater.
This innovative course is inter-professional by nature, providing the opportunity to learn with and from a diverse range of professionals with a commitment to leading individuals and organisations. A key feature is that it offers the benefits of cross-pollination between skills and knowledge; information and understanding about different work contexts; and formal and informal learning with professionals who bring different, but complementary, knowledge and perspectives.
Contemporary theories of leadership will, however, accompany highly focused study in your specialist field. You will spend the first quarter of your study on an inter-professional unit entitled 'Leadership studies' and the final quarter on the 'Leadership challenge project' relevant to your specialist interests and context. In the middle half of the course, you choose from three specialisations.
If you prefer to graduate with a generic,broadly applicable leadership qualification – the Master of Leadership – choose general leadership studies and select units to suit your requirements, including those in other specialisations. If you prefer to graduate with a qualification that highlights your particular leadership expertise, choose one of the other specialisations. The flexibility of the structure, with its common entry point, means you do not have to finalise your decision before being admitted to the course.
The course is structured in two parts, Part A. Leadership studies and Part B. Leading specialist practice. All students complete Part A and Part B, but Part B is differentiated by specialisation.
PART A. Leadership studies
You will consider the leadership dimensions of your workin leading change among people and within organisations, whatever your context— schools, public or private sector workplaces or communities. Various models of leadership will beconsidered including emerging views of leadership to address complexity andsustainability. You will gain an appreciation of leadership development,identities, ethics and values, and emotions. The course will culminate in aproject focusing on an issue or challenge encountered in the process ofleadership.
PART B. Leading specialist practice
In these studies you will focus on your chosen specialisation. Regardless of your particular choice, you will develop a sound knowledge base and acquire a thorough understanding of the nature of evidence to inform your leadership choices. You will also develop your understanding of the complex relationships and inter-relationships involved in leading productive and resilient learning communities, whatever their particular form or context.
This course is an essential basis for school leaders who wish to understand what the academic field has to contribute to their understanding of leadership. It explains how leaders, leading and leadership have moved from obscurity to centre stage over recent years.
The purpose of the course is to develop a deep critical understanding of leadership as applied to educational settings. It is designed to explore how we lead people and organisations from multiple perspectives such as Psychology, Sociology, Management and Organisational Theory. This will allow you to consider and reflect on new ideas and critique your own practice in light of theory and research.
The teaching is through discussion, reflection and case study analysis. This interactive approach will support you in critically reflecting on your own leadership and how you apply this to the organisations and the individuals around you.
Examples of topics included:
Modules
The teaching is through discussion, reflection and case study analysis. Assessment is 100% by coursework.
International and expatriate students may study this programme in the countries in which they work. An agreed minimum number of students will be required.
This course will support the development and application of analytical thinking and is designed to ensure this makes an impact at institutional level.
Gain the knowledge and capabilities needed for informal leadership and promoted posts, including subject leader, deputy head teacher and head teacher, or senior leadership roles within local, national and international educational organisations.
International and expatriate students may study this programme in the countries in which they work (an agreed minimum number of students will be required).
Depending on your starting point:
Our Leadership & Development MSc focuses on the issues that highlight leadership’s central position in the dynamics of development. It will give you an understanding of the fundamentally important, yet under-researched, role that leadership plays in the developmental challenges that confront developing societies.
Through our Leadership & Development MSc, you will investigate various forms of leadership from key individuals to institutions, including states and key international development organisations and networks. You will study the various patterns of development in developing societies, with some references to emerging economies and the developed world, in great detail, through the perspective of leadership. In addition to the focus on development and leadership, our course investigates area studies as it cross-references various developing regions including Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our course provides you with high-quality postgraduate training that builds your critical analysis skills and your independent judgement on leadership and development.
If you have an interest in understanding how leadership patterns interact with historical factors, local cultures and global influences as they inform and are informed by development outcomes and processes across the world, or if you are interested in the debate which surrounds the interaction between leadership and development globally, particularly in the global south, this course is ideal for you.
Our course provides high-quality postgraduate training that builds the capacity for critical analysis, independent judgement and engagement with critical audiences on leadership and development.
It will appeal to students with an interest in pertinent debates on the interaction between leadership and development globally, with an emphasis on the global south. As such, you will develop your skills for a career in academia, public and private sectors as well as with non-governmental and international organisations among others.
Teaching
For every 20-credit module we will typically provide 20 hours of lectures and seminars, and we will expect you to undertake 180 hours of independent study. For your dissertation, you will usually have 10 hours of discussion time with a tutor, and you will undertake 590 hours of independent study.
As part of their two-year schedule, part-time students typically take the Leadership & Society modules and 40 credits of optional modules in Year 1, and the Dissertation module and 40 credits of optional modules in Year 2. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
We assess our Leadership & Society module through two essays and one seminar presentation. We assess our 20-credit modules through two essays each. We will assess your dissertation through a 1,000-word dissertation outline and a 14,000-word piece of writing.
Our graduates use the skills and knowledge that they develop over the course of this course to build careers in further academic research, teaching, public and private sectors, transnational corporations, international organisations (UN, EU, AU and worldwide regional organisations) and non-governmental organisations.
In the current climate there are structural and political pressures to improve educational performance and opportunities within educational institutions and with this the quality of leadership comes under scrutiny. This MSc recognises that a high-quality educational system depends on leaders from all walks of life and all types of positions, regardless of title. It is intended, therefore, to provide leadership development for people who work in all manner of roles in the educational system: classroom teachers, formal school leaders, local authority personnel, policymakers, and any individual with a direct interest in the primary and post-primary school sectors.
The programme aspires to equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and creative capacity to respond to a variety of leadership challenges faced in contemporary educational institutions. We will challenge traditional notions of 'leaders' and 'leadership' pointing to new, more collaborative and more organic models of leading.
It is expected that graduates will be able to inform their professional practice with the latest research evidence in the field to nurture meaningful relationships in educational communities, address issues of equity and diversity, support teaching and learning, and ultimately ensure quality outcomes which are tailored to contextual needs. We seek to develop in students the ability to critique current leadership practices and to enact changes that will improve education for all.
◦As a prestigious Russell Group University, Queen’s is ranked 8th within the UK in relation to research intensity;
◦Education at Queen’s has been ranked 4th within the UK in relation to research intensity with 87% of the research undertaken within the School assessed as ‘internationally excellent or world leading’ (REF, 2014);
◦We provide a CPD opportunity for teachers and other educational professionals who work, or aspire to work, in a leadership capacity at different levels within their organisations;
◦We seek to develop in students the ability to critique current leadership practices and to enact changes that will improve education for all;
◦The content is delivered in a mixture of face-to-face and online formats (blended learning) creating flexibility for part-time working students, while providing for a range of learning styles.
◦Belfast is a growing cosmopolitan city, offering a good quality of life and one of the lowest costs of living in the UK; this makes it an attractive destination for EU/international applicants who want to undertake full-time study.
◦If you don’t want, or need, to study for the research dissertation, flexible exit awards are available (PG Diploma/ PG Certificate);
◦You may also undertake individual course modules without completing a full degree.
Core Modules (all 20 CATS points):
This module will provide you with an understanding of differing perspectives that underpin quantitative and qualitative methodologies and is required preparation for your dissertation.
You will develop theoretical and practical knowledge of change in complex educational environments. Topics covered include: the nature and types of change; the process of organisational change covering phases from inception to institutionalisation; factors affecting the success of change at different levels; creativity and change; resistance to change; and the subtle ways in which culture influences the implementation of reform. Attention is paid to the role of different stakeholders in the school change process and on developing constructive dialogue for change by shifting the focus from the identification of problems to exploring possibilities.
This compulsory module introduces leadership and organisational theories as they pertain to education. You are expected to develop understanding of the complex nature of leadership in educational institutions and appreciate the idea that ‘good leadership’ is always contingent upon the situation and context. Leadership practice is examined through different thematic lenses such as: human motivation theories; social systems theory; the concept of emotional intelligence; organisational culture and politics; partnership and collaboration; as well as equity and ethics.
We will examine current debates on what constitutes an effective school, the factors affecting school outcomes, and the implications for those assuming leadership roles. Attention is paid to the impact of inter- and intra-school collaboration on educational outcomes and the challenges posed by existing competitive structures internationally. You will learn how to use data critically in measuring school effectiveness and planning for improvement. We will look into how such data can be used to challenge inequities and promote a socially just education.
Two optional modules may be chosen from the Educational Studies (MEd) programme.
There are no written examinations. Modules are assessed by coursework, which includes written assignments and group presentation projects.
Graduates have found this degree beneficial for developing leadership practice in their workplace. Others have found it beneficial in gaining employment or promotion. Some progress to Doctoral-level studies and research.
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