Master of Arts in Management-Practicum Option

This course serves as an advanced course in human resource management with particular emphasis on the strategic planning process for each of the functions. Students will explore the historical evolution and philosophical foundation of the field as well as examine the current practices that are being used to support Human Resources in the workplace. Future human resource management challenges will be examined and the emerging concept of strategic Human Resource professionals as business partners will be highlighted.

This course aims at providing students with an in-depth understanding of the various methodological approaches to the study of management. The course provides a deep insight into various scientific and methodological approaches as well as practical training in the design and implementation of research projects. This includes data collection methods, sampling techniques, survey design, interview techniques, observation methods, analysis, interpretation and how to write scientific reports.

This is an introductory course that focuses on the concepts and methods of managing an organization. The overall course objective is to identify, apply, and evaluate techniques for structuring and resolving managerial problems in public and private organizations. The main educational tool used in the course is the analysis and class discussion of case studies. Readings and lectures are used to supplement the case analyses. Topics include: culture and change; managing globally and ethically; strategic planning and implementation; organization structure; human resource management; groups, teams and motivation; leadership; and operational management.

This course will provide a framework for understanding individual and group behaviors within dynamic organizations. Topics to be covered will be human behavior principles in individual, groups/teams, and organizational settings. The main emphasis of this course will be on developing effective administrative/managerial skills in improving employee performance.

This course is an examination of individual dimensions of global executive leadership, organizational behavior, inter-group relations, and strategies for internal corporate communication. Course topics include management and global trade, special aspects of operating successfully in the global environment, the executive's role in solving conflicts and creating corporations in the world marketplace, cultural aspects of international operations management and ethical corporate strategies in an international context.

This course outlines successful Strategic Management and Planning techniques. Students taking this course will gain an understanding of Strategic Planning techniques that have been successful in the industrial base companies. This course has been designed and developed to provide management teams and leaders with state of the art practices and theories, strategies and techniques relative to the Strategic Management and Planning Process.

This course addresses the ethical dimensions of management with a special focus on the processes managers may use to raise and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts in organizational settings. Policies pertaining to treatment of those raising ethical issues will be considered. The legal and regulatory requirements of ethical conduct will be examined. Policies and codes of conduct established by various organizations and industry groups will be critically examined. The course will feature case studies involving alleged breaches of ethical conduct among publicly held corporations.

This course consists of a collection of classic and contemporary readings in Organizational Development covering a broad range of topics including interpersonal relations, motivation, decision making and group behavior in organizations. Included are experiential exercises that give students an opportunity to practice their skills and cases that allow students to draw on their own experiences to apply the concepts and theories in managerial situations. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of the leader.

This course utilizes an experiential format to focus on a variety of concepts, skills and practices required for effective consulting. Students will be asked to experiment with consulting skills and submit papers which critically reflect on that experience in light of the concepts and theories discussed in class. The course addresses different approaches to consulting including management consulting, coaching, and strategic business consulting. Students will explore, analyze and practice consulting skills of entry and contracting, assessment, feedback, implementation and change plan development and execution, managing resistance, and working with executive and management teams to execute change effectively. Consulting will be discussed from both an internal and external consultant perspective. Case studies and problem resolution are the focus of this experience. Expected student outcomes include mastering the basic concepts, theories, and fundamental skills in consulting, identifying challenges, steps, and plans for developing an effective consulting practice (either internal or external to an organization) and identifying consulting strategies and their application to both human services and for profit organizations.

This course will focus on a variety of concepts, skills and practices required for understanding, developing and managing an effective consulting business. When thinking about consulting most individuals focus on the practice of consulting and the offerings of the consulting practice to clients. This course focuses on the business of the consulting practice as a professional service business. The course addresses different approaches to establishing and managing a consulting practice including starting up, financing the business, building a business plan, staffing the business, marketing etc. Case studies and problem resolution are the focus of this experience. Expected student outcomes include mastering the basic concepts, theories, and fundamental skills in establishing a consulting practice, identifying challenges, steps, and plans for developing an effective consulting business.

This course covers the elements of contemporary leadership and delineates the principles that are important in the development of a leader for the 21st century. Discussion of the role and function of leadership will include an in-depth analysis and study of needs impacting individuals, organizations and society. The course provides students with a set of leadership skills and competencies on which to build an individual model for effective leadership that can be tested over time.

This course utilizes an experiential format to focus on a variety of concepts and practices associated with developing and managing an effective team. The course addresses different approaches to management, motivation, and performance, along with some barriers to effective team efforts. Case studies and problem resolution are the focus of this experience. Expected student outcomes include mastering the basic concepts, theories, and fundamental techniques in team management, identifying current challenges and issues confronting managers in human service organizations, and identifying positive team management strategies and their application to human services.

The APUS Master of Arts in Management examines complex organizations from a level of analysis perspective developing competence in organization analysis, management theory and practice, strategy formulation and execution, leadership, human resources management, technology and global issues related to management, and other related areas. Specializations in this degree include: general management, leadership, and human resource management. This program aims to educate professionals for management and business practice in global military, government and business environments. The ability to apply learning to practice is a key requirement for demonstrated success in learning. To achieve and demonstrate learning a practicum and integration seminar is offered to students in this degree as an alternative to the comprehensive exam. This option can be undertaken by any student seriously interested in the integration and application of theory and practice. Students selecting this option are exempt from comprehensive exams. The course requires that the student: • Identify and obtain approval for an organization or project of interest • Select and obtain an approval for a workplace mentor • Complete a 120 hour practicum in the approved organization under the guidance of the mentor • Keep a log of work completed to be signed by the mentor • Submit a 25 page integrative applied research paper using Kolb’s experiential learning cycle as the basis for reflection on that experience. The experiential or practical component of the class aims to apply learning in an aspect of interest related to the degree and concentrations of the student’s areas of specialization. It is understood to be a supervised practicum that requires approval by APUS before entering into the relationship with the organization. The selection of an organization or site for the practicum must relate to the content of the student’s course work and/or concentration. Goals of the applied practicum and integration seminar will be submitted by the student for approval using an application for approval to the Faculty member, Program Director and Dean of Graduate Studies. The organization will serve as an opportunity to experience the practice of an area of management related to the focus of the student’s degree. This option will act as a capstone of the student’s program and is to be completed in the student’s final semester.