Course Descriptions for Leadership Studies

Course Descriptions

* General Education Course
+ Course may be repeated
# Lab Required
PERM: Permission
PR: Pre-requisite

Courses for Undergraduate Credit

LDRS 105 Foundations of Leadership in Society: This course will expose students to a variety of concepts, theories and skills relevant to contemporary leadership thought. Students will be challenged to consider their personal conceptions and philosophy of leadership. Students will examine leadership within particular contexts such as creating change, ethical leadership, leadership and management, and historical leadership thought and leaders.

LDRS 120 Issues in Leadership: Students will explore behaviors and concepts related to a leadership topic of interest.

LDRS 300 Introduction to Leadership Concepts: 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 302 Introduction to Leadership Behavior: 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 306 Leadership and Team Dynamics: The focus of this course is on understanding structural characteristics of team design, setting the stage for team effectiveness, and developing intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics. The course provides students a hands-on application of the leadership process in a team environment.

LDRS 310 Field Work in Leadership Studies: 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. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 300 and LDRS 302

LDRS 401 Advanced Leadership Seminar I: In this course, theory gives way to practice. Through experiential skill-building activities, assessment, and coaching, this course provides students with a wide variety of skills necessary for success. The course requires students to demonstrate strong conceptual understanding of leadership and the ability to diagnose and plan interventions. This course is a prerequisite to Advanced Leadership Seminar II, and will serve as the planning and beginning stages of the execution of a chosen VALUE project. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 300; LDRS 302; and Acceptance into the VALUE program

LDRS 402 Advanced Leadership Seminar II: This course is an extension of LDRS 401 and requires students to apply lessons learned in the previous lab to implement the change plan that was developed. Through experimentation and consultation with faculty, peers, and mentors, students will work to increase skills related to operations and collaboration. Students will create a comprehensive ePortfolio to showcase their final project and reflections. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 300; LDRS 302; LDRS 310 and Acceptance into the VALUE program

LDRS 407 Global Challenges: The purpose of this course is to educate and encourage the development of globally competent citizens and leaders. The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be engaged, responsible, and effective members of a globally interdependent society. Most importantly, students will be asked to think deeply about their world (including its future, current issues, its impact on their local area, and our personal responsibility as global citizens).

LDRS 420 Women and Leadership: Current issues and trends of women and leadership will be examined from historical to contemporary and from social to personal perspectives.

LDRS 450 Advanced Leadership Behaviors: 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. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 300 and LDRS 302

LDRS 460 Global Leadership: 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: PR, LDRS 300, or permission

LDRS 490 Topics in Leadership Studies: Courses will provide in-depth study of a particular topic in the study of leadership behavior. Course title and topic of study will be displayed in the class schedule.

LDRS 493 Capstone in Leadership Studies III: This course is designed for students in their final stage of the leadership studies field of emphasis. Activities include practical experience in an organization that will allow a student to exercise, observe, and appreciate leadership behavior.

LDRS 600 Seminar in Organizational Leadership: 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 640 Principles of Civic Leadership: 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 650 Principles of Organizational Leadership: This course examines the principles associated with the growing organizational leadership discipline. Course materials will emphasize human behavior in organizations, the role leadership plays in organizational life, and the process of organizational change and improvement. Students will apply principles of organizational behavior and leadership theory to develop innovative approaches to improve organizational effectiveness. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 300 and LDRS 302 or graduate standing

LDRS 651 Readings in Leadership Studies: Directed readings on a specific topic in leadership. Requisite Information: permission required

LDRS 670 Leadership and Personal Development: 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 (Past), where they are now in that journey (Present), and their personal leadership goals (Future). Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 300 or graduate standing

MIL 100 Fundamentals of Soldiering: This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard.  Students learn basic skills of soldiering including critical thinking, time management, goal setting, communication and introduction to effective leadership practices. This course also provides a basic understanding of tactics, Troop Leading Procedures, and Operations Orders.

MIL 102 The US Army: This course is a deep-dive into the history and core competencies of the U.S Army. Topics will include: Military Justice, Awards, Promotions and Evaluations, U.S Army History, Rank Structure, Military Occupational Specialties, Pay and Allowances, and the Organization of the U.S Army.

MIL 201 Introduction to Military Leadership: This course will introduce all functions of military supervisory positions from Junior and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Company and  Field Grade Commissioned Officers, and translate those into their civilian counterparts. Topics covered will include: Mentorship, and advanced analysis of Troop Leading Procedures, Evaluations, Counselings, After Action Reviews (AAR), and Risk Management, and Leadership Theory.

MIL 203 Basic Army Fieldcraft: This course will focus on the foundations of U.S Army Field Training. Topics will include: Buddy First Aid, Medical Evacuation Procedures, Military Radio Communications, Weapon Systems, Basic Field Craft, Terrain Analysis, Introduction to Plans and Orders, Orienteering.

MIL 301 Introduction to Military Briefings and Instruction: This course introduces instructor roles, delivery methods, teaching and learning models, and professional and ethical requirements. The course also introduces students to classroom management techniques, the basics of building learning objectives and lesson plans, and techniques for effective communication. Students will be evaluated on their ability to deliver planned briefs and instruction while maximizing engagement and learning. Modules will include: Introduction to Public Speaking, Slideology, Military Briefings, Direct Instruction, and Group Instruction.

MIL 302 Soldier Health and Fitness: This course introduces students to the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness doctrine. Modules will include: Behavioral Health, Personnel Readiness, the Performance Triad, Holistic Health, Army Physical Readiness Training, Injury Control, the Occupational Physical Assessment Test, and the Army Combat Fitness Test.

MIL 401 Platoon and Staff Leadership I: This course explores military leadership at the unit level. It is a required course to complete the Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate Program and is a prerequisite for MIL 402 Platoon and Staff Leadership II. Focus will be on introducing principles of military leadership as well as reinforcement of basic soldier skills.

MIL 402 Platoon and Staff Leadership II: This course is a continuation of MIL 401 Platoon and Staff Leadership I. It is a required course to complete the Kansas Army National Guard Officer Candidate Program. Focus will be on intensive study of military leadership functions and processes as well as reinforcement of basic soldier skills. Requisite information: PR, MIL 401

Courses for Graduate Credit

LDRS 801 Theoretical Foundations of Leadership: 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). Requisite Information: PR, graduate standing

LDRS 802 Organizational Systems, Change and Leadership: 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 807 Leadership in Teams and Collaborative Environments: 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 810 Qualitative Research Methods: 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 in order to help organizations and communities to make accurate and informed decisions. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 801

LDRS 811 Organizational Intervention Strategies: Students will apply leadership concepts and assessment techniques to the design, delivery and analysis of leadership development interventions. Students will develop practical applications to leadership development programs on individual, unit and organizational levels. Requisite Information: PR, LDRS 810

LDRS 818 Ethical Leadership 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. Requisite Information: PR, graduate standing

LDRS 870 Readings in Organizational Leadership: Students will develop a research question, intensively review selected readings and critical research to provide a foundation for answering this question, and then provide implications addressing the material reviewed. The instructor and students will agree upon the research question and develop a plan creating a basis for answering the question and providing recommendations for further review. Requisite Information: permission required

LDRS 890 Internship in Organizational Leadership: This course is designed for students in their final stages of the Master of Professional Studies program. Activities include practical experience in an organization which will allow the student to participate in a meaningful leadership experience. Requisite Information: final semester or permission required

LDRS 895 Research Project in Organizational Leadership: This course is an individual study of a selected problem relating to leadership theory, organizational leadership, leadership development or leadership education. Requisite Information: final semester or permission required