Leadership Course Descriptions

LEAD 513   Models Leadership- Leadership Practice  (TH) (0.83 Credits)
-Leadership training can feel like such a self-help gimmick: "So, I read this, and suddenly I'll become an educational leader?" Not quite. Rather than reaching for quick but inadequate solutions, this class takes a measured look at one leadership theory that has served as the foundation for centuries of passing leadership models: the ancient Greek tradition of askesis, translated as "exercise or practice." The course schedule traces, historically, this tradition of self-care and self-investment through successful leaders' own personal askesis. From the Roman "philosopher king" Marcus Aurelius's journals to Jane Addams's work inspiring immigrant community education at Chicago's Hull House, we explore what it means to make leadership a developing, daily practice and to lead others through modeling self-intentionality. Modern leadership and management models inspired by this core theory will be compared and contrasted. This graduate course meets the TH or Area B requirement.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 514   Organizational Culture & Athletics (RS) (0.83 Credits)
This research-based class will allow students to take an in-depth look at Schein's principles of organizational culture (i.e., artifacts, values, assumptions). Students will research how the principals are related to the organizational culture of an athletic organization of their choice. Furthermore, students will collaborate to examine their organization of choice in comparison to others.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 515   Conflict Resolution (0.83 Credits)
No description available.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 516   Great Books in Leadership (GB) (0.83 Credits)
What is a "great book" in the field of leadership? The purpose of this foundational graduate course is to analyze, assess, and critique books in the field of leadership that pertain to different industries such as business and entertainment. Students will have the opportunity to analyze leadership texts from the past and present, while also being able to select a text of personal interest. During the semester, students will have the opportunity to reflect and connect course material to their organizations or professions.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 565   Independent Study (0.83 Credits)
No description available.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 566   Independent Study (0.83 Credits)
No description available.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 591   Internship (0.83 Credits)
No description available.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 592   Coaching & Athletic Administration (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Course Description: This course is designed as an introductory experience in coaching/athletic administration for graduate students pursuing the M. Leadership at St. Lawrence. Students will participate in weekly seminars focused on a variety of professional development topics related to working in an athletic department, student-athlete development, and athletic administration in schools. In addition, students will participate in on-site management, supervision, and evaluation experiences in a variety of programs (e.g. sport, physical activity, intramurals, fitness, sports information). Included in the course requirements will be the organization of a professional portfolio that will include samples of presentations focused on the development of the student-athletes in a school athletic program (e.g. personal and social responsibility, study-skills, team-building, conflict resolution, ethics, and performance enhancing drugs). Students take LEAD 592A in the fall semester of their first year and LEAD 593 in the spring of their second year.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 593   Practicum: Athletic Administration (0.83 Credits)
Graduate students will examine some of the core tenets of administering collegiate athletic departments. The course will take an in-depth look at administrative leadership theories and practice as it pertains to organizational development, personnel, diversity and inclusion, public relations, alumni relations and development, facility management, operation, and design, as well as legal and ethical issues. Students will analyze budget techniques and strategies for financial planning and decision-making in athletic programs. This course provides students with a working knowledge of the NCAA and offers valuable insights into NCAA structure, legislation, and governance.
Requisites:
None


LEAD 5009   Learning through the body (TH) (0.83 Credits)
When we silently read, meditate, or "think," we often imagine learning as purely intellectual. However, learning cannot happen just in the mind, divorced from bodily processes. Consider, for example, modern neuroscience research that proves that learning involves brain synapses. Or remember your first experience getting burned by a flame, and how it taught you that fire can hurt. The body is necessarily a vehicle of learning, but it is more than just a mechanical station. This course explores ancient and modern conceptualizations of the role of the human body in learning. In particular, we study how terms such as physical exertion, phenomenology, embodiment, experiential learning, corporeality, carnal hermeneutics, indigenous ways of knowing, and nonlinguistic representation impact how we might better understand and reconceive notions of the body's role in higher education.


LEAD 5010   Great Books in Leadership (GB) (0.83 Credits)
What is a "great book" in the field of leadership? The purpose of this foundational graduate course is to analyze, assess, and critique books in the field of leadership that pertain to different industries such as business and entertainment. Students will have the opportunity to analyze leadership texts from the past and present, while also being able to select a text of personal interest. During the semester, students will have the opportunity to reflect and connect course material to their organizations or professions.


LEAD 5011   Sports & Legal Concepts (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Sports and Legal Concepts That Impact Coaching (EL) This course will focus on legal principles which can affect coaching athletic teams. In order to protect players from injury and their institutions from legal exposure, coaches must be aware of the inherent risks in their profession. From practice to competition, risk is an issue coaches must manage on a daily basis. It is essential, therefore, that coaches understand the legal concept of negligence, which includes duty, breach of duty, causation and harm, and the concepts of agency and transfer of liability. Students will identify the risks in their sports and assess their facilities in order to create a safe environment for their players and themselves. Additionally, students will be introduced to laws that impact sports, such as Title IX of the United State Code.


LEAD 5012   Leadership & Mental Health (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Leadership and Mental Health (EL) Whether one is supervising employees, coaching athletes, teaching students, or simply being a good co-worker, it is helpful to have an understanding of mental health. Mental disorders, violence prevention, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, and forms of abuse will be some of the topics covered. The course will be based on both theory and practice when it comes to leadership and mental health. It will be an overview of what to expect when acting in a position of leadership or authority and when faced with ethically managing or responding to mental health issues.

LEAD 5013ONL   Workplace Leadership Trends (RS) (0.83 Credits)
ASYNCHRONOUS. There is a tremendous focus on leadership development in modern society. Companies and businesses are spending time and money sending their employees to different leadership conferences and workshops. While leadership development is important for a company to succeed, understanding the current trends in leadership is imperative. This asynchronous online graduate course will examine current trends such as employee well-being, diversity/inclusion, gender and leadership, self-leadership, technology, understanding multi-generational workplaces, and other trends that are essential for leaders to understand in any organization. By using readings, discussion posts, videos, group and independent assignments, and a final research paper, students will gain a better understanding of what leaders should be aware that can make them more effective.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5014   Moral & Ethics of People in Power (TH) (0.83 Credits)
"People who are endowed with power have more than one challenge ahead of them. While it is a privilege to lead others, it is also a position rife with ethical and moral choices, some of which can define an era by one's reputation or name. We are not strangers to the idea of "bad leaders," but can we identify what decisions exactly led to bad leaders' negative impacts? What choices, ethical or moral, did they make in their ascension to power? How did those choices shape their legacy? What choices would you make as a leader? This graduate-level course explores seminal theories of morals, ethics, and their relationship to power and authority over others. We investigate common pathologies of power and the rationale behind our own leadership actions, whether embedded in cultural biases, religious codes, marketization, feminism, resistance, or paternalism. It should be noted that this is not a course on professional or practicing ethics but rather a foundational study of the theories that underlie human positions of power, authority, and leadership. This course satisfies one Theory or Area B requirement."


LEAD 5015   Leadership Capstone (CS) (0.83 Credits)
In this graduate-level workshop course, students will choose, design, implement, and present various independent research projects relating to their graduate leadership experiences. Meetings each week will involve student brainstorming and discussing project challenges with peers as well as significant in-class working research and writing hours. This capstone course is recommended for students graduating in the spring, as the research products are intended to be examples of cumulative learning. This course satisfies the Capstone or Area A requirement.


LEAD 5018   Athletic Administration (0.83 Credits)
Graduate students will examine some of the core tenets of administering collegiate athletic departments. The course will take an in-depth look at administrative leadership theories and practice as it pertains to organizational development, personnel, diversity and inclusion, public relations, alumni relations and development, facility management, operation, and design, as well as legal and ethical issues. Students will analyze budget techniques and strategies for financial planning and decision-making in athletic programs. This course provides students with a working knowledge of the NCAA and offers valuable insights into NCAA structure, legislation, and governance.

LEAD 5019   Gender & Sport (RS) (0.83 Credits)
This graduate class will dissect and examine traditional gender roles within sports. How do our attitudes about male and female athletes reflect societal culture? Are men, women, boys, and girls trained differently within athletics? Would your coaching style vary depending on the gender with which you are working? Are the different genders taught to look at competition, performance, and achievements in different ways? We will also look at the history of sex roles and gender within American sports. While Title IX afforded more female athletes the opportunity to participate in athletics, did it inadvertently impact female coaches? What is the history of women and sports? We will discuss the media and its role in gender, winning and losing. Lastly, we will examine modern issues in sports and gender, such as transgender student athletes in high school and in NCAA athletics. We will explore these issues through readings, class discussion, oral presentations, research, current news, and films. There will also be an opportunity to research a gender issue in sport that interests the student. This course satisfies one Research or Area A2 requirement. Not a substitute for the Research Methods course.

LEAD 5020   Finance Nonprofit (EL) (0.83 Credits)
No description available.
Requisites: None


LEAD 5021   Modern Issues in Sport (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Sports have been played for millennia. However, with each decade, the issues and challenges that coaches, administrators, and fans face have changed. This course will address contemporary issues in the sports world such as: betting, gamesmanship, recruiting, athlete mental health, pay, NIL, E-Sports, the impact of COVID-19, etc. In order to effectively work or be involved in sport, it is imperative for sports practitioners to be aware of and understand the issues that can impact not only their careers, but also the athletes they work with.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5022   Strength & Conditioning Specialty (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Strength and Conditioning Specialty (EL) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists® (CSCS®) are professionals who apply scientific knowledge to train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance. They conduct sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs and provide guidance regarding nutrition and injury prevention. Recognizing that their area of expertise is separate and distinct, CSCSs consult with and refer athletes to other professionals when appropriate. Receiving the CSCS is a distinctive achievement in the world of coaching. Offering instruction, support, practice, and review of important details in strength and conditioning science, this semester-long course guides students through the material necessary to acquire CSCS designation. Students completing this course with success will be prepared to take the CSCS exam on their own time.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5023   Trauma Informed Leadership (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Unlike mental health counselors who work in clinics and treat clients who (have something) such as have; depression, bipolar, anxiety or OCD, a trauma-informed leader work with people who are (going through something) - some traumatic situation that is affecting the person and possibly the people around that person. The purpose is not to diagnose and label someone with a psychological disorder, but to help the person go through a highly traumatic experience. In many respects, a trauma-informed leader understands how to handle trauma rather than others in a regular leadership role. However, a trauma-informed leader not only helps people through a crisis but also educates them on how trauma affects them. Therefore, they can have the skills to face future trauma.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5024   Contemporary Leadership Theory (TH) (0.83 Credits)
Historically, leadership has been an integral component of society. Traditional leadership theory examines in depth a leader's place, title, power, and status in an organization. However, modern leadership theories consider other factors that impact one's ability to lead, such as followers in the organization, team environment, inclusion, and leading during crisis. Thus, a question arises as to the contemporary leadership theories that can be most effective when managing people in an ever-changing society. This graduate theory (TH) course will examine different contemporary leadership theories using readings, class discussions, and independent assignments throughout the semester. Students will complete a final paper and presentation on the history of a contemporary leadership theory of their choice and the theory's practical application to a professional field. This course will be offered to graduate students as well as senior undergraduate students (by permission only) who meet certain qualifications. Undergraduate students who participate in this course will receive graduate program credit toward the Master's of Arts in Leadership Degree at SLU.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5024ONL   Contemporary Leadership Theory (TH) (0.83 Credits)
Historically, leadership has been an integral component of society. However, as society changes, are there different leadership theories that could be more effective when managing people? This asynchronous online course will examine contemporary leadership theory using readings, class discussion posts and responses, as well as independent assignments. Lastly, students will complete a final project to present the history of a contemporary leadership theory of their choice and the theory's practical application to a professional field.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5025   History - Women in Sport (RS) (0.83 Credits)
While the year 1972 is often celebrated for the start of women playing competitive sports in college because of Title IX, the truth is women have been playing sports since forever. This graduate (RS) class will dissect the history of women in sport and why women playing sports has been highly controversial in society since millennia. During the semester, we will examine if and how our attitudes toward female athletes reflect societal culture, why less women enter and remain in the coaching profession and the impact of Title IX on women in the United States. Students will compose a compressive research paper and presentation on a prominent female athlete or coach that impacted the trajectory of women in sport. Through readings, class discussion, oral presentations, research, current news, and films, students will acquire a better understanding of the history of women in sport. This course satisfies one Research or Area A2 requirement for graduate students. If students have already fulfilled the RS requirements, they may take this course pass/fail or as an elective for graduate credit.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5026    Exploring Pedagogical Strategies (0.83 Credits)
Exploring Pedagogical Strategies in Coaching & Educating" How do successful educators deliver information? What does pedagogy look like outside the traditional classroom? How do we, as educators, motivate a group to improve through learning? Structured around big questions like these, students in this course will explore coaching & teaching pedagogy with an emphasis on delivery styles and group-dynamic development. This course is designed to help the modern coach/educator discover & evaluate best practices/strategies so that they may have an arsenal of tools to turn to when developing their own program.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5027    College Student Retention (EL) (0.83 Credits)
Where have all the students gone? College Student Retention Theories, Practices, and Strategies In this graduate-level course, students will learn notable research and theories on why students leave college. We will investigate the economic, societal, and cultural effects, as well as institutional and individual influences, that lead to student attrition. There will also be a focus on student populations that are at higher risk of leaving college today. Students will investigate and evaluate how retention strategies can be applied in their professional experiences and observe how interactions with their students may influence a decision to stay or leave.
Requisites:
None

LEAD 5028   Post-Traumatic Learning & Leadership (0.83 Credits)
"Post-Traumatic Learning and Leadership: Supporting Student Wellness through Emotional Intelligence (EL)" This graduate-level course addresses ways in which post-traumatic learning can occur. It will explore current buzzwords in psychology and education - their importance or implications for higher education and leadership (for example, what trauma is for students, how it's manifested, how we can gently support change efforts in students through practice and policies, i.e. with empathic or compassionate leadership), how to encourage learning out of trauma for leaders and teachers, and how to support student wellness with awareness and sensitivity to current behavioral and neuroscience research. The course will utilize student-led presentations of known applications in classroom and college settings. The primary goal of the course is improving graduate students' personal level of emotional intelligence in preparation for future leadership roles. We will welcome regular guest speakers in the field, attend how-to trainings, and brainstorm examples of solutions toward post-traumatic learning and leadership tactics through the general format of a graduate-level book club. Activities and assignments in the course include reading together assigned passages in class and coming prepared with questions, resources, definitions, or article links to support analysis, listening to popular podcast episodes, trying out new technology in the form of mental health and wellness apps, completing ongoing journal entries, and/or organizing a culminating, student, or employee wellness event on campus. (This course is highly recommended for students who took "Trauma-Informed Leadership.") Graduate students only. For elective credit.
Requisites:
None