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 is designed for the participant who wants to understand staff/leadership positions within large complex organizations. The core of the course is found at the intersection of strategic leadership, strategic planning, and strategic decision making. The course has a national strategic perspective, with an emphasis on military and United States government planning, leadership and decision-making, but the essential elements to be discussed are also applicable to non-military, non-governmental activities.

This course is a study of the relationship between the military and the fields of research and technology with particular emphasis on the "pull - push" theory of that relationship.

This course is an application of modern politico-economic insights to improve general understanding of the resource dimensions of a range of national security issues -- from alliances, defense spending and budgeting, the defense industry, arms control and disarmament, and unconventional warfare to the effects of defense on economic growth and development.

This course covers the history of Operations Research, techniques of cost and operational effectiveness analysis, test and evaluation (T&E), quantification of logistics and transportation systems. This course is a prerequisite for DEFM601.

Following on the concepts explored in DEFM600, the student undertakes the study and application of various war-gaming and simulation models as essential elements of defense management. (Prerequisite: DEFM600).

Pre Reqs: Military Operations Research I(DEFM600)

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.