Since its establishment in 1999, the University of San Diego’s Master of Science in Global Leadership has graduated more than 300 leaders from all walks of life, to include government, military and business professionals. Developed to meet the needs of working professionals, the MSGL program offers a high level of flexibility, most notably in the integration of online and traditional classroom learning.

The MSGL program is composed of a 16-month, 31-unit curriculum focusing on leadership business practices in the global market, and emphasizing cultural sensitivity in the political, cultural and economic arenas. Graduates of the MSGL program are equipped with the technical business and leadership skills, and the fundamentals of applied ethics required to thrive in today’s fast-paced and changing global marketplace.

Educational Objectives

• A comprehensive understanding of fundamental business themes including global business practices, foreign trade, and governmental policies related to conducting business in the private and public sectors throughout the world.
• Development of conceptual understanding and practical skills necessary for successful leadership within a wide variety of organizations, to include studying group dynamics, negotiations in a multi-cultural environment, team building, project management, business analysis, and effective oral and written communication for a business environment.
• Exposure to cultural perspectives on ethics and leadership processes necessary to guide organizations in dealing with periods of high tempo operations in the international arena.
• Development of an enthusiasm for life-long learning by fostering cohort bonding and group exercises that focus on interpersonal learning skills.

Requirements for the MSGL Degree

The program is designed to educate and inspire students to become outstanding international citizens, and to prepare them for positions of leadership and influence in an increasingly interdependent world. Cohorts consisting of approximately 20 students begin in January, May and September, and follow a 16-month degree program that encompasses a 31-unit curriculum integrating content from three main thematic areas:

• Leadership and ethics
• The global, geopolitical and cultural environment
• Best business practices and processes

The MSGL program allows participants the opportunity to work toward their degrees without interruption to their full-time career responsibilities. The curriculum is designed to offer the greatest possible flexibility through thoughtful scheduling and logical sequencing of specific courses.

On entering the program, participants begin with a month of on-line and at home work in preparation for an intensive one-week session on the University of San Diego campus. During the next 13 months, participants regularly complete on-line assignments mixed with monthly classroom sessions to continue collaborative learning within their cohort. Participants then gather for a final one-week session at the University of San Diego, culminating in a capstone exercise and graduation from the program.

Those students from outside the San Diego area who are unable to attend the monthly classes, may complete all courses between the first and last weeks via distance and on-line learning means.

MSGL Curriculum

The course titles and credit hours for courses that are part of the MSGL program are listed below.

Leadership in the Global Environment

MSGL 502 Virtue Ethics and the Good Society (2)
This course examines ethical principles and theories, ethical decision-making techniques, and obstacles to ethical behaviors. Practical comprehension, empathic reasoning, and applications to military, government, business and international agencies are emphasized. Topics include traditional ethical theories, popular ethics tests, relativism, values, character development, stakeholder theory, and psychological aspects of moral development and impediments to ethical behavior such as rationalizations. Teaching methods include lecture, case studies, discussions, and debate.

MSGL 503 International Comparative Leadership & Management (2)
This course will prepare participants to recognize the differences in cultural value systems and behaviors in the global environment, and how they affect leadership. Practical suggestions on how to succeed as a manager in foreign cultures and as a manager of foreign nationals will be examined. The course compares and contrasts the styles and effectiveness of leadership practices of contemporary and historical leaders. Teaching methods will include lecture, discussion, group exercises, and case study.

MSGL 506 Leading Others: Individuals, Teams & Organizations (3)
This course explores multiple leadership models and examines their applicability to diverse global situations. It also trains participants in essential skills for leading individuals, teams and organizations. Topics include power and influence, transactional versus transformational leadership, emotional intelligence, leadership styles, situational contingencies, team facilitation, process analysis and strategic planning. Teaching methods include self-assessment, lecture/discussion, team projects, film analysis, role-plays, process observation, case analysis and experiential exercises.

MSGL 507 Understanding Organizations (3)
This course develops an understanding of fundamental organizational concepts to include basic organization theory, structures of organizations, the learning organization and organizational change techniques. The course begins by establishing knowledge of basic definitions and structures, moves to build an understanding of organizational cultures and concludes by discussing strategies for change—building more effective organizations. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, exercises, team assignments and various audio and video sources.

MSGL 509 Integrating Leadership Project (1)
This course is the capstone of the global leadership program. Each master’s candidate will participate in an international business simulation that will model the challenges and behaviors of a realistic corporation involved in the global arena. The simulation will serve to exercise skills and knowledge gained during the completion of the entire curriculum, integrate the essence of all courses and serve as a realistic bridge between academic study and practical experience.

Comparative Geo-Political World Tour

MSGL 510 Global Society (2)
This course will focus on the historical, cultural, ethical, leadership and religious traditions of the major countries within each region. Topics include rituals, value systems, interpersonal interactions, customs, attitudes, social organizations, etiquette, protocols, and gender relations. Teaching methods include lecture, case studies, and discussion.

MSGL 512 Global Politics, Policy and Law (2)
This course examines the complex array of politics, ethics and law in the global environment, the influence of culture on ethics and law, international organizations, and methods for resolving international disputes. Topics include national security issues, international law and policy making, labor and employment issues, strategic alliances, human rights, state sovereignty, intellectual property rights, and aspects of foreign commercial and investment activities. Teaching methods include lecture, case studies, discussion and debate.

MSGL 526 International Negotiations (2)
This course develops an understanding of the global environment in which international business takes place as well as the role and behavior of the international firm as it responds to the environment. The course provides the knowledge, skills and sensitivities that help manage business operations more proactively in the turbulent international environment. Through cases and discussions within a social and ethical framework in the international marketplace, aspects of production, research, marketing and finance—along with their interrelationships—are studied.

Business Processes & Techniques in the Global Market

MSGL 513 Understanding International Business (3)
This course develops an understanding of the global environment in which international business takes place as well as the role and behavior of the international firm as it responds to the environment. The course provides the knowledge, skills and sensitivities that help manage business operations more proactively in the turbulent international environment. Through cases and discussions within a social and ethical framework in the international marketplace, aspects of production, research, marketing and finance—along with their interrelationships—are studied.

MSGL 522 Project Management (2)
This course explores the problems, responsibilities, and opportunities associated with leading and managing a project. Topics include project team organization, project selection, statements of work, work breakdown structures, project planning and scheduling tools, cost analysis, project management software, resource allocation and scheduling, project monitoring and control, status reports and communication, and project closure. Participants learn how to take a project through its life cycle, structure and lead a project management team, and successfully complete a project. Teaching methods include lecture and experiential exercises (management and completion of a major project, periodic status reports, presentations, and post-project analysis).

MSGL 523 Finance and Accounting for Global Business (2)
This course in Finance and Accounting will cover topics in corporate finance such as the time value of money, ratio analysis, capital budgeting and international finance. Additional topics include the structure of basic financial accounting statements, a comparison of cash flow to accounting profit, and the analysis of financial derivatives and their use in currency risk management. You will learn some of the financial tools used by professionals and also increase your understanding of the tasks and issues that are relevant to conducting business globally.

MSGL 527 Strategic Planning and Management (2)
This course examines strategic planning including the development of appropriate mission statements, international and global environmental analyses, the establishment of objectives, and the development of appropriate strategies and tactics to fulfill the objectives. In a military context, these principles can be applied to situations such as disaster relief, drug interdiction, border security and regional military actions. Teaching methods include lecture, discussion, group exercises, and case studies.

MSGL 528 Applied Project Management (3)
This course will take a detailed look at the five phases of project management: initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing. Deliverables from MSGL 522 will be revisited with a focus on the best tools available to the project manager for perfecting the skills needed to accomplish the desired outcomes. Students will also gain additional expertise with MSProject® through in-class exercises and outside assignments. Emphasis in the course will be on the nomenclature and skills needed to successfully pass the PMP® certification examination in project management. Teaching methods include lecture, case studies, and experiential exercises.

MSGL 529 Project Leadership (2)
This course will examine the relationships a project manager has with all project stakeholders.  A strategic approach will be taken on successfully managing within the larger organization, leading the project team, and satisfying the customer.  Topics will include responsibilities and authority, staffing projects, project communications, managing conflict, and time management.  Emphasis in the course will be on the nomenclature and skills needed to successfully pass the PMP® certification examination in project management.  Teaching methods include lecture, case studies, and experiential exercises.

For more information, contact:

John Ruzicka
Assistant Director for Marketing
& Program Development
MSGL Program
Phone: (619) 260-4833
Fax: (619) 260-7735
jruzicka@sandiego.edu