Leadership and Innovation Programs

Leadership and Innovation Department Mission

The Leadership and Innovation program prepares students to be effective leaders of innovation by developing awareness, skills, and competencies that enable them to navigate ambiguity and lead rapid change inherent in organizational settings.

Leadership and Innovation Program Philosophy

Effective leaders have an accurate sense of themselves. They model, teach, and advocate the values of authenticity and empowerment; they practice creative and critical thinking.  Leaders promote collaboration and trust and are skilled at building teams.  They integrate stakeholder diversity to foster organizational community; leaders understand that diversity is a multi-dimensional construct that includes many aspects of difference including experience, cognitive style, and culture.

Innovation leaders understand and facilitate change to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex, fast-paced, global society.  Leadership and Innovation graduates possess the skills to lead groups with a positive view of the future; they have the capacity to lead others in co-creation of a shared vision that aligns with the values of their organization and the larger community.  The innovation leader’s role is to inspire and facilitate transformation to the desired future.

In keeping with Daemen College’s belief that leadership is fundamentally service, the leader’s role is defined to include a sense of civic responsibility and ethical decision making. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides participatory interactive experiences and opportunities for practice and reflection as the primary methods for exploring leadership, innovation, and change.

The Leadership and Innovation program characterizes leadership development as an ongoing learning process, thus building capacity in the leader, their organizations, and in the other team members involved in leading positive change.

Program Objectives

Upon completing the Master of Science in Leadership and Innovation, the candidate will:

  • Understand and apply contemporary leadership models and theories as they analyze and develop their leadership skills and philosophy.
  • Exhibit leadership skills in working with staff, colleagues, and stakeholders (both internal and external) to navigate challenges within work units, across disciplines, and at the broader organizational level.
  • Foster a leadership environment within the organizational setting that acknowledges and embraces individuals’ strengths and respective contributions to the achievement of the organization’s objectives.
  • Develop creative and critical thinking skills needed to facilitate individual and organizational change.
  • Synthesize information across disciplinary boundaries to establish a comprehensive understanding of an organization’s mission, vision, values, and goals.
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop innovation and change strategies that are responsive to evolving organizational needs.
  • Understand the role of research in decision-making and innovation by engaging in research methodologies to address a specific challenge or question.
  • Demonstrate leadership behavior through self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, team relationships, and systems thinking.

Admission Requirements

  1. Complete online application.
  2. Submit a letter of intent which describes the applicant’s interest in the Leadership and Innovation degree as well as what the applicant hopes to gain from a graduate degree in this program.
  3. Provide a resume of professional experience.
  4. Provide two letters of recommendation from an employer, professional colleague, or major professor which evaluate the applicant’s leadership potential and capacity to complete a graduate degree.
  5. Submit official transcript(s) from all accredited colleges or universities attended that indicate the award of an undergraduate degree. (International applicants must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy.)
  6. Complete Health form.
  7. International applicants who are graduates of foreign colleges or universities and for whom English is a non-native language must submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score.
  8. Complete personal interview with program director.

M.S. Degree Requirements

  • LEAF500 Organizational Leadership and Self Development (3)
  • LEAF501 Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Decision Making: Methods of Organizational Research (3)
  • LEAF502 Leadership and Organizational Ethics, Values, and Social Environment (3)
  • LEAF513 Developing Leadership Skills: One-on-One Leadership, Conflict Management, and Team Building (3)
  • LEAF514 Leadership and Community:Empowerment, Collaboration and Dialogue (3)
  • LEAF515 The Business of Leadership: Financial, Organizational, and Cultural (3)
  • Specialty Track Studies: Students complete 3 credits in their specialty track.  Course options are:
    • LEAF525 Leadership in Higher Education (3)
    • LEAF526 Leadership in Business (3)
    • LEAF527 Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations (3)
    • LEAF528 Leadership in Health Care Organizations (3)
  • LEAF529 Transformational Leadership and Organizational Change (3)
  • LEAF530 Modeling, Branding And Marketing Your Leadership (3)
  • LEAF540 Research Project/Thesis in Executive Leadership and Change I (3)
  • LEAF541Research Project/Thesis in Executive Leadership and Change II (3)
  • LEAF560 Capstone Course in Leadership (3)

TOTAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS = 36 CREDITS

Specialty Track

Leadership and Innovation students customize their research project/thesis, do an organizational analysis, and complete the specialization leadership course in one of four specialty tracks: Business; Health Professions; Higher Education; Not-for-Profit Organizations.

Program Structure and Time Limitation

Students in the program enter and finish as a cohort, maintaining continuous registration in sequenced courses. The ordinary time limitation for completion of the program is accordingly, from the time of first enrollment, three years. Compliance with the time limitation will be monitored by the Program Director. While this model offers an optimal learning experience, exceptions may be made for people who must temporarily leave the program. Such students must discuss their situation with the Program Director and file a formal Leave of Absence. The precise timing of the student’s return from leave will be subject to the sequence availability within an appropriate cohort for the student’s program re-entry. In cases where lack of an appropriate cohort causes a student to exceed the allowed one year’s leave of absence from the program, the student will be permitted, and expected, to re-enroll at the earliest availability of an appropriate cohort. All other Daemen College policies on Leaves of Absence and time limitations for program completion (including extensions) will apply.

Requirements for Graduation

A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 must be maintained to remain in good standing.  A failed course must be repeated. It may also be necessary to repeat coursework in which a grade below B (3.0) has been earned in order to maintain the 3.0 overall GPA. A student is allowed a maximum of two repeats before being dismissed from the Leadership and Innovation program.

All graduate students are required to file an Application for Degree form with the Registrar’s Office at the onset of the final term of study. The application form is accessible on the Registrar’s web page.

Advanced Certificate – Leadership and Innovation

A post-baccalaureate certificate program is available for candidates who possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. The purpose of this program is to enhance the student’s knowledge and skills in leadership and innovation.

This program will meet the needs of any individual who is interested in expanding their capacity to lead by increasing awareness of oneself, groups, organizations, and systems.  The program is also useful as it prepares professionals to help their organizations navigate change and foster innovation.  Students who pursue the post-baccalaureate certificate have the option of continuing in the program to complete the requirements for the Master of Science in Leadership and Innovation.

REQUIREMENTS

  • LEAF500 Organizational Leadership and Self Development (3)
  • LEAF501 Critical Thinking, Problem Solving & Decision Making: Methods of Organizational Research (3)
  • LEAF513 Developing Leadership Skills: One-on-One Leadership, Conflict Management, and Team Building (3)
  • LEAF515 The Business of Leadership: Financial, Organizational, and Cultural (3)

Specialization

  • SELECT ONE:
    • LEAF525 Leadership in Higher Education (3)
    • LEAF526 Leadership in Business (3)
    • LEAF527 Leadership in Non-Profit Organization (3)
    • LEAF528 Leadership in Health Care Organizations (3)

Program Elective

  • SELECT ONE:
    • LEAF502 Leadership and Organizational Ethics, Values, and Social Environment (3)
    • LEAF529 Transitional Leadership and Organizational Change (3)
    • LEAF530 Modeling, Branding and Marketing Your Leadership (3)
TOTAL CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS = 18 CREDITS

Certificate: Admission Requirements

This post-baccalaureate certificate requires possession of a bachelor’s degree.

Application for Certificate: All graduate students are required to file an Application for Certificate form with the Registrar’s Office at the onset of the final term of study. The application form is accessible on the Registrar’s web page as well as at this link – Application for Certificate.

NOTE

Consumer Information on Certificate Programs is published on the Daemen Website.