Leadership and Communication (LEAD)

LEAD 1010 Leadership Theory, Practice and Purpose

Using an innovative combination of academic theory, empirical research and self-reflection, this course is an intensive introduction to multiple and and competing concepts of leadership. Students will critically analyze texts and research related to effective leadership and leaders and, at the same time, develop their own, individualized leadership traits and skills profile. A culminating biographical analysis paper requires students to compare and contrast their own distinctive leadership traits and skills to those of an admired leader. The course concludes with each student crafting a 5-year leadership and communication career plan.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 1020 Leadership Theory and Practice

Using an innovative combination of academic theory, empirical research, and self-reflection, this course is an intensive introduction to multiple and competing concepts of leadership. Students will critically analyze texts and related to effective leadership and leaders and, at the same time, develop their own, individualized leadership traits and skills profile. A culminating biographical analysis paper requires students to compare and contrast their own distinctive leadership traits and skills to those of an admired leader. The course concludes with each student crafting a 5-year leadership and communication career plan.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 1040 Professional Communication and Personal Development

This writing-intensive course is designed to enhance each student's ability to communicate effectively in the workplace and other professional settings. Students apply the principles of positive psychology to enhance their personal development, learn best practices for professional writing and crisis communication, and practice organizing and editing their written and spoken communications for maximum impact. Assignments include presentations designed for different audiences, job-seeking and professional documents, and the opportunity to create or revise a five-year leadership and communication career plan.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 2020 Leadership Lessons from Social Sciences

Drawing on several social science fields and subfields, from economics to psychology and more, this course is an introduction to leadership as studied and applied in various scholarly disciplines in the social sciences. Academic texts will introduce students to several social science fields, while case studies will offer them the opportunity to consider the practical and organizational applications of the theories being studied. Students' papers will synthesize the material of the course in thoughtful ways, and apply it to to problems of leadership. You have the option to enroll in the individual course without committing to the entire Certificate in Leadership and Communication, enjoying the flexibility and expertise offered by Penn LPS Online to suit your schedule and interests.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 2030 Leadership Lessons from Humanities

Using philosophy, literature, religious studies and biographies of famous public leaders, students conduct a searching examination of competing ideas and concepts regarding leadership, moral reasoning and ethical action. Students reflect on the complexities of problem-solving through an ethical lens and further define their individual interpretations and approaches to ethical decision-making. As an integral part of this simultaneously academic and practical exploration of leadership ethics, students co-author a mini-biography assessing the ethics of a famous (or infamous) public leader. Prerequisite: This course counts toward the Certificate in Leadership and Communication and degree concentration.

Prerequisite: LEAD 1010 OR LEAD 3040

1 Course Unit

LEAD 3040 Professional Communication and Personal Development

This writing-intensive course is designed to enhance each student's ability to communicate effectively in the workplace and other professional settings. Students apply the principles of positive psychology to enhance their personal development, learn best practices for professional writing and crisis communication, and practice organizing and editing their written and spoken communications for maximum impact. Assignments include presentations designed for different audiences, job-seeking and professional documents, and the opportunity to create or revise a five-year leadership and communication career plan.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 3100 Leadership and Public Administration

In LEAD 310, Leadership and Public Administration, students are introduced to both classic and contemporary studies of how public laws and policies are translated into effective action, how and why government reform efforts succeed or fail, and complete an original case study on the ongoing revolution in public management theory and practice favoring public-private partnerships and collaborative governance.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 3200 Leadership and Business Organization

In LEAD 320, Leadership and Business Organization, students interactively and critically study five of the most influential books ever published regarding why for-profit enterprises succeed or fail; do an original "management consulting" report on an actual business firm; and write a final paper on what, if any, particular individual styles or institutional structures predictably and reliably enable one to "succeed in business."

1 Course Unit

LEAD 3300 Ldrshp Nonprofit Mgmt

In LEAD 330, Leadership and Nonprofit Management, students are immersed in research that profiles Americas vast and varied, large and growing independent sector, exploring what works (and what doesnt) when it comes to leadership and innovation in the non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations (charities, churches, private colleges, hospitals, and others) that, even if only counting the about 1.4 million registered with the IRS, now have more $2 trillion a year in annual revenues, more than $5 trillion in total assets, and more than 14 million full-time employees.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 4000 Global Leadership and Problem-Solving

According to research sponsored by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), over the last 200 years, human beings in virtually every corner of the globe have become ever more likely to live longer, healthier, wealthier, and more personally satisfying lives. But global progress in improving human well-being has been neither linear nor universal. For instance, measured at living on just $5.50 a day per person, nearly 3.5 billion people still live in extreme poverty. Moreover, humankind now faces several unprecedented existential threats to human life itself such as global warming and the persistence or spread of drug-resistant infectious diseases including ones once thought to be nearly eradicated. In this course, students are introduced to multiple and competing concepts and empirical theories on each of two interrelated questions regarding global leadership and problem-solving: (1) What, if any, particular approaches (for example, "collaborative governance" or "boundary-spanning leadership") might predictably and reliably increase the odds that the next century-long chapter in the annals of global human well-being--the chapter to be written between now and the decade that will begin in 2120--will be a tale of greater wealth, health, and happiness for all or most people worldwide? (2) Under what, if any, conditions can diverse institutions--families and social networks; neighborhood and community groups; nonprofit or social sector organizations; for-profit firms; and local, national, and transnational government institutions--act, either independently or in tandem with each other, to maintain or improve human well-being? Each student quasi-independently researches and writes a capstone research paper describing, analyzing, and assessing an existing policy or program pertaining to one of the following three challenges: elder care with a focus on China; education with a focus on Africa; or economic development with a focus on Latin America.

1 Course Unit

LEAD 5040 Professional Communication and Academic Writing

Writing effectively for a variety of audiences is a required skill for professional masters students, both inside the classroom and in the workplace. This graduate level online seminar introduces writing and communication strategies and skills for all graduate professional students who wish to pursue leadership opportunities in their chosen fields. Students will learn professional communication and academic writing practices and that will enable them to respond to a variety of workplace scenarios as well as influence and inspire others through effective written communication strategies. Through frequent writing assignments, hands-on exercises during class sessions, and a final analysis paper, students will learn how to write concise prose; summarize and evaluate documents and scenarios effectively; develop technical skills in writing clear instructions; and write persuasive proposals. The class will focus on strategies for effective critical thinking and writing, as well as how to write persuasively for multiple audiences, ranging from the general public to an academic audience. There will be special attention to analysis of genres and audiences, and effective writing and revision strategies. Most importantly, you will be able to use the skills developed in this class throughout your academic and professional careers.

1 Course Unit