The 16-unit Minor in Leadership Studies is a multi-disciplinary program providing students the opportunity to study and practice leadership from multiple disciplines, including both theoretical and experiential components, emphasizing active learning and community service. Regardless of one’s academic major, this minor seeks to improve a student’s abilities for leadership roles in their chosen field. The program has four components: theoretical, experiential, skill building and a culminating capstone.
The minor in Leadership Studies will prepare students of all majors to study the qualities and skills of effective leaders and apply these concepts to improve their leadership behaviors and ethical decision making that effects constructive and effective change. The program seeks to educate students to be prepared to serve as leaders in their professions and in their community. The Leadership Studies Minor emphasizes ethical, cultural, historical, organizational, philosophical, political, psychological, societal and ethical dimensions of leadership. Students will learn the nature of leadership, examine strategies for effecting change and practice ways to become a better leader in multicultural contexts.
The program is comprised of courses offered by several of the University’s academic departments. NOTE: Students may use any combination of courses listed in a category to satisfy that category’s 4-unit requirement. Not all courses are available every semester. To determine day and evening course options, please consult the current semester’s schedule on Self Service or contact the Office of the Registrar.
Adult Degree Completion (ADC) Program: Students enrolled in the Adult Degree Completion baccalaureate programs may also complete the Minor in Leadership Studies. Adult Degree Completion (ADC) students may take any course approved in the current catalog for the Minor in Leadership Studies offered in the evenings. Some courses will be offered in a blended face-to-face/online format.
Students contemplating a Leadership Studies minor are required to meet with their major advisor, and then the advisor for the Minor in Leadership Studies, preferably by the beginning of their Sophomore year.
Leadership Studies Minor Requirements
Four units are required in each of the following five categories for a total of 16 units:
| Category 1: Leadership and Teams in Organizations: Theory and Practice |
4 |
| Category 2: Planning and Leading Constructive Change |
4 |
| Category 3: Effective Interpersonal and Group Communication: Leadership and the Self |
4 |
| Category 4: Ethical Leadership in Communities and Societies |
4 |
| Category 5: Integrative Leadership Practice or Civic Engagement Experience |
0 |
| Total Leadership Studies Minor |
16 units |
Category 1: Leadership Theory and Teams in Organizations (4 units)
Compare the prevailing leadership, team, followership and organizational behavior theories applied as a leader and team member in a project serving a community or business clients. Consider leadership skills and styles, self-awareness and an orientation toward others, the ethical responsibilities of leadership, managing conflict and facilitating group decision-making, and the importance of vision and initiative to achieving constructive change and productivity in organizations in our global society.
Topics Include:
Leadership vs Management; Interaction of relationships and tasks and team work
Leadership Traits vs Behaviors; Leadership Skills; Leadership Styles; Contingency and Situational Leadership, Transformational, Authentic and Servant Leadership
360 leadership effectiveness review and reflection
Ethical influence and power dynamics in effecting change
Importance of vision and initiative to achieving ethical and constructive organizational change in diverse cultures (ethnic, gender and geographic)
Organizational structures’ impact on teams and effectiveness; Team and followership theories and applied to team contract in a project
Facilitating decision-making in teams and organizations
Job design and organization development techniques and strategies
Select one 4 unit course from the following to complete this category: (4 units)
| BUS 4046 | Leadership and Teams in Organizations: Theory and Practice | 4.00 units |
| BUS 4165 | Leadership & Change Management | 3.00 units |
Category 2: Planning and Leading Constructive Change (4 units)
Focusing on the heart of leadership, change leadership considers inspiring and effecting positive change by individuals and/or groups in organizations, governments and society. Examine effective change by leaders and leadership practice from historical, organizational, political and/or social contexts.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Systemic change systems in organizational and/or societal change
Effective, ineffective and innovative change movements
Change theories from a variety of disciplinary perspectives
Processes of planning from vision to action steps, and/or leadership actions supporting implementation of organizational and/or societal change
How individuals and groups vary in their reaction to change
Communication strategies in the change planning process
Examine how individuals and groups vary in their reaction to change
Constructive aspects of power in facilitating change
Select one 4-unit course below to satisfy completion of this category:
| ART 3812 | Art + Community | 4.00 units |
| ART 3814 | Art + Environment | 4.00 units |
| BUS 4070 | Advanced Management Practices and Negotiations | 4.00 units |
| BUS 4073 | Managing Not-For-Profit Organizations | 4.00 units |
| BUS 4080 | Socially and Environmentally Responsible Management | 4.00 units |
| BUS 4140 | Organizational Behavior & Structure | 3.00 units |
| CASC 3400/HCS 3400 | SL: Theory and Practice for Community Action and Social Change | 4.00 units |
| ENSC 3300 | Advanced Environmental Science | 3.00 units |
| ENSC 4000 | Conservation Biology | 3.00 units |
| GPH 4200 | Evidence-Based Public Health and Evaluation | 4.00 units |
| GPH 4210 | Comparative Health Policy | 4.00 units |
| GPH 4230 | Healthcare Organization, Leadership, and Innovation | 4.00 units |
| NURS 4200 | Leadership and Nursing Care Management | 4.00 units |
| PHIL 3121 | Education for Democracy | 4.00 units |
| PHIL 3124 | Othering and Belonging | 4.00 units |
| POL 3300 | State and Local Politics and Policy | 4.00 units |
| POL 3304 | Political Parties and Interest Groups | 4.00 units |
| POL 3308 | Presidency & Congress: Struggle for Power | 4.00 units |
| POL 3310 | Campaigns, Elections and Political Behavior | 4.00 units |
| PSY 3160 | Social Psychology | 4.00 units |
| RLGN 3075/RLGN 1075 | Religion and Social Theory | 4.00 units |
| RLGN 3186/RLGN 1086 | Faith-based Social Teachings | 4.00 units |
Courses designated as Service Learning also apply
BUS 4140: ADC students only - This course also applies to Category 3, but only applied in one category
GPH 4210: Also applies to Category 4, but only applied in one category
Category 3: Effective Interpersonal and Group Communications (4 units)
Featuring theories of the self, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication patterns, human interactions and skill building to communicate your leadership message. Psychological and interpersonal approaches to leadership and behaviors in dyads, groups and teams in organizations and society leading to ethical goal achievement.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Critical thinking and written and oral l communication skills, persuasive public speaking and presentation skills, and active listening
Cultural humility across race, age, gender, sexualities, disability, SES, and differences among local and global cultures
Mediation, coaching and/negotiation skills
Conflict resolution and prevention
Self-awareness and self-management, relationship awareness and relationship management for effective interpersonal communication
Motivation, persuasion, social influence, conformity
Empowerment, group process, group-think and decision making
Select one 4-unit course below to satisfy completion of this category:
Courses designated as Service Learning also apply
BUS 3923, CMS 3601, POL 3220: Also applies to Category 4, but only applied in one category
BUS 4140: Also applies to Category 2, but only applied in one category
BUS 4140, BUS 4155: ADC students only
Category 4: Ethical Leadership in Communities and Societies (4 units)
Examines the impact of leadership in communities, cultures, governments, societies, and their institutional structures. Analyzes the challenges facing individuals, groups and organizations in pursuit of ethical behavior and socially responsible decision-making to effect social change at the individual, governmental, nonprofit and corporate level. Considers motivations, roles, conflicting values, and spheres of influence by individuals and groups on others. Analysis the diversity of political structures and practices around the world are considered. The impact of ethical behaviors and actions related to various local and/or global organizational domains are examined.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Motivation, persuasion, social influence, conformity and obedience, small group dynamics, group process and decision making
Social movements, empowerment, risk taking, roles, group think, political structures and practices
Ethical and/or social justice considerations of contemporary political and socioeconomic dimensions of social change
Civic engagement
Stakeholder impacts
Environmental sustainability and/or interrelationships between economic development and the environment
Diversity of political structures and practices around the world
Select one 4-unit course below to satisfy completion of this category:
Courses designated as Service Learning also apply
BUS 3923, CMS 3600, PHIL 3220: Also applies to Category 3, but only applied in one category
GPH 4210: Also applies to Category 2, but only applied in one category
Category 5: Integrative Leadership Practice/Civic Engagement Experience
Lead and follow through interactive experiences within courses in the Leadership Minor, or with organizations, community groups or clubs to conduct team projects or activities approved for this category. In this experiential component, students will integrate the specialized knowledge gained in their major with that of the leadership minor through leadership and team practice experiences. These leadership practice options involve community and civic engagement leadership opportunities, as well as projects in for-profit, non-profit and public organizations. This category provides opportunities to hone skills in these areas and practice working cooperatively with team members.
The Center for Creative Leadership, a national best practice leadership center, proposes two levels of learning leadership skills from experience. Basic leadership skills are a fundamental component of leadership development and practice of these skills is a requirement for the minor. It is a bonus if there are opportunities to learn and practice advanced leadership skills in the practice experience, but advanced skills are not required.
- Basic Leadership Skills: Effective communication, listening, assertiveness, providing constructive feedback, effective stress management, building technical competence, building effective relationships with peers and supervisors, setting goals, holding subordinates accountable, conducting meetings.
- Advanced Leadership Skills (NOT REQUIRED): Delegating, managing conflict; negotiation; problem solving; improving creativity; diagnosing performance problems in individuals, groups and organizations; team building for work teams; building high performance teams; team building at the top; development planning; credibility; coaching; and empowerment.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 45 hours in the
Integrative Leadership or Civic Engagement Experience by completing any of the following options:
A. Leadership Internship that includes either basic and/or advanced leadership and team skills
Completion of an internship in a work situation that constitutes a valid educational experience in the student’s discipline applicable to their major, and that is relevant to developing the students’ leadership skills. Students practice at least three of either basic and/or advanced leadership skills as defined by the Center for Creative Leadership. Students are required to complete requirements as outlined in their major’s internship program.
- Students complete a Registrar Form citing the leadership skills that will be included the internship experience. The form is signed by the site supervisor at the internship location and the Leadership Minor Advisor.
B. Enroll in and participate in a Service Learning course
Completion of a course with a Service Learning designation. The service learning course outcomes promote social responsibility, analysis of root causes and structural issues, respect for diverse backgrounds, cultural perspectives, and community voice. SL courses integrate community engagement fully into the course content and themes.
C. A Leadership Practice that is Project Based, which may include co-curricular experiences Participation leading a project initiative, serving as a team leader related to an organizational or a community change project. Students practice at least three of either basic and/or advanced leadership skills as defined by the Center for Creative Leadership. The project-based learning may be embedded in a course, or include co-curricular experiences linked to a campus or community project. All Leadership Practice options require fulfilling project hours (45 hours minimum), and includes written assignments and reflections.
- Completion of these courses noted in other Leadership Minor categories will fulfill this Leadership Practice experience:
BUS 3923 Leadership In Action
CMS 3601 Public Relations and Marketing I
CMS 3602 Public Relations and Marketing II
CASC 3400 Theory & Practice for Social Change
GPH 4230 Healthcare Organization, Leadership and Innovation
HONO 3301 Community Engaged Art
HIST 3901 Public History
PSY 4994 Field Placement
NURS 3106 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
NURS 4150 (SL) Community Health Nursing and Lab
NURS 4200 Leadership and Nursing Care Management
Other eligible courses may apply to be added to this category