Core Curriculum

A foundation in leadership

Moving through our core curriculum, you learn solid organizational leadership principles and more. You may choose a variety of courses to fulfill each of the learning outcomes listed below. Work with your advisor when selecting classes that meet the core professional studies criteria.

The core curriculum consists of 21 hours that meet the objectives listed below. You will then select one of the option area certificates which consists of 12 hours, or you may select any other graduate certificate housed at MSU. See program description for a link to other possible certificates. 

Foundational learning outcomes

Finance, budgeting or economics 

You will be introduced to one or all of the following skills and concepts: 

• Budgeting, control and accounting 
• Financial and economic statements and investment 
• Economic development – nationally and/or internationally

Law, regulatory functions or ethics 

You will be introduced to one or both of the following skills and concepts:

• Understanding legal and regulatory issues in the workplace 
• Exposure to ethical issues encountered by business managers in work environment

Management or leadership 

You will be introduced to one or both of the following skills and concepts: 

• Understanding the role of leadership in creating cooperative climates and building a workforce by selecting, supervising and evaluating employees 
• Knowledge of organizational strategies for building, structuring and evolving business plans and processes 

Research or project design

You will be introduced to one or all of the following skills and concepts: 

• The nature of research/project development, project design and evaluation 
• The exploration of appropriate literature in your chosen field 
• Practical experience in research or project design or evaluation and will be able to complete an appropriate project for their emphasis area – either empirical or practical application

Communication or corporate relations 

You will be introduced to one or both of the following skills and concepts: 

• Ways to identify and employ effective communication appropriate to the work environment 
• The art of negotiation, mediation and arbitration from the business manager's perspective 

Technology 

You will be introduced to one or all of the following skills and concepts: 

• Technologies common in their work environments and how to adapt them to their environments 
• Understanding concepts, design and implementation of management information systems for the workplace
• Principles and techniques of designing and producing advanced forms of media

Professional writing 

You will be introduced to one or all of the following skills and concepts: 

• Writing, reading and research that impacts existing leadership 
• Writing to provide new answers to the needs of existing societies 
• Understanding the basic processes of grant writing and grant administration

Organizational structure 

You will be introduced to one or all of the following skills and concepts: 

• Management of organizational problem situations within the office
• Understanding the culture, behavior, diversity and structure of organizations
• The development of managerial skills through MBO
• Decision making theory and strategy implementation
• Change theory