Master of Business Administration with Specialization in Leadership and Change Management

at Global University Systems (GUS) - Concordia University Chicago USA

The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education has achieved National Recognition by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), thereby meeting standards as one of the top graduate degree programs in the country. The MA in ECE program prepares candidates for a variety of leadership roles in early childhood education and is relevant for early childhood teachers, administrators, public policy and advocacy specialists, and scholars. This program is designed to provide candidates with a strong background in child and language development, family and community relationships, assessment, research, theory and practice, of birth through age eight programs within a variety of educational settings: public and private centers and schools, adult and community-based educational settings, and other for- and non-profit organizations.

The MA in ECE program does not lead to licensure, but is intended for early childhood educators who have had at least two years of experience with young children. Upon completion of the program, candidates who have an Illinois Educator’s teaching license may choose to study further and take additional coursework to obtain endorsements in Special Education and/or English as a Second Language (ESL). After receiving their degrees, our graduates will be ideal educators in the design and implementation of early childhood curriculum and programs in centers, home child care, schools and districts, and other settings, and contribute their leadership to various early childhood organizations.

As a student in Classical Liberal Studies, you will be challenged to make connections between history and modernity.

Through rigorous study, you will apply classical concepts in a contemporary setting to address the needs of the 21st century church and world. You will draw on the strength of a broad variety of Concordia University Chicago’s programs, including music, theology and languages, as well as the quality of worship life on campus.

In this unique program, you will work with faculty who are respected and recognized throughout the Church as well as nationally in their fields of study. Your studies will span several departments—from courses in Latin and Greek to courses on Shakespeare, and from modern European history to ethical theory.

A Classical Liberal Studies minor is also available to complement other Concordia University Chicago undergraduate degrees.

Your learning experience will be greatly enhanced by talented faculty who also are engaged in the study of philosophy.

CUC's full-time faculty members in the Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy hold terminal degrees in their fields or are studying to complete one, and they have numerous years of teaching experience.

Philosophy courses include logic, ethics, philosophy of religion, social and political philosophy, the history of philosophy, aesthetics, and various thematic courses. The program culminates in an independent study course that requires the preparation of a major paper and public presentation on a selected philosophical topic. The philosophy minor requires 18 hours, but does not include an independent study.

Our courses prepare you for working in all forms of journalism, writing for a range of traditional and new media, and working with public relations and publishing.

Journalism has shifted significantly in the past few years to embrace the digital age. From traditional newspapers to magazines to broadcast outlets, more and more journalists rely on the Web, blogs, video and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to gather information, report the news and engage with sources and audiences.

In this major, we train our future journalists how to research, write and craft stories for print or visual media and critically use the Internet and other new media platforms while applying traditional journalism practices and ethics. We will prepare you to fit into the ever–evolving media world.

Required courses cover the fundamentals of journalism. Creative courses in photojournalism, magazine writing and feature writing will further build upon your skills. You may also choose electives in television production, desktop publishing, graphic design, public relations and more.

The program helps students develop awareness of how communication practices impact individuals and society

We emphasize ethics and our classes seek to have students identify how their work impacts the world around them.

In addition to preparing students for an array of jobs, the Department of Communication prepares students for continuing graduate education. Across the majors students acquire strong research, writing, and analytical skills.

Based near downtown Chicago, our program places students in dynamic internships which provide them with learning experiences integral to future job placement.

When taking courses from our Communication Major, students will take a core set of courses and then choose an area of specialization relevant to their career paths.

The three specializations in the department are:

• Human Communication and Culture
• Media
• Strategic Communication

Additionally we have a Journalism major.
As a student at Concordia-Chicago, you will never sit in a lecture hall with hundreds of students. Our classes are taught by experienced professionals who are willing to assist you throughout your education process. Your professors will know you on an individual basis and will be available to address any concerns you may have. The Communication faculty is dedicated to preparing you for your role in communication.

A career in accounting has been described as one of the best opportunities for employment, with U.S. News & World Report and Fortune magazines considering accounting positions to be in high demand in a broad range of fields.

Our faculty are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded learning experience by using the latest technology, stressing the importance of integrity and ethical decision making, and engaging students with real-world business scenarios and practical application of knowledge learned in the courses. The College of Business offers many courses online as well as face-to-face.

The Concordia-Chicago MBA program is designed to assist you with business knowledge for your entire career. You can customize the speed and program that you need for your career goals.

The MBA program is established in a turn-key, cohort format. The specialization courses are set up in an open enrollment. You are able to enroll in the specialization courses at any time during your MBA program or after you have completed all of your courses.

Four Pillars of Knowledge
All of our courses integrate our Four Pillars of Knowledge into the curriculum. By cultivating these essential principles in an academic setting, the Concordia-Chicago MBA gives you a competitive edge as you move forward in your career.

• Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Critical Thinking and Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Communication and Human Relations
• Global Interconnectedness and Inclusiveness

Across all industries, there is a need for proficient managers and leaders. The focus of this major is to graduate students who are confident leaders and managers. Students will sharpen their critical and creative thinking skills and build their business acumen. These abilities and skills are integral to sustaining business success. Students will learn from industry experts and study topics such as ethical decision making, strategic thinking, leadership and management, marketing, accounting, human resources, operations management, and finance.

Faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded learning experience by using the latest technology and engaging them with real-world business scenarios and hands-on learning exercises. Many courses are offered online, although the traditional 16-week face-to-face format is available.

We offer rigorous but flexible degree programs that build students’ critical knowledge of business and sports issues.

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded learning experience by using the latest technology and engaging classes with real-world business scenarios and hands-on learning exercises.

Graduates with sports management degrees find career positions as athletic directors, team managers, account executives, talent scouts and more.

Concordia University Chicago's MBA specialization in leadership and change management will build the business fundamentals you need to advance your career while focusing on leading people and organizations. The courses are designed to help students understand the value of an array of leadership theories, the intercultural impact of leadership practice, and the intricacies of facilitating strategic change. Students develop servant leadership, interpersonal, and influencing skills to effectively shape group change. Graduates will successfully champion systemic change while achieving their organization’s mission.

Specialization Outcomes

• Correlate and critique global mentoring, training, and coaching practices to specific organizational leadership challenges and the impact on the business and stakeholders.
• Examine and evaluate transformational leadership strategies and techniques to promote capacity, sustainability, and renewal at all levels of the organization.
• Explore and evaluate how leadership styles impact global face-to-face and virtual organizations through effective use of communication and technology to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Analyze and synthesize descriptions and conditions for diagnosing organizational change culture, agenda, processes, and practices providing management the guidance to execute and lead organizational change.
• Demonstrate proficiency in use of technology to make and evaluate data driven decisions.