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Leadership Studies

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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Overview

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. This interdisciplinary program, designed for students in all majors, consists of a 21-credit-hour leadership studies certificate, a 15-credit leadership studies minor, and a suite of leadership studies courses. Students earning either the certificate or minor in leadership studies will develop the knowledge and skills to effect positive change as they enter the public, nonprofit or private sectors. The certificate and minor are awarded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and noted on the student's transcript. To learn more about the program, visit our website: https://leadership.las.iastate.edu/.

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 Minor

The minor in leadership studies requires the completion of 15 credit hours through three 3-credit-hour required courses in leadership 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 301Leadership Theory and Practice3
LD ST 322Leadership in a Diverse Society3
MGMT 372Ethical and Responsible Management3
or MGMT 422 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

 Leadership Electives: Choose 6 credits from the following

AESHM 211Leadership Experiences and Development (LEAD)3
AESHM 421Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential3
AGEDS 315Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture3
COMST 218Conflict Management3
COMST 313Leadership Communication Theories3
ENGR 150Foundations of Leadership Development and Learning1
ENGR 250Leadership in Engineering Teams1
ENGR 350Dean's Leadership Seminar1
LD ST 122Leading with Purpose1
LD ST 270Campus Leadership Development3
LD ST 291Leading Change4
LD ST 291ALeading Change: General4
LD ST 291BLeading Change: U.S. Diversity4
LD ST 291CLeading Change: International Perspectives4
LD ST 293Special Projects3
LD ST/WGS 333Women, Gender, and Leadership3
LD ST 370Special Topics1-3
LD ST 422Leadership Capstone Seminar: Theory to Practice3
LD ST 488Research on Gender and Leadership3
M E 412Ethical Responsibilities of a Practicing Engineer3
MGMT 372Ethical and Responsible Management3
MGMT 422Negotiation and Conflict Resolution3
MGMT 472Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations3
PHIL 235Ethical Issues in a Diverse Society3
SP CM 312Business and Professional Speaking3

Leadership Studies Certificate

The certificate in leadership studies requires the completion of 21 credit hours including the 9 credit leadership studies core. 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 301Leadership Theory and Practice3
LD ST 322Leadership in a Diverse Society3
MGMT 372Ethical and Responsible Management3
or MGMT 422 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Communication Electives:

Choose 3 credits from the following

COMST 214Professional Communication3
COMST 310Intercultural Communication3
COMST 314Organizational Communication3
ENGL 302Business Communication3
SP CM 212Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
SP CM 312Business and Professional Speaking3
SP CM/WGS 323Gender and Communication3

Leadership Electives:

Choose 6 credits from the following

AESHM 211Leadership Experiences and Development (LEAD)3
AESHM 222Creativity on Demand3
AESHM 287Principles of Management in Human Sciences3
AESHM 421Developing Global Leadership: Maximizing Human Potential3
AESHM 474Entrepreneurship in Human Sciences3
AGEDS 315Personal, Professional, and Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture3
C E 306Project Management for Civil Engineers3
COMST 218Conflict Management3
COMST 313Leadership Communication Theories3
COMST 317Small Group Communication3
C R P 429Planning in Developing Countries3
C R P 432Community Planning Studio4-6
C R P 435Planning in Small Towns3
C R P 492Planning Law, Administration and Implementation3
CON E 380Engineering Law3
ENGR 150Foundations of Leadership Development and Learning1
ENGR 250Leadership in Engineering Teams1
ENGR 350Dean's Leadership Seminar1
HD FS 395Children, Families, and Public Policy3
LAS 151Dean’s Leadership Seminar I1
LD ST 122Leading with Purpose1
LD ST 270Campus Leadership Development3
LD ST 290Independent Study1-3
LD ST 291Leading Change4
LD ST 291ALeading Change: General4
LD ST 291BLeading Change: U.S. Diversity4
LD ST 291CLeading Change: International Perspectives4
LD ST 293Special Projects1-3
LD ST/WGS 333Women, Gender, and Leadership3
LD ST 370Special Topics1-3
LD ST 422Leadership Capstone Seminar: Theory to Practice3
LD ST/WGS 488Research on Gender and Leadership3
LD ST 490Independent Study1-3
M E 412Ethical Responsibilities of a Practicing Engineer3
MGMT 372Ethical and Responsible Management3
MGMT 422Negotiation and Conflict Resolution3
MGMT 472Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations3
N S 412Leadership and Ethics3
PHIL 235Ethical Issues in a Diverse Society3
POL S 310State and Local Government3
POL S 271Public Organizations and Leadership3
POL S/WGS 385Women in Politics3
POL S 475Management in the Public Sector3
POL S 487Electronic Democracy3
SOC 310Community3
SOC/POL S 334Politics and Society3
SP CM 110Listening3
SP CM/POL S 417Campaign Rhetoric3
U ST 315Cyclone Aide Leaders Seminar2
WGS 301International Perspectives on Women and Gender3
WGS 435Gender, Globalization and Development3

Capstone Courses:

Choose 3 credits of the following

LD ST 422Leadership Capstone Seminar: Theory to Practice3
LD ST 490Independent 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.