Organisational Leadership
Programme structure
The Master of Science in Organisational Leadership has three compulsory courses and an optional course (selected from six options) and a dissertation, which will total 180 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF).
Core courses
Understanding Leadership
40 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)
This course will be offered through four modules. The first module of the course will consider the various approaches to leadership, the second will consider various theories and styles of leadership, the third will focus on the various situational pressures and demands confronting educational leaders when managing their organisations, the key workplace processes on which they rely to accomplish their responsibilities, and the personal and organisational consequences associated with leading learning-oriented changes. The final module will provide students with the opportunity to also consider how a range of social issues shape these dimensions for individual leaders’.
Practitioner Enquiry and Decision Making
20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)
This course is designed to promote the skills of practitioner enquiry and to enhance capacity for research and evidence use in professional practice. The target group of participants are professionals currently employed in human services, education and education-related work. The course addresses the need to promote engagement with and in research by professionals in organisational services. Research engagement is integral to the promotion of evidence-based professional practice. The course aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of the relationship between research and practice.
The aims of the course are:
- to help develop the ability to access and critically review relevant literature (information literacy);
- to help develop the use of research evidence in making educational decisions;
- to introduce some basic research skills – qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry, including an introduction to data analysis;
- to increase awareness of ethical issues in conducting practitioner research.
Personal Study
20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to experience leadership in practice and to interact with leaders as a mechanism for developing their own research. Students will be provided real-life opportunity to make informed decisions, exhibit ethical behaviour, and provide evidence of being a capable professional. The emphasis in this course is on the use of reflection on action and reflection in action, coupled with critical thinking and ethical judgment. The student and the tutor will negotiate an individual learning experience for the student based on the student’s needs.
Optional course
Leadership in Context
40 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)
This course will be divided into three modules, the first of which considers issues of organisational leadership within local human service contexts and ways in which leaders can establish partnerships with other agencies to provide a comprehensive approach to the delivery of higher education services, the second will consider the impact of globalisation, international comparative studies and how other countries might approach similar issues related to the leadership and management of higher education organisations. The final module will enable students to focus on their area of specific interest, selected from School leadership, Higher Education Leadership, Public Service Leadership, Adult and Community Leadership, Childhood Practice Leadership and Children’s Services Leadership.
Dissertation
60 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)
The dissertation is your chance to design, conduct, analyse, and write up a piece of original empirical research. The topic will be chosen in discussion with your allocated supervisor. The total report will be 18,000-20,000 words.