Admission Requirements

1. Complete online application and remit fee.
   
2. A written statement from the applicant which:
   1. describes the applicant's own interest in the Executive Leadership and Change degree;
      
   2. assesses the applicant's strengths as a leader and describes what the applicant hopes to gain from a graduate degree; and
      
   3. provides a resume of professional experience.
3. Two letters of recommendation from an employer, professional colleague, or major professor which evaluate the applicant's leadership potential and capacity to complete a graduate degree.
   
4. Official transcript from an accredited college or university indicating the award of an undergraduate degree (international applicants must submit foreign transcripts in the original language and an English copy).
   
5. Health form.
   
6. Submission of an official TOEFL by each international applicant who has graduated from a foreign college or university and whose native language is not English.
   
7. Personal interview with program director.

Plan of Study

Each matriculated student is required to meet with her/his advisor to develop a plan of study to address her/his educational goals. The plan is established during the first semester of study in the graduate program.

Program Structure and Time Limitations for Completion of Program

Students in this sixteen-month program enter and finish as a cohort, maintaining continuous registration in sequenced courses. The cohort model provides the opportunity to build leadership skills within a "real world" context of collaborative work, mutual challenge, and support. The ordinary time limitation for completion of the program is accordingly two years from time of enrollment. While this model offers an optimal learning experience, exceptions can be made for people who must temporarily leave the program. Such students must discuss their situation with the program director and file a formal leave of absence. The precise timing of the student's return from leave will be subject to the sequence availability within an appropriate cohort for the student's program re-entry. In cases where lack of an appropriate cohort causes a student to exceed the allowed one year's leave of absence from the graduate program, the student will be permitted, and expected, to re-enroll at the earliest availability of an appropriate cohort. All other Daemen College policies on leaves of absence and time limitations for program completion (including extensions) will apply.

Advancement to Candidacy

Admission into the program does not automatically guarantee candidacy. Each student must formalize her/his intent to achieve a Master of Science degree by filing an Application to Candidacy form available in the graduate program office. The student must complete this form once she or he has completed three or more courses at Daemen College. The minimum QPA for admission to candidacy is 3.00. A maximum of 15 credits may be completed in the pursuit of candidacy.

The application to candidacy will be reviewed and ruled on by the program faculty advisory board. Action of the board reflects their judgment that the student has demonstrated the potential to successfully complete the Master of Science degree program.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the degree of Master of Science in Executive Leader-ship and Change must complete all courses in their plan of study with a minimum QPA of 3.00.

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