Course Syllabus

Leadership Theory: 660.332

Instructor:
William Smedick; Ed.D

Contact Information:

Mattin Center 210

Office of the Dean of Student Life
smedick@jhu.edu
410-516-8208
Office Hours: Thursdays 12-1

Teaching Assistant:
Abby Duggan

Contact Information:

Whitehead 104
CLE Office
jhuleadershiptheory@gmail.com
aduggan4@jhu.edu
315-256-7743 (please only use for “emergencies”)
Office Hours: TBD

Course Description:

Students will be introduced to the history of Leadership Theory from the “Great
Man” theory of born leaders to Transformational Leadership theory of non-
positional learned leadership. Transformational Leadership theory postulates that
leadership can be learned and enhanced. The course will explore the knowledge
base and skills necessary to be an effective leader in a variety of settings. Students
will assess their personal leadership qualities and develop a plan to enhance their
leadership potential.

Required Materials:

Leadership: Theory and Practice, Peter G. Northouse

Leadership, James MacGregor Burns

Materials for Group Projects:

See attached “Group Project Resources”

Course Requirements:

All students are expected to attend class and to come fully prepared to participate.
Up to 3 unexcused absences will be allowed, any further absences will start to
severely affect your participation grade. Additionally, there is a significant
amount of reading required for this class. Please be sure to have the assigned
reading completed before class the day that it’s due so that you can fully
participate during in-class discussions. (15%)

Each week a brief reaction paper about the previous week’s assignments and/or
discussion (about 2 – 3 pages) will be due by email (sent to the class account
jhuleadershiptheory@gmail.com) each week by noon of Monday’s class. Papers
must be received before 12 pm on Monday (or the alternative date given) or else 5
points will be taken off per day late. Two of the weekly papers will be reviewed
by the instructor with comments, sent back to student and resubmitted by student
to instructor for final grade on paper. Papers will be graded on a rubric evaluating
the following four areas: content and development, organization and structure,
format, and grammar, punctuation and spelling. (15%)

Group Project: Lead one class discussion on article, book or book chapter
assigned. (20%)

Midterm Exam (15%)

Final Exam (15% each)

One ten – twelve page term paper on an assigned organizational consulting

project. (20%)

Course Schedule

Jan. 26 Class Introduction

Low Threat Icebreaker: Class Reporter
Discussion: How icebreakers fit into group development patterns.
Syllabus Review

Jan. 28 Discussion: Leadership Defined

Ways of Conceptual Leadership
Definitions and Components
Leadership Described
Trait vs. Process leadership
Assigned vs. Emergent Leadership
Leadership and Power
Leadership and Coercion
Leadership and Management
Jan. 30 Leaderstyles Exercise

Feb. 2 Trait/ Skills Approach Discussion

Feb. 4 Discussion: Situational Approach to Leadership and Contingency

Theory of Leadership.

In-class presentation assignments.

Feb. 6 Discussion: Path – Goal Theory of Leadership and Leadership –

Member Exchange Theory.

Final Project Expectations Discussion.

Feb. 9 Discussion: Transformational Leadership; Leaders, Managers and

Power Wielders.

Feb. 11 Discussion: Team Leadership and Psychodynamic Approach.

Feb. 13 Discussion: Women and Leadership

Feb. 16 Guest Lecturer: Tracy Carter, Myers Briggs Personality Inventory

Feb. 18 Guest Lecturer: Tracy Carter; Myers Briggs Personality Inventory

Feb. 20 Leadership and Assessment

Feb. 23 Discussion of Cultural Leadership and Case Studies Exercise.

Feb 25 Micro Messaging discussion and role plays.

Feb. 27 Mid Term Review

Mar. 2 Mid Term Exam

Mar. 4 Introduction of Leadership by James MacGregor Burns

Discussion of Leadership sections “Prologue: The Crisis of

Leadership” and “Part I: Power and Purpose.”

Mar. 6 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Mar. 9 No Class

Mar. 11 Guest Lecturer

Mar. 13 Discussion of Transforming Leadership.

Mar. 16 – 22 Spring Break – No Classes

Mar. 23 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Mar. 25 Discussion of Transactional Leadership

Mar. 27 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Mar. 30 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 1 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topics.

Apr. 3 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 6 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 8 Discussion of Implications, Theory and Practice.

Apr. 10 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 13 Discussion of “Waves of Change”, “New Ways of Working”, and

“New Ways of Leading”

Apr. 15 Discussion of “Integration of the Four New Ways of Knowing”

Apr. 17 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 20 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 22 Discussion of “Systemic Leadership: The Four New Ways of

Working”

Apr. 24 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 27 In-class presentation by students on assigned leadership topic.

Apr. 29 Discussion of Knowledge-Based Decision Making

May 1 Final Exam Discussion

Final paper due. Take home final exam distributed. Due date: May
11, 2009.

Note: the syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Course Ethics: From the JHU Honors Code

“The strength of the University depends on academic and personal

integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations
include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the
Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded
assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and
unfair competition. Report any violations you witness to the instructor. You may
consult the associate dean of student life and/or the chairperson of the Ethics
Board beforehand. See the guide on Academic Ethics for Undergraduates and the
Ethics Board web site (http://ethics.jhu.edu) for more information.