Courses

This course provides an introduction to leadership and the interdisciplinary minor in Leadership Education and Development (LEAD). The course is open to all students including those enrolled or considering enrolling in the minor. General topics include the definition and basic tenets of leadership, how leadership differs from management and power-wielding, and the traits/characteristics of leaders and followers including credibility and integrity. Students will read classic works in leadership and create action plans for leadership engagement and development.

This course elevates student awareness of the theoretical foundations of leadership as well as the skills, values, attitudes, and emotions that motivate leaders to take action. Topics include a historical perspective of leadership, the study of a great leader, the Social Change Model for Student Leadership Development, ethical awareness, decision making, power, influence, credibility, integrity, values formation, and system thinking. A major leadership model such as Emotional Intelligence, The Workplace Big Five, Situational Leadership or others will be included in the course. Several assessments will be employed for students to gain awareness of their strengths and areas of development with action planning as an important part of the class. Students will be introduced to the development of their personalized Leadership Development Portfolio (LDP) used throughout the minor. Students select a leadership mentor to work with during this class. Prerequisite: LEAD 001.

This macro-level leadership course focuses on the leadership of teams, organizations, and community. The first part of the course examines issues related to the leadership of teams - building effective teams, conflict management, team role structures, and creating team viability. The second part of the course examines issues related to the leadership of organizations and community - building a shared vision, building a leadership culture, championing organizational change, and the political realities of leading. The major objective of the course is to aid students with (a) becoming effective and ethical leaders, and (b) integrating and applying knowledge and experiences from the prior coursework on their path to leadership development. All course experiences will culminate in a class project - a realistic organizational simulation where students will create a new team-based organization. Prerequisite: LEAD 050 and LEAD 060.  Fulfills Engaged Citizen AOI requirement.

This is the capstone leadership experience for the minor in Leadership Education and Development (LEAD). Students will be actively engaged in an action-oriented, service learning project to create a meaningful change with the goal to create a better community for oneself and others. The student(s) will team with a community partner in a profit or not-for-profit organization to define and implement a change initiative. The student(s) and faculty will meet weekly on-campus or via Zoom to discuss the experiences and learning occurring during the practicum as it unfolds. The student will complete assignments and the experience will be documented in a reflective Leadership Development Journal (LDJ). The LDJ is an online, interactive reflective journal that the students will complete during the experience with reaction and interaction with the faculty member teaching the class. This course requires the student(s) to reflect upon and put into practice what they have learned by integrating the program each fall and/or spring term for students to present their experiences and learning. This will be attended by LEAD program students, faculty and interested parties. Prerequisite: LEAD 100.

LEAD 198 - LEADERSHIP IND STUDY, 1-3 credit hrs.

LEAD 199 - SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-3 credit hrs.

Leadership At Sea is a blend of classroom and experiential learning focusing on leadership development, team building, and seamanship. The course features sailing in the Bahamas aboard the tall mast schooner Liberty Clipper. The goal of the course is to elevate the students’ ability to form and work in teams, apply leadership skills in a new environment, learn to sail, and experience life at sea. The course will begin with campus-based instruction on team building, communication, conflict management, the technical aspects of sailing and the history and culture of Nassau and the Bahamas. This will be followed by five days in Nassau that include the following:

1. Meeting with officials at the American Embassy and Bahamian Government.
2. Meeting with faculty and students at the College of the Bahamas.
3. Participating in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure and Marathon Bahamas (run or staff water stations).
4. Completing a historical tour of Nassau.
5. Touring a major cruise liner and meeting with officers.

This course will provide students a chance to study leadership and qualities of leadership as they pertain to a diverse array of women leaders. We will focus on three specific facets to develop an astute understanding and analysis of women's leadership: leadership theories, historical examples of women's leadership, and a contemporary perspective on what women's leadership roles look like today and the challenges women face in realizing these roles. In all of our work, we will pay close attention to issues of race, class, and privilege, and the different ways these social realities impact the ability of women to lead effectively within society along with the creative ways women respond to them. No pre-requisites required.  Fulfills Global and Cultural Understanding AOI.

The internship experience in LEAD is intended to elevate the student’s understanding of leading a domain as they complete a significant work project. LEAD interns spend time interviewing and shadowing leaders as well as attending high-level meetings to learn about how mission, vision and strategic intent are implemented within a defined corporate area. Most LEAD internships have followed either a credit internship within one’s major or work at the company. It is expected that LEAD Internships and Intern Supervisors will provide a high-level work experience that challenges the student to learn about the work and leadership needed for organizational success. Internships are almost always three credit hours with work to credit ratio of 40-50 contact hours per academic credit hour. Prerequisite: LEAD 100