Addendums:

Suggestions for addendums to the degree proposal from INO Committee Meeting – February 23rd, 2006:

Dr. Forth offered that, HDC 564 Interpersonal Relationship Skills, should be replaced with

HDC 512 Pre-Practicum. HDC 512 will be more consistent with my academic goals by placing more emphasis on both listening skills and influencing skills. The committee agreed that this substitution would be advantageous.

Dr. O’Neal suggested that replacements be found for both MGT 474 Leadership & Motivation, and MGT 486 Group Management Techniques, as these classes are no longer offered.

Regarding a replacement for MGT 474, Dr. O’Neal recommended MGT 488 Strategic Management and Leadership. The committee members concurred that this would be a suitable replacement.

Concerning a substitution for MGT 486, suggestions from the committee included: comparable Public Administration coursework, a Human Services Group Dynamics course, a Human Development Counseling Multi-Cultural course, or an independent study based on past MGT 486 syllabi information.

After researching the various alternatives, I have chosen to replace MGT 486 with PAD 502 Organization Dynamics. This course is taught by Dr. Brent Never whose work I am familiar with and I feel the content would enhance the integrity of my learning plan.

The title of my degree was also discussed. Committee members were concerned that the current title, M.A. in Organizational Development, may not adequately convey the scope of my academic knowledge due to my added emphasis on human development and personal values. A tentative suggestion was: M.A. in Human Development in Organizations. The committee agreed that this may be a more suitable degree title and there was always room for other options in the future if necessary.

Attached is an amended narrative curriculum and learning plan reflecting the changes noted above.

Narrative Curriculum (revised):

INO501. Graduate Colloquium. 4 hours.

To be taken as the first course after acceptance as a conditional INO student. Serves as an introduction to the individual option program and focuses on the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to become a self-directed, autonomous learner. Students design effective learning experiences, organize learning resources, and design a graduate curriculum. Credit/No Credit grading only. Restricted to Individual Option. Restricted to Graduate students.

This course will help me focus/define my goals and develop a learning plan to meet them.

MGT441. Organization Development. 4 hours.

Theories and applications of organizational change and development as related to the leadership of change in organizations. Topics include resistance to change, diagnosis, change strategies, interventions, group development, team building, organizational culture, ethics, diversity, the external environment, and socio-technical issues. Prerequisite: MGT 310 and all foundation courses are prerequisites for management majors.

This course will expose me to topics stated as learning needs such as; group development, diagnosis, and intervention strategies.

PAC444. Seminar on Work and Family. 4 hours.

Examines and debates the critical challenges facing individuals, families, employers and communities in managing the changing demands of work, family and life. (Family is broadly construed to include all significant non-work relationships.)

This course will give me an overview of work & family issues that can affect people’s behavior in organizations.

HDC501. Fundamental Issues and Ethics in Counseling. 3 hours.

Examination of personal and professional values, goals, objectives, and professional roles and functions of the counseling profession. Required as first core course. Restricted to Graduate students.

This course will give me fundamental knowledge of the issues those in the counseling profession face.

uman Development Counseling (HDC)

HDC

HDC511. Theories of Counseling. 3 hours.

A study of major theories in existential, humanist, psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, systemic, and other related approaches to counseling. Prerequisite: HDC 501 or concurrent enrollment. Restricted to Graduate students.

This course will help me discover different approaches to counseling individuals.

INO599. Independent Study: “Mentoring”. 4 hours.

To be taken as described in individual degree proposals. Readings or research on trends and current issues in the student's area of study. In consultation with faculty, students define topics integral to satisfying their self-assessed learning needs. Requires an independent study contract with a faculty adviser. Credit/No Credit grading only. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite: INO 501and committee approval of degree proposal. Restricted to Individual Option. Restricted to Graduate students.

My independent study will focus on mentoring. I would ultimately like to use this study to discover the feasibility of implementing a community mentoring plan through my church.

*HDC512. Pre-Practicum. 3 hours.

Focuses on intensive laboratory practice of a basic sequence of listening and other skills with attention to advanced relationship skills, case interpretation, and evaluation skills.

This course will build my awareness of listening and influencing skills.

COM563. Organizational Communication Theory. 4 hours.

An in-depth look at organizational theory integrated with current communication theory. Discussion includes approaches to consulting and analyzing communication in organizations. Topical area: Interpersonal & Organizational Restricted to Graduate students.

This course will help me to better navigate within organizations by understanding how they communicate.

*MGT488. Strategic Management and Leadership. 3 hours.

Theories and applications of strategic management as related to the leadership of organizations. Focuses on developing a better understanding and demonstrated application skills in the areas of organizational vision and mission, goals and objectives, environmental scanning and analysis, issue identification and problem solving, and integration of functional competencies into cohesive organizational strategies.

This course will help me identify in-depth vision, mission, and goal setting methods critical to organizational success.

*PAD502. Organization Dynamics. 4 hours.

Structure and function of public organizations as socio-technical systems and of related individual, group, and leadership processes. Topics include leadership, decision making, group dynamics, motivation, job satisfaction, authority, power, organizational change, communication, conflict, and organization structure and design.

This course will help me develop organization analysis skills identified in my statement of learning needs.

INO521. Liberal and Integrative Studies. 2 hours.

To be taken as the final course prior to closure project. Application of the principles of integration. Students prepare a paper relating learning experiences to common themes or issues and design a master's project or thesis. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: INO 501. Restricted to Individual Option. Restricted to Graduate students.

This course will guide me in developing my Master’s Project.

INO550. Master's Project. 4 hours.

A closure project or thesis (see INO 560) required of all M.A. candidates to demonstrate accomplishment and mastery of a chosen area of study. The project is an application of theories and concepts and often involves an off-campus activity. The purpose of the project may be to create a useful and/or aesthetic product that can meet a need for a particular audience outside the university. Project must include a supplemental academic essay. NOTE: If the project is not completed by the time eight hours are accrued in continuing enrollment, students must register to audit INO 551 for one hour in all subsequent semesters until the project is completed. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Prerequisite: INO 521. Restricted to Individual Option. Restricted to Graduate students.

This course will allow me to “demonstrate accomplishment and mastery” of my “chosen area of study.”

Alternate course possibilities include:

SOA461. Social Psychology: Sociological Perspectives. 4 hours.

An investigation of the complex relationship between individuals and the society around them. Topics include socialization, the self, social influence, motivation, norms, morality, group dynamics, roles, impression management, and interaction. We will explore these topics by studying the work of Simmel, Mead, Goffman, and Berger & Luckman, among others. We will see that and why individuals and their society are inseparable. Prerequisite: A course in social science or permission of instructor.

SOA431. Sociology of Organizations. 4 hours.

Organizations -- formal and informal; social organization and crowd concepts; roles, norms, and structures; methodology for studying organizational behavior; critical evaluation of organization theories; alienation; and organization vs. personality.

PSY416. Psychology Of Motivation. 4 hours.

Explores four constructs that define human, rather than nonhuman, motivation including needs, cognitions, emotions, and external events that arise from genetic, physiological, psychological, interpersonal, and cultural sources. The emphasis is on theoretical as well as practical issues that overlap among varying psychological fields. Prerequisite: PSY 302 (for majors and minors only).

PSY447. Wellness, Happiness and Success. 4 hours.

Research and techniques regarding the variables associated with happiness, physical and mental health, and success or mastery in various endeavors.

These “alternate” courses focus on human behaviors and I feel that any of these would be a valid substitute if required.

*Identifies courses replacing those from original narrative curriculum.

Learning Plan (revised):