LDST 101-05 LEADERSHIP AND THE HUMANITIES FALL 2010 - COURSE SYLLABUS Instructor: Dr. Thomas J. Shields Office: North Court Hall, Room 305 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 289-8524 (office) Office hours: By appointment via e-mail Class meeting date and time: Tuesday and Thursday 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Location: Jepson Hall 101 INTRODUCTION Studying leadership is a journey into self-discovery. It requires you to examine beliefs and values, to suspend judgment in order to become a critical thinker, and to move into new and uncharted territory. This course is designed as a beginning point for the examination of the issues and concepts involved in the study of leadership by focusing on the nature and the character of leadership itself. These readings and class discussions will address several basic questions such as what is leadership and its elements? How does context affect the nature of leadership? How do persons become effective leaders and/or effective followers? What are the moral purpose(s) of leadership? What are the historical references for our contemporary leadership theories and ideas? COURSE LEARNING PLAN Course Learning Objectives - The essential, overarching learning objectives of this course are the following: 1. The student should become comfortable with the concept of leadership and why it is studied. 2. The student should recognize the various “elements” of leadership. 3. The student should know something about the process of leadership. 4. The student should be aware of the historical writings pertaining to leadership. 1. The student should have an enhanced understanding of the concepts and practices involved in leadership in a pluralistic society. 2. The student should be familiar with the kinds of questions asked by leadership scholars. 3. The student should have enhanced powers of critical analysis and increased capabilities of oral and written communication. COURSE IN ACTION This course seeks to actively engage you in the class, to challenge you to challenge yourself, your peers...and your instructor. In short, this is not a course for the passive or for those who want the teacher to provide all the answers. Employing a variety of teaching techniques, the course requires a high level of student participation in classroom activities and group discussions. You will be challenged to think critically and imaginatively about the course material. It is important to note that this course will be a shared intellectual enterprise engaging instructor and students equally. We will employ a number of different instructional strategies and classroom experiences, many of which are designed to promote active, hands-on learning. Thus, the course seeks to integrate active, experiential, problem-based learning and the study of leadership theories and concepts.COURSE REQUIRED READINGS The classroom work in this course will center on the reading assignments. Since the course involves as much experiential activity and discussion as possible, and with minimum lecturing, it is IMPERATIVE that you complete the assigned readings prior to each class. Texts: Conrad, J. (1899/2007). Heart of darkness. Ingram Publisher Services. ISBN: 9780979660733 Hesse, H. (1956). The journey to the East. New York, NY: Picador. ISBN: 0312421680 Machiavelli, N. (1513/2003). The prince. New York, NY: Bantam Dell. ISBN: 0553212788 Melville, H. (1962/1986). Billy Budd and other stories. New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780140390537 Articles: Most of the readings are online. You can access these articles under the Course Document section on the Blackboard website. COURSE POLICIES AND STANDARDS The following class policies are established for the purpose of allowing students enrolled in leadership courses to establish practices that demonstrate mature and responsible behavior toward their work and each other. Class and Event Attendance and Participation Attendance and participation in class and group activities/meetings are very serious components of the class. Class attendance is required and will be recorded. Attendances at events outside the classroom are also required. Absences due to health or sports must be substantiated in writing by the appropriate university official. Absences without valid excuses will be penalized in the final grade. After two absences the student’s grade will be affected. More than two unexcused absences will result in a half grade reduction for each session missed. For example, if you miss three classes and you were to receive a B, then your grade would be lowered to a B-. PLEASE NOTE: Missing more than five will result in a grade of F. In addition, lateness will not be tolerated. Absence During In-Class Graded Assignments Unexcused absences from in-class graded assignments may not be made up. Any difficulties or problems should be brought to the instructor’s attention as soon as possible (well before the assignment or exam is scheduled.) Requests for extensions will be granted only under dire circumstances. Late Papers and Comments on Papers Late papers or assignments receive a half grade deduction per day. For example, if a paper was due on a Wednesday and the student handed it in on Thursday morning, then than the student’s grade on the paper would be dropped from a B to a B-. Papers will not be accepted via e-mail. The instructor will provide comments on papers, but if the student desires more feedback it would be wise to make an appointment. Technological Devices Cell Phones: Turn off all cell phones before entering the class. By off, I mean completely off, not simply on silent or vibrate.Laptops: You may use laptops for taking notes ONLY. Use of laptops should not inhibit your ability to engage in classroom discussion. If, for some reason, I find that laptop use is distractingI will ask you to discontinue their use. Honor Code The Jepson School supports and adheres to the provisions of the Honor System sanctioned by the School of Arts and Sciences. Every piece of written work presented by individual students must have the honor pledge and the student's signature on it.