Community Leadership, M.P.S.

Program Overview

The Community Leadership Master's in Professional Studies program at UMBC equips students with the knowledge, skills, and relationships to excel as community leaders. The program offers a combination of core and elective courses, allowing students to specialize in specific areas of interest. Graduates are prepared for careers in non-profit organizations, government agencies, and other community leadership roles.

Program Outline

Community Leadership, M.P.S.

Degree Overview

Overview:

• The Community Leadership Master's in Professional Studies program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and relationships necessary to excel as community leaders.
• The program focuses on developing self-understanding, academic knowledge, practical skills, and professional relationships.
• Students choose electives to specialize in specific areas like Sociology, Public Policy, Social Entrepreneurship, American Studies, Geography and Environmental Systems, Modern Languages Linguistics & Intercultural Communication, and Community Psychology.

Objectives:

• To develop students' ability to understand and address complex community issues.
• To equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and manage community organizations.

Description:

• The program offers a combination of core and elective courses.
• Core courses cover fundamental topics such as Leadership, Management & Communication, Quantitative & Analytic Methods, Law & Ethics, and a Capstone Project.
• Elective courses allow students to specialize in specific areas of interest.
• Students work with the program director to create a personalized pathway through the program, ensuring alignment with their individual goals and aspirations.

Outline

Content:

• The program covers a wide range of topics related to community leadership, including:
• Leadership theory and practice
• Community development
• Social justice
• Public policy
• Non-profit management
• Social entrepreneurship
• Research methods
• Ethics and law

Structure:

• The program requires 30 credits in total:
• 18 credits of core courses
• 12 credits of elective courses
• Students can choose from a variety of pre-designed pathways or work with the program director to create a custom pathway.

Course Schedule:

• Courses are offered in a variety of formats, including:
• Traditional in-person classes
• Online courses
• Hybrid courses
• The program offers both full-time and part-time enrollment options.
• Urban Studies
• Non-Profit and Public Organizations
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Student Pathway

Individual Module Descriptions:

• Urban Studies: This pathway focuses on understanding and addressing the challenges faced by cities today.
• Courses include PUBL 644 - Urban Theory, PUBL 645 - The U.S. City, and AMST 682: Research Seminar (Topic: Preserving Places, Making Spaces in Baltimore).
• Non-Profit and Public Organizations: This pathway provides an understanding of the role of non-profit organizations in American society, their operations, and the methods used to evaluate their programs.
• Courses include PUBL 613 - Managing Public Organizations, SOCY 681 - The Social and Institutional Roles of Nonprofit Organizations in American Society, and SOCY 685 - Structure and Function of Nonprofit Organizations.
• Social Entrepreneurship: This pathway focuses on applying innovative entrepreneurial practices to solve social, cultural, or environmental issues.
• Courses include ENTR 601 - Developing the Entrepreneurial Mindset, ENTR 605 - Learning Organizations, ENTR 608 - Design Thinking, ENTR 610 - Intrapreneurship, ENTR 611 - Project Management Approaches, and ENTR 612 - Creative Problem Solving and the Socialpreneur.
• Student Pathway: This pathway allows students to work with the program director to design a customized pathway that aligns with their individual experiences, strengths, and interests.
• Students can choose from any UMBC graduate courses designated as Community Leadership electives.

Assessment

• The program uses a variety of assessment methods, including:
• Exams
• Papers
• Projects
• Presentations
• The specific assessment methods used will vary depending on the course.
• The program uses a holistic approach to assessment, evaluating students' knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of ways.

Teaching

Teaching Methods:

• The program uses a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Simulations
• Experiential learning
• The teaching methods used are designed to be interactive and engaging, and to promote active learning.

Faculty:

• The program faculty are experts in their fields with extensive experience in community leadership.
• The faculty are committed to providing students with a high-quality education and helping them achieve their goals.

Unique Approaches:

• The program offers a unique approach to community leadership education by:
• Focusing on both theory and practice
• Providing students with opportunities to work with real-world organizations
• Encouraging students to develop their own leadership style

Careers

• The program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in the community leadership field, including:
• Executive director of a non-profit organization
• Program manager for a government agency
• Community organizer
• Social entrepreneur
• Policy analyst
• Research associate
• Career counseling
• Academic advising
• Networking opportunities
• The program also has a strong alumni network that provides graduates with ongoing support and mentorship.