Graduate Program

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 principles 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

Mondays 9:45 am - 12:30 pm     Elisa Van Kirk

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 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

Mondays 7:00 - 9:45 pm      Elisa Van Kirk

LEAD-592A Internship: Coaching/Athletic Administration 

This course is designed as an introductory experience in coaching/athletic administration for graduate students pursuing the Master Leadership program at St. Lawrence University.  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. Students take LEAD 592A in the fall semester of their first year and LEAD 593 in the spring of their second year.  592A is the foundation upon which the tenets of effective leadership within Athletic Administration are constructed.  The building blocks include personal and social responsibility, team building, conflict resolution, ethics, and diversity and inclusion.  

Requisites: None

Tuesdays 9:30 am - 12:00 pm     Mike Mahoney  

LEAD-5011 Sports & Legal Concepts (EL) (0.83 Credits)

This course will focus on legal principles which can affect coaching athletic teams.  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 daily.  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 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.

Requisites: None

Wednesdays   7:00pm to 9:45pm     Elisa Van Kirk

LEAD-5014 Morals and Ethics of People in Power, Sec 1 (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?

Although they sound much the same, "morals" and "ethics" are two distinct features of conscientious leadership. While both relate to decisions of good or bad, right or wrong, morals historically denote what is "virtuous" to do, while ethics refer to the degree of "excellence" by which the action is carried out. 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. Graduate students are expected to use the course texts and discussions to draw their own connections to the various leadership roles that they or others inhabit.

Students are not required to have a background in leadership or ethics, though some college or graduate experience in the humanities would be helpful. The main requirements are a willingness to read the course texts carefully and patiently, to participate in class discussions, and to consider how the presented arguments affect modern leadership decisions. This course satisfies one Theory (TH) requirement.

Requisites: None

Wednesdays   9:45 am - 12:30 pm      LeAnn M. Holland

LEAD-5022 Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, Sec 1 (CS/RS) (0.83 Credits)

This course provides an in-depth understanding of strength training and conditioning principles. The course is based on the "The Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th ed." text published by Human Kinetics (2016), and edited by Haff and Triplett. Students successfully completing this course should expect to learn and demonstrate foundational concepts of performance training including but not limited to program design, exercise techniques, and practical applications for optimizing athletic performance and fitness. 

Requisites: None

Tuesdays   7:00 pm - 9:45 pm     Jonathan Lynch

LEAD-50002 Leadership Across Generations, Sec 1 (0.83 Credits)         

Gen Z this…Millennial that… “okay, Boomer.” Generational stereotypes are everywhere and, while they are not new, their recent recognition within pop culture has made an impact on inter-generational relationships. In this graduate-level elective course for the curious, we will examine what lies beneath the tik toks and stereotypes. Using our findings, we will assess the leadership/educator archetype and ask, “has Gen Z cancelled leadership as we know it?”

Requisites: None
Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm     Carly (Stine) Brewster

LEAD-5003 Leadership Theory in Athletics & PE (TH) (0.83 Credits)                                                     

This graduate level theory (TH) course will focus on both traditional and modern leadership theories and real-world application in sports. Students will examine leadership theories and learn what influences leadership in athletics at various levels, from youth to professional sports. Organizational consultation in athletics will also be introduced. Leadership theory readings, class discussions, independent assignments throughout the semester, and a final paper and presentation will enable students to better understand how to optimize athletic performance.

Requisites: None
Mondays   7:00pm to 9:45pm     Elisa Van Kirk

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? While Title IX afforded more female athletes the opportunity to participate in athletics, did it inadvertently impact female coaches? We will explore these issues and more through readings, class discussion, 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 meets an RS requirement.

Requisites: None
Mondays 9:45 am - 12:30 pm    Elisa Van Kirk