Leadership Studies, B.S.

(Major Code: 49060) (Academic Plan Code: 331908BSS)

The mission of the Leadership Studies major at San Diego State University is to develop culturally aware leaders who can address the critical problems facing our society today. Students majoring in leadership studies will explore the ways leadership has been conceptualized and studied, as well as how those in leadership positions have applied their knowledge, skills, and analytical/assessment practices to address team, organizational, and societal issues. The major emphasizes theory-to-practice and active learning approaches; students will be supported in developing strategies for identifying, analyzing, and solving team and organizational problems. Further, students will explore effective, ethical, and relational leadership practices to address community, national, and global challenges for positive organizational and social change.

The Leadership Studies major is multidisciplinary and includes courses in psychology, communication, education, business, public administration, philosophy, political science, journalism and media studies, and the interdisciplinary studies of race, ethnicity, identity, and indigeneity. The major is a response to what employers are looking for in college graduates and includes a career development focus offering practical skill-building in several key areas: project management, coaching for improved performance and inclusion, delivering positive and developmental feedback, navigating difficult conversations, creating inclusive environments, developing high-performance teams, delegation, and empowering others. Students engage in experiential leadership development opportunities on campus and in the San Diego community in preparation for their post-SDSU career or graduate studies.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this degree, the Leadership Studies major is excellent preparation for graduate study in law, educational leadership, management, organizational leadership, student affairs, organizational development, and organizational psychology. Graduates may pursue positions in occupations such as non-profit management, employee relations, sales, project management, learning and development, government, community engagement, human resources, institutional/organizational assessment, and education. The program is also excellent preparation for students pursuing military careers, either as commissioned or non-commissioned officers.

All candidates for a bachelor’s of science degree in applied arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor’s Degree .”

Lower division preparation for the major courses may be satisfied by comparable courses in community colleges or other institutions with which the university has articulation agreements.

A minor or auxiliary discipline is not required with this major but is recommended.

Admission to the Major

To be admitted to the leadership studies major, students must meet the following criteria:

Complete preparation for the major;
Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
Have a minimum GPA of (2.0) or better.

To complete the leadership studies major, students must fulfill the degree requirements for the major described in the catalog in effect at the time they are accepted into the premajor at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).

Major

A minimum of 36 upper division units to include:

LEAD 307 Leadership Community Service

LEAD 350 Introduction to Leadership Inquiry

LEAD 404 Leadership Internship and Career

LEAD 405 Enacting Leadership

LEAD 420 Ethnography of Organizational Culture and Leadership

LEAD 440 Organizational Assessment

COMM 307 Communication in Professional Settings

And no fewer than 15 elective units from the following areas:

Organizational Leadership and Communication (6 units)
Ethical and Inclusive Leadership Development (6 units)
Organizational Systems and Dynamics (6 units)
Community, National, and/or Global Perspectives on Leadership (6 units)
Leadership Research and Organizational Assessment (9 units)

Lower Division Preparation for the Leadership Studies Major (17 units)

The Preparation for the Major classes listed below may not be taken Cr/NC and must be completed with a minimum grade point average of C (2.0) or better in each course.

LEAD 205 - Exploring Leadership Units: 3
LEAD 250 - Leadership - Campus Leadership Experience Units: 1-3
COMM 103 - Oral Communication Units: 3
PSY 101 - Introductory Psychology Units: 3
PSY 230 - Developmental Psychology Units: 3
COMM 204 - Advanced Public Speaking Units: 3
or
COMM 245 - Interpersonal Communication Units: 3

Major Requirements

(36 units)

Ethical and Inclusive Leadership Development (6 units)

Explore critical perspectives toward building inclusive and ethical workplace and community environments.

Select three units from the following courses:
PHIL 329 - Social Ethics Units: 3
PHIL 332 - Environmental Ethics Units: 3
PHIL 340 - Morality of War and Peace Units: 3
Select no more than three units from the following courses:
AFRAS 327 - Critical Theories in Africana Studies Units: 3
AFRAS 422 - Modern Civil Rights Movement Units: 3
CCS 340B - Chicana Women’s History: 1848-Present Units: 3
CSP 401 - Quest for Identity Units: 3
CSP 585 - The Black Experience: Counseling and Contemporary Social Movements Units: 3
GEN S 420 - Disability and Society Units: 3
LGBT 321 - LGBT Identities in the Modern World Units: 3
LGBT 322 - LGBT History and Culture Units: 3
PSY 340 - Social Psychology Units: 3
PSY 344 - Psychology and Culture Units: 3
PSY 442 - Prejudice and Stereotypes Units: 3

Organizational Leadership and Communication (6 units)

Cultivate professional approaches to communication to communicate ethically and effectively with individuals and audiences representing diverse interests to promote effective leadership practices.

COMM 307 - Communication in Professional Settings Units: 3
and
Select no more than three units from the following courses:
B A 350 - Management and Organizational Behavior Units: 3
COMM 485 - Communicating Leadership Units: 3
JMS 418 - Social Media Influencing and Community Leadership Units: 3
MGT 475 - Leadership in Organizations Units: 3

Organizational Systems and Dynamics (6 units)

Critically analyze organizational systems and complex organizational issues to align leadership skills to challenging situations.

LEAD 404 - Leadership Internship and Career Units: 1-3
and
Select no more than three units from the following courses:
JMS 440 - Management of Media Organizations Units: 3
JMS 480 - Principles of Public Relations Units: 3
P A 330 - Public Personnel Administration Units: 3
P A 340 - Administrative Behavior Units: 3
PSY 319 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology Units: 3

Community, National, and Global Perspectives on Leadership (6 units)

Contextualize and reflect on local, national, and global challenges in leadership to explore leadership beyond the individual, team, and institution. Emphasis on facilitating equity, diversity and inclusion. Consideration of community leadership and civic engagement.

LEAD 307 - Leadership Community Service Units: 1-3
and
Select no more than three units from the following courses:
AFRAS 423 - Black Nationalism Units: 3
ASIAN 480 - Asian Leadership Models Units: 3
CCS 303 - Chicana and Chicano Community Studies Units: 3
CCS 375 - US/Mexico Border History Units: 3
CCS 554 - United States-Mexico Transborder Populations and Globalization Units: 3
COMM 371 - Intercultural Communication Units: 3
P A 480 - Leadership and Public Sector Units: 3
POL S 375 - Global Politics Units: 3
POL S 436 - The American Presidency Units: 3
SOC 433 - Wealth, Status, and Power Units: 3

Leadership Research and Organizational Assessment (9 units)

Develop research literacy applying methods and research practices to identify opportunities for individual, team, and organizational development and change. Evaluate data, make connections, and draw conclusions in a rational and unbiased manner with depth, accuracy, clarity, and logic.

LEAD 350 - Introduction to Leadership Inquiry Units: 3
LEAD 420 - Ethnography of Organizational Culture and Leadership Units: 3
LEAD 440 - Organizational Assessment Units: 3

Leadership Capstone Course (3 units)

Admission to a major or minor in Leadership Studies. Focus on vision development, project management, and coaching skills. Assignments, activities, and discussions provide students with the chance to imagine, and engage in a leadership impact project. Review of key leadership theories and models. Should be taken in the last or second-to-last semester.

LEAD 405 - Enacting Leadership Units: 3

Note

For courses with prerequisites, please contact your advisor for further information before registering.