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Community and Organizational Leadership

School of Health Sciences and Wellness Community and Organizational Leadership Degree

Graduate Degree

Impact any organization by empowering others to succeed

Gain expertise in innovative community development and develop your skills in leadership, program planning, grant writing, and critical thinking so you can make an impact in your community in the Master of Science in Community and Organizational Leadership online program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The core courses build leadership skills that allow graduates to become an agent of positive social change in local and international communities. Graduates can: 

  • ascend within their current agency or area of expertise
  • make a career change
  • build collaborative relationships with programs and resources in your community
  • assess community needs and determine best practices for change
  • learn budgeting, marketing, funding, grant writing, strategic planning and rational support for programs
  • plan, implement and evaluate programs
  • think critically, research and assess local and world issues

Why choose Community and Organizational Leadership at UW-Stevens Point?

Our program is designed for anyone with a passion for building meaningful relationships and structures that support strong, vibrant and resilient communities is encouraged to join us! Our students come to us with a wide variety of experiences and undergraduate degrees including sociology, education, marketing, recreation, communication and others.

5-year Program Options
Community and Organizational Leadership

5-Year Program Options

Undergraduate students majoring in dietetics or sustainable food and nutrition also have the opportunity to apply for early admission into two related graduate programs for a combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years.

The cupola sitting on top of Old Main.
Community and Organizational Leadership

Info Sessions

Ready to learn more about the COL program at UW-Stevens Point? Join us for an informational session. We will discuss program details including schedule, class formats, course focus, and the overall value of our degree program.

Community and Organizational Leadership

Build a Better Community

Learn more about our graduate programs in Community and Organizational Leadership, Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, and Health and Wellness Coaching.

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Community and Organizational Leadership - Eric Heintz

APPLY

Apply for graduate study at UW-Stevens Point, then submit a letter of intent and resume.
Apply
Community and Organizational Leadership - Bianca Dooley

INFO SESSIONS

Ready to learn more about the COL program at UW-Stevens Point?
Info Sessions
Community and Organizational Leadership - Sarah Tomasiewicz

Schedule of Courses

Our program is flexible, affordable and fits your lifestyle.
Courses
Community and Organizational Leadership - Gail Kell

Tuition

Our $560/credit tuition rate applies to in-state or out-of-state residents.
Tuition

Important Dates

View important dates for admitted students, info sessions and application deadlines.

Who is the program designed for?

Anyone with a passion for building meaningful relationships and structures that support strong, vibrant and resilient communities is encouraged to join us! Our students come to us with a wide variety of experiences and undergraduate degrees including sociology, education, marketing, recreation, communication and others. The core courses build leadership skills that allow graduates to become an agent of positive social change in local and international communities.
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile

Lanette Walker

Meet Lanette Walker, M.S. ’23, a community health representative program supervisor for the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile

Sophie Forbes

Meet Sophie Forbes ’20, M.S. ’23, a recent HPW grad who has big dreams of creating a healthier and happier community once she completes her Master’s in Community and Organizational Leadership and grad certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching.
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile

Taylor Dutmer

Meet Taylor Dutmer, M.S. ’22, who has future dreams of leading a nonprofit working in human services, women’s health, mental health or community engagement.
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile

Lori Hesse

Meet Lori Hesse, M.S. ’23, a case manager for survivors and responders of the World Trade Center 9/11 Health Program.
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile
“Throughout this program, I have enjoyed learning about the various organization leadership development skills and implementing new goals and initiatives into my everyday job.”
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile
“This program interested me due to its fast track option, community component and its flexible learning platform.”
Community and Organizational Leadership Profile
“I want to learn how I might not only better my community through what I learn but also teach others about how we can make our communities vibrant. ”
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By the Numbers

30
Credits
100Percent
Online
US Dollars560
Cost per Credit

Schedule of Course Offerings

Students must complete 30 credits: 21 core credits are required; the remaining 9 elective credits are chosen by the student to provide an area of specialization that meets their unique career goals. Elective courses can be taken at UWSP or transferred in from another institution.

Below is a list of required courses in the terms they are offered in the most intensive timeline possible. Most students complete the program in 2-3 years and enroll in 3-6 credits per term. Depending on your situation, you may choose to enroll in fewer or more than this. Consultation with your adviser will allow you to determine what course load and progression is best for you. Students may start in spring or fall, can stop out for personal or professional reasons, and have up to 7 years to complete all requirements.

Core Required Courses – 21 Credits

  • COL 700​ – Collaborative Leadership in Community Development (3 cr)
  • COL 710 – Organization and Program Management (3 cr)
  • COL 720 – Outcome Based Program Evaluation (3 cr)
  • COL 730 – Best Practices in Program Development (3 cr)
  • COL 740 – Grants and Funding for Small Projects (3 cr)
  • COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)
  • COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)

Offered Every Fall

  • COL 700​ – Collaborative Leadership in Community Development (3 cr)
  • COL 710 – Organization and Program Management (3 cr)
  • COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)*
  • COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)*
    *Alternative Culminating Experience

Offered Every Spring

  • COL 720 – Outcome Based Program Evaluation (3 cr)
  • COL 730 – Best Practices in Program Development (3 cr)
  • COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)*
  • COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)*
    *Alternative Culminating Experience

Offered Every Summer

  • COL 740 – Grants and Funding for Small Projects (3 cr)
  • COL 791 – Project Planning (3 cr)*
  • COL 792 – Project Evaluation (3 cr)*
    *Alternative Culminating Experience

Explore Your Elective Options

For the required electives, students are encouraged to be very selfish and strategic when identifying elective courses. Choosing electives is NOT about simply “seeing what is offered at UWSP.” It involves each individual student FIRST identifying the specific skills and/or areas of expertise that you need to develop during the master’s experience to be successful taking your first professional step with the M.S.

The skills and areas of expertise will be the search words used to google for graduate-level courses that meet your needs. You can also ask the program director about whether any UWSP courses develop these specific topics and skills.

If you are not clear on what you need from electives, you may:

  • talk with the program director or your adviser to start identifying potential options
  • review options through the UWSP MBA program
  • conduct an informational interview of someone who currently holds a position of interest or who hires for that position
  • search for announcements and descriptions for positions you would like to hold after earning the MS
  • do a gap analysis to clarify which skills and areas of expertise you already possess so you
  • know which electives to prioritize

If a course you need is offered at another university than UWSP, you simply:

  • work with that other institution to know how to enroll as a non-degree seeking student
  • confirm that it is a graduate level course offered for college credit
  • communicate your interest in the course with the program director or your adviser
  • once your grade for the course is posted you
    • fill out a form and email to the program director
    • request transcripts be sent to the program director

Register as a Special, Non-Degree Seeking Student

You can enroll at UW-Stevens Point easily, without applying to the university and paying additional fees.

To register for graduate courses as a special, non-degree seeking student, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. You will be granted graduate special status when you register. This gives you the same privileges of other registered students, such as access to library resources, etc.

To register, you simply pay the $100 registration deposit accompanying the mail registration form.

Registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following schedule: summer/fall course registration begins in April and spring/winterim registration begins in November. This schedule is based on when continuing students are done registering. Non-degree seeking students cannot register before degree seeking students.

After your registration is processed, you will be sent an email by the Office of the Registrar. The email includes instructions on how to activate your myPoint account, access texts, and obtain a Point ID Card. More information >>>

Please note: HWM courses are administered through UW-Extension. Tuition rates may differ from UW-Stevens Point rates.

Cost and Assistantships

Tuition rates are estimated and subject to change.

Cost of Study

Tuition for all 100% online graduate courses required for the Community and Organizational Leadership (COL) and Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems (SRFS) master’s degrees is $560/credit plus a $50/credit distance education fee. This tuition rate applies to all students, no matter their residency status. Also, there are no additional segregated fees.

Most courses require no textbooks. In such cases, materials are drawn from current agency or research literature sources that are available electronically.

Tuition for elective courses will vary depending on the institution and program that hosts the course. COL and SRFS students have been known to take 100% online courses offered by the School of Health Sciences and Wellness (e.g., Family and Consumer Sciences; same rate) or face-to-face courses offered in other UWSP departments (e.g., aquaponics; tuition rate info); Ed.D. in Educational Sustainability ($750/credit); Health and Wellness Management M.S. ($750/credit); Sustainable Management M.S. ($750/credit); and other universities in Wisconsin and the U.S. The electives you choose will depend on what you need to build the skills and expertise to achieve your career goals.

Federal Financial Aid is only available to graduate students who are enrolled at least half-time during the semester (5+ credits). Please consult with the Financial Aid Office about your unique situation.

Compensation and Eligibility

Job Responsibilities: Graduate assistants serve the School of Health Sciences and Wellness in a variety of capacities including enhancing the delivery of SHSW programs, instruction and scholarly activities. Graduate assistants can serve as a research assistant to a faculty member, assist in teaching undergraduate courses, support department assessment and accreditation efforts, sustain and further SHSW collaborations in the community (e.g., Farmshed, Greenhouse Project, Fruit & Vegetable Rx program, Guiding Good Choices, etc.), and assist faculty in developing new or enhancing existing programs (e.g., CPS Café, UWSP Employee Wellness).

Compensation: The assistantships are half-time (20 hours/week) positions that pay approximately $11,200 annually and include the state health insurance package.

Eligibility: Newly admitted and continuing in the Community and Organizational Leadership or Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems master’s programs.

Benefits to Student: Graduate assistants gain vital skills and professional development experiences that provide a real-world view into the jobs their master’s degree can lead to. Working in community and research projects builds skills in technical and professional writing, research skills useful in grant writing and program assessment, program management and development, building collaborations, teaching experience, among others.

Applications will be accepted electronically to chuck@uwsp.edu until 5 p.m. on the second Friday of July, and must include the following:

  1. Resume or CV
  2. Brief letter of interest (no more than 1 page, single spaced) that delineates the strengths and abilities you bring to this position and how the opportunities this position offers will assist in your professional development.

Competitive review of applications will take place after the application deadline for appointments to be announced by August 1.

Meet your Faculty and Staff

Our classes are developed by educators with focused industry, research and teaching experience. We are ready to prepare you to meet employers’ needs.
Annie Wetter

Annie Wetter

  • Professor – Nutrition
  • Director – Graduate Programs
  • Unit Coordinator
715-346-2108
Jasia Steinmetz

Jasia Steinmetz

  • Professor – Food and Nutrition
  • Director – Didactic Program in Dietetics
  • Coordinator – M.S. in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems
715-346-4087
Cupola graphic.

Todd Kuckkahn

  • Associate Lecturer – Graduate Programs
Cupola graphic.

Michelle Goetsch

  • Associate Lecturer – Graduate Programs
Cupola graphic.

Kristie Rauter-Egge

  • Associate Lecturer – Graduate Programs