School of Leadership and Professional Advancement Duquesne University

Master of Science in Leadership, Concentration in Professional Administration at the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement

The Master of Science (MS) in Leadership program at Duquesne University is designed for individuals who want to make a difference -- in their professions, in their personal lives, in the world.

Students of the program are ready to take on expanded responsibilities. To do that, they'll want to enhance their skills and advancement potential.

The Master of Science in Leadership, Concentration in Professional Administration (MSPA) program is designed for professionals like these students, who are ready to move to the next level. MSPA graduates take responsibility for:

- oversight of administrative processes

- coordination, analysis and presentation of information

- supervision of human and financial resources in support of organizational goals

At the end of this program students will be able to:

- manage employee strengths to build more effective teams

- understand and facilitate cross-functional roles and responsibilities

- generate organizational change plans to implement workplace improvements

- employ administrative and analytic principles to maintain and enhance organizational operations

- develop communication tactics and strategies to apply in diverse situations

- resolve conflicts to maximize productivity in a multigenerational workplace

- use technology tools to access, manage, create and communicate information

- understand strategies and systems used to plan, allocate, and control the use of financial resources

- employ organizational methods to recruit, hire, train, and develop staff

- recognize the importance of professional ethics and legal responsibilities

Students can complete their programs entirely online or -- in some cases -- on campus. They also have access to academic resources such as the university's library, an online writing center, and professors and advisors. Furthermore, students become part of a "peer-learning network" that includes people from the community, corporations, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and military branches.

There are no standardized tests (such as GMAT or GRE) required for application.

MS in Leadership, Concentration in Professional Administration Curriculum

The 36-credit curriculum combines practice with theory. Real-world problems provide the primary context for much of the learning. Faculty members infuse student learning with current theory and research while emphasizing practical application.

The curriculum includes the following:

- Leadership Core (12 credits)

- Professional Administration concentration courses (15 credits)

- Graduate electives (9 credits)

- There is no thesis requirement

Focus on Adult Students

The School of Leadership and Professional Advancement is a national leader in providing high quality academic programs designed especially for adult students.

It is also known for providing support services that help adult students earn their degrees while managing the many demands on their time. It offers courses and entire programs online, has an online student resource center, and holds classes on Saturday.

Accomplished Faculty Members

Accomplished faculty members with scholarly and industry expertise are the foundation of the MS in Leadership program. They are drawn from the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement, other schools within the university, and the professional community.

Bernhard Behrend is a lawyer with over 25 years of experience in mediation.

Eileen Eckhart-Strauch served in the role of budget and strategic planning coordinator in a large state agency for 12 years.

Jim Wolford-Ulrich, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Professional Advancement, has over 25 years of experience as an adult educator. Dr. Ulrich has worked in industry as a Manager of Executive Development and Succession Planning for a telecom company and as Director of Organizational Development in healthcare.

Barbara Vittitoe, PhD, is a retired naval officer who held numerous leadership positions and led large units in a variety of areas. After her 24-year naval career, Barb worked for Harley-Davidson Motor Company in an organizational development and training role. Barb recently joined the Global Leadership Development Group of Amazon.

Robert Clark holds a PhD in Administration and Leadership Studies. He has taught numerous courses including: world class organizations, race and ethnic relations, social problems, cultural diversity, social psychology, social research methods, and more. Prior to his teaching career, Dr. Clark worked extensively in child welfare and victim services for over 12 years, as a caseworker, supervisor/administrator, advocate, and trainer.

A former US Marine who has worked in management consulting and human resources, Dana Jarvis has developed corporate universities, performance management systems, employee engagement programs, and leadership enhancement initiatives. He is a frequent contributor to Dear Workforce, an international online publication of Workforce Management.

Lyna Matesi has worked as an internal and external consultant coordinating large scale change initiatives, implementing leadership development systems and overseeing domestic and international projects. She has served in leadership development, change management and curriculum development roles at U.S. Cellular and business planning, communication technology and project management roles at Motorola.

Dr. McAndrews has over 25 years' experience in management, engineering, and organizational change. He has implemented training and worked with client organizations across the country. In these opportunities, he learned first-hand how organizations deal with their abilities to succeed, survive, and change to gain competitive advantage. He is currently the Senior Manager of the Design Quality Engineering Department at Philips/Respironics, Inc.

Duquesne University

Founded in 1878, Duquesne University is one of the top Catholic universities in the nation. It is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the northeastern region of the United States.

Duquesne is committed to academic excellence and provides a personalized educational experience for each of its 10,000 students. In fact, it is recognized nationally for its rigorous programs and commitment to sustainability.

The "Princeton Review" ranks Duquesne as one of the Best 377 Colleges in 2013 and designated it as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the Guide to 286 Green Colleges. In addition, "US News and World Report" ranked the university in the top tier of the 2012 America's Best Colleges guide.

Financial Assistance for Graduate Students

Duquesne University is committed to helping graduate students obtain the financial assistance needed to earn their degrees. It offers scholarships, assistantships, federal work study, and student loans. It also provides flexible payment options such as corporate deferment.

• Duquesne University (School of Leadership and Professional Advancement)

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Leadership Master of Science (MS) [community leadership]
  Master of Science (MS) [liberal studies]
  Master of Science (MS) [leadership]
  Master of Science (MS) [sports leadership]
  Master of Science (MS) [information technology]
  Master of Science (MS) [business ethics]
  Master of Science (MS) [global leadership]
  Master of Science (MS) [professional administration]

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 130
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? Yes
• Distance learning programs available? Yes
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Capstone course
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied195
• Accepted138
• Acceptance Rate70%
• Enrolled107
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $
• Application Fee - International $
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's Degreesprofessional work experience, 500-word essay, and resume, interview
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$17,388
• Out-of-state tuition *$17,388
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year fees$1,656.00
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsNot Reported
• Types of financial support availableNot Reported

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students451
• Female Percentage49%
• Male Percentage51%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students451
• Part-time Percentage39%
• Full-time Percentage61%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino5%
• Black / African American15%
• White / Caucasian69%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native1%
• Asian2%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races3%
• Unknown5%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty89
• Full-time Percentage1%
• Part-time Percentage99%
• Female Percentage44%
• Male Percentage56%