Fall Only
Prerequisites
None
Open To
Sophomores and above
SEBS School Requirement
Fulfills Junior/Senior Colloquium
Course Delivery
Fully online via eCollege
Course Description
3 Credits. Much is written about the relationship of leadership to management. Management is frequently viewed as coping with complexity, whereas leadership is about coping with change (Kotter, 1998). Certainly leaders and managers require similar skill sets. But one may be a leader without being a manager. Whether you are looking to be a better leader within the workplace or aspiring to a higher level of leadership, individuals need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to influence and motivate others. This course provides a bridge between theory and practice, which helps to prepare students for working with and leading others. Theoretical underpinnings, leadership models, styles and skills of leadership are reviewed. These skills and capacities are essential to future team and formally assigned leadership roles in the workplace. Students develop skills in networking, problem solving, public speaking and influence.
Course Learning Objectives
As a result of this course, students will:
- Define leadership and describe the contrast between leadership and the function of management.
- Demonstrate basic understanding through assessment, critically evaluate and describe leadership theories and practice.
- List the contributions of various leadership theories and models to leadership practice and effectiveness.
- Assess their personal leadership styles and competencies, identify leadership strengths and developmental areas, and design a personal leadership development plan.
- Demonstrate leadership skills for networking and informational interviewing.
- Demonstrate leadership skills in communication, problem solving and influencing others (threaded discussion).
- Demonstrate verbal communication skills.
Required Text
Leadership Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition, Peter Northouse, 2016, SAGE Publications, Inc.
Course Requirements
- Assigned Readings
- Online Graded Threaded Discussions (8)—including small group activities
- Quizzes (2)
- Leadership Approach and Film Analysis Paper
- Networking and Leader Interview Paper
- Personal Leadership Profile
Assigned Readings: Readings are from the required text listed above. Each week you will be expected to read all the assigned materials and to be prepared to participate in online discussions as described in the Weekly Content tabs (Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, etc.). The readings associated with each chapter are meant to provide an overview of the weekly course topics, facilitate online discussions and contribute to the development of your personal leadership profile.
Online Threaded Discussion: Throughout the semester, you will be required to contribute to online discussions. There will be 8 graded threaded discussions for the semester. After completing the weekly assigned readings, you will be required to respond to online discussion questions and activities drawn from the readings as well as respond to your peers in the threaded discussion forums. You will also be divided into smaller groups to facilitate more in-depth discussions and provide you with the opportunity to assume a leadership role. The specific discussion questions will be indicated in the Threaded Discussion tab of Weekly Content sections. It is expected that you will participate fully by addressing the questions assigned to you and acknowledging the responses of others when responding to threaded discussion questions.
Overall, the threaded discussions allow students to discuss weekly course topics and weekly assigned readings as well as practice leadership skills and competencies. This includes sharing your thoughts, knowledge about the discussion topic(s), related experiences, the outcomes of your self-assessment, and insights about what you have learned from the contributions of others.
As part of the discussion, it is important that you incorporate the readings and provide constructive responses regarding the ongoing conversation. The objective of the threaded discussion is not to just repeat what other students have said, but to add something new to the ongoing discussions. These discussions allow the professor to understand whether you comprehend and can apply the course content. In responding to online questions or discussions, please reference course materials, quote or paraphrase from the text, provide your opinions, respectfully agree or disagree with the text or classmates, expand on the ideas of others, and present a new perspective regarding discussion topic. When you are citing, quoting, or paraphrasing additional source materials, make sure references are included. Your online contributions and peer responses should be A MINIMUM of 100 words in length. Proper grammar and word usage are also required.
Your contributions to the online discussions will be graded for quality, i.e., your ability to critically evaluate the question/information you are discussing. Review the Online Threaded Discussion Protocol for more information about how to provide quality responses and how your responses will be graded.
Quizzes: During the course there will be 2 quizzes, each covering a specific chapter of the text. The quizzes are meant to test your basic understanding of material covered in the textbook. ExamGuard will be used and you may need to downloaded (or updated) before taking your first quiz. Each quiz will consist of 10 multiple-choice questions. Study notes are available and can be reviewed before taking the quiz.
Leadership Approach and Film Analysis Paper: You will have the opportunity to watch a film presenting a specific approach to leadership. From the portrayal of leadership in the film, you will critically analyze the approach, incorporate what you have learned about the approach from Northouse (2016), contrast the approach with other leadership approaches described by Northouse, compare with your approach to leadership, and reflect upon what you have learned about yourself from the your critical analysis of the film. The paper will include referencing the film and text using APA or MLA publication style, information about these styles are available on the course website.
Networking and Leader Interview Paper: This assignment will help you to learn from the "real world" experience of a leader. You will be asked at the beginning of the semester to identify and schedule an appointment to interview/converse with a leader. This can be a person that you already know (not a close relative) or an individual that you identify from University Career Services–Student-Alumni Career Connections. You will be required to record or keep accurate notes of your interview/conversation and to evaluate what you have learned from your interaction relevant to the course content in a paper, thus applying your classroom learning.
Personal Leadership Profile: This assignment will give you the opportunity to assess your leadership competencies from the various approaches discussed in Northouse (2016) as well as your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Each week you will complete one or more leadership assessments, reflect upon the readings and your experiences that help to confirm (or not) your results. Your profile paper will include your assessment results, experiences, actions that you will take to improve your areas of weakness (activities, new learning…) and how you see your leadership.
Basis for Grading
| Requirement | Points | Percentage of Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned Readings and Threaded Discussions | 240 points | (24%) |
| Quizzes | 60 points | (6%) |
| Leadership Approach and Film Analysis Paper | 200 points | (20%) |
| Networking and Leader Interview Paper | 250 points | (25%) |
| Personal Leadership Profile | 250 points | (25%) |
| Total | 1000 points |
| Course Requirements Corresponding | Course Learning Objectives(s) |
|---|---|
| Threaded Discussions (including small group activities) | 1-4, 6 |
| Quizzes | 2 |
| Leadership Approach and Film Analysis Paper | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Networking & Leader Interview Paper | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
| Personal Leadership Profile | 4, 7 |
Grading Scale
A = 900–1000
B+ = 850–900
B = 800–850
C+ = 750–800
C = 700–750
D = 600–700
F = 600 and below
Weekly Course Outline
Week 1 (9/6–9/12): Course Overview & Requirements
- Familiarize yourself with the eCollege platform
- Read online Course Materials
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #1 (not graded)
Week 2 (9/13–9/19): Introduction and the Trait Approach to Leadership
- Read Northouse, Chapters 1 & 2
- Complete the Leadership Trait Questionnaire
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #2
Week 3 (9/20–9/26): Skills Approach to Leadership/Behavioral Approach to Leadership
- Read Northouse, Chapters 3 & 4
- Complete the Skills Inventory and Leadership Behavior Questionnaire
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #3
Week 4 (9/27–10/3): Situational Leadership
- Read Northouse, Chapter 5
- Complete the Situational Leadership Questionnaire
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #4
- Leader Identification and Initial Contact due-Networking and Leader Interview Paper
Week 5 (10/4–10/10): Leadership Approach and Film Analysis Paper
- Leadership Approach and Film Analysis Paper Due
Week 6 (10/11—10/17): Path-Goal Theory
- Read Northouse, Chapter 6
- Complete the Path-Goal Leadership Questionnaire
- Take Quiz 1
- Leader Appointment deadline—Networking and Leader Interview Paper
Week 7 (10/18–10/24): Leadership-Member Exchange Theory/Transformational Leadership
- Read Northouse, Chapters 7 & 8
- Complete the LMX 7 Questionnaire and Sample Items From the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) Form 5X-Short
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #5
Week 8 (10/25–10/31): Authentic Leadership
- Read Northouse, Chapter 9
- Complete the Authentic Leadership Self-Assessment Questionnaire
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #6
- Leader Interview completed (with notes and/or recording)—Networking and Leader Interview Paper
Week 9 (11/1–11/7): Networking and Leader Interview Paper
- Networking and Leader Interview Paper Due
Week 10 (11/8–11/14): Team Leadership
- Read, Northouse, Chapter 14
- Complete the Team Excellence and Collaborative Team Leader Questionnaire
- Take Quiz 2
Week 11 (11/15–11/21): Servant Leadership/Leadership Ethics
- Read Northouse, Chapters 10 & 13
- Complete the Servant Leadership Questionnaire and Perceived Leader Integrity Scale
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #7
Week 12: (11/22–11/28) Gender and Leadership/Culture and Leadership
- Read Northouse, Chapters 15 & 16 • Complete the Gender-Leader Implicit Association Test- AND Dimensions of Culture Questionnaire
- Participate in the Online Threaded Discussion #8
Week 13: (11/29–12/5) Personal Leadership Profile
- Personal Leadership Profile Paper due
Week 14 (12/6–12/12) : Personal Leadership Profile Discussion/ Conclusion: Resources to Help You After Graduation
- Personal Leadership Profile--Audio Summary Presentations due (Extra Credit)
- Particpate in the Online Threaded Discussion #9
Note: Changes to the syllabus may be made to the course during the semester and will be communicated to students through email or Course Announcements.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Please follow the procedures outlined at ods.rutgers.edu/students/getting-registered. Full policies and procedures are at Office of Disability Services website.
Academic Integrity
The university's policy on Academic Integrity is available at policies on academic integrity.
The principles of academic integrity require that a student:
- properly acknowledge and cite all use of the ideas, results, or words of others.
- properly acknowledge all contributors to a given piece of work.
- make sure that all work submitted as his or her own in a course or other academic activity is produced without the aid of impermissible materials or impermissible collaboration.
- obtain all data or results by ethical means and report them accurately without suppressing any results inconsistent with his or her interpretation or conclusions.
- treat all other students in an ethical manner, respecting their integrity and right to pursue their educational goals without interference. This requires that a student neither facilitate academic dishonesty by others nor obstruct their academic progress.
- uphold the canons of the ethical or professional code of the profession for which he or she is preparing.
Adherence to these principles is necessary in order to ensure that:
- everyone is given proper credit for his or her ideas, words, results, and other scholarly accomplishments.
- all student work is fairly evaluated and no student has an inappropriate advantage over others.
- the academic and ethical development of all students is fostered.
- the reputation of the University for integrity in its teaching, research, and scholarship is maintained and enhanced.
NOTE: Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- Resubmitting your own work that has previously been evaluated in this class or any other class.
- Copying text directly from websites and other sources without attributing the original source(s).
- Copying the work of students in other sections (past or present) of this course.
Failure to uphold these principles of academic integrity threatens both the reputation of the University and the value of the degrees awarded to its students. Every member of the University community therefore bears a responsibility for ensuring that the highest standards of academic integrity are upheld.
NOTE: To help protect you, and future students, from plagiarism, all essay assignments will be submitted through Turnitin.com.
Attendance and Participation Policy
Students are expected to actively participate in all of the online activities for the course. Attendance in the online sessions is determined by thorough, thoughtful, relevant and on time contributions made in the weekly assignments including threaded discussions, reaction papers and quizzes. The course proceeds with the assumption that students have thoughtfully read and reviewed the assigned materials.
Students are responsible for completion of all assigned readings, materials discussed and assignments on or before the assigned due date.
Student Wellness Services
Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
848-932-7884 | 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professional within Rutgers Health services to support students' efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community and consultation and collaboration with campus partners.
Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA)
848-932-1181 | 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff and faculty. To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.
Disability Services
848-445-6800 | Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation.
If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS website.
Scarlet Listeners
732-247-5555 | scarlet.listeners@gmail.com
Free and confidential peer counseling and referral hotline, providing a comforting and supportive safe space.