Minor in Organizational Leadership

Rutgers University has a rich body of courses that are fundamental to leadership instruction. The minor in organizational leadership gathers these courses into a curriculum that prepares students to assume a leadership role in an organization.

Program Goals

Students who minor in organizational leadership may pursue any major field of study. For its theoretical segments, the minor draws from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and from departments in the School of Business and the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies. For its practical components, the minor utilizes Career Services and Rutgers` student organizations. All aspects of the minor concentrate on cultivating and enhancing organizational leadership skills.

The theory courses focus on formulating an ethically responsible vision that promotes organizational excellence; understanding change, how it occurs, when it is needed, and how it affects a group; and persuading individuals and groups to work toward a common goal. Course work is supplemented by a series of extracurricular programs that provide an opportunity for students to meet with their cohorts and to apply their knowledge of organizational leadership. The extracurricular component functions much like a laboratory in the physical sciences.

Requirements

The minor in organizational leadership consists of 20 credits (9 of which must be at the 300 level or above) divided into two foundation courses, three theory courses, and two applications courses. Students must earn a grade of C or better to receive credit, except in those segments specified as Pass/No Credit options.

Required Courses

   01:730:101  Logic, Reasoning, and Persuasion (3)

Explores argument, what makes argument valid, techniques for clarifying meaning, and persuasive presentation; prepares students to become responsible and critical thinkers, effective communicators, and active learners.

   02:090:202  Introduction to Organizational Leadership (3)

Examines nature of leadership, processes that underpin group decisions, basic features of organizational culture, and how leaders prepare themselves to meet challenges. Students develop strategies for integrating and sharing knowledge through extracurricular projects, including designing an interactive web site with students in the program and at other universities.

Leadership Theory I: Formulating an Ethically Responsible Vision

All students must select one 3-credit course from the list below.

   01:730:105  Current Moral and Social Issues (3)

   01:730:241  Introduction to Moral Theory (3)

   01:730:249  Medical Ethics (3)

   01:730:250  Environmental Ethics (3)

   01:730:251  Ethics and Business (3)

   01:730:340  History of Ethics (3)

   01:730:346  Rights, Justice, and Equality (3)

   01:840:221  Ethical Issues, Religious Responses (3)

   01:840:349  Ethical Issues in Business (3)

Leadership Theory II: Understanding Organizational Change

All students must select one 3-credit course from the list below to be taken concurrently with 02:090:303 Exercising Leadership in a Student Organization (1).

   33:011:230  The Nature of Leadership (3)

   01:070:204  Introduction to Social Evolution (3)

   01:450:363  Geography of Development (3)

   01:506:367  Protest and Revolution (3)

   37:575:312  Conflict in the Workplace (3)

   37:575:364  Diversity in the Workplace (3)

   01:790:305  Public Policy Formation (3)

   01:790:312  Change in Latin America (3)

   01:790:333  Political Development of American Race Relations (3)

   01:790:342  Public Administration: Policymaking (3)

   01:790:355  Women and Public Policy (3)

   01:790:363  Conflict Resolution in World Politics (3)

   01:830:371  Group Dynamics (3) *

   01:830:373  Organizational and Personnel Psychology (3) *

   01:830:375  Prejudice and Conflict (3) *

   01:920:280  Collective Behavior and Social Movements (3)

   01:920:315  Organizations and Bureaucracies (3) *

   01:920:321  Urban Development and Community Change (3) *

   01:920:326  Sociology of Communities (3) *

   02:090:303  Introduction to Organizational Applications (1)

For second-year students only.

Students assume leadership positions or become active members of a university organization and maintain a log of activities. Students write an eight- to ten-page essay analyzing and assessing their impact on the organization, directly supervised and graded (Pass/No Credit) by the organization`s adviser. Students are encouraged to find a faculty mentor to guide their process of self-assessment.

Leadership Theory III: Persuading Others to Work for a Common Goal

All students must select one 3-credit course from the list below.

  04:189:101  Introduction to Communication and Information Systems (3)

  01:190:321  Classic Rhetoric (3)

  04:192:200  Communication Theory (3) *

  04:192:201  Interpersonal Communication Processes (3) *

  04:192:220  Fundamentals of Speaking and Listening (3) *

  01:220:341  Industrial Organization (3) *

  33:620:370  Managing Diversity in Organizations (3) *

  33:620:410  Organizational Leadership (3) *

  33:620:490  Organizational Behavior (3) *

  01:790:348  Psychology and Politics (3)

  01:830:311  Conditioning and Learning (3) *

  01:830:326-327  Small Groups, Small Groups Laboratory (3,1) *

  01:830:364  Motivation and Emotion (3) *

  01:830:371  Group Dynamics (3) *

  01:830:372  Psychological Approaches to Social Problems (3) *

  02:090:304  Laboratory on Organizational Leadership (1)

Optional.

Using interactive electronic models, students analyze group dynamics and learn to anticipate outcomes; focus is on strategies for leadership in organizations outside the university setting. Grading is on Pass/No Credit basis.

  02:090:404  Advanced Organizational Applications with Capstone Seminar (4)

For third- or fourth-year students; fall only.

Coordinated by the instructors of 02:090:202 Introduction to Organizational Leadership, this capstone experience integrates what students have learned through a monthly seminar with leaders from various fields and an internship.

Honors in Organizational Leadership

Many courses required for the minor also satisfy Livingston College core requirements. Students who satisfy core requirements by completing three additional courses from the minor requirements with a B or better qualify for honors in organizational leadership. Students also must complete a thesis. In the fall of their senior year, students enroll in 02:090:495 Paul Robeson Scholars Project and conduct independent research projects. In the spring of their senior year, students present their work. Successful candidates are identified as Paul Robeson Scholars in Leadership.

* Course has prerequisite.