Concentration in Political Leadership and Civic Engagement

          "I wish I could find a program that I could complete during my free time."                    "I want a graduate education that I can readily apply to my workplace."                    "I want to enjoy my next degree and not feel pressured to compete with other students."                    "I don't have time to come to campus every week for classes, so my classes have to be designed for the distance learner."     

Our communities – local, state, regional, national, and global – face a multiplicity of vexing challenges but also offer numerous opportunities for “the common citizen” to have a positive impact on economic, political, cultural, social, and religious matters. You may be one of many individuals who help out in a community organization, or non-profit organization, or church. Or you may want to take your duties as a citizen seriously and get involved in some way. Undoubtedly, you work in either the public, non-profit, or private sector. Whatever the case, it is our hope that this MLS concentration will help you develop a knowledge base and skills that will empower you to more ably contribute to the communities and organizations that are important to you – and to us, too.

In order to achieve these goals, this MLS concentration centers on three basic aspects of our current condition: first, political institutions and processes; second, leadership and change-making; and third, ethics. Each of these three basic aspects and the learning goals associated with them are briefly described below. After that, the courses in curriculum of the concentration are listed (course descriptions are included).

Political Institutions and Processes: Political leadership and civic engagement requires a solid working knowledge of government and non-governmental organizations and processes. Students will understand political dynamics and develop capacities to influence the public policymaking processes.

Leadership and Change-Making: Effective political leadership and civic engagement in democratic societies is intended to produce change for the common good. This process requires students to initiate and sustain grassroots change and to develop variety of analytic, communication, and network abilities.

Ethics and Political Leadership and Civic Engagement: Perhaps the greatest challenge facing today’s leaders is establishing high ethical standards. Students will develop the moral and social responsibilities necessary for political and civic leaders as they mobilize the citizenry to confront the challenges of our society. .

31-hour curriculum for the concentration (course descriptions listed below)

Core Courses: 10 credits (required)

IDS 801: Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies (1 credit hour)
IDS 802: Ways of Knowing in Comparative Perspective (3 credit hours)
IDS 803: Origins and Implications of the Knowledge Society (3 credit hours)
IDS 804: Information Literacy (3 credit hours)

All four core courses have as their basic concern “the human being as knower.” IDS 801 introduces students to the MLS program requirements, introduces students to each of the four core MLS courses, aims to develop the practice of critical thinking, provides a consideration of the nature of studying liberally (how and why humans study), and provides a consideration of possible intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of liberal studies. The major foci of IDS 802 are: how to know, whether knowledge is relative, and what knowledge is for. IDS 802 builds analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and moral reasoning skills by introducing students to a variety of epistemologies (in the ‘hard’ sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities), by offering an explanation and critique of the scientific method, and by introducing students to questions regarding knowledge and its purposes. IDS 803 helps the student understand the context in which ‘humans as knowers’ live. IDS 804 helps ‘students as knowers’ acquire techniques and skills for getting and using knowledge.

Concentration: 18 credit hours

Required courses: 12 credit hours

COMM 810: Organizational Leadership and Communication (3 credit hours)
IDS 611: Ethics in Leadership and Government (3 credit hours)
LDRS 640: Civic Leadership (3 credit hours)
LDRS 812: Advanced Leadership Theories (3 credit hours)

Elective courses: 6 credit hours

Choose one of the following:
POLS 621 American Civil Liberties (3 credit hours)
POLS 650 History of Political Thought (3 credit hours)*
POLS 651 Recent Political Theories (3 credit hours)*
POLS 653: American Political Thought (3 credit hours)*

Choose one of the following:
POLS 663: Political Behavior - Pre-requisite: MATH 250 (3 credit hours)*
POLS 665: Interest Groups and Lobbying (3 credit hours)*

*NOTE: Virtual College students (students taking courses through distance education) should consult with their advisor to select an appropriate substitution for this course.

Culminating Experience: 3 credit hours - consult with faculty advisor and select one of the following

IDS 820: Projects in Liberal Studies (3 credit hours)
IDS 890: Internship in Liberal Studies (3 credit hours)

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

COMM 810: Organizational Leadership and Communication (3 credit hours)
Provides a collaborative learning experience in organizational communication and leadership behaviors through student interaction and instructor feedback. This course focuses on the development of communication and leadership behaviors based on contemporary thinking in the field.

IDS 611: Ethics in Leadership and Government (3 credit hours)
Graduate level course similar in scope to IDS 401: Ethical Issues in Professions and Business. An examination of ethical issues in the professional lives of people in science, education, medicine, law, and business arising from the challenge of maintaining personal integrity in the face of apparent conflicts of duty. (Note: this course has not yet been developed).

IDS 801: Introduction to Graduate Liberal Studies (1 credit hour)
An orientation to the M.L.S. as an opportunity to enhance the critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills so valued in today’s world and workplace. The purpose of the course is to help the student become acquainted with the concept of interdisciplinary liberal education and understand its potential in fostering intellectual growth, personal satisfaction, and the ability to enhance employability in a world where knowledge has become the key resource.

IDS 802: Ways of Knowing in Comparative Perspective (3 credit hours)
A comparative, critical exploration of the nature, kinds, worth, and limits of human knowledge. Roughly equal amounts of attention are given to (a) the sciences; (b) the arts and humanities; and (c) a selection from a menu of such special topics as mathematical knowledge, epistemic relativism, moral knowledge, religious knowledge, and the role of the search for knowledge in well-lived human lives.

IDS 803: Origins and Implications of the Knowledge Society (3 credit hours) Origins and Implications of the Knowledge Society involves understanding the historical origins and the current and future implications of the information revolution that is unfolding. As our society ushers in the information revolution, a deeper understanding of new ways of knowing will serve as a catalyst for the future. Substantial changes in the social, political, educational, and economic contexts are the destined targets of the information/knowledge shift. This course focuses on where these changes come from, what the likely changes will be, and the utility of such changes on the way we know, learn, and grow.

IDS 804: Information Literacy (3 credit hours)
Information Literacy develops the utilization of information in the graduate learning process. A fuller appreciation and recognition of the need for information, identification of needed information, networking and technical skills associated with locating the information, and critical consideration of information are addressed. Students should expect to be more thoughtful consumers of scholarly and applied research and current modern information technologies.

IDS 820: Projects in Liberal Studies (3 credit hours)
An applied and technique oriented offering in which students engage in qualitative and/or quantitative research projects, or other experience of significant academic value. Meant to fulfill the culminating experience requirements of Master of Liberal Studies degree students.

IDS 890: Internship in Liberal Studies (3 credit hours)
This course is designed for students in their final stages of the Master of Liberal Studies program. Activities include practical experience in an organization which will allow the student to participate in a meaningful project.

LDRS 640: Civic Leadership (3 credit hours)
This course is designed to provide the student with a deeper understanding of the major components and principles of civic leadership. Classroom activities examine the leadership process in the context of community and society. This approach encourages ordinary citizens to take responsibility, organize, and build coalition for the purpose of making social change. (Note: This proposed course has not yet been developed. Until the course is approved, students should consult with their advisor to select an appropriate substitution.)

LDRS 812: Advanced Leadership Theories (3 credit hours)
In this seminar students will review and discuss the evolution of the leadership field, including in our discussions classical and emerging theories of leadership. Our main collective goal is to apply past theory and research to building a unified theory of leadership development.

POLS 621: American Civil Liberties (3 credit hours)
Civil rights in the American constitutional context, emphasizing freedom of religion, expression, association, rights of the accused, equal protection of the law, and due process of law.

POLS 650: History of Political Theory (3 credit hours)
The writings and significance of great, representative political philosophers from Plato to John Stuart Mill with emphasis on the major classics in western political thought.

POLS 651: Recent Political Theories (3 credit hours)
Modern ideologies and political philosophies with emphasis on the political thought of the last 150 years.

POLS 653: American Political Thought (3 credit hours)
Major trends in political thought in the U.S. from pre-revolutionary times to the present with emphasis on the liberal and conservative trends.

POLS 663: Political Behavior (3 credit hours)
This class will investigate the development of political science research into voting and other forms of political participation in American politics. Students will learn the two predominant forms of research into voting behavior: survey research and economic models and the differing perspectives on voting turnout, partisanship, and individual vote decisions that they predict.

POLS 665: Interest Groups and Lobbying (3 credit hours)
Students in this class will read the literature of American interest groups to understand their development and role in a democratic system. Students will also learn the process of lobbying for political influence and the implication of exerting group pressures on politics.

PLEASE NOTE: Two FHSU faculty will serve as advisors for students in this concentration: Professor Shala Mills and Professor Brent Goertzen.Contact either Professor Shala Mills or Professor Brent Goertzen now to see if the Master of Liberal Studies concentration in public administration could be right for you. Once you have been admitted to this concentration, please follow the MLS Checklist and carefully read The MLS Student Handbook.