The Leadership Studies Minor prepares students to courageously lead through a combination of academic study, critical self-reflection and team projects. The 16-credit hour academic program includes an introductory course (LEAD 1000), three individualized electives and an experiential capstone course (LEAD 4000). LEAD 1000 and 4000 feature interactive and hands-on learning applicable to a variety of life experiences, leadership contexts and chosen fields of study. The minor is open access to all undergraduate students from any college or major.
Requirements
Core Requirements
To declare the Leadership Studies Minor, students should submit an online declaration form and an advisor in the School of Education will add the minor to their degree audit. The program accepts declaration forms on a rolling basis.
The 16 credit hour academic minor is comprised of:
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LEAD 1000 introductory course or an approved substitute for a pre-existing leadership program (3 credit hours)
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Three individualized elective courses across three elective categories (3 credit hours per category, 9 credit hours total)
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LEAD 4000 capstone course (4 credit hours)
All coursework must be completed with a grade of a C- or better to fulfill the above requirements.
LEAD 4000 includes a 3 credit hour seminar course with a corresponding 1 credit hour experiential practicum. Through the practicum, student teams will partner with organizations to critically examine a complex social or ecological issue. Capstone students will be automatically enrolled in the practicum when registering for the seminar course. The introductory course requirement and at least two out of three elective courses must be completed to register for the capstone.
Students can meet with an academic advisor in the School of Education to plan a course of study in the minor (edadvise@colorado.edu) after declaring. Contact leadershipstudies@colorado.edu for general inquiries or additional information.
Completion Options
The majority of students will complete the Leadership Studies Minor as open enrollment through the core requirements outlined above (LEAD 1000, 3 elective courses and LEAD 4000). Elective courses options are flexible and individualized to incorporate a variety of student interests and meet degree requirements in other areas.
Students admitted to a partnering leadership program can complete the Leadership Studies Minor through an approved course sequence. Participating “pathway” programs include the Presidents Leadership Class, INVST, Engineering Leadership program, Multicultural Leadership Scholars, and ROTC units (Air Force, Army, Naval).
Open Enrollment Electives
The Leadership Studies Minor requires students to complete 9 credit hours of elective coursework across three categories:
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Leadership foundations: Courses focused on moral and ethical reasoning, ability to evaluate behavior, and improved decision-making. (3 credit hours)
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Leadership application: Courses focused on leadership in practice, including building teams with diverse perspectives and leading teams to accomplish shared goals. (3 credit hours)
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Leadership in context: Courses focused on historical and situational analysis of leadership, critical evaluation of historical or contemporary leaders, and ability to connect leadership behaviors to organizational outcomes. (3 credit hours)
Students can submit a petition for a course not on the approved list to count as a minor elective and complete electives through Education Abroad. Students should contact leadershipstudies@colorado.edu to correct an issue on their degree audit, move an elective to a different category for their plan of study, and/or inquire about a course petition.
Pathway Options
General Pathway
Approved Electives by Category
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Leadership Foundations | ||
| Leading People and Effective Communication 1 | ||
| Culture and Power | ||
| Ways of Knowing: Constructions of Knowledge in the Academy and Beyond | ||
| Business Leadership | ||
| No-Stress Leadership | ||
| Discourse, Culture and Identities | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Gender and Communication | ||
| Cultural Diversity and Awareness | ||
| Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools | ||
| Complex Leadership Challenges | ||
| Foundations of Comparative Ethnic Studies: Race, Gender and Culture(s) | ||
| Introduction to Social Justice | ||
| Asian Pacific American Communities | ||
| Women of Color: Chicanas in U.S. Society | ||
| Sustainable Futures, Environment and Society | ||
| Global Geographies: Societies, Places, Connections | ||
| Place, Power, and Contemporary Culture | ||
| Honors Diversity Seminar | ||
| Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools | ||
| Methods of Leadership and Management 1 | ||
| Leadership and Ethics | ||
| Individual, Team, and Organizational Development | ||
| Introduction to Peace, Conflict and Security Studies | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Philosophy and Race | ||
| Philosophy and Gender | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
PHIL 3180 | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy and the International Order | ||
| Survey of Western Political Thought | ||
| Free Speech and Dangerous Ideas | ||
| Diversity, Disagreement, and Democracy: an Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Democracy | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Developmental Psychology | ||
| United States Race and Ethnic Relations I | ||
| Contemporary Social Issues and Human Values | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Whiteness Studies | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | ||
| Leading People and Effective Communication 2 | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Anthropological Perspectives: Contemporary Issues | ||
| Leadership Challenges | ||
| Business Solutions for Global Development | ||
| Experimental Seminar: Corporate Boards in Action | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Group Interaction | ||
| The Practice of Intercultural Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Persuasion in Society | ||
| Water Profession: Communication and Utility Finance | ||
| Strategies for Social Change | ||
| Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools | ||
| Introduction to Teaching and Learning | ||
| Becoming a Learning Assistant and LA Mentoring I: Becoming a Mentor | ||
| Leadership and Professional Skills | ||
| New Venture Creation | ||
| Intelligent Leadership | ||
| Entrepreneurial Environments | ||
| Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships | ||
| International Development: Economics, Power, and Place | ||
| Responding to Social and Environmental Problems Through Service Learning | ||
| Dialogue Across Difference | ||
| Facilitating Peaceful Community Change | ||
| The Community Leadership Internship, Part 1 | ||
| Community Leadership Internship, Part 2 | ||
| Management and Leadership in the Arts | ||
| Critical Leadership Skills | ||
| Redefining the Employee-Employer Relationship | ||
| Managing Employee Reward Systems | ||
| Individual, Team, and Organizational Development | ||
| Communication and Conflict Management | ||
| Managing Organizational Conflict | ||
| Leadership Foundations & Applications II | ||
| Introduction to Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Political Parties and Interest Groups | ||
| Judgment and Decision Making | ||
| Women's Mental Health: A Biopsychosocial Approach | ||
| Internship in Social Innovation | ||
| Facilitating Peaceful Community Change | ||
| 3. Leadership in Context | ||
| Multicultural Perspective and Academic Discourse | ||
| Sports Entrepreneurship | ||
| The Business of Nonprofits | ||
| Prime Time: Public Performance and Leadership | ||
| School and Society | ||
EMEN 4830 | CU in D.C. Our Sustainable Future (Maymester) | |
| The Empire of Modern Science | ||
| Contemporary African American Social Movements | ||
| Survey of Chicana/o History and Culture | ||
| Introduction to Critical Sports Studies | ||
| Indigenous Rights and Red Power Movement | ||
| People of Color and Social Movements | ||
| Gender, Sport and Culture | ||
| Inside-Out: Prison and Social Justice | ||
| The Chicana and Chicano and U.S. Social Systems | ||
| Seminar on the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements | ||
| Sport for Social Justice | ||
| Geographies of Global Change | ||
| Reimagining Cities: Spaces of Power, Privilege, and Possibility | ||
| Political Geography | ||
| Revolution in History | ||
| Issues in Modern U.S. Politics and Foreign Relations | ||
| Issues in the History of U.S. Society and Culture | ||
| Athens and Greek Democracy | ||
| Alexander the Great and the Rise of Macedonia | ||
| History of U.S. Foreign Relations, 1865-1940 | ||
| History of U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1941 | ||
| The Vietnam War in US Politics and Culture | ||
| Critical Thinking in Development | ||
| Nonviolent Social Movements | ||
| Leadership 1: Adaptive Leadership | ||
| Leadership 2: Leadership in a Complex World | ||
| Leadership and Management | ||
| Individual, Team, and Organizational Development | ||
| Global Inquiry for 21st Century Leadership | ||
| Global Issues in Leadership | ||
| Nonviolent Civil Resistance: Movements and Strategies | ||
| Survey of Western Political Thought | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| Introduction to Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| The American Presidency and the Executive Branch | ||
| Political Parties and Interest Groups | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Global Development | ||
| International Organizations | ||
| Race, Class, Gender, and Crime | ||
| Social Movements and the Politics of Protest | ||
INVST Pathway
Contact INVST faculty or staff for application information and program details.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| EDUC 4800 | Special Topics Climate Justice | 3 |
Will accept alternative courses for cohorts impacted by COVID-19. | ||
| Electives | ||
| One elective required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 3 | |
| People of Color and Social Movements | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | 3 | |
| Facilitating Peaceful Community Change | ||
or INVS 3931 | The Community Leadership Internship, Part 1 | |
or INVS 3932 | Community Leadership Internship, Part 2 | |
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| Community Leadership in Action, Part 1 | ||
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |
Engineering Leadership Program Pathway
Students should meet with ENLP faculty for additional guidance.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| ENLP 2000 | Leadership, Fame and Failure | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| One elective required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 3 | |
| Complex Leadership Challenges | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | 3 | |
| Intelligent Leadership | ||
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| The Empire of Modern Science | ||
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |
Multicultural Leadership Scholars Pathway
Students should meet with MLS faculty for additional guidance.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| LEAD 1001 | Becoming a Leader: Multicultural Leadership Scholars | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| All courses required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 2 | |
| Topics in Leadership: Introduction to Research Methods | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | 4 | |
| Dynamics of Power, Privilege, Oppression and Empowerment in Leadership | ||
| Field Practicum 1 | ||
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships | ||
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |
Presidents Leadership Class Pathway
Students who are selected members of the Presidents Leadership Class can meet the requirements of the Leadership Studies Minor as outlined below. Students should meet with the PLC professional staff for additional guidance.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| PRLC 1810 | Leadership Foundations and Applications I | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| One elective required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 3 | |
| Multilevel Issues in Leadership (or PRLC 4010 (Maymester) CU in D.C. Science Policy) | ||
or ENLP 3100 | Complex Leadership Challenges | |
| 2. Leadership Application | 3 | |
| Leadership Foundations & Applications II | ||
or PRLC 3810 | Global Issues in Leadership | |
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| Global Issues in Leadership | ||
or PRLC 3800 | Global Inquiry for 21st Century Leadership | |
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |
Air Force ROTC Pathway
Students pursuing the Leadership Studies Minor through Air Force ROTC can meet the requirements for the Minor as outlined below.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| AIRR 1020 | Competition and Security | 1 |
| AIRR 2010 | Team and Leadership Fundamentals 1 | 1 |
| AIRR 2020 | Team and Leadership Fundamentals 2 | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| One elective required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 3 | |
| Leading People and Effective Communication 1 | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | 3 | |
| Leading People and Effective Communication 2 | ||
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| National Security, Leadership Responsibilities/Commissioning Preparation 1 | ||
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |
Army ROTC Pathway
Students pursuing the Leadership Studies Minor through Army ROTC can meet the requirements for the minor as outlined below.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| MILR 1011 | Adventures in Leadership 1 | 2 |
| MILR 1021 | Adventures in Leadership 2 | 2 |
| Electives | ||
| One elective required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 3 | |
| Methods of Leadership and Management 1 | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | 3 | |
| Military Operations and Training 1 | ||
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| Leadership 1: Adaptive Leadership | ||
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |
Naval ROTC Pathway
Students pursuing the Leadership Studies Minor through Naval ROTC, including traditional Midshipmen programs, Seaman to Admiral (STA-21) and Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Educational Program (MECEP), can meet the requirements for the minor as outlined below.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Course | ||
| NAVR 4010 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| One elective required from each of the three categories below | ||
| 1. Leadership Foundations | 3 | |
| Leadership and Ethics | ||
| 2. Leadership Application | 3 | |
| Seapower and Maritime Affairs | ||
| 3. Leadership in Context | 3 | |
| Naval Operations and Seamanship | ||
| Capstone | ||
| LEAD 4000 | Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone | 4 |