Return to Leadership Studies | Educational Leadership | Courses Index
[1] Graduate Courses in Leadership Studies (LEAD)
6V90 SPECIAL TOPICS (Variable credit: 1–3 credit hours.) Course focuses on a specific topic appropriate to the programs and mission of the Department of Leadership Studies. Students will research the topic and develop work samples that demonstrate appropriate application of the content in different contexts.
6302 LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION IN ORGANIZATIONS This course explores the intersection between the practices of leadership and communication within the organizational context. The course challenges students to assess and improve their own communication competencies in light of common organizational leadership opportunities and challenges.
6311 LEADERSHIP AND DECISION MAKING In this course, students take holistic approaches to leading organizations, solving organizational problems with cross-functional ramifications, and making sound decision. The areas covered are applicable to all kinds of organizations, but prime emphasis will be given to higher education and public sector organizations. Case analysis involving individual and group learning will apply strategic thinking.
6320 COUNSELING THEORY IN K-20 EDUCATION This course will introduce theories that involve human development, learning, identity development, career development, personality, behavior, and leadership within organizations. This course is designed to introduce candidates to theories basic to student services in the K-20 education setting. Specific focus is also given to the application of theory in various educational setting and will include current trends and issues. This course will integrate theory and practice in the development of basic helping skills in student services as well as an advocate for student success in school and life.
6321 RESEARCH METHODS This course is designed to teach principles of scientific inquiry, methods and techniques of research, research tools and techniques, research proposals, and the interpretation and critique of research in professional literature. Within this framework, students will examine both quantitative and qualitative designs as they apply to issues within higher education. The course supports the development of individual research as well as team based research projects.
6330 INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING IN THE K-20 EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT The course will address the core assumption and underlying beliefs that impact the counseling roles that are central to the K-20 education setting. This course focuses on the “helping” role of counseling. Specific goals are to develop knowledge and skills that are necessary for student service practitioners. This course is required for candidates enrolled in the College Student Personnel and Administrative Service and School Counseling programs.
7V00 THE RESEARCH ENDEAVOR (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Course addresses issues surrounding the generation and validation of human knowledge. Students will be encouraged to view the research endeavor as arising from an individual’s world view and epistemology that, while it is ultimately singular, can be grouped with other similar approaches. Students will deepen their understanding of the research endeavor from a primarily methodological perspective in at least two areas of personal interest. An even-handed approach to the quantitative and qualitative paradigms will be maintained. Lecture, discussion.
7V12 CURRICULUM POLICY: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the major factors involved in curriculum and instruction policy-making at local, state, national, and international levels. Systematically planning for change to enhance school improvement with be addressed. International education issues will be discussed. Discussion, reflection, case studies, and research papers will be used. Varying credit may be assigned to class.
7302 LEADERSHIP AND PHILOSOPHY Course provides understanding of the role of philosophy inherent within the doctor of philosophy degrees. Reviews historical and contemporary philosophies in light of their impact on the structure an d practice of the discipline of leadership. Explores the discipline of leadership as a framework for responding to the problems and issues of modern organizations. Introduces students to their responsibility as future stewards and scholars who will contribute to formal knowledge and understanding of the discipline and its practice. Lecture, discussion, readings, panels, presentations.
7303 LEADERSHIP AND COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS Course examines organizational cultures; leadership principles; and the management of human, financial, material, and information resources as they occur in an environment of change. Candidates investigate constructs from research to explain behaviors and events in an organizational setting. Candidates should gain a well-rounded understanding of the factors that influence the leadership skills and motivation levels of themselves and of employees in complex organizations. Lecture, case studies, and panels support discussion of course materials.
7304 LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS Course emphasizes ethics, morality, and values as it examines their relationship to leadership in a variety of organizations. Ethical dilemmas are analyzed. Personal ethics, leadership ethics, and ethical decision-making are explored. Lecture, discussion, presentation.
7310 CURRICULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT To advance students’ ability to identify and understand the philosophical underpinnings, societal expectations, public policies, and practical demands which must be reflected in the development of curriculum. This course includes methods of analyzing school curriculum, theories, trends, and methods of curriculum construction. Combines the use of readings, reflection, article reviews, and discussion.
7330 ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION Critically examines the technical core of institutions of higher education and the segment of the organization that leads its academic programs, departments, schools, and colleges – academic affairs. Issues and challenges of curriculum, student learning and development, changing demographics, instruction, faculty development, faculty personnel policies, assessment and accountability, and productivity are explored. Focus on the impact of these challenges on institutional priorities, strategies, and activities.
7331 ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION Examines executive leadership and administrative practices in institutions of higher education. It includes consideration of roles, responsibilities, styles, and differences in more than one organizational context. Focus is on standard conceptual tenets of administration from the literature with the purpose of facilitating thinking about new paradigms that address administrative challenges.
8V08 MAJOR AREA RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Student prepares a manuscript-length paper reflecting original research on a significant topic related to the student’s area of emphasis and the field of leadership studies. The paper includes a preliminary review of the literature and a research design created by the student that can be used to conduct a study. The topic will be selected by the student in agreement with the advisor. Upon completion, the paper will be presented to the advisor for approval and to peers enrolled in the LEAD 8309 Seminar in Leadership Inquiry, which is taken concurrently.
8V09 SEMINAR IN LEADERSHIP INQUIRY (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) This course is designed to provide a forum for synthesizing the various forms of knowledge and skills necessary to become stewards of leadership. Students demonstrate understanding and ability in the area of leadership studies through discussions of timely topics and presentation of researched issues. The seminar enables students to move from holders of knowledge to communicators of knowledge to potential agents of change. Group discussions, oral and written presentations, guest speakers.
8V11 LEADERSHIP INTERNSHIP (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Provides doctoral students with experience in an appropriate organizational setting and under the supervision of faculty partnered from leadership studies and non-profit organizations, health care, government, or education.
8V36 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN LEADERSHIP (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Examines contemporary issues confronted by leaders in health, education, government and nonprofit organizations. Topics include issues related to diversity, gender, globalization, communication, organizational creativity and evolution, technological challenges, and employee motivation and satisfaction as followership behavior.
8V38 INDEPENDENT READINGS AND RESEARCH IN LEADERSHIP (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Provides the opportunity for students to conduct independent readings and/or research in a selected area of leadership studies. The student must arrange for a graduate faculty member to direct the study and must provide the permission of the department chairperson.
8302 ADVANCED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Course explores qualitative methods used in social science research, focusing primarily on methods used in educational research. Theoretical and ethical aspects of methods will be examined. Readings on specific research methods will contribute to the formulation of a research project to be carried out during the semester. Lecture, discussion.
8305 FOUNDATIONS OF LEADERSHIP THEORY Course explores the phenomenology of leadership through examining metaphors of the leader as community servant, organizational architect, social architect, and moral educator. Beliefs and values, political, and spiritual dimensions of leadership will be juxtaposed against stereotypical political, anthropological, psychological, sociological, and social interactionist understanding of leadership. Integrates historical and ethical dimensions explored in earlier core courses with these new and broader perspectives to cement a coherent foundation upon which the student may build the ensuing courses in the Leadership Studies program. Combines the use of lecture, readings, article reviews, and discussion.
8332 LEADERSHIP IN THE GLOBAL SOCIETY This course examines systems, structures, and organizational issues across the globe and outside of the traditional American systems from an international and comparative perspective. The aim is to prepare students as global leaders with the intercultural facility necessary to lead and manage in a variety of organizations (educational, health related, non-profit). The course aims to help students develop awareness of cross-cultural skills and provide an understanding of critical issues in the management of multinational or transnational organizations. Topics covered include international leadership skills, cross-cultural negotiations, conflict resolution, ethical dilemmas in cross-cultural environments, global human resource management, and designing and managing global organizational cultures.
8334 LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE This course provides multiple approaches to theories of leadership, organizations and change. The primary goal of this course is to present students with ways of thinking about leadership in organizations in order to successfully negotiate change. A secondary goal is to acquaint students with the interdisciplinary underpinnings about leadership theory, change theory, and organizational theory, literature, and research methods. Students will apply various theories to case studies in order to develop insights for organizational change. At completion of the course, student will apply theory to analyze and describe organizational leadership and change initiatives from multiple theoretical perspectives. Students will identify leadership strategies to promote intended change.
8350 FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION Study of public education funding from a national perspective, sources of revenues for public education, issues of equity, efficiency, and adequacy, and issues of resource allocation in the funding of public education.
8352 ADVANCED STUDY OF SCHOOL LAW The course examines the various educational, civil, and criminal laws impacting the school-community setting. Special emphasis will be placed on the state and federal laws influencing the school-community educational setting, as well as the state and federal judicial rulings affecting the school-community setting. Furthermore, special emphasis will focus on the interplay of state/federal laws and state/federal judicial rulings.
9V10 DISSERTATION IN LEADERSHIP STUDIES (Variable credit: 1-9 credit hours.) Candidates conduct an original and substantial research project in their emphasis area with the approval of their advisor and dissertation committee. Candidates must maintain continued enrollment in the course until the course is successfully completed (a minimum of 12 credit hours is required).