Graduate Studies in Civic Leadership

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Civic Leadership

• Master of Arts
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Civic Leadership

Steve Joiner, Dean, College of Leadership and Public Service
Michelle Steele, Academic Director
Linda Peek Schacht, Founding Director

Core Faculty

Josh Hayden, Director of Executive Programs
Phyllis D. K. Hildreth, Associate Professor of Conflict Management
Hope Nordstrom, Assistant Professor of Professional Studies 
Michelle D. Steele, Assistant Professor of Civic Leadership
William Turner, Distinguished Prof of Public Service and Community Studies

In addition to civic leadership core faculty, distinguished visiting professors with expertise in the field will teach selected classes.

The master’s program in civic leadership prepares emerging and mid-career professionals for service in both their communities and their profession. The course of study includes 10 months of course work and up to five months of master’s project implementation in the community. Weekend and online classes accommodate government, business and not-for-profit professionals seeking a leadership degree focused on social innovation and collaboration among multiple stakeholders. It serves both those seeking to undertake a graduate program for the first time and those who have graduate or professional degrees who seek a theory-to-practice leadership degree with a focus on community.

Students from every sector will benefit from this degree with specific careers supported in local, state and federal government, the business sector and nonprofits. These include corporate social responsibility and community/public/government affairs positions in the business sector; community development, public policy, communications and public/private partnership positions in the public sector; and nonprofit positions including the creation and leadership of public/private partnerships and social enterprises. This program also is suited to those moving into encore careers or in transition between sectors.

The Graduate Certificate in Civic Leadership will open a new avenue of study for students interested in taking civic leadership courses. It also provides the option of continuing on with the full Master of Arts in Civic Leadership. The new program also allows students in other programs to take core courses in civic leadership.​  Apart from two required courses (Introduction to Civic Leadership and Leadership Theories: Current and Historical Perspectives), students may choose three electives from the six other courses offered in the civic leadership program in order to complete the Graduate Certificate in Civic Leadership.​

Classes are held on campus, through off-campus experiences and through a robust online learning environment. Students join a learning community of local, state, national and international scholars and leaders in civic and social innovation.

Founded in Oct. 2010, and built upon the legacy of Nashville leader Nelson Andrews, the Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership engages emerging and current leaders in programs to create thriving communities. The Institute promotes and showcases government, business and not-for-profit leaders working together for the common good. Its programs provide for the study and practice of this collaborative civic leadership model.

For more information on the program, call 615.966.6155 or visit lipscomb.edu/civicleadership.

Admission Policies and Procedures

Applicants to graduate programs must submit the following:

1. Application Form. Each applicant must complete an application form. The application form is available at lipscomb.edu/admissions/graduate then click on “Apply by Program” to complete the online application.
2. Application Fee. Each application should be accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee ($75 for international students).
3. Standardized examination score or writing sample.  Students must either submit the scores of a standardized examination (see below for accepted examinations) or a writing sample.  Standardized examination score:  Students may submit the scores of a standardized examination.  Scores from the Graduate Record Examination are preferred for students seeking their first graduate course work.  (For more information on the GRE, visit www.ets.org and click on GRE).  However, scores for the Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), MCAT, MAT or LSAT will be accepted as substitutes for the GRE requirement.  Writing sample: In lieu of a standardized test score, applicants may submit a writing sample. The writing sample should demonstrate clarity of thinking, reasoning ability, logic, and strong writing and communication skills. The sample should be an academic or professional document that has been previously written and perhaps evaluated in an academic or professional setting.  Previously published work may also be considered.  The sample should not be something prepared for the sole purpose of admission to the program.
4. References. Each applicant is required to submit two references: professional, academic and/or personal.
5. Official Transcript(s). Each applicant must submit an official transcript, showing degree conferral when appropriate, from all schools attended.
6. Essay. Please write a two- to three-page double-spaced essay giving your reasons for pursuing a degree in civic leadership and any community, region or state issues of particular interest to you. This is an informal essay-tell us your story-what shaped you, what matters to you and what future you see for yourself and your community, region or state.
7. Health Form. Each applicant must submit a completed health form signed by a health care provider. (To print a copy of the health form, visit www.lipscomb.edu/healthcenter/forms.)
8. FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights of access to educational records; even if you are independent of your parents, you must submit this form prior to enrollment.
9. Resume. A resume detailing the applicant’s work and academic experience is required.
10. TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international students. (See section titled International Students  for more information.)

All application items should be submitted to The Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership no later than 45 days before classes begin for the term in which the student plans to enroll. Classes begin in Oct. Forms should be mailed to: The Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville TN 37204-3951.

Transfer of Courses

Although all graduate credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, a maximum of six hours will be counted toward the M.A. in civic leadership degree, and a maximum of six hours will be counted toward the graduate certificate in civic leadership. The director or appropriate faculty member of the graduate program will evaluate the course(s) being proposed for transfer and make a determination of suitability. No course with a grade below a “B” will be considered for transfer.

Documentation

Students are required to provide satisfactory documentation of personal identification for off-site learning experiences required in many programs of graduate study at Lipscomb University. Failure to provide proper credentials will result in failure to complete the desired course of study. For complete policy, see section entitled Required Documentation for Off-Site Learning Experiences  in the opening section of this catalog.

Student Classifications

Students are admitted to graduate courses in one of five categories:

1. Graduate Student: one who has satisfied all admissions requirements. (Average of 3.00 on undergraduate work, acceptable GRE, MAT or GMAT scores.) A student with an incomplete admission file will be accepted to the program at the discretion of the academic director but will be placed on an academic hold which will prevent registration for the following semester. Once the proper admissions documents have been received, the hold will be removed and the student will be allowed to register for the following semester.
2. Conditionally Admitted Student: one who has been admitted conditionally, at the discretion of the academic director, without satisfying all admission requirements. Students admitted with the following criteria may be required to complete a minimum of nine hours of graduate work with a grade of “B” or above before the conditional admission is removed.
   1. From an unaccredited school or with a substandard GPA or GRE/MAT score.
   2. A transfer student with a graduate GPA between 2.50 and 2.99. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.
   3. As a student who has not completed a bachelor’s degree program. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.
3. Non-Degree Student: one who has been admitted to graduate studies and has met all admission requirements except GPA or GRE. The student may take up to nine semester hours for graduate credit. Those hours may be applied toward a master’s degree if the student makes a grade of “B” or better in the courses taken for credit and if all admission requirements (GPA and entrance test score) are met and the student is formally admitted to a graduate program as a degree-seeking student.
4. Visiting Student: one who is currently enrolled as a student in good standing at the post-bachelor’s level at another graduate school, wishes to take courses at Lipscomb and desires to have transcript evidence of course work done at Lipscomb provided for the school of primary enrollment.
5. Probationary Student: one who has been readmitted to a graduate program following academic suspension from the program.

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. Only those students who meet the requirements for “graduate student” described above are eligible for candidacy.

Academic Policies

Course Load

A student enrolled for six hours is considered a full-time student. A student enrolled for less than six hours is considered a part-time student. No student will be permitted to enroll for more than 12 hours per semester without special approval from the director of the graduate program.

Academic Standing

1. Good Academic Standing: To remain in good academic standing, the M.A. in civic leadership student must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and a 3.00 GPA on the most recent 12 semester hours of work.
2. Probation: Should the student’s cumulative graduate GPA fall below 3.00, he or she will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation will not be allowed to enroll for more than six hours during any term the probation applies.
   The probationary student is required to achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA by the time the student has completed the next nine hours of course work. A course(s) may be repeated to achieve the requisite GPA. If the requisite GPA is attained, the academic probation status will be removed.
3. Suspension: If the requisite GPA is not attained, the student will be suspended from graduate studies at Lipscomb for the following semester, after which the student may apply for readmission. The student may be required to appear before the graduate committee.
   Failing grades will provide no credit toward the degree but will be included in figuring scholarship level, unless replaced with a higher grade by repeating the course(s). A 3.00 GPA must be maintained to be eligible for financial assistance.
4. Appeals: Appeals to suspension decisions should be made in writing to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Appeals must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday of the week before classes begin for the term during which the student wishes to be readmitted.

Degree Completion Requirements

Residency

No period of formal residency is required for a degree in a master’s program.

Statute of Limitations

All requirements for the M.A. in civic leadership degree or the graduate certificate in civic leadership must be completed within a five-year period from the time of initial matriculation.

Candidacy

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. During the course of pursuing the M.A. in civic leadership degree, the student must be admitted to “candidacy.” For admission to candidacy the student must satisfy the following:

1. Complete all required undergraduate deficiencies if admitted on condition.
2. Complete at least 12 hours of graduate work.
3. Maintain a 3.00 GPA on all courses taken toward the requirements for the degree with no incomplete grades.
4. File an application for candidacy form with the graduate program office.
5. File a degree plan in the graduate program office which meets all requirements and is approved by the administrator of the graduate program and the dean of the college. The degree plan must be filed during the second semester of graduate work in the program.

After admission to candidacy and approval of the degree plan, any changes in the degree plan must be approved by the academic director. The application for candidacy must be filed before the beginning of the student’s last semester in the program. No student will be allowed to graduate in the same semester in which the application for candidacy is filed.

Minimum Credits

The M.A. in civic leadership requires 30 semester hours and the graduate certificate in civic leadership requires 15 hours. This requirement does not include hours accumulated to satisfy academic deficiencies.

Minimum GPA

The minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) for all graduate education programs is 3.00 for all graduate courses taken for graduate credit while pursuing the degree. No grade below a “C” is acceptable. Such grades will not apply toward degree completion.

Graduation

Students must register for GN 999X the semester prior to and the semester in which all course work will be completed for graduation. Students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the end of the first week of their last semester may be delayed in graduating.

Graduate students receiving degrees are hooded during the May and December commencement exercises.

Appeals

Any exceptions to the above stated requirements would require approval by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in collaboration with the Dean of the College and the Program Director.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees for 2017-18*

Program of Study Requirements

(Civic leadership, conflict management, and film and creative media)

• Civic Leadership, M.A. Cross Sector Collaboration concentration
• Civic Leadership, M.A. Non-Profit Leadership concentration
• Master of Civic Leadership - Non-Profit Leadership Concentration

• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Civic Leadership

Return to: All Graduate Programs