Communication and Leadership Graduate Programs

Department of Communication Studies

Website: https://www.washburn.edu/academics/college-schools/arts-sciences/departments/communication/index.html

Faculty

Professor Jim Schnoebelen, PhD, Program Director
Professor Tracy Routsong, PhD, CAS Associate Dean
Associate Professor Carson Kay, PhD
Assistant Professor Adebanke Adebayo, PhD
Director of Debate/Senior Lecturer Kevin O’Leary, PhD
Lauren Edelman, EdD, Director Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement
Lecturer Michaela Saunders, PhD
Adjunct Lecturer Mary Pilgram, PhD

Mission

The Master of Arts or Graduate Certificate in Communication and Leadership is designed to help students of all backgrounds become collaborative and innovative leaders who demonstrate effective communication skills, self-awareness, and strategic thinking. The program is online and flexible, designed for professionals interested in a graduate degree or certificate for career advancement. Leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities are the attributes most desired by employers, and this curriculum addresses them all. Good leaders must have the ability to communicate, and effective communication skills can make the difference between being a follower and a leader in the workplace. This interdisciplinary program combines the best of skills, theory, and practical experiences in both fields to set the stage for graduates who succeed and can lead in myriad professional settings. Our faculty are enthusiastic teachers and past and current administrators who know the power of both skill sets and are committed to helping students develop in whatever professional environment they choose.

Programs

Course Offerings

Communication

CN 601 Introduction to Graduate Study - Communication Study is a prerequisite for all other CN courses and LE courses, unless provided with instructor permission.

CN 601 Introduction to Graduate Study - Communication Study (3)

This course examines concepts and skills involved in human communication. Topics include language, nonverbal communication, relationships, perception, and conflict management. The course emphasizes the ability to analyze and synthesize information, and to interpret and assess human values. This course is designed to introduce students to graduate learning. Prerequisite: Admission to graduate school. Consent of Department.

CN 630 Communication-Conflict/Negotiation (3)

Combines theory and application to prepare students to understand, negotiate and resolve disputes among parties with differing objectives and desires within relationships, groups, organizations and communities. An emphasis is placed on the narrative structure of conflict and negotiation. Prerequisite: CN 601 or instructor permission.

CN 642 Team Communication in Organizations (3)

This course provides an in-depth look at group dynamics and communication focusing on communication and decision making, relationships, conflict, leadership, and group development. Students will examine the theory and research on the role of communication in effective and efficient work teams. Prerequisite: CN 601 or instructor permission.

CN 645 Community Dialogue & Deliberation (3)

This course examines how communication can help students navigate differences in their professional and personal lives. Given the political polarization and exacerbation of structural inequities in the United States, this course will grant special attention to the ways public dialogue (1) encourages diverse groups and identities to discuss their differences, (2) helps local citizens to discover their similarities, and (3) further promotes equity and inclusivity in their communities. Prerequisites: CN 601

CN 650 Persuasion (3)

This course examines the theoretical and practical elements into the role of communication in influencing attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors. The course allows students to take this research and put it into practice in forming and analyzing persuasion campaigns in various contexts. Prerequisite: CN 601 or instructor permission.

CN 695 Special Topics (3)

Focuses on a topic not regularly offered, but that enhances the curriculum because of specialized faculty or student interest. Prerequisites: None.

CN 698 Capstone (3)

Communication and Leadership Capstone Experience (3 credits) The capstone experience is the culminating experience of the master's degree program and is taken in the final semester. It requires the identification of an organizational or community problem or opportunity and the development and implementation of a project that defines, measures, analyzes, and improves the problem or opportunity. Prerequisite: CN 601 and 15 credit hours in graduate communication courses

CN 777 Continuous Enrollment (1-3)

This course is to allow additional time to complete Capstone, Thesis, or Practicum Requirements. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

Leadership

LE 601 Self and Systems Leadership, CN 601 Introduction to Graduate Study - Communication Study are prerequisites for all other LE courses.

LE 601 Self and Systems Leadership (3)

This course explores the ways in which one interacts with given systems to provide effective leadership, and the various elements of both self and system that must be considered in this process. This requires an ability to critically examine oneself as a leader, including analysis of one's own core values and adherence to these values. Students will seek and critically examine new knowledge to improve one's leadership practice and consider the ramifications of leadership actions in systems of various scale. Students will develop a personal leadership plan and consider how this plan will affect their community of interest.

LE 620 Leadership/Resource Stewardship (3)

This course explores a leader's responsibility as a steward of an organization's human, financial and technological resources. Students will explore how the concepts of stewardship can be applied to the organization through responsible planning and management of resources. Students will develop an understanding of how to align resource plans with the organizations strategic goals and direction. The course will focus on key concepts and current readings in strategic budgeting, strategic organizational management structures, and strategic performance measurement. Students will critically evaluate organizational practices in these areas, consider alternatives and potential enhancements, and develop plans to align with and ensure achievement of the organization's strategic goals. Prerequisite: LE 601 or instructor permission.

LE 630 Organization Improvement & Innovation (3)

This course will focus on the role of leaders in the realization of organizational mission and vision through assessment, utilizing a continuous improvement framework, and innovation. Organizational assessment is required to understand critical problems to solve and opportunities to explore. Continuous improvement, utilizing Lean Six Sigma, provides a model for problem solving and opportunity development. If organizational assessment and a process improvement framework is supported, then innovation is more likely to occur. This requires the leader to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, and to manage the change process to ensure sustained outcomes. Prerequisite: LE 601 or instructor permission.

LE 640 Public Policy & Global Leadership (3)

Diversity in the organization is the new norm, and leaders must develop a high level of cultural intelligence in order to balance micro- to macro-system priorities and competing perspectives. This course will emphasize leadership of local/global organizations within environments of escalating complexity and change. This course builds upon previous leadership courses to analyze, implement and evaluate effective leadership strategies within local/global settings, with an emphasis on policy development, ethics, and social advocacy. Prerequisite: LE 601, LE 620, and LE 630 or instructor permission.

LE 695 Special Topics in Leadership (0-3)

Special topics in leadership. May be repeated for different topics. See course schedule for current offerings. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

LE 698 Communication/Leadership Capstone Experience (1-3)

The capstone experience is the culminating experience of the master's degree program and is taken in the final semester. It requires the identification of an organizational or community problem or opportunity and the development and implementation of a project that defines, measures, analyzes, and improves the problem or opportunity. Prerequisite: 18 hours of graduate communication curriculum and 9 hours of graduate leadership curriculum.

LE 777 Continuous Enrollment (1-3)