Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Format
Asynchronous Online: This course is conducted in an asynchronous online format. This means that learning occurs online and at your own pace within this designated course site, facilitated through the Canvas platform as the learning management system (LMS). While optional live sessions will offered periodically, attendance is not mandatory, allowing the flexibility to engage with course materials and activities according to the learner's individual schedule.
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Materials
All materials will be provided in the course.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)
-
Foster teamwork and collaboration by applying effective leadership practices to build cohesive and high-performing teams.
-
Improve communication skills for conveying ideas to teams and navigating organizational challenges to support the organizational mission within multiple disciplines.
-
Demonstrate and apply ethical principles in leadership, making morally sound decisions that contribute to organizational integrity.
-
Communicate accurately and clearly in writing using a scholarly interdisciplinary approach to administrative leadership.
-
Adapt leadership strategies to navigate and succeed in domestic and globalized business environments through periods of change.
-
Assess organizational change by integrating ethical responsibility and a commitment to diversity and cross-cultural leadership in the decision-making process
and organizational values.
-
Create and implement individual leadership development plans identifying strengths and weaknesses in leadership ideas and styles.
-
Apply techniques related to leadership to create, sustain, and change organizations to operate more efficiently and effectively.
-
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of various historical and current leadership theories and models.
- Critique organizational culture and operations by informed management and leadership decision-making.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Alignment
| CLO | Description | PLO |
|---|---|---|
| A | Develop innovative leadership methods or solutions to address specific challenges within an organization, showcasing creativity and critical thinking. | 1, 2 |
| B | Evaluate the impact of leadership decisions on organizational culture, employee morale, and overall performance. | 6, 8 |
| C | Apply leadership theories to real-world organizational scenarios, showcasing the ability to adapt and implement effective leadership strategies. | 3, 5 |
| D | Integrate knowledge from individual leadership perspectives to propose comprehensive strategies for organizational development and success. | 4, 5 |
| E | Assess self-awareness of personal leadership strengths and weaknesses. | 7, 9 |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | CLO | Points/Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussions | Discussion Board Posts and required Peer Feedback | E | 23% |
| Introduction Activities | Self-perception, symbolism and non-verbal communication | E | 4% |
| Weekly Written Assignments & Questionnaires |
History of Leadership, Collaborative Teamwork, Psychological Safety, Leadership Traits and Characteristics, Team performance and Self-Assessment |
A, B, C, D, & E | 30% |
| LinkedIn Learning | Communication & the Foundation/Fundamentals of Leadership | B, C, & D | 13% |
| Leadership Development Action Plan & Reflection | Proposal for Personal Leadership Development & Cogitation theory of leadership and application | A, C, D & E | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Discussions
In this course, you will engage in collaborative dialogue and provide peer feedback on various topics of leadership with organizations. Integrating insights from diverse leadership perspectives, students will propose comprehensive strategies for organizational development and success, leveraging their self-awareness of personal leadership strengths and weaknesses to refine their approach and enhance leadership effectiveness.
Introduction Activities
These activities will explore the significance of verbal and nonverbal communication in effective leadership. They will analyze how clear verbal communication fosters understanding and alignment within teams. At the same time, nonverbal cues such as body language, symbolism, and facial expressions can convey empathy, confidence, interest, and credibility in both non-lexical and linguistic exchange(s).
Weekly Written Assignments & Questionnaires
Throughout the course, you will complete weekly written assignments. These will focus on the history of leadership, teamwork, psychological safety, and leadership traits to develop innovative leadership methods or solutions for addressing specific organizational challenges, highlighting creativity and critical thinking skills.
The questionnaires and/or surveys will evaluate the impact of leadership decisions on organizational culture, employee morale, and overall performance. This will showcase your ability to analyze and understand the consequences of different leadership approaches.
LinkedIn Learning
Through interactive modules with industry experts, you will engage in a LinkedIn Learning course to gain a comprehensive understanding of leader competence, strategic planning, emotional intelligence, communication, and conflict resolution. Assessed by achieving a certificate of completion, you will improve your proficiencies as a leader and learn practical soft skills essential for organizational leadership.
Leadership Development Action Plan & Reflection
You will align your goals with your values and leverage self-awareness through a personal strength and weakness analysis. Additionally, you will create a strategic roadmap for continuous improvement, setting specific milestones and actions to develop key competencies, address deficiencies, capitalize on strengths, and navigate opportunities, ultimately paving the way for your professional growth and success in leadership roles.
For the reflection assignment, you will deliberate on moments of challenge and setbacks, demonstrating resilience in overcoming obstacles while embracing agile learning and aptitude to advance your career. You will foster a growth mindset and showcase your commitment to continuous personal and professional development as a valuable leader with an aptitude for adaptability in dynamic environments.
Course Policies
Communication
It is your responsibility to maintain personal communication with your instructor. By adhering to these guidelines, we can maintain clear and effective communication throughout the semester, ensuring that your academic needs are met promptly and efficiently.
Preferred Contact Method: I prefer to be contacted via email for all non-urgent inquiries at sonnice.estill@ou.edu
Note: Please use your official college email address when reaching out.
Canvas Messaging: While Canvas is a valuable platform for course-related communication and announcements, please reserve Canvas messages for urgent matters that require immediate attention, such as technical issues during exams or emergencies related to coursework.
Response Time (Monday-Friday): I commit to responding to emails within 24 hours during regular business days (Monday to Friday). Please allow this timeframe while awaiting a response. If you have not received a reply within 24 hours, feel free to send a polite follow-up email.
Response Time (Weekends): Emails received over the weekend will receive a response within 48 hours (two business days). While I strive to maintain responsiveness even on weekends, please understand that there may be occasional delays due to weekend hours.
Office Hours: Additionally, I will hold regular office hours during which you can schedule appointments for virtual meetings. Office hours will be communicated at the beginning of the semester and may vary based on scheduling considerations.
Emergency Situations: In case of urgent or time-sensitive matters, such as sudden illness or unforeseen personal emergencies affecting your coursework, please indicate the urgency in the subject line of your email or call me directly.
Professional Communication: When contacting me, please ensure your emails are professional, concise, and include relevant details to facilitate a prompt and effective response. Provide your full name, course details (if applicable), and a clear description of your inquiry or concern.
Feedback
As part of the University of Oklahoma’s commitment to quality education, feedback on student activities and assignments will adhere to the Quality Matters (QM) Specific Review Standards, specifically Essential Standard 5.3 and Recommended Standard 3.5.
Students can expect to receive feedback within one week (7 calendar days) of submitting their assignments, with the goal of achieving a one-week turnaround time for most activities. Grades for assignments will also be provided within this timeframe, allowing students timely insights into their progress and areas for improvement. This policy ensures that students receive applicable and revelatory feedback promptly, fostering a conducive learning environment, promoting professional growth, and supporting academic success.
Late Policy
Please note the instructor has the discretion to grant extensions or impose late penalties on assignments received after the posted deadline. Below, you will see the policy that governs late assignments:
- Any work that you submit after the due date is considered late. You do not need to contact the instructor if your assignment will be late.
- If you know you will miss an assignment deadline and want to request a waiver of the late deduction, you must make arrangements with the instructor at least 24 hours before the assignment deadline. Please email your instructor at least the day before the assignment is due and explain the situation. Your instructor will evaluate your situation and determine whether or not to allow the late work, without penalty, on a case-by-case basis. The instructor will provide you with a new due date if late work is allowed.
- Students who miss an assignment deadline without a prior arrangement or a legitimate emergency will have one letter grade per day deducted, with no assignments accepted after two days past the due date. In all other cases, students will earn a “0” on the assignment.
- In emergencies, you must present documentation of the unforeseen urgent situation to your instructor. Again, the instructor will evaluate whether to allow late work without penalty on a case-by-case basis. If late work is allowed, your instructor will share a new due date with you.
Please understand the following:
- Canvas will automatically close discussion boards and assignments two days after the posted deadline.
- No late discussion posts will be accepted after the end of the unit because the class will move to the next unit’s discussion.
- Discussion board posting and assignments are due by midnight on the deadline due date.
No assignments will be accepted after the last day of class.
It is your responsibility to maintain personal communication with your instructors. If you need to miss a class (on-site) or if you are going to be delayed in submitting assignments (online), you should make all efforts to contact your faculty members in advance to let them know about your situation. Keep in mind that in most cases, it is at the discretion of the instructor whether to grant an extension or apply late penalties to an assignment received after the posted deadline.
The instructor is not obligated to initiate contact with you before giving assignments or final grades. Your grade may be seriously impacted if you have several outstanding/late assignments. Failure to communicate late submissions may result in serious consequences for your individual grade on each assignment. Your overall grade may be significantly affected if you accumulate multiple outstanding/late assignments. Therefore, it is in your best interest to prioritize timely communication and adherence to assignment deadlines to maintain academic progress and success.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Access the University Academic Policies Document.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|