Earning a Distinction

The Distinction in Leadership Studies Program includes four elements:

an introductory theory course,
two leadership-designated courses across the curriculum,
a cooperative project in a junior-year practicum, and
a senior seminar, which provides a summative leadership analysis and application experience.

Further details:

LS 200 Leadership Studies Theory and Practice is a one-unit course offered every semester. Designed for sophomores, the course is discussion-based and includes a combination of theoretical readings, case studies, simulations, and leadership activities. LS 200 fulfills the Community Interest (CI) learning outcome in the Explorations Curriculum.

LS 200

Following LS 200, students complete two additional leadership-designated courses from at least two different disciplines. DLS designated courses encourage students to think critically about leadership in diverse contexts—history, politics, religion, the performing arts, literature, business, human rights and social justice, and others. For a full list, see the DLS course list. Students can also contract a course for DLS credit provided it meets the necessary criteria outlined here. LS 300 Leadership Practicum

In LS 300 Leadership Practicum, students design and implement a community project. Successful leadership requires that we collaborate with others. Designed as a service-learning integrated course, this half-unit class explores the challenges of collaboration and how best to tap group strengths to accomplish valued work.

LS 400 Capstone Senior Leadership Seminar

The LS 400 Capstone Senior Leadership Seminar invites DLS seniors to apply their knowledge of leadership in the analysis of a challenge facing a group or organization they care about. The project includes a 15-minute presentation where students explain how the organization or group can develop new capacities to overcome a difficulty. LS 400 is a one-half unit course. See titles of past projects here.

Students who complete the DLS program are able to:

Critically reflect on their leadership experiences
Identify and assess competing ethical, moral, or community interests (CI in Exploration Curriculum)
Work collaboratively with team members and community partners
Apply critical and theoretical conceptions of leadership to new situations