photo of graduate receiving her diploma

Graduate Programs

Master of Science

Elective Courses Discription

OLS 557 Creativity and Innovation in Organizations and Industry, Cr. 3.
P: None 
The course will provide students with a deeper understanding of the process of creativity and design and its role in modern organizations.  Students should develop sufficient knowledge to make informed decisions about innovation-related issues, to participate on design teams, and to work on developing the cross-functional skills essential for developing and/or commercializing product, process, or service innovations in traditional and in start-up environments.

OLS 560 Leadership of Virtual Teams, Cr. 3
P: None 
This course will introduce students to contemporary theories, concepts and applications of virtual teamwork.  Students will explicitly examine the differences in virtual and collocated team development, and use emerging theories (e.g., team identity theory) and perspectives (e.g., online community development) to predict and explain virtual team behavior and leadership decisions.  This course requires internet connection and completion of some collaborative tasks while maintaining only computer and technological linkages to widely dispersed team members.

OLS 577 Organization and Administration of Training and Development, Cr. 3.
P:  OLS 475 or permission of instructor
The function and administration of training and development in the world of work.

OLS 584 Constructive and Destructive Conflict and Cooperation, Cr. 3.
P: OLS 510 
This course is designed to provide students from all functional backgrounds with skills needed to approach interdependent relationships and negotiations with confidence.  Included will be an examination of how leadership and influence is gained, maintained, used, abused, and lost in the pursuit of interpersonal and organizational objectives that are often in conflict.  Students in the course will develop a framework for analysis, gain knowledge about one's own tendencies in negotiation, and have a chance to experiment with negotiating techniques in various contexts.  Topics include:  integrative and distributive negotiations, individual differences in bargaining styles, coalitions, team negotiations, negotiating through agents, and ethical issues in negotiation.

 OLS 590 Special topics, Cr. 3
P:  graduate-student status.  . 
Opportunity to study specific problems in the field of leadership and human resource under the guidance of a qualified faculty member within the department.  Does  include thesis work.

Sample of elective for OLS Leadership Option:

OLS 584
Constructive and Destructive Conflict and Cooperation

OLS 557
Creativity and Innovation in Organizations and Industry

OLS 560
Leadership of Virtual Teams

OLS 590
Special topics

Human resources option courses may also be used as electives.

Sample of elective for OLS Human Resources Option:

OLS 577
Organization and Administration of Training and Development

OLS 590
Special Topics.

Leadership option course may also be used as electives.