Leadership education programs coordinated by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics will expand with the approval of a new minor in leadership studies.
The 15-credit-hour interdisciplinary minor in leadership studies is open to undergraduate students in all academic disciplines and colleges at Iowa State University. It is designed to complement the established 21-credit-hour interdisciplinary certificate in community leadership and public service, which is also coordinated by the Catt Center.
“The proposal to create a minor in leadership studies grew out of requests from students who do not have the space in their major programs of study to commit to the 21-credit-hour certificate but who seek the opportunity to learn about and earn a credential in leadership,” said Dianne Bystrom, Catt Center director. “The 15-credit-hour minor is not only designed to serve the academic interests of these students, but also to support them in continuing on to complete the leadership certificate if they choose to do so.”
The new minor in leadership studies uses existing university courses to “provide a strong foundation and appropriate experiences for undergraduate students who seek to study and develop their leadership capacity, motivation to lead and leadership self-efficacy while practicing what they learn in their current activities and in their future careers,” said Clint Stephens, lecturer in leadership education, who coordinates the certificate and minor programs for the Catt Center. “Students earning the minor in leadership studies will be well prepared to enter the public, nonprofit or private sectors in their major fields of study.”
The minor shares the same three required courses as the certificate – CLPS 322, “Leadership Styles and Strategies in a Diverse Society”; MGMT 371, “Organizational Behavior”; and SP CM 312, “Business and Professional Speaking.” In addition to these courses, students will choose six hours of leadership electives credit from 28 courses offered across 14 academic departments and programs in five colleges. These elective courses are also among those included in the leadership certificate.
The minor in leadership studies was proposed by the Community Leadership and Public Service Advisory Board in March 2014 and was approved over the past 10 months by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee and Representative Assembly; the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee, Academic Affairs Council and full Faculty Senate; the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost; and the Office of the President. The minor will be awarded by LAS and noted on the student’s transcript.
Students wishing to learn more about the minor in leadership studies or certificate in community leadership and public service can find details online and also sign up to attend an information session.