The list below offers a representative sample of the courses you can expect in the study of leadership at DePauw. From theoretical foundations to practical experiences, these courses provide a full range of educational opportunities at various levels of mastery. For more information about current course offerings or registration details, please consult the Office of the Registrar.
This course establishes a conceptual foundation for the study of leadership. From this foundation, students will be equipped to further build their knowledge of leadership through both coursework and applied experience. Students will examine case studies, engage with guest speakers, and study the key theoretical concepts of modern leadership study. Conceptual areas covered include inclusive leadership, leader member exchange theory, transformational leadership, authentic leadership, servant leadership, adaptive leadership, and team leadership. Contexts considered cross disciplinary boundaries and will include corporate, community, political, and education leadership.
Social Science
1 course
228A: Foundations of Leadership
Professor: Kent Menzel
This course will examine ethical perspectives for leadership study and practice. Students will analyze case studies, delve into primary readings, and complete a research project analyzing an ethical challenge for leadership practice.
1 course
333A: Ethical Perspectives for Leadership
Professor: David Holiday
The practice of leading involves the use of interpersonal influence, which means that leadership has substantial ethical aspects "built in." Leadership must pursue socially elevating goals, and restrict collaborative teams to only good (or at least morally permissible) means to attain them. Leaders must resist various temptations to abuse their position, and their ability to influence others. Leadership tests moral character, and requires a commitment to consistently uphold shared values. It also requires respect, inclusivity and equitable treatment for all members of the team. This course offers students the core tools and concepts needed to grapple with the ethical questions at the heart of leadership. First, we study multiple moral frameworks needed to understand and practice ethical leadership. Then we will engage with case studies, and contemporary literature, considering ethical aspects of leadership including: privilege and diversity; gender and culture; unethical influence (coercion, exploitation and manipulation); bridging the gap between knowing something is wrong and actually speaking up against it; and whether leaders are ever right to make exceptions to practical principles or rules. (The course has no prerequisites, although students will be well served by having completed LEAD 228--Foundations of Leadership. It serves the Leadership minor, and may also count towards the major and minor in philosophy.)
Leveraging the resources of the School of Business and Leadership, the leadership minor at DePauw is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the expertise of multiple departments to develop the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a rapidly changing world.
