Graduate Studies Courses
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Admissions Office: AD-101 Suite
Phone: 207-859-1255
Email: [email protected]
Graduate Courses by Term
Our Graduate and Professional Studies Division offers small classes and personal advising. Our instructors have real-world experience and expertise in their academic disciplines. Master of Business Administration programs are offered with focus areas in Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, Human Resources, and Project Management so that students may find the best fit for their personal and professional goals. Master of Science programs are offered in an online format in Criminology, Cybersecurity, and Education.
SUMMER II (July 6 - August 28, 2026) - Registration Opens May 23, 2026
Business
HR564 Training and Development
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Wheaton
A major function of human resource departments is to ensure that employees are properly trained to perform their assigned tasks. This course introduces students to the training and development process. Additionally, performance review and evaluation are discussed as part of the overall career development plan.
MG533 Innovation, Change, and Agile Projects
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course provides an overview of concepts and strategies used to select optimal options for change. Management and leadership skills are employed to build broad support for change, diffuse innovation, and achieve successful execution through solid project management practices. Topics include organizational culture, innovation processes, technology forecasting, organizational development, use of technology, service-oriented architecture, joint process change, reengineering, diffusion of innovations theory, social epidemic theory, learning organizations, and change implementation strategies.
MG535 Complex and Advanced Projects
Prerequisite: Yes
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course intends to build on a thorough project management foundation to include detailed insight into large projects, projects with diversified stakeholders, multi-location, and international projects. Topics including portfolio theory and information economics are designed to enhance previous learning and extend to project portfolio management and project management office functions.
MG610 Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Appunn
This course is designed to strengthen the students’ skills in business leadership as related to the confluence of innovation, enterprise development and entrepreneurism. This course will provide a framework for understanding organizational issues underlying creative and entrepreneurial success. Students will critically analyze leadership characteristics of entrepreneurs and investigate means of adding value to organizations. Students will develop skills leading to effective communication and management for an evolving organization, including patent management, recognition of potential funding sources, target markets, and other challenges in the entrepreneurial environment. Students will explore entrepreneurial theory and business principles in order to maximize the chances of a successful new business start-up.
MG545 Creative Decision-Making: An Analytical Solution-Based Approach
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Cragen
This graduate-level course is an interactive business “think tank” designed to enhance your decision-making skills through engagement with experts and peers. Creativity is a skill that can be developed, and this course emphasizes its cultivation in the context of business problem-solving. Through an in-depth examination of decision-making theories and contemporary literature, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of creative thinking. The structured framework provided will enable you to swiftly identify issues, generate innovative ideas, and implement effective solutions. By the end of the course, you will be equipped to analyze business problems, evaluate alternatives, and propose actionable solutions.
Education
ED642 Financial and Budget Management of Schools
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Moody
This course considers the key dimensions of a school’s financial manager as well as the principles and practices associated with school budgets. The generation of financial statements and the management of inflows and expenses, line items, payroll, and the appropriate management of key budget personnel are discussed. The role of the school budget in yearly planning and control is explored within the context of the leadership function of a school’s chief financial officer.
ED573 Supervision & Evaluation of Personnel
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Batchelor
This course provides an overview of supervisory practice in public schools and includes a review of Maine State Law regarding hiring and dismissal practices, just cause, contract issues, dismissal, non-renewal, progressive discipline, and compliance investigation. Additionally, we explore how leaders can promote growth in teachers and improve student achievement through formative supervision and evaluation. We will examine the foundations of a teacher supervision and evaluation system which includes emphasis on adult learning theory, classroom supervision/coaching, supervision which promotes professional growth, principles/standards for effective teacher evaluation and performance-based approaches to teacher development/school improvement.
ED516 Teaching English as a second Language
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Rybakova
This course acts as an introduction to concepts and teaching practices associated with teaching English as a second language across the K-12 grade span in the mainstream classroom. Concepts covered include theories and applications of best practice in working with those who are learning English as a second language, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and applied linguistics. Students will take away theoretical foundations in what works with ELLs in the classroom that can be applied to the classroom settings.
FALL I (August 31 - October 23, 2026) - Registration Opens July 20, 2026
Business
HR561 Compensation and Benefits
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course introduces students to the planning, administration, and design of compensation programs, including legal compliance fundamentals. The course also provides a comprehensive overview of the design and administration of private-sector benefit programs.
MG544 Project Management
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Marcello
This course builds on introductory project management skills to form a solid grounding in the nine project management knowledge areas and five process groups as detailed by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Topics include the following: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, closing, integration management, scope management, time management, cost management, quality management, human resource management, communication management, risk management, and procurement management. Cost, scope, quality, and procurement receive special emphasis in this course. Students will align topics to attain project objectives within resource constraints. The course is relevant to any project management field.
MG554 Human Resource Management
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Wheaton
This course involves a comprehensive analysis of behavioral theory and practical, analytical techniques for dealing with day-to-day problems in work situations. The specific objective is to develop the action-taking ability and the administrative capacity and know-how to handle the human problems of organizations within an appropriate policy framework.
MK551 Marketing Management
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Pelsma
This course analyzes marketing functions, institutions, and policies dealing with consumer and industrial products and services in both profit and non-profit organizations. Strategic marketing plans are formulated by students through the use of case analysis. Decision-making, dealing with product/service development, pricing strategies, distribution methods, and promotional activities are stressed.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MH501 Professional Orientation, Ethics & Maine Law
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Sexton
This course provides an introduction to the counseling profession with emphasis on professional identity, roles, and responsibilities in clinical mental health counseling. Students examine the history and scope of the profession; professional organizations and credentialing bodies; standards for preparation, supervision, and licensure; and the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics. Particular attention is given to Maine counseling statutes and rules, the state licensure process, confidentiality and mandated reporting requirements, and ethical decision-making frameworks for professional practice. The course supports the development of a professional counselor identity grounded in ethical responsibility, legal compliance, cultural responsiveness, and lifelong professional growth.
MH503 Lifespan development for Counselors
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Sexton
This course examines human growth and development across the lifespan with emphasis on biological, cognitive, emotional, and social processes from infancy through late adulthood. Students explore major developmental theories and research, with attention to cultural, systemic, and contextual influences on development. The course considers normative and non-normative developmental experiences, including the impact of trauma, family systems, and sociocultural factors. Students develop the ability to apply developmental understanding to counseling practice in ethically and culturally responsive ways.
Criminology
CR500 Criminological Theory
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: McCarthy
This course examines the philosophical underpinnings of criminology and the various theories that exist in the field of criminology. Additionally, we will examine the major methods of measuring crime. The course will allow the student to think critically and independently about theories behind criminology as well as their contextual understanding and applicable issues relating to crime and victimization. This will include, but is not limited to: Classical School; Positive School; Chicago School; Differential Association; Anomie; Subculture Theories; Labeling; Conflict Theory; Social Control; Social Learning; Rational Theories; Strain Theories; and Feminist Theory.
MS530 Applied Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: McCarthy
This course provides a brief review of elementary statistics and introduces students to more advanced analyses appropriate for data-driven decision making in the social sciences. Analyses include independent and repeated measures one-way ANOVAs, completely between, completely within, and mixed 2-way and n-way ANOVAs, and multiple regression. The selection of appropriate analytical procedures and the interpretation of analytical output are emphasized.
Cybersecurity
CY621 Cybersecurity Risk Analysis and Decision Making
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Koonjbearry
Cybersecurity, information assurance, and computer security deal with virtual and remote risks that continue to evolve rapidly. Losses frequently remain undetected for a year, even in sophisticated environments across most industry sectors. An incident can sweep through an organization gaining access to thousands of assets within minutes. Technologists, managers, and leaders need to make use of leading techniques, to deploy defenses and respond to incidents quickly, and prepare for new adversaries on a continual basis. They need to convince their Board to provide appropriate resources to manage risk within a general enterprise risk strategy.
CY644 Cyber Engineering
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Grady
Provides an understanding of the technology used to deliver safer hardware, software, and external links. Technologies includes IoT, cloud computing, asset control, authentication, access controls, models, controls and countermeasures, assessment of vulnerabilities in the light of threats and their mitigation, cryptography. The diverse areas lead to solution designs, practical execution of security assessments, and comprehensive solution testing strategies.
Education
ED547 Childhood Trauma: Impacts and Interventions
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Batchelor
This course will explore ways in which traumatic childhood events impact and shape individuals’ brain development, health and well-being, relationships, educational trajectories and involvement with the justice system. We will investigate traditional practices, policies and structures found within a variety of organizations and critically analyze how they impact the success of youth and adults who have experienced childhood trauma. Furthermore, through community engagement, we will learn from and work with professionals in the field who implement trauma-responsive practices, and examine case studies that illuminate trauma-informed practices in education, health care, social services, and in the foster care and justice systems. Based on these real world and academic experiences, students will apply concepts of transformation, social responsibility, and sustainability to addressing trauma in their community.
ED551 Seminar in American Schools
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Rybakova
This class will provide a broad background for thinking about issues of education in historical and philosophical context. As the introductory course in the Thomas College Masters of Education Program, it will help prepare students for subsequent courses in the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment of learning. Students will have the opportunity to begin to identify questions about teaching and learning that will help focus their research throughout the remainder of the program.
ED533 Educational Assessment
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Rybakova
This course provides an introduction to the concepts, principles, and practices related to designing and administering effective assessments in education. Teacher-designed assessments and standardized achievement tests are examined.
ED603 Wounds Across Time: Generational, Historical, and Ancestral Trauma in IDS
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Dearani
This graduate seminar offers an in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of generational, historical and ancestral trauma. The course examines how large-scale, collective traumatic events such as genocide, slavery, war, forced migration, colonialism, and systemic oppression are transmitted across generations, impacting the psychological, biological, social, and cultural fabric of descendants. Students will investigate core theoretical frameworks, including epigenetics, postmemory, and trauma theory, alongside case studies from diverse global and historical contexts. The seminar emphasizes a critical lens on clinical practice, public policy, and justice-oriented responses to collective wounds, preparing students to work with populations affected by intergenerational stress and trauma.
FALL II (October 26 - December 18, 2026) - Registration Opens September 14, 2026
Business
AC551 Accounting for Management Decisions
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course analyzes the use of accounting as a managerial tool. Topics include budgeting, systems building and evaluation, inventory valuation, fixed asset valuation, and analysis and interpretation of financial reports from internal and external sources.
EC551 Economic Systems
Prerequisite: Permission of the Instructor
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course presents a survey of relevant current economic trends in the rapidly changing modern world. The subject matter is divided into three broad areas including macroeconomic issues, microeconomic issues, and analysis of emerging global systems. The method of analysis combines the use of economic history, theory, and development with a critical analysis of current economic issues and events. The objective is to learn to assess the impact of regional, national, and global economic trends on business and society.
HR563 Labor Relations
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
Students are exposed to the principles and techniques of collective bargaining. Topics include references to national and state statutes and cases of precedential value, preparation for bargaining, scope of the bargaining process, use of impasse procedures, unfair labor practices, and the role of the grievance procedure under a collective bargaining agreement.
MG562 Introduction to Public Administration
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course explains the political, legal, and social settings which shapes public administration. Also, examine is public administration accountability and responsiveness to elected executives, legislatures, the judiciary, the media, interest groups, and the public.
MG695 Strategic Plan Analysis
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course will investigate complex business situations. The analysis will be centered on five areas: financial health, marketing effectiveness, internal environment of the organization, external environment of the organization and industry outlook. The company and industry analysis conducted will culminate in a set of recommended strategies to be presented in an executive report format. Various industry and company analytical tools will be utilized such as a PESTLE analysis, Porter’s Five forces.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MH502 Counseling Theories & Skills
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course introduces major counseling theories and foundational clinical skills for professional practice. Students examine core theoretical approaches to counseling and models of case conceptualization while developing essential helping skills through structured practice. Emphasis is placed on culturally responsive counseling techniques, ethical application of theory, and the development of therapeutic presence. Students complete a recorded counseling skills demonstration and a theory-based case conceptualization assignment to support the development of beginning clinical proficiency.
MH504 Multicultural Counseling & Social Justice
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: TBD
This course examines cultural, social, and systemic influences on counseling practice and client development. Students explore theories of multicultural counseling, cultural identity development, and the impact of power, privilege, and systemic inequities on mental health. Emphasis is placed on developing culturally responsive counseling competencies through self-reflection, critical analysis, and applied case exploration. The course integrates ethical decision-making, cultural humility, and advocacy considerations to prepare students to work effectively with diverse individuals, families, and communities across a range of sociocultural contexts.
Criminology
CR520 l Juvenile Delinquency and Youth crime
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Ochs
This course provides a comprehensive overview of relevant 21st century challenges faced by the juvenile justice system and the philosophical shift toward restorative justice. Trends will be identified and contemporary issues such as detention, waivers, mental health and substance abuse, risk assessment, family-based treatment, gangs, childhood abuse, gender and racial disparities, and institutional influences will be analyzed.
Cybersecurity
CY531 Foundations of Homeland Security
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Marsolais
Homeland Security is a national and international service and protection initiative that experienced significant growth following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Additionally, Homeland Security refers to the vast network of federal, state, local, and private agencies that organized and integrated after the attacks to respond to future threats to the country, its people, its infrastructure, and way of life. This course provides a student with a comprehensive examination of Homeland Security from its mission and organizational perspectives.
CY630 AI Implications for Cybersecurity
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Marcello
Students will learn about how artificial intelligence will make major changes to the methods that organizations create value, support ethical standards, and defend themselves from local and global digital aggression. Learning includes the current and predicted technologies that make up important AI solutions and options. Conceptual and practical learning will include the ability to establish the implications of AI adoption, reducing risks, and the implications for organizations. Learning about relevance will show how existing protection methods can reduce incidents, and protection be performed faster, and more effectively while reducing the cost of current protection. Students will also experiment with new techniques to overcome new threats enabled using AI to protect organizations. Using a hands-on approach, students will develop an AI solution that addresses common challenges experienced in the organization.
Education
ED548 Diverse Learners, families, and Communities
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Batchelor
This course examines the educators’ roles in addressing the many needs of diverse learners and families. Various diverse populations are identified and explored. Focus areas include implications for school transformation programs, individual academic and social interventions, referrals to community agencies, and examining diverse populations and how poverty may impact them. Upon completion of this course, a student will have knowledge about the different kinds of stresses children and families are under which impact school performance. Practical, hands-on experiences combined with pedagogical research will allow teachers to reflect on how to best meet the needs of our most vulnerable learners. Our work together will help us to be reflective practitioners who synthesize and analyze research.
ED554 Leadership and Development in Curriculum and Instruction
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Dearani
This course examines past, current, and possible future teaching strategies and curriculum approaches to ensure instruction meets appropriate trends for content and learning goals while simultaneously systematically addressing students’ diverse needs, abilities, and experiences. Situated as a survey course that bridges curricular theory to instructional practice, learners will experience a deep dialogue rather than conclusive answers, as is the nature of shifting trends and teaching expectations.
ED575 Educational Policy and Reform
Prerequisite: None
Format: Online, Asynchronous
Instructor: Libby
This course prepares educational stakeholders to identify and enact ways in which they can collaborate with and create advocacy plans for involvement at the educational policy and reform level of the field of education. In this course, students will learn key policies and reform movements, ways in which current social movements impact policies, and how research-driven practice informs (and does not inform) reform movements.