Leadership Studies Program

Minor in Leadership Studies

REQUIRED COURSES --Three Leadership Studies core courses (7 credits)--680:010; 680:110; 680:188, an internship (2-3 credits), and three elective courses (8-9 credits). The three electives should be selected in consultation with the Director of Leadership Studies, with one from each of three categories--Diversity, Ethics, and General--as further described below.

Diversity Electives (3-credit courses) -- Criteria: The purpose of the diversity requirement is to increase students' understanding of social and cultural pluralism with special emphasis on groups for whom there are issues of access and opportunity. An elective may count toward the diversity requirement if it includes one or more of the following:

Philosophical and theoretical aspects of diversity, for example, different ideologies.
Psychological and sociological analyses of diversity, for example, psychological analyses of stereotypic behavior.
Perspectives and experiences of diverse populations.
Examination of leadership roles in cross-cultural perspective.

Ethics Electives (3 credit courses) -- Criteria: The purpose of the ethics elective is to raise students' awareness of ethical issues and principles as well as factors that contribute to the integrity of a leader. An elective may count toward the ethics elective if it includes one or more of the following:

Ethical theories and concepts.
Critical reflection (informed by philosophical ethics) upon practices, institutions, methods of decision-making, and personal or societal values and goals.
Ethical analyses of issues in the study of social, sexual, or political dynamics.
Ethical analyses of issues in professional and applied fields.

General Electives (2or 3 credit courses) -- Criteria: The purpose of this elective is for students to identify and work on the special interest and skill areas that wil contribute to their development as a leader. An elective may count toward the general elective requirement if it covers one or more of the following:

Philosophical, theoretical, or practical aspects of leadership.
Historical, psychological, or sociological analyses of leadership.
Leadership reflected through literature Understanding and developing interpersonal and communication skills essential to successful leadership.
Analysis of the relationship between leadership and society, including how leadership, social policy, and society and its institutions and is in turn shaped by these forces. Issues facing leaders.
Research paradigms and methodologies employed in the study of leadership.

A minimum grade of C must be earned for a course to be counted as an elective.

A student may petition for an elective course not included on the published list:

Obtain a "Student Request" form from the Registrar's Office or from Academic Advising and Career Services. On the request, students should address how the course meets the criteria for a course to be considered as an elective for the Minor in Leadership Studies: the course must contribute to the development of leadership potential by (a) enhancing developmental or interpersonal skills and/or (b) expanding awareness of the variety of approaches to leadership and concepts of leaders and followers, and/or (c) increasing understanding of societal and philosophical issues affected by the affecting leadership.