The Leadership Studies Certificate is an interdisciplinary program open to students in all majors and degree programs. The Leadership Studies Certificate combine academic, co-curricular and community leadership experiences. Students completing an associate degree or baccalaureate degree are able to earn a Leadership Studies Certificate. Leadership Studies Certificate requirements must be completed at the time of graduation. This program provides graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective leaders in a variety of sectors and setting.

Student Learning Outcomes

Washburn graduates who complete the Leadership Studies Certificate will be able to:

• Critique and analyze the concept of leadership.
• Identify the historical, psychological and social bases of leadership.
• Accept and appreciate the ethics and responsibilities of leadership.
• Recognize and demonstrate mastery of the skills and abilities necessary for effective leadership.
• Convert leadership theory into action.
• Observe and evaluate leadership in a variety of contexts.

Leadership Core Curriculum

The Leadership Studies Certificate requires 12 credit hours of leadership curriculum. As cultivated at Washburn, leadership is broadly defined and inclusive in scope in order to expose students to many differing views of leadership. The Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement takes an integrative approach to the education, experience, and empowerment of personal leadership development. Three multidisciplinary leadership courses and one leadership internship experience constitute the core curriculum of the Leadership Studies Certificate. Each course has a primary focus and emphasis, but all courses work toward the following interrelated goals:

• To foster the ability to think critically and analytically about leadership.
• To advance the understanding of the historical underpinnings of leadership.
• To advocate internalization of the ethical basis for leadership.
• To promote the development of leadership skills.
• To aid comprehension of the theoretical components of leadership.
• To enhance a self-reflective, self-assessing awareness of one’s own leadership potential.
• To cultivate the ability to convert leadership theory into action.

Certificate Requirements

Students completing an associate degree or baccalaureate degree are able to earn the Leadership Studies Certificate.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses Inside Department
LE 100/HN 202	Exploring the Concept of Leadership 1	3
LE 200/HN 201	Ethical Responsibilities of Leadership	3
LE 300	Leadership Skills Development	3
LE 350	Leadership Practicum Experience 2	3
or LE 400	Leadership Internship
Total Hours		12

¹

Approved as social sciences general education credit

²

Associate degree students will take LE 350 Leadership Practicum Experience in place of LE 400 Leadership Internship.