Overview and Program Requirements

Leadership focuses on developing a holistic leader through comprehensive and practical leadership education. Students who complete the degree will have knowledge in foundational leadership theories, complexity, ethics, critical thinking, communication, culture and diversity, decision-making, coaching and mentoring, and other areas related to leadership. This degree ensures that students have the appropriate skills to contribute as a leader in all aspects of society. With TEPU’s online educational opportunities and a network of education facilities designed to support student advancement in the U.S. and abroad, students have the flexibility to learn at a campus near them or even in their own home. Leadership Studies is a 100% online program that trains you in leadership theory, organizational communication, public and private sector leadership, church leadership, conflict resolution, ethics, and administrative theory. Students learn how to approach contemporary problems from a strong Christian framework. You will graduate equipped to led teams to tackle pressing problems.

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.

To accomplish this, the program focuses on four broad goals:

Promotes within each student greater self-awareness, a concern for others and a respect for the uniqueness and dignity of each person

Teaches skills related to research, such as conducting research, critically assessing others' research, and communicating effectively in both oral and written forms

Educates students to understand both the scientific and humanistic perspectives in leadership and to apply this knowledge to counseling practice.

Cultivates in students the desire to develop an ethical professional identity.

Program Learning Outcomes means that Students will demonstrate:

knowledge of the major concepts, theories, and empirical findings in the core content areas of psychology.

knowledge of methodological, analytical, and research skills appropriate to the field of psychology.

knowledge of the sociocultural and contextual nature of leadership.

knowledge of ethics involved in conducting research and working in the field of leadership.

skills needed for post baccalaureate employment, graduate, or professional school.

Program Delivery

This program is delivered entirely online.

Online learning

Online courses consist of assigned readings, synchronous or asynchronous lectures, interactive discussions, and individual and team assignments.

You’re expected to meet deadlines and contribute meaningfully to your class. Your contributions are a big part of everyone’s learning.

In this program, you'll take 60 credits, and can complete them at your own pace, depending on your own life and schedule. Some students finish in as few as two and a half years, while others take up to the maximum seven years to complete their degree.

Online courses in this program are typically eight to 12 weeks long. Each online course requires approximately 20 hours of work per week.

Course choices

You can also earn some of your elective course credits for this degree at many other recognized universities and colleges across. We co-operate to give you the chance to take a broader range of courses and hone your skills in your specific field of interest.

Completion options

You'll complete your degree credits by writing a research paper.

Courses description

Leadership Studies

COURSES FOR UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT

LDRS 300 Introduction to Leadership Concepts (3 credit hours) 

This course will actively engage students in the acquisition of information about historical and contemporary theories, concepts, and issues associated with leadership. Students will be exposed to the nature of leadership through presentation of objective material, through group activities, and through laboratory exercises.

LDRS 300 Introduction to Leadership Behavior (3 credit hours)

 An interdisciplinary course designed to introduce the student to the tasks, strategies, and skills of effective leadership. Course activities will move the student from theory to the practical processes of leadership. Basic concepts essential to personal skills development and organizational leadership behavior are included.

LDRS 305 Strategic Leadership   of Public Service Organizations: People, Information & Money (3 credit hours)

Presents the rationale for strategic planning, and techniques and processes to develop and implement strategic planning in the public sector. Graded on A-F basis only.

310 Cross-Cultural Business Communications (3 credit hours)

This course will enhance the communication of the individual within social and cultural environments. Learning to effectively communicate in spoken format (face-to-face, virtual, one-on-one, and in group settings), in a written format (emails, memos, notes, reports). In line with the university’s Social and Global Perspective learning outcome, we will exam social and cultural communication differences.

315 Management and Leadership (3 credit hours)

This course provides theoretical and practical foundations to illustrate the interdependence and its implications for students’ learning and professional goals. Thus, the course introduces management theory and managerial roles to plan, organize, implement, monitor, and evaluate.

Yet, real-world conditions require that managers and leaders need additional skills than just the above to meet organization needs.

The course thus introduces leadership theory and some best practices of change leadership such as to scan, focus, align, mobilize, and inspire. The course emphasizes three areas: (1) why managers need to lead staff through periods of change and help transform organizational culture, (2) why formal and informal leaderful behaviors are needed at many levels of the organization, and (3) why multiple intelligences are needed not only to manage and lead change, but also to predict and address resistance, anxiety, and the forces of inertia that can sabotage even small change efforts.

LDRS 325  Ethics & Leadership (3 credit hours)

Case studies, discussion, and readings used to integrate critical thinking about ethical issues into business decision. Development and application of ethical decision-making frameworks.

LDRS 330 Leadership in Organizations: Principles and Practices (3 credit hours) 

This course is a seminar that focuses on the understanding and application of organizational theory and leadership principles. In addition, the course will include components on developing individual leadership skills and different theories of organizations. The applications component of the course will include a variety of approaches such as cases, films, guest speakers, individual self-assessments, role play, team building exercises, and a leadership.

335 Communications for Leadership (3 credit hours) 

This course provides insight on the role of organizations as communication systems in which effective writing and speaking are crucial. Emphasis is on developing awareness of verbal and written styles, interpersonal skills, and creating a repertoire of writing and speaking strategies.

LDRS 340 Ethics, Values, & Principled Leadership (3 credit hours) 

In this course students will study ethics, to include its philosophical foundations. Students will also learn and practice ethical decision-making through dilemma resolution processes. Leadership virtues, values, and character will be emphasized as leadership essentials. Servant leadership, authentic leadership, and the role of individual spirituality will be explored. Principled leadership will be defined as the subscription to a particular set of positive values.

LDRS 345 Leading Change: Organization Development and Transformation (3 credit hours) 

In this course students examine the leadership processes associated with achieving effective change, including transformational and situational leadership. Students will study the conscious and purposeful processes involved in developing an organization's capabilities targeted toward achieving its mission. Students will engage in organizational diagnoses and study leader intervention methods aimed at achieving organizational change with the goal of improvement toward mission accomplishment.

LDRS  420 Leadership in the Public/Nonprofit Sectors (3 credit hours) 

This course prepares leaders who can work for the common good across public, nonprofit and private sectors, and lead and manage in a diverse world. Students gain an understanding of the unique nature and challenges of leadership in public service and roles for leaders. Theories of public and nonprofit leadership and their application in complex and inter-sectoral settings are considered.

Students in this course will develop an understanding of the key theories, principles, and practices of community leadership and civic engagement. Additionally, students will gain knowledge of skills for promoting and sustaining community change and improvement. Topics include social justice, developing citizenship, community building, mobilization and advocacy, visioning, and strategic action planning.

LDRS Entrepreneurship 405 (3 credit hours) 

This course focuses on why people become entrepreneurs, the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, the changing demographics of entrepreneurs, and the importance of entrepreneurship to the economy and society. In this class, students will examine the entrepreneurial process from the decision to become an entrepreneur through idea generating, writing a business plan, competitor analysis, getting financing, marketing, team building, considering ethical and legal issues, and developing strategies for growth.

LDRS 305 Leadership and Team Dynamics:

Team building, teamwork, and team leading draws information from a wide variety of disciplines to introduce students to the ever important topic of teaming.

LDRS 310 Field Work in Leadership Studies (3 credit hours) 

This interdisciplinary course is designed to provide the student with an awareness and understanding of current issues relating to the nature and tasks of collaborative leadership behavior. The student is asked to identify an issue or problem and practice leadership by developing and implementing a community project.

LDRS 320 Women and Leadership (3 credit hours) 

 Current issues and trends of women and leadership will be examined from historical to contemporary and from social to personal perspectives.

AFS 325 Leadership in African Communities  (3 credit hours) 

Historical, cultural, and political examination of the dynamics of leadership in African American communities. Focus on structure of Leadership in the context of gender, ideology, and style. Interdisciplinary examination of impact of leaders on broader American society.

LDRS  415 Advanced Leadership Behaviors (3 credit hours)

The behaviors and skill necessary to be effective at doing leadership will be explored through both the leader and follower perspectives. Advanced influence, motivation, decision-making, conflict/ negotiation strategies and meeting management will be examined primarily in the interpersonal context. Course materials and activities will challenge students to connect theory to practice.

LDRS 420 Global Leadership (3 credit hours) 

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the emerging field of global leadership. Students will gain an understanding of the history and origins of global leadership and the theoretical approaches to global leadership in complex, modern contexts. Students will be challenged to access primary sources of global leadership literature and think deeply and critically about the current state of theoretical development in global leadership. Students will also explore various global leadership competencies and learn how to apply these competencies in various regions and cultures throughout the world. Requisite Information.

LDRS 425 Seminar in Organizational Leadership(3 credit hours)  :

Students will conduct an in-depth examination of a particular topic in the study of organizational leadership. Course title and topic of the study will be displayed in the class schedule.

LDRS 430 Principles of Civic Leadership (3 credit hours) :

This course is designed to provide the student with a deeper understanding of the major components and principles of civic leadership. Classroom activities examine the leadership process in the context of community and society. This approach encourages ordinary citizens to take responsibility, organize, and build coalitions for the purpose of effecting social change.

LDRS 435 Principles of Organizational Leadership (3 credit hours) :

This course is designed to provide students with the basic principles and elements of the growing organizational leadership discipline. Leadership theories and behaviors are examined in the context of the modern organization. Requisite Information.

LDRS 440 Leadership and Personal Development (3 credit hours) :

The focus of this course will be on you as the leader from an individual perspective. It will be an introduction to the principles and practices of positive interpersonal relationships for leadership development. The course will be based on each student's perception of their own life experiences that have helped them reach this level in their leadership development journey (Earlier), where they are now in that journey (Current), and their personal leadership goals.

LDRS 445 Theoretical Foundations of Leadership: (3 credit hours) 

The purpose of this course is to expose students to the large body of organizational leadership theory and research. Both historical and contemporary approaches will be examined in detail. Students will be required to analyze the research critically from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Finally, course material will focus on organizational leadership in multiple contexts and levels of analysis (individual, team, organization, and community).

LDRS 450    Organizational Systems, Change and Leadership: (3 credit hours) 

This class will challenge students to embrace a systems view of leadership and organizational change at the organizational level. Students will compare, contrast and critique both seminal and modern theories and models of organizational learning, knowledge creation, and organizational capacity building and apply them to their own organizational settings. The course will enhance student ability to think systematically and develop comprehensive understanding of core competencies required to initiate and sustain change in organizations. Requisite Information: PR, graduate standing

LDRS 455 Leadership in Teams and Collaborative Environments (3 credit hours) :

This course examines the leadership process in the context of team and group dynamics. It investigates process and content issues of team building, interpersonal and group relations, and effective problem solving and decision-making skills in collaborative environments. The course places particular emphasis on the relationship between teams within organizations. Requisite Information: PR, graduate standing

LDRS 460 Qualitative Research Methods (3 credit hours):

This course will give students an understanding of the scientific method and its application to qualitative research. Students will develop a research question, collect, and analyze data and develop conclusions for qualitative methods. Students will explore appropriate means to present and disseminate the research to help organizations and communities to make accurate and informed decisions.

LDRS 465 Ethical Leadership (3 credit hours)

This course develops a framework for ethical thinking and reflection. The course emphasizes the moral, ethical, and social responsibilities of organizational leaders, as well as the application of principles to organizational leadership behavior and decision-making. Students will also investigate current research trends regarding ethical issues in business and other organizational contexts.

LDRS 470 Democratic Leadership (3 credit hours)

This course introduces students to deliberative democratic theory and offers them the chance to reflect on and practice effective dialogic strategies for changing governance and society.

Asks what makes social policies and institutions morally acceptable, primarily through a discussion about justice and injustice. Topics include relativism, the sources of competing conceptions of justice and equality, cost-benefit analysis, distributive justice, and beneficence.

AFS 300 Leadership in African  Communities  (3 credit hours) 

Historical, cultural and political examination of the dynamics of leadership in African American communities. Focus on structure of Leadership in the context of gender, ideology, and style. Interdisciplinary examination of impact of leaders on broader American society.

AFS 305 Africana Studies and Community Involvement (3 credit hours) 

First part of a two-semester service-learning experience. Provides interdisciplinary and experientially based opportunity for students to engage in community and classroom-based experiences that examine issues of relevance to African American people (or communities in the African Diaspora). Students apply and examine concepts addressed in class to their own practical experience in service to others. Development of interpersonal and professional skills. Focus on the values, beliefs, attitudes, and ideas that are central to definitions of democracy, social justice, civic resiliency, self-help, and public life.

ETHICS  300 Communication Ethics (3 credit hours) 

 Ethical issues in public and private communication; role of communication in expressing and realizing individual and social values.

ETHICS 315 (3 credit hours) 

An Exploration of Some Moral Qualities

Asks what we fundamentally require of ourselves and others if we are to live together in morally acceptable ways by discussing moral qualities as they appear in various arenas. Topics include: autonomy, respect, integrity, and trust.

ETHICS 320 (3 credit hours) 

Justice Matters: An Exploration of Justice as a Social

Asks what makes social policies and institutions morally acceptable, primarily through a discussion about justice and injustice. Topics include: relativism, the sources of competing conceptions of justice and equality, cost-benefit analysis, distributive justice, and beneficence.

ETHIC 330 (3 credit hours) 

Ethical and Professional Standards

Ethical issues relevant to teaching, research, and application of ethical behavior in personal and public life.

ETHICS 325 (3 credit hours) 

Ethics, Justice, and Rights in World Literature (3) Concepts of ethics, justice, and rights, appearing in world literature and/or film. This course is a practical overview of key issues, questions, and concepts in applied ethics. Special emphases are placed on the historical development of ethical thinking, a variety of ethical approaches and on multicultural aspects of ethics. Students will also examine a variety of personal, social, and professional ethical issues and problems and learn methods of resolving them through the use of critical thinking skills, sound ethical reasoning and legal and professional codes. Students are provided an active learning experience, increased student interaction and opportunities for independent research into ethical issues of personal interest.

AFS 490 Africana Studies and Community Involvement  (3 credit hours) 

First part of a two-semester service-learning experience. Provides interdisciplinary and experientially based opportunity for students to engage in community and classroom-based experiences that examine issues of relevance to African American people (or communities in the African Diaspora). Students apply and examine concepts addressed in class to their own practical experience in service to others. Development of interpersonal and professional skills. Focus on the values, beliefs, attitudes, and ideas that are central to definitions of democracy, social justice, civic resiliency, self-help, and public life.