5-Year B.A./M.A. in Community and Organizational Leadership (MCOL) 

Emory & Henry is known for training leaders for our communities. Undergraduate students now have the opportunity to receive a B.A. in their chosen field and obtain a Master’s degree in Community and Organizational Leadership in just one additional year. This interdisciplinary Master’s degree will prepare students for leadership positions in a variety of organizations, including non-profits and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, community organizations as well as private companies. Degrees in the social sciences are particularly relevant, but the program is open to any Emory & Henry student who meets the requirements.

Undergraduates interested in the program should apply after completing 57 hours (or junior status) and before completing 87 hours. Students accepted into the program will complete MCOL 501, MCOL 511 and one of the following: MCOL 504, 505, 506, or 507 in their senior year which will count no more than nine credit hours toward the graduate degree. Students must complete 32 graduate credit hours to receive the Master’s degree.

Requirements for Admission:

• B.A./MCOL: Admission to the 5-Year Combined B.A./MCOL degree program requires a GPA of 2.75 overall and 3.0 in the major;
• Submission of an essay in response to a prompt provided, two letters of recommendations from faculty familiar with their work;
• A completed application for graduate admission, and review by an admissions committee.

In some cases for individuals of exceptional promise or leaders with a remarkable record of achievement, the admissions committee may modify the GPA requirement.

Requirements for the 5-Year B.A./MCOL:

• Required courses: MCOL 501, 502, 511, 513, 518, 532, 535, and 600
• Students chose one from: MCOL 504, 505, 506, or 507
• Students chose one from: MCOL 510, 512, 515, 520, 530

Community & Organizational Leadership Courses

• MCOL 501 Organizational Leadership
  
  Introduction to issues and questions of organizational leadership; differences between management and leadership; development of students’ personal vision of leadership.
• MCOL 502 Budgeting and Finance Management for Community Organizations
  
  Introduction and overview of processes of fiscal leadership for community organizations. Questions of public finance and reporting.
• MCOL 504 Topics in Economics
  
  Selected topics in economics chosen by department in response to program need.
• MCOL 505 Topics in Geography
  
  Selected topics in geography chosen by department in response to program need.
• MCOL 506 Topics in Public Policy and Community Service 
  
  Selected topics in public policy and community service chosen by department in response to program need.
• MCOL 507 Topics in Sociology
  
  Selected topics in sociology chosen by department in response to program need.
• MCOL 510 Human Resources Leadership
  
  Best practices in the recruitment, training, appraisal, and retention of human resources within sustainable and diverse organizations. Understanding of employment law related to human resources; ways that leaders can build effective interpersonal relationships within organizations.
• MCOL 511 Research Methods
  
  Quantitative and qualitative approaches to organizing, analyzing and interpreting data.
• MCOL 512 Leadership for Philanthropy
  
  Leadership skills for developing philanthropic resources for communities and organizations. Effective identification, recruitment, and retention of donors, funding foundations, and volunteers. Planning, implementing, and supervising a range of fund development strategies.
• MCOL 513: Grant Development and Writing
  
  Overview to the process of grant development, writing and administration. Identification of potential funding sources, understanding guidelines and the review process, grant-writing, developing realistic budgets, and packaging grant submissions. (Two semester hours)
• MCOL 515 Ethical and Legal Issues in Leadership
  
  Processes of ethical decision-making, balancing individual needs and goals with those of the community or organization. Legal ramifications of organizational questions and issues.
• MCOL 518 Strategic Planning and Evaluation
  
  Strategic planning in communities and social sector organizations. Methods for effective evaluation, connecting strategic planning and evaluation with sustainability and capacity building of organizations, and with community health and vitality.
• MCOL 520 Public Policy, Advocacy, and Collaboration
  
  Building and transforming organizations focused on sustainable communities. Diagnosing community needs and assets, helping the community to determine priorities, prescribing mutually agreed-upon solutions and responses to diagnosed needs. Working with elected officials and appointed civil servants, reporting to and communicating with public officials.
• MCOL 530 Introduction to Nonprofit Organizations
  
  Developing by-laws and applying for incorporation as a nonprofit organization, tax codes and state and federal policies governing nonprofit organizations. Approaches to governance, the responsibilities of boards of directors, the development of effective boards of directors, and the relationship between program staff, executive leadership, and governing boards. Integrating an organization’s mission and values into all aspects of programming and fund development.
• MCOL 532 Capacity Building for Effective Nonprofits
  
  Linking organizational capacity and community capacity. Principles and processes of expanding the capacities of individuals and organizations for community leadership. Resource allocation and development, volunteer engagement and utilization. Increasing an organization’s preparedness to plan, implementing a collaborative, integrated decision-making structure.
• MCOL 535 Communications for Effective Leadership
  
  Public and internal communication skills and strategies to enhance and strengthen communities and social sector organizations. Communication with boards of directors, executive leadership, professional staff, volunteers, and external constituencies. Communicating in situations of conflict, negotiation skills, and means of maintaining effective communication lines under difficult circumstances. Various models of effective public relations strategies, community relations, and media relationships.
• MCOL 600 Capstone Seminar
  
  This seminar integrates the intellectual insights, civic tools, leadership skills, and understandings acquired through the Master’s curriculum. It provides the organizational partner with a tangible product that expands its programming, increases organizational efficiency, or extends its mission. Public presentation of learning, with a paper and portfolio documenting the work accomplished through the M.A., integrating major themes, ideas, and insights of the course of study. (Six semester hours)

Faculty:

Shelley L. Koch, Director, skoch@ehc.edu

Director, Masters of Community and Organizational Leadership

Visiting Assistant Professor, Sociology

Emory & Henry College

276.944.6195