The Leadership Studies Minor prepares students to ethically and effectively lead through a combination of academic coursework, critical self-reflection and team projects. This academic credential is available to all undergraduates, regardless of major or college. By including the minor with a chosen field of study, undergraduates will gain knowledge, skills and dispositions that prepare them to lead in community, business, government and other related contexts.

Students may declare the Leadership Studies Minor at any point in their undergraduate career. To declare the Leadership Studies Minor, please submit a declaration form online on the School of Education website.

This minor offers leadership education that incorporates:

  • Understanding, critiquing, and applying leadership theories.
  • Gaining a historical and situational analysis of leadership.
  • Developing core leadership competencies relevant to everyday leadership and leadership in times of crisis.
  • Practicing and observing leadership in action.
  • Engaging with peers in collaborative and intentional ways.

Requirements

Core Requirements

The minor involves 16 credit hours of coursework, including an introductory course (LEAD 1000), nine credits of electives, and a capstone course with an experiential practicum and electronic portfolio of learning (LEAD 4000). All coursework must be completed with a grade of C- or better to fulfill the requirements.

Elective Pathways

Students enrolled in the Presidents Leadership Class, INVST, the Engineering Leadership Program, Multicultural Leadership Scholars or ROTC units should talk to their respective coordinators about how these programs can be integrated as pathways to the Leadership Studies Minor (see details below)

General Pathway

Completion of the Leadership Studies Minor requires students to take 9 credits of elective coursework across three categories.

  • Leadership Foundations: Courses focus on moral and ethical reasoning, ability to critically evaluate behavior, and improved decision-making in life choices.
  • Leadership Application: Courses focus on enhanced ability to function in a team, building a team with diverse perspectives, and leading a team effectively to accomplish a shared goal.
  • Leadership in Context: Courses focus on historical and situational analysis, critical evaluation of historical and contemporary leaders, and ability to connect leadership behaviors to organizational outcomes.

One elective from each category is required and, of the three electives, at least one course must be outside the student's major. Students are responsible for understanding any prerequisites or conditions for chosen electives. Ideally, electives are taken during the student's sophomore through junior years and completed before entering the capstone course.

Students may petition for a course not included on the following list to count towards a minor elective.  They may petition an elective be moved to a different category as needed in their plan of study. Visit the minor website for petition information and contact leadershipstudies@colorado.edu with any questions. 

Approved Electives by Category
1. Leadership Foundations
Leading People and Effective Communication 1
Culture and Power
Ways of Knowing: Constructions of Knowledge in the Academy and Beyond
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
Place, Power, and Contemporary Culture
Honors Diversity Seminar
Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools
Individual, Team, and Organizational Development
Methods of Leadership and Management 1
Leadership and Ethics
Environmental Justice
Philosophy and Race
Philosophy and Gender
Environmental Ethics
Critical Thinking: Contemporary Topics
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 the Developing World: Learning through Service
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
Special Topics (Water Profession: Management and Utility Finance)
Special Topics (Managing Water Utilities: Current Issues & Future Challenges)
Strategies for Social Change
Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools
Becoming a Learning Assistant (and EDUC 4620 LA Mentoring I: Becoming a Mentor)
Leadership and Professional Skills
New Venture Creation
Intelligent Leadership
Entrepreneurial Environments
Asian Pacific American Communities
Women of Color: Chicanas in U.S. Society
Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships
Geography of International Development
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
Redefining the Employee-Employer Relationship
Managing Employee Reward Systems
Individual, Team, and Organizational Development
Communication and Conflict Management
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
Facilitating Peaceful Community Change
3. Leadership in Context
Multicultural Perspective and Academic Discourse
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
Indigenous Rights and Red Power Movement
People of Color and Social Movements
Gender, Sport and Culture
Inside-Out: Prison and Social Justice
Seminar on the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements
Sport for Social Justice
Geographies of Global Change
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
U.S. Military History since 1898
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
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

INVST Pathway

Students who are selected members of INVST cohorts can meet the requirements of the Leadership Studies Minor as outlined below. Students should meet with the INVST professional staff for additional guidance.

Introductory Course
EDUC 4800Special Topics Climate Justice3
Will accept alternative courses for cohorts impacted by COVID-19.
Electives
One elective required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations3
People of Color and Social Movements
2. Leadership Application3
Facilitating Peaceful Community Change
The Community Leadership Internship, Part 1
Community Leadership Internship, Part 2
3. Leadership in Context3
Community Leadership in Action, Part 1
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

Engineering Leadership Program Pathway

Students who are selected members of the Engineering Leadership Program (ENLP) can meet the requirements of the Leadership Studies Minor as outlined below. Students should meet with the ENLP professional staff for additional guidance.

Introductory Course
ENLP 2000Leadership, Fame and Failure3
Electives
One elective required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations3
Complex Leadership Challenges
2. Leadership Application3
Intelligent Leadership
3. Leadership in Context3
The Empire of Modern Science
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

Multicultural Leadership Scholars Pathway

Students who are selected members of the Multicultural Leadership Scholars can meet the requirements of the Leadership Studies Minor as outlined below. Students should meet with the MLS professional staff for additional guidance.

Introductory Course
LEAD 1001Becoming a Leader: Multicultural Leadership Scholars3
Electives
All courses required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations2
Topics in Leadership: Introduction to Research Methods
2. Leadership Application4
Dynamics of Power, Privilege, Oppression and Empowerment in Leadership
Field Practicum 1
3. Leadership in Context3
Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

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.

Introductory Course
PRLC 1810Leadership Foundations and Applications I3
Electives
One elective required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations3
Multilevel Issues in Leadership (or PRLC 4010 (Maymester) CU in D.C. Science Policy)
Complex Leadership Challenges
2. Leadership Application3
Leadership Foundations & Applications II
Global Issues in Leadership
3. Leadership in Context3
Global Issues in Leadership
Global Inquiry for 21st Century Leadership
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

Air Force ROTC Pathway

Students pursuing the Leadership Studies Minor through Air Force ROTC can meet the requirements for the Minor as outlined below.

Introductory Course
AIRR 1020Heritages and Values II1
AIRR 2010Team and Leadership Fundamentals 11
AIRR 2020Team and Leadership Fundamentals 21
Electives
One elective required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations3
Leading People and Effective Communication 1
2. Leadership Application3
Leading People and Effective Communication 2
3. Leadership in Context3
National Security, Leadership Responsibilities/Commissioning Preparation 1
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

Army ROTC Pathway

Students pursuing the Leadership Studies Minor through Army ROTC can meet the requirements for the minor as outlined below.

Introductory Course
MILR 1011Adventures in Leadership 12
MILR 1021Adventures in Leadership 22
Electives
One elective required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations3
Methods of Leadership and Management 1
2. Leadership Application3
Military Operations and Training 1
3. Leadership in Context3
Leadership 1: Adaptive Leadership
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

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.

Introductory Course
NAVR 4010Leadership and Management3
Electives
One elective required from each of the three categories below
1. Leadership Foundations3
Leadership and Ethics
2. Leadership Application3
Seapower and Maritime Affairs
3. Leadership in Context3
Naval Operations and Seamanship
Capstone
LEAD 4000Leadership in Context and Emerging Challenges: A Capstone4

Learning Outcomes

The Leadership Studies minor is aligned with the Chancellor’s strategic imperative to “shape tomorrow’s leaders.” The minor contributes to preparing leaders in the following realms:

  • Personal leadership development
  • Leadership theory and analysis
  • Ethical and moral leadership