Leadership Studies Program

Director and Professor: DiSanza (Communication and Rhetorical Studies)

See Faculty Information    
Introduction   
Minor   
Courses    

 Mission

The Leadership Minor provides students with a conceptual and practical understanding of the art and science of leading others. Contrary to some popular judgments, leadership is a competency that can be improved with knowledge and practice. Effective leaders need to maintain and strengthen the increasingly complex interactions that make up the modern organization or social movement. The Leadership Minor provides students with an understanding of historical and modern conceptions of leadership, as well as the skills needed to transform opinion and guide decisions in today’s diverse cultural climate. The Leadership program at Idaho State University prepares students to assume leadership positions in a variety of not-for-profit, community, high technology, and industrial settings.

 The program of studies in the Leadership Minor includes subject matter in goal setting, team building, individual persuasion, facilitation, problem solving, consensus building, decision making, project management, and organizational change and development, as well as various historical, ethical, and cultural understandings of leadership.  

 Practical experience is included to provide students with the opportunity to identify their leadership strengths and further develop their abilities. This minor complements a wide variety of academic majors, including business, health professions, political science, the sciences, education, military science, and communication.   

Interdisciplinary Minor in Leadership Studies (21 credits)

Core Courses (9 credits)

LEAD 2201       Foundations of Leadership 		3 cr
LEAD 3360       Student Leadership Practicum		3 cr
LEAD 4480       Leadership Capstone			3 cr

Emphasis Courses (12 credits)

Students will take one three-credit course in each of the following four emphasis areas:

Organizational/Interpersonal

COMM 3308       Persuasion				3 cr
MGT  4441       Organization Behavior 			3 cr
                    (PREREQ: MGT 3312)
COMM 4441       Interpersonal Communication		3 cr
POLS 4451       Organizational Theory 
		  and Bureaucratic Structure		3 cr
                  (PREREQ: POLS 4405 recommended)
COMM 4452       Conflict Management			3 cr

Cultural Understanding

SOC  2248       Social Diversity			3 cr 
MGT  4465       International Business			3 cr
                   (PREREQ: ECON 2202, FIN 3317)

Leaders

POLS 4403       The Presidency				3 cr
HIST 4439       Women in History			3 cr
COMM 4447       Rhetoric of Hitler and Churchill	3 cr

Ethics

PHIL 4450       Ethical Theory				3 cr
POLS 4458       Public Administration Ethics 		3 cr
MGT  4462       Business and Society			3 cr
	(PREREQ: Senior standing and permission of instructor)

LEAD Courses

LEAD 2201 Foundations of Leadership 3 credits. Introductory exploration of the modern dimensions of leadership. Students will link current theory and practices to personal self-assessment and behavioral applications.  F, S

LEAD 3360 Student Leadership Practicum 1-3 credits. Supervised leadership experience through placement in a campus or community organization.  Includes discussion and analysis with peers. May be for up to 3 credits. PREREQ: LEAD 2201. F, S

LEAD 4480 Leadership Capstone 3 credits. Capstone overview for participants in the Leadership Minor, challenging the students to integrate their previous course work within the minor, and emphasizing the importance of community involvement, service, and ethical behavior. PREREQ: LEAD 3360 and permission of the instructor. S

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: July 2010