The Master in Science Leadership and Community Development program prepares graduates for leadership and consulting roles in a variety of organizational and community settings, both domestic and cross-cultural.
The M.S. in Leadership & Community Development is designed to equip graduates with the tools needed to engage communities as complex interconnected wholes. Therefore, the focus of the program is on producing skilled leaders who recognize that an interdisciplinary approach to advancing any community is dependent on the leadership’s ability to interpret an organization’s past and portray an inspiring and sustaining future. Learn more about this program
PREPARING FUTURE LEADERS
Through a common set of core courses taken by all master’s-level students at Marymount, you will learn skills that will be vital in the field of leadership and community development. This includes the ability to understand and effectively study organizational, community settings, to see how they work, how they are organized, and their cultural influences. Through case studies and experiential learning, you will be prepared to effectively coordinate with sector specialists who may be limited to more narrow areas of expertise, and serve as an ideal team leader.
LIFE BEYOND MARYMOUNT
During your time at Marymount, not only will you pursue your academic responsibilities, but you will also focus on objectives that will help to clarify your career goals. With assistance from the Office of Career Services & Internships, faculty, and staff, you will learn to take a proactive role in your professional pursuits by applying tools, resources and strategies to encourage informed decisions.
APPLY WHAT YOU LEARN
You will use what you learn in class, interact within a community of learners, and participate in three semesters of fieldwork and mentored action research within a community or organizational setting. Along the way, you will study leadership attributes and reflect on your own leadership journey as it applies to your ability to serve and develop a community or organization in a meaningful way. Marymount provides unique settings for the study of leadership and community development: urban renewal in the port city of San Pedro, California; rural development in Lake County, California; and ownership-based economic development in the African nation of Ghana. You may also complete your fieldwork research with your current employer.
Your fieldwork will culminate in a professional presentation of your research and set the stage for professional roles as well as for doctoral study.
FROM THEORY TO ACTION
The core courses taken by all master’s degree students include Professional Practice and Ethics, Research Methods and Assessment, Leadership as Storytelling, and a laboratory course in Geospatial Analytics. The core is followed by courses in Community Development that includes ethnography, land use planning, and a range of electives in Mediation, Economics and Planning.
A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM
The 46-unit master’s program is designed to be completed in three full-time and three part-time semesters. Many of the courses will be offered online or on the weekends and fieldwork can be arranged to fit your schedule and interests. Learn more about creating a flexible class schedule
B.A./M.S. FIVE-YEAR PATHWAY
A five-year B.A./M.S. option is available for qualified Marymount undergraduate students who wish to apply for admission to the graduate program in their junior year. Accepted students will begin taking graduate courses (up to nine units) in their senior year and finish their master’s degree within 15 months after B.A. completion. To plan for a B.A./M.S. path, Marymount students should consult with an academic advisor.
The Office of Admission is still accepting applications for fall 2013 for both the Community Psychology and Leadership & Community Development programs. Apply Now
| For more information about Marymount's Graduate Programs call 310-303-7212 or email graduateadmission@marymountpv.edu |
Creating A Flexible Class Schedule
Five-Year Sample Education Plan
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