Leadership

An introduction to management theory and practice. Students explore the history of management and the environment in which managers operate. Classroom discussion focuses on the basic managerial functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
(Normally offered each semester.)

This course provides a conceptual framework for understanding behavior within the organization. Students explore behavior at the individual, group, and organizational levels. Units of analysis include personality, leadership, conflict, motivation, power, and politics.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C-" or better in BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

A study of theories and practices of persuasion within a variety of communication contexts. Students will be expected to apply these concepts to out-of-class persuasive situations.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing.
(Normally offered each semester.)

A study of theories and practices of persuasion within a variety of communication contexts. Students will be expected to apply these concepts to out-of-class persuasive situations.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and COMM 2301 Communication Theory or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

The course in Public Relations is a study of the nature of public relations, the persons involved, its relationship to public opinion, and the channels of communication that are used. Special attention is given to the application of public relations strategies for particular events or organizations.
(Normally offered each semester.)

This course focuses on constructive individual and group interaction by providing practical strategies for handling complex interpersonal dynamics. Class content weaves theory with skill building to help students explore the nature of conflict and a range of approaches to resolving differences. Students will discover what influences problem solving and decision-making through the application of negotiation, communication, and perceptual skills.
Offered in the Adult Undergraduate program only.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of the instructor.

A survey of United States history beginning with post-Civil War Reconstruction period, tracing economic, social, and cultural development to the present, emphasizing the emergence of a dominantly urban-industrial society, multiple civil rights movements, the expanded role of government, increasing government in the lives of individuals, and the increasing involvement of the United States in the world. No P/F.
This is not a First Year Writing course.

This course provides an overview of leadership perspectives, frameworks and theories and also focuses on how communication is the essential tool for engaging in relational leadership processes. In the last 30 years information about leadership has exploded, and this class is designed to help you to be better consumers of information about leadership as well as to have a clearer and more useful repertoire of ideas, and practices to intentionally engage in the leadership process, no matter the role in which that engagement occurs. You will also spend time analyzing your own experiences, beliefs, and assumptions about leading, following and communicating effectively.

Group and Team Dynamics is an intermediate-level course in the organizational leadership and communication curriculum that focuses on group and teams. In this class we will examine theories, variables, models, and processes of communication occurring in the context of formal and informal groups and teams. The course is designed to develop competent participation in and facilitation of group processes. Specifically, after taking this course you should be able to:
•Describe the factors that affect the performance of groups and teams
•Analyze theories and apply them to group activities in organizational settings
•Understand leadership process within groups and teams
•Describe how communication functions affect group members and the outcomes of group processes
•Demonstrate effective communication skills as a group member
•Demonstrate facilitation skills for group tasks and activities

Through many contexts in history and through the midst of conflicting forces that arise within organizational systems, leaders are faced with adaptive challenges. The course distinguishes between authority and knowledge, provides a diagnostic framework for assessing the typical mechanisms in which social systems avoid work on critical issues, and explores strategies and tactics of intervention to mobilize adaptive work.
Prerequisite(s): COMM 1100 Introduction to Organizational Communication, LEAD 3100 Introduction to Leadership, LEAD 3200 Interpersonal Communication for Leadership, and LEAD 4100 Group and Team Dynamics.

This course will emphasize the integration and application of theories, principles, and practices of nursing management and leadership into a variety of healthcare settings. The course includes a 45-contact hour practicum. The practicum provides an opportunity for students to evaluate and assimilate management and leadership theories and principles for integration in the practice of professional nursing.
3 hours lecture; 1 hour practicum.
Pre or corequisite(s): NURS 3050 Issues of Professional Nursing Practice and NURS 3310 Nursing Theories and Contemporary Nursing Practice with grades of "C" or better.

This course will introduce students to ideas about institutional structures, political actors, and constitutional debates in U.S. government and politics. We will explore the historical development and founding of the United States, discuss major debates about the structure of our republican form of government, connect the three branches of government to contemporary politics and elections, examine the role of race and gender in American politics, and critique the American constitutional system.

This course will examine the context, processes, institutions, and outcomes of the U.S. political system. Through writing, building, social science skills,and examining democratic principle, this course will introduce students to basic concepts and theories central to the study of political science. A special focus will be placed on the concept of civic engagement, and the importance of citizen participation to a robust democracy.

The emphasis of this class is understanding the way that the U.S. government and politics implements concepts and theories of democracy. This course will examine the context, processes, institutions, and outcomes of the U.S. political system. Through writing, building social science skills, and examining democratic principle, this course will introduce students to basic concepts and theories central to the study of political science. Students will engage in multiple forms of developing strong first year academic writing skills over the course of this class.

This course studies the historical development of social welfare policies, services, and institutions and addresses contemporary policy and service delivery. The social, political, and value systems that create policies are studied. A systems perspective focuses on the relationship between policy, services, and institutions at the local, state, and federal levels. International perspectives on social policy are discussed for comparative purposes. Primary areas of focus are public welfare, aging, and mental health. Policy implementation and change are discussed.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

In this thread culmination experience course, students will recognize significant connections among their thread courses, reflect on their experiences in exploring the core questions and learning objectives in those thread courses, and synthesize their answers to those questions in the context of their personal and professional lives.
Offered in the Adult Undergraduate program only. Credit may not be earned for both IDS 4800LD and IDS 4800RS.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of all other Integrative Core requirements.

In this thread culmination experience course, students will recognize significant connections among their thread courses, reflect on their experiences in exploring the core questions and learning objectives in those thread courses, and synthesize their answers to those questions as well as additional insights gleaned in their IDS 4800LD course. Students will develop skills necessary to effectively communicate in public, private, and professional settings, and they will present their ideas in a public forum.
Offered in the Adult Undergraduate program only.
Pre or corequisite(s): IDS 4800LD Discursive Reflections and completion of all other Integrative Core requirements.