“When I went to Dallas with Alternative Breaks to work with AIDS Services of Dallas, I learned so much about my own leadership style. I also learned a lot about issues relating to AIDS and what could be done. We all came back as advocates and much more well-educated on the matters.” Nate Bozarth Anthropology Olathe, Kan. Ambassador Alternative Breaks
Nonprofit focus For students interested in a career in the nonprofit sector, our nonprofit focus offers three designated electives to be taken along with the core courses. LEAD 420: Theories of Nonprofit Leadership (3 credit hours) LEAD 499: Nonprofit Organization Internship (3 credit hours) LEAD 502: Ethical Dimensions of Leadership (3 credit hours) The nonprofit focus leads to certification by the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofit partners with a mission to educate, prepare and certify the next generation of nonprofit leaders. The School of Leadership Studies has the only Nonprofit Leadership Alliance National Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership in Kansas. Students must complete the following requirements in addition to their coursework to be certified: 300-hour internship experience Participation in Nonprofit Leadership Student Alliance for four semesters Attendance at the annual NLAMI conference Check out www.humanics.org for more information about Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.
Leading through service Exercise your leadership by serving with any number of programs, service-learning and civic engagement opportunities we sponsor throughout the K-State, Manhattan, and domestic and international communities.
Where we learn The leadership studies program began in 1997 with just 13 students. Now with more than 1,000 students enrolled in the minor, we finally have a home that can grow and change with Leadership Studies. In January 2010, we moved into our new building, which is the first regents building to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified in Kansas. Our building has 40 percent water reduction and 28 percent increased energy savings over standards on heating and cooling. The state-ofthe-art building is designed to maximize sustainability and efficiency — a growing necessity in the effort to become more environmentally conscious. We listened to our students to bring them a comfortable atmosphere where they can collaborate both in and outside of classes. With flexible seating arrangement and plenty of natural light, School of Leadership Studies building is like no other learning facility on campus.
On campus
Get connected
Serve as a Leadership Studies Ambassador or member of the Nonprofit Leadership Student Alliance through our student organizations. Teach as a 212 Class Leader for our Introduction to Leadership Concepts class (LEAD 212), or serve as a program coordinator or student staff member with the School of Leadership Studies.
www.k-state.edu/leadership www.k-state.edu/admissions School of Leadership Studies 103 Leadership Studies Building Manhattan, KS 66506 785-532-6085 leadership@k-state.edu
In the community Serve with HandsOn Kansas State — our nationally-affiliated campus-community volunteer/action center — working with community members, agencies and organizations through programs such as Academic Mentors, Manhattan Good Neighbors, or as a HandsOn Leader. Join Alternative Breaks or International Service Teams, the School of Leadership Studies’ signature service-learning programs. Connect with students at other colleges and universities through national service and civic engagement opportunities offered through Kansas Campus Compact.
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“I feel more free to voice my opinion and even think differently than in some of my other classes. Leadership Studies has allowed me to look at different ways that leadership can be practiced through various disciplines.” Johnathan Yarrow Management information systems Wakefield, Kan. Class Leader
“It’s not like any other building out there. The building is completely different than other classroom buildings – it’s more of a cozy, homey feeling. I got homesick and I just went there because it was different. It wasn’t a library, it wasn’t a lecture hall – the building really gave me a sense of peace, quiet and a place to study.” Phillip Gomez Marketing Shawnee, Kan.
Notice of nondiscrimination Kansas State University is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or other nonmerit reasons, in admissions, educational programs or activities and employment (including employment of disabled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era), as required by applicable laws and regulations. Responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, has been delegated to Clyde Howard, Director of Affirmative Action, Kansas State University, 214 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506–0124, (Phone) 785-532-6220; (TTY) 785-532-4807. 6181-xxxxx-10/10-xM
School of
Leadership Studies
Who are we?
Academic minor
K-State’s School of Leadership Studies is a unique program that offers students an interdisciplinary academic minor designed to complement any of the more than 250 majors at K-State. It’s the only program of its kind at a public university in the country, and it’s the most popular academic program at K-State, with more than 1,000 students enrolled in the minor. Through Leadership Studies, students can exercise their leadership through various programs and service learning opportunities in the K-State and Manhattan community.
The 18-credit hour minor is designed to provide a total leadership development experience by combining theory with an emphasis on personal development and practical experience. It’s comprised of four core classes and three additional related electives of your choice. Students can choose between the standard or nonprofit focus, and both require the same core classes.
Why leadership studies? Our mission is “developing knowledgeable, ethical, caring, inclusive leaders for a diverse and changing world.” Leadership is an important part of professional and personal development. Through Leadership Studies you will develop your interpersonal and leadership skills in a one-of-a-kind learning environment that will increase your effectiveness as a leader. The School of Leadership Studies has students from every academic college enrolled in the minor, and we reach more than 2,500 students through our courses and programs each year. All students, regardless of their majors, benefit from the study of leadership and the practice of leadership skills learned in the provided courses. If you’re worried about fitting leadership studies courses into your already packed schedule, don’t worry — many of the elective credits can be applied toward your major.
“Oftentimes, leaders are only associated with those who are on the front lines, but through leadership studies I have learned that everyone has something to bring to the table. If you can find what your talents, strengths and passions are, you can be an effective leader.” Ariel Anib Pre-law, criminology and international studies Nonprofit focus for leadership studies Olathe, Kan. President, K-State Nonprofit Leadership Student Alliance
Core classes
Electives
LEAD 212: Introduction to Leadership Concepts (2 credit hours) Students explore their own leadership development and understand personality types as they learn leadership concepts centered around the school’s mission of being knowledgeable, ethical, caring and inclusive.
The minor is rounded out by three electives, one from each of these categories, which touch upon the following topics:
LEAD 350: Culture and Context in Leadership (3 credit hours) This course challenges students to explore their cultural identity from a values-based perspective, and to look at how different cultures and contexts influence leadership today. LEAD 405: Leadership in Practice (2 credit hours) Students will choose a leadership practicum within the Manhattan or K-State community to examine their leadership styles and apply theories to their experience. LEAD 450: Senior Seminar (2 credit hours) This senior level course allows students to integrate leadership knowledge and experience in preparation for their roles as members of the contemporary work force and as citizens.
Ethics — Introductory ethical concepts, social and political philosophy, ethical theories and their application to specific professions. (3 credit hours) Theories of leadership and organizational behavior — Management theories and their application in organizational and industrial settings. (3 credit hours) Foundations and applications of leadership — The application of leadership skills and theories to specific groups, organizations, fields of work or academic disciplines; knowledge of various cultures; leadership communication. (3 credit hours) There are dozens of interdisciplinary electives to choose from to fit your focus. From Ethics in Mass Communications to Lifespan Personality Development to Theatre for Conflict Resolution, you’ll find a leadership studies education that is diverse and personally relevant.
“Leadership can’t stand alone. It has to be used with something else in the university setting. We really believe in the idea of keeping it interdisciplinary so that students from all disciplines at K-State can come and explore how to develop their own leadership in the field.”
“I took an improvisation class for a leadership studies elective, which is a theater class, and the whole time I was thinking how cool it was to see how leadership relates to improv in so many ways. Normally, you wouldn’t think that you need leadership in a theater class or theater environment, but it’s applicable everywhere.” Erika Williams Theatre and pre-medicine Topeka, Kan. Ambassador Student coordinator, Alternative Breaks
Mary Kay Siefers Assistant professor, LEAD 350: Culture and Context in Leadership Senior associate director for academic affairs