The future of education presents an unprecedented opportunity to shape systems that better serve individuals, communities, and society at large. To seize these opportunities, leaders must not only imagine the future but also guide others through the complex, adaptive changes required to realize new visions. This course is designed to equip future leaders with tools for self-reflection and growth, enabling them to understand their own reactions during change, manage both personal and adaptive challenges, and develop the self-awareness and resilience necessary to lead transformational efforts. As a core course for all leadership specializations, it introduces foundational intrapersonal theories and models, offering a critical framework for leading change effectively.

In today’s dynamic educational landscape, strategic thinking is a critical competency for leaders who must navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and guide their schools or organizations toward a future characterized by excellence and equity. This course delves into the foundational principles of strategic thinking, equipping educational and organizational leaders with the skills needed to confront complex challenges and plan for sustainable growth. Through an in-depth analysis of current issues, emerging trends, and future workforce demands, participants will develop the ability to lead innovative, adaptive changes within complex systems and craft key solutions to problems with change. Key skill development will include leveraging data for strategic decision-making, forming impactful partnerships, and fostering a culture of forward-thinking leadership. The course also emphasizes personal leadership development, helping leaders continue to enhance their emotional intelligence. Participants will explore strategies for understanding others during times of change and fostering collaboration.

This course provides a critical examination of the history, theories, practices, current initiatives, and future directions of higher education leadership and management. Students will delve into the critical issues shaping today's colleges and universities, exploring topics from transformative learning and self-directed education to fostering belonging for all members of the campus community. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and applied learning, students will analyze real-world challenges, emerging trends, and innovative strategies for driving meaningful change in higher education. This course equips aspiring and current leaders with the insights and skills needed to navigate the evolving higher education landscape with confidence and vision. 

Managing resources—financial, technological, human, and intellectual—is one of the higher education leader's most significant concerns. Education professionals explore and apply principles that can help leaders in higher education effectively plan, prioritize, allocate, and track the use of resources toward achieving learning-focused goals. Understanding efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in higher education is a key goal of the course as education professionals learn various ways to maximize resources across the institution, including attracting and recruiting “human” resources, retaining them, and developing a high-quality workforce. Activities also include analysis of various budgeting, planning, and fundraising strategies and how these can be used to identify new and reallocated resources to enable growth and sustainability of quality programs.

This course focuses on the completion and refinement of the Evidence-Based Practice Capstone Project, encompassing Sections 1–4 with the necessary appendices. The Evidence-Based Practice Capstone Project represents the culminating activity in the degree program demonstrating students’ development as cutting-edge, evidence-based practice scholar-practitioners. Students will ensure the quality of their capstone project document by confirming originality through a Turnitin report, meticulously documenting sources in a reference section, assessing scholarly writing quality using Grammarly, and acknowledging any appropriate use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI). Students will present their capstone project to a peer group for feedback. Finally, students will select and prepare to complete one of the following Project Application Deliverables: A Practice Improvement Plan, a Grant Application Proposal, an Article Manuscript, or a Practitioner Presentation to Stakeholders.