The Leadership Studies Program provides a strong foundation of coursework and experiences for undergraduate students who seek to study, understand and apply the principles of leadership in their current activities and, eventually, in their careers. Complementing their major field of study, students earning either the certificate or minor in leadership studies will be well-prepared to enter the public, nonprofit or private sectors. The certificate and minor are awarded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Completion of the certificate or minor will be noted on the student's transcript.
Objectives
- Develop students’ leadership capacity—which encompasses individual-level capabilities of self-awareness, integrity and commitment; group-level capabilities of collaboration, shared purpose and handling controversy with civility; and community-level capabilities of citizenship and civic responsibility.
- Provide opportunities for students to study leadership by learning effective communication practices, organizational theories, ethical principles, an appreciation of diversity, intrapersonal development and the value of community service.
- Cultivate students’ understanding of social empowerment and social justice to create positive and sustainable change.
- Challenge students to critically examine leadership at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, team, organizational and societal levels.
- Bring students into contact with community leaders and faculty members from diverse academic departments, backgrounds and leadership experiences.
- Prepare students to undertake leadership roles in their careers and in service to their community through coursework and co-curricular engagement.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the certificate or minor in leadership studies, students will be able to:
- Recognize leadership as a set of skills, knowledge and attitudes that can be learned.
- Understand traditional and emergent leadership theories and apply them in practice.
- Comprehend key concepts of communication theories, organizational theories, contemporary diversity issues and ethical principles.
- Practice and evaluate their own capacity to lead effectively within teams, organizations and diverse communities.
- Develop and implement plans for continually improving their leadership capacity.
- Demonstrate proficiencies in written and oral communication.
Leadership Studies Certificate
The certificate in leadership studies requires the completion of 21 credit hours through three, 3-credit-hour required courses in leadership, speech communication and organizational theory. An additional 12 credit hours are earned from approved electives including 3 hours in communication; 6 hours in leadership; and 3 hours of a capstone experience through a course, internship or study abroad. The capstone course should focus on the scholarship of leadership in the student's field of study, whereas an internship or a study abroad should provide a leadership-in-practice experience.
At least 9 credits must be taken in courses numbered at the 300-level or above. At least 9 credits used for the certificate cannot be used to meet any other department, college or university requirement for the baccalaureate degree except to satisfy the total credit requirement for graduation and to meet credit requirements in courses numbered 300 or above. Courses for the certificate cannot be taken on a pass/not-pass basis. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 is required in courses taken for the certificate.
Core Courses: 9 credits of required core courses
LD ST 322 | Leadership Styles and Strategies in a Diverse Society | 3 |
SP CM 312 | Business and Professional Speaking | 3 |
MGMT 371 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
or POL S 371 | Public Organizations and Leadership |
Communication Electives: Choose 3 credits from the following
COMST 214 | Professional Communication | 3 |
COMST 310 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
COMST 314 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
COMST 404 | Research Seminar | 3 |
ENGL 302 | Business Communication | 3 |
P R 305 | Publicity Methods | 3 |
SP CM 212 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
SP CM 322 | Argumentation, Debate, and Critical Thinking | 3 |
SP CM/WGS 323 | Gender and Communication | 3 |
SP CM 327 | Persuasion and Social Influence | 3 |
SP CM 412 | Rhetorical Criticism | 3 |
SP CM 497 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Leadership Electives: Choose 6 credits from the following
AESHM 211 | Leadership Experiences and Development (LEAD) | 3 |
AESHM 222 | Creativity on Demand | 3 |
AESHM 287 | Principles of Management in Human Sciences | 3 |
AESHM 421 | Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential | 3 |
AESHM 474 | Entrepreneurship in Human Sciences | 3 |
AGEDS 315 | Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture | 3 |
C E 306 | Project Management for Civil Engineers | 3 |
COMST 218 | Conflict Management | 3 |
COMST 313 | Leadership Communication Theories | 3 |
COMST 317 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
C R P 429 | Planning in Developing Countries | 3 |
C R P 432 | Community Planning Studio | 4-6 |
C R P 435 | Planning in Small Towns | 3 |
C R P 492 | Planning Law, Administration and Implementation | 3 |
CON E 380 | Engineering Law | 3 |
ENGR 150 | Foundations of Leadership Development and Learning | 1 |
ENGR 155 | Leadership in Engineering Student Organizations | 1 |
ENGR 250 | Leadership in Engineering Teams | 1 |
ENGR 350 | Dean's Leadership Seminar | 1 |
HD FS 395 | Children, Families, and Public Policy | 3 |
LAS 151 | Dean’s Leadership Seminar I | 1 |
LAS 152 | Dean’s Leadership Seminar II | 1 |
LD ST 122 | Leading with Purpose | 1 |
LD ST 270 | Campus Leadership Development | 3 |
LD ST 290 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
LD ST 291 | Leading Through Service Learning | 4 |
LD ST 291A | Leading Through Service Learning: General | 4 |
LD ST 291C | Leading Through Service Learning: International Perspectives | 4 |
LD ST 291B | Leading Through Service Learning: U.S. Diversity | 4 |
LD ST 293 | Special Projects | 1-3 |
LD ST/WGS 333 | Women and Leadership | 3 |
LD ST 370 | Special Topics | 1-3 |
LD ST 422 | Leadership Capstone Seminar: Theory to Practice | 3 |
LD ST/WGS 488 | Research on Women and Leadership | 3 |
LD ST 490 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
M E 412 | Ethical Responsibilities of a Practicing Engineer | 3 |
MGMT 370 | Management of Organizations | 3 |
MGMT 371 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
MGMT 472 | Management of Diversity | 3 |
N S 412 | Leadership and Ethics | 3 |
PHIL 235 | Ethical Issues in A Diverse Society | 3 |
POL S 310 | State and Local Government | 3 |
POL S 371 | Public Organizations and Leadership | 3 |
POL S/WGS 385 | Women in Politics | 3 |
POL S 475 | Management in the Public Sector | 3 |
POL S 487 | Electronic Democracy | 3 |
SOC 310 | Community | 3 |
SOC/POL S 334 | Politics and Society | 3 |
SOC 464 | Strategies for Community Engagement | 3 |
SP CM 110 | Listening | 3 |
SP CM 416 | History of American Public Address | 3 |
SP CM/POL S 417 | Campaign Rhetoric | 3 |
U ST 315 | Cyclone Aide Leaders Seminar | 2 |
WGS 301 | International Perspectives on Women and Gender | 3 |
WGS 435 | Gender, Globalization and Development | 3 |
Capstone Courses: Choose 3 credits of the following
LD ST 422 | Leadership Capstone Seminar: Theory to Practice | 3 |
LD ST 490 | Independent Study (Must include a leadership focus and be pre-approved by the leadership studies faculty.) | 1-3 |
Study abroad: Must include a leadership focus and be pre-approved by the leadership studies faculty. | ||
Other capstones may be approved with leadership studies faculty permission if they include a significant leadership component (e.g., COMST 404 or AESHM 421 with a leadership-based project). Students wishing to take a capstone course not listed here must receive approval prior to registering for the course and must demonstrate in writing how the course includes a significant leadership component. |
Leadership Studies Minor
The minor in leadership studies requires the completion of 15 credit hours through three, 3-credit-hour required courses in leadership, speech communication and organizational theory, and an additional 6 credit hours earned from approved leadership electives.
At least 9 credits must be taken in courses numbered at the 300-level or above. At least 9 credits used for the minor cannot be used to meet any other department, college or university requirement for the baccalaureate degree except to satisfy the total credit requirement for graduation and to meet credit requirements in courses numbered 300 or above. Courses for the minor cannot be taken on a pass/not-pass basis. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 is required in courses taken for the minor.
Core Courses: 9 required credits
LD ST 322 | Leadership Styles and Strategies in a Diverse Society | 3 |
SP CM 312 | Business and Professional Speaking | 3 |
MGMT 371 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
or POL S 371 | Public Organizations and Leadership |
Leadership Electives: Choose 6 credits from the following
AESHM 211 | Leadership Experiences and Development (LEAD) | 3 |
AESHM 421 | Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential | 3 |
AGEDS 315 | Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture | 3 |
COMST 218 | Conflict Management | 3 |
COMST 313 | Leadership Communication Theories | 3 |
ENGR 150 | Foundations of Leadership Development and Learning | 1 |
ENGR 155 | Leadership in Engineering Student Organizations | 1 |
ENGR 250 | Leadership in Engineering Teams | 1 |
ENGR 350 | Dean's Leadership Seminar | 1 |
LD ST 122 | Leading with Purpose | 1 |
LD ST 270 | Campus Leadership Development | 3 |
LD ST 291 | Leading Through Service Learning | 4 |
LD ST 291A | Leading Through Service Learning: General | 4 |
LD ST 291B | Leading Through Service Learning: U.S. Diversity | 4 |
LD ST 291C | Leading Through Service Learning: International Perspectives | 4 |
LD ST 293 | Special Projects | 3 |
LD ST/WGS 333 | Women and Leadership | 3 |
LD ST 370 | Special Topics | 1-3 |
LD ST 422 | Leadership Capstone Seminar: Theory to Practice | 3 |
LD ST 488 | Research on Women and Leadership | 3 |
M E 412 | Ethical Responsibilities of a Practicing Engineer | 3 |
MGMT 370 | Management of Organizations | 3 |
MGMT 472 | Management of Diversity | 3 |
PHIL 235 | Ethical Issues in A Diverse Society | 3 |
SOC 464 | Strategies for Community Engagement | 3 |
Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
(1-0) Cr. 1. F.S.
Designed for emerging student leaders. Basic leadership skills covering strengths identification, personal skills development, goal achievement, values-based behaviors and mission statement development.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Theory and practice of effective leadership in a campus and community context. Study of effective leadership models and leadership in complex systems. Expectation of engagement in campus activities and community organizations. Assessed service-learning component.
Cr. 1-3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Independent study in Leadership Studies.
No more than 6 credits of LD ST 290 or LD ST 490 may count toward graduation.
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Integration of meaningful service work with instruction and reflection in leadership theory. Academic work may include written projects, presentations, reports, and guided readings.
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Integration of meaningful service work with instruction and reflection in leadership theory. Academic work may include written projects, presentations, reports, and guided readings.
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Integration of meaningful service work with instruction and reflection in leadership theory with a U.S. Diversity focus. Academic work may include written projects, presentations, reports, and guided readings.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
Cr. 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Integration of meaningful service work with instruction and reflection in leadership theory with an International Perspectives focus. Academic work may include written projects, presentations, reports, and guided readings.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
Cr. 1-3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Special projects for the Leadership Studies Program.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Develop and practice leadership skills through understanding personal leadership styles, leadership theory and communication theory, including how they relate to gender issues and cultural diversity. Explore personality types, communication styles and leadership styles; set goals; and participate in leadership opportunities and service.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with WGS). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Sophomore classification
Examination of historical and contemporary barriers to and opportunities for women's leadership in a variety of contexts, including professions and public service. Theories of women's leadership, gender differences in leadership styles, and perceptions and expectations about women's leadership. Multiple perspectives of women's leadership highlighted through lectures, readings, videos, guest speakers and group work.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. Alt. F., offered irregularly.Alt. S., offered irregularly.Alt. SS., offered irregularly.
Prereq: None
Seminar on special topics, research and theory in leadership studies. Students must register for a different topic each time. Not open to first-year students.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: LD ST 322
Critical analysis of leadership theory to inform practice, with emphasis on ethical leadership, research, and the alignment of personal and organizational values.
(Cross-listed with WGS). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Research on women and leadership in selected content areas (e.g., business, education, politics and public service, and popular culture). Following an overview of quantitative and qualitative methods and critical analyses of journal articles on women and leadership, students work individually or in groups in selected content areas to write and present papers.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits. F.S.Alt. SS., offered irregularly.
Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
Independent study for the Leadership Studies Program.
No more than 6 credits of LD ST 490 may count toward graduation.