Course of Study

LDST 200: This course combines an introduction to a theoretical, research-based approach to the study of leadership with hands-on application, analysis and experimentation with the process of leadership. Students will explore core leadership competencies and apply leadership tools and processes across a variety of groups and systems, addressing issues of concern within those communities. This course fulfills Goal 5, Learning Outcome 1 of the KU Core (prior to Fall 2024) and the Social and Behavioral Sciences category of KU Core 34 (beginning Fall 2024). 

LDST 203: This course combines an introduction to a theoretical, research-based approach to the study of leadership with hands-on application, analysis, and engagement with the process of leadership. Within a small group setting, students explore core leadership competencies and experiment with the process of leadership by engaging classmates and members of the university and local communities and addressing issues of concern within those communities. Prerequisite: Admission to the University Honors Program. This course fulfills Goal 5, Learning Outcome 1 of the KU Core (prior to Fall 2024) and the Social and Behavioral Sciences category of KU Core 34 (beginning Fall 2024). 

Students simultaneously complete a 1-hour seminar in equity-centered leadership and a 2-hour supervised, direct, community involvement project in which they apply leadership knowledge, tools, and skills to a real world environment. Written assignments, journal reflections, and group discussions are used to record and assess learning. Prerequisite: LDST 200 or LDST 203 and admission to the Leadership Studies minor. This course is an equivalent to LDST 532. 

LDST 420: This course introduces students to theories of conflict management from a variety of academic perspectives and the role leadership plays in managing conflict across multiple contexts. Students will learn how to successfully assess and command situations and effectively resolve interpersonal, organizational, and systemic conflict while doing the work of leadership. (Same as COMS 415.)

LDST 431: This course provides an overview of the role of communication in leadership in a variety of contexts, including: interpersonal, small group, intercultural, organizational, and public sphere. It will include theoretical and experiential approaches to effective leadership communication. Prerequisite: LDST 200 or LDST 203.

Through collaboration, discussion, case study, and course readings, this course familiarizes students with various theoretical perspectives of ethical decision making and the ethics-guided behavior essential for competent leadership. Upon completion, students will understand a variety of ethical perspectives for the prescription of action in a leadership context, apply a variety of ethical perspectives to the choice and evaluation of action in leadership work, and recognize the significance of considering multiple ethical perspectives in both leadership and broader contexts. Prerequisite: LDST 200 or LDST 203.

This seminar serves as the capstone course for the Leadership Studies minor. It includes advanced readings on leadership theory and practice, as well as major written and applied projects in which students integrate and demonstrate what they have learned in the program. Prerequisite: LDST 200 or LDST 203 and admission to the Leadership Studies minor. 

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the principles of special event planning and management. Students will gain foundational concepts and professional skills through researching, planning, coordinating, marketing, management and evaluation of special events. This course will develop student skills necessary to lead and manage in an ethically, environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable way. By utilizing the adaptive leadership model, students will analyze core objectives of event planning, while experimenting with smart risks and disciplined assessment. Essential topics will include event planning and coordination, sponsorship, negotiations, marketing, communications, customer service, vendor management, volunteer management, crisis risk management, and event evaluation.

This course examines leadership in USAmerican religious contexts and the influence of religion on leadership as a practice. Working within and across different religious traditions in the US, the course will ask questions about what it means to exercise leadership in religious contexts, the burdens and limits of roles of authority within religious contexts, and the ways in which religious conceptions of leadership in the US influence perceptions of leadership in non-religious contexts.

This course introduces students to theories of conflict management from a variety of academic perspectives and the role leadership plays in managing conflict across multiple contexts. Students will learn how to successfully assess and command situations and effectively resolve interpersonal, organizational, and systemic conflict while doing the work of leadership. (Same as COMS 415.)

This course provides an overview of the role of communication in leadership in a variety of contexts, including: interpersonal, small group, intercultural, organizational, and public sphere. It will include theoretical and experiential approaches to effective leadership communication. Prerequisite: LDST 200 or LDST 203.

This course engages students in an investigation of a special topic or project selected by the student with advice, approval, and supervision of a Leadership Studies instructor. Such study may take the form of special research, individual reports and/or conferences. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.

More information coming soon.

This course is designed for the study of special topics in Leadership Studies. Course content addresses major topics and specialized issues in the field and topics change as needs and resources develop. May be repeated for credit of the content differs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.