Is a Leadership Studies minor for me?
To find out, ask yourself: Do I admire leaders? Do I see myself as a leader? Do people ask me to serve as a leader? Do I feel a sense of responsibility for how well organizations work? Do I have ideas about how organizations could be improved? Do I value others' ideas? Do I like reading about extraordinary leaders? Am I curious about why some leaders excel? Do I usually think ahead and plan? Do I enjoy solving problems? Do I believe most people and groups are capable of doing better? Am I flexible, patient, and a good listener? Do I value collaboration and teamwork? Am I optimistic about the future? If you answered 'yes' to one or more of these questions, the Leadership Studies minor is for you!
What will I study?
The Leadership Studies minor consists of 19 credit hours. The program is based in the Communication Studies Department because all leaders must understand and use communication well. Half the program is a series of communication courses devoted to leaders' special concerns: COMS 201: Introduction to Leadership Studies (1 hr.); COMS 431: Communication and Leadership (3 hrs.); COMS 531: Seminar in Leadership Strategies and Applications (3 hrs.); and COMS 532: Leadership Practicum (3 hrs.). The other half consists of courses chosen from disciplines across the university, although one of those courses must deal with ethics, one with community development, and one with culture and diversity. The menu of courses which may be used to fulfill each of these requirements includes a broad spectrum of departments across the university. Also, because you can custom-tailor your work in the Communication Studies courses to your service and professional interests, much of the Leadership Studies minor will be relevant to your own life commitments.
What majors fit well with Leadership Studies?
All of them. Some students major in a discipline that focuses on the social arena in which they hope to lead, such as the government, education, business, media, health care, the arts, or law; some major in a discipline that informs a leaders' knowledge base and skills, such as communication, psychology, sociology, history, English, philosophy, or a particular world region; and some major in disciplines they simply enjoy and want to understand. Leaders are needed in every walk of life.
Can I include this minor within a four-year college program of study?
Yes, if you plan ahead. Most students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences will use about 50% of the 124 credits they need to graduate to meet their distribution requirements, about 24% for their academic major, and most of the rest for a minor. Most students will be able to apply one or two of the courses needed for the Leadership Studies minor toward fulfilling their other graduation distribution requirements. Students in KU's professional schools may find it more difficult to incorporate the Leadership Studies minor within their program of studies, so they should talk about it with an advisor as early as possible in their college years.
Is Leadership Studies relevant to student leaders?
Yes, the Leadership Studies Minor is particularly well-suited to students who participate in extra-curricular activities and assume positions of responsibility within them, such as officers in student government, social and living organizations, teams and clubs, and volunteer service groups. In fact, the Leadership Studies Minor involves an unusually close collaboration between KU's academic and co-curricular leadership opportunities. It also is relevant for students who have or aspire to leadership positions in off-campus work roles. These students learn ideas in the classroom they can immediately apply in their concurrent leadership roles, and they are encouraged to relate their "real-life" experiences and problems to the ideas being explored in class.
How do I become a Leadership Studies minor?
The first step is to enroll in COMS 201: Introduction to Leadership Studies, preferably in your sophomore year. That class will expose you to the issues that concern leaders most. Mid-way through that course you may apply for admission to the minor. You must have completed at least 28 credit hours (or an equivalence of leadership experience) with a minimum 2.5 GPA to be considered.
Once I am admitted, what do I do next?
Gradually take the program's courses. COMS 431: Communication and Leadership is offered every fall semester and COMS 531: Seminar in Leadership Strategies and Applications is offered in the spring. COMS 531 is the "capstone" course for the major and should be taken as your last course in the program. COMS 532: Leadership Practicum, is offered every semester, but it involves many hours of fieldwork (in training, shadowing, volunteering, and interning with leaders) so it is best taken gradually, at the rate of one or two credits per semester. The three courses in other departments should be taken as soon as they can be worked into your schedule.
How is the Leadership Studies minor unique?
Several characteristics make the Leadership Studies program stand out: a) Small classes. COMS 201, 531, and 532 usually are taught with fewer than 20 students. b) Varied teachers. COMS 201 has been taught by faculty from several academic departments, university administrators, Student Life staff members, and Athletic Department leaders. It often is team-taught. COMS 531 involves guest speakers, who have included state legislators, CEOs of corporations, directors of non-profit agencies, military officers, and small business entrepreneurs. c) Hands-on experience. Students in COMS 532 participate in leadership training retreats, internships, volunteer experiences, and other experiential challenges. Students in COMS 531 devise and complete their own leadership initiative in the "real world," called their "Leadership Legacy Project." They initiate, and involve others, in an endeavor that will make a positive impact on an organization of their choice, one that will last after they graduate.
Does a minor in Leadership Studies prepare one for graduate school or a career?
Yes, Leadership Studies is relevant to graduate study appropriate for many professions, and graduate programs focusing on "leadership" itself are burgeoning around the country and the world. Also, leadership ability and experience is one of the most important qualifications employers now seek in job candidates. Students in this program complete a portfolio of leadership achievements that helps demonstrate their leadership competency to job interviewers.
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