Leadership Learning Research Center

Why the Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies?

• It provides opportunities to learn specific knowledge, skills, and values that can guide you through your collegiate journey and career path.
• It can supplement and enhance any major.
• Classes discuss various leadership theories and leadership in the context of social change.
• It provides opportunities for practical leadership and service-learning experiences.
• Upon completion, the Leadership Certificate will appear on your academic transcript.

Enrolling in the program

Each student who is interested in pursuing the Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies must schedule an advising session prior to the end of their first semester in an LDR course. For more information on the certificate program and to schedule and advising appointment, please email Leadership-Studies@fsu.edu.

Teaching

Each semester we identify several second-year master's students in the higher education program to serve as teaching assistants in the undergraduate Leadership Studies courses. These graduate students are able to apply their personal leadership learning gained in EDH Leadership Theory and Practice, a required course in their degree program.

Course Development

We actively research and develop leadership studies courses offered to the undergraduate students across the campus.

The Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies is a 12-credit program open to all Florida State undergraduate students. Three required courses and one elective course with an LDR prefix.

Three Required Courses

LDR 2101 - Leadership Theory and Practice¹ (3)

Leadership Theory and Practice is designed to introduce students to leadership theory and help them come to understand their unique role in leadership on campus, in their academic discipline, and within our larger society. This course is offered online.

LDR 3215 - Leadership and Change¹ (3)

Leadership and Change is an advanced undergraduate leadership course that examines the change process and prepares leaders who are effective in working with individuals, groups and organizations in leading and managing change. The course is designed to be an interactive theory-to-practice course focused on leadership as a change process. This course is offered in person twice a week for 75 minutes.

LDR 3221 – Contemporary Issues in Leadership (3)

This course explores current issues in the campus, local, and global community and analyzes how leadership is being enacted. Students learn leadership theory and to identify and critically think about how it is displayed, especially within the context of current issues.

One Elective Course

LDR 2162 - Leadership in Groups and Communities¹ (3)

Leadership in Groups and Communities is designed to inspire, teach and engage students in the process of leadership through service-learning. The course will be highly interactive with student participation and outside class involvement as critical components of the learning process. This course is offered in person twice a week for 75 minutes.

LDR 2231 – Global Leadership (3)

This course will help students develop the skills necessary to interact globally whether at home or abroad. The knowledge gained about global leadership will allow students to recognize and respect cultural differences and be able to maneuver situations more accurately as well as gain insight and understanding of recent world leaders.

LDR 2160 – Peer Leadership¹ (3)

The purpose of this course is to introduce the study of peer education, mentoring, and leadership using text and outside readings, activities, and a variety of other assignments. It will give students a deeper understanding of themselves and appreciation for others.

LDR 2190 – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (3)

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership is a theory to practice course focusing on the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership knowledge, skills, and development. Students taking this course will be introduced to Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (EIL) theory and consider the role of EI in the context of individual and team leadership development.

LDR 2210 – Leadership through Intergroup Dialogue (3)

In this course, students will learn how to respectfully engage in dialogue with others who are different from them, allowing an opportunity to talk frankly about identity (sexuality, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, culture, ability, and more). This course is designed to incorporate critical readings, dialogic skills, deep questioning and reflection and activities that will teach students how to apply what they’ve learned to their daily lives and the process of leadership.

LDR 2213 – Leadership in Social Justice^1,3 (3)

This supporting course examines social justice in the context of leadership and how students can understand their unique role in creating social change on campus, in their academic discipline, and within our larger society.

LDR 2290 – Leadership and Sustainability in Action¹ (3)

This supporting course focuses on the process of leadership and creating positive change in the areas of sustainability, including, but not limited to economic, environmental, and sociopolitical sustainability.

LDR 2241 – Black Male Leadership³ (3)

This course introduces the study of leadership and leadership efficacy as it relates to Black males, using text and outside readings, activities, and a variety of assignments. Students in this course are introduced to and discuss some of the social, psychological, and cognitive realities of Black males in America.

LDR 2242 – Gender and Leadership³ (3)

This course is an exploration of the intersections of the complex social construct of gender and the intricacies of enacting leadership. This course considers the experiences of women, trans*, genderqueer, and men leaders as well as concepts of gender expression and the intersectionality of identities as influencers on leadership access and practice.

LDR 2243 – Latinx Leadership Development³ (3)

This course is a theory-to-practice, interactive and identity-based leadership course discussing and analyzing components of Latinx Leadership Development. This course explores the historical and cultural aspects of Latinx culture and how it intertwines with leadership development, learning, and practice.

LDR 2325 – Leadership and Empowerment (3)

The course includes critical conversation about leadership literature, theory, and class discussions that will provide a foundation for new perspectives of leadership, with the focus on follower empowerment.

LDR 2560 – Leadership in Film¹ (3)

This course initiates a thoughtful consideration of the nature of leadership as depicted in film. Film provides unique insights to investigate character and motive, as well as culture, allowing students to access meaning and significance through theoretical, analytic and dialogic inquiry.

LDR 3200 – Leadership and Ethics (3)

This course helps students become ethically engaged citizens and logical thinkers. The course assists students in identifying and examining ethical leadership as it relates to values, authenticity, context, controversy, and dilemmas.

LDR 3263 - Leadership Experience^*2 (3)

This experiential course offers participants an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge, theory and skills they have learned in previous courses in the Certificate program. Students will create and participate in an experience which will be coupled with reflection throughout the course. This course is offered online.

LDR 4105 - Leadership and Complexity^*1 (3)

This final course in the Certificate program builds upon the leadership literature, theory and experience created in the previous Certificate courses. Systematic reflection on applied leadership issues and strategies is an important component of this course. This course is offered in person once a week for 150 minutes.

LDR 4404 – Student Affairs Leadership¹ (3)

This supporting course is designed to provide students an opportunity to gain knowledge in the theory and practical application of student affairs, with an emphasis placed on leadership development, problem solving, and career exploration.

1. Scholarship in Practice

This course has been approved to meet FSU’s Liberal Studies Scholarship in Practice requirements and is designed to help you become a critical thinker, a creative user of knowledge for professional practice, and an independent learner.

2. Formative Experience

This course has been approved to meet FSU’s Liberal Studies Formative Experiences requirements and is designed to help you use and develop knowledge by engaging in a hands-on experience outside of the classroom. One of the two required Scholarship in Practice courses can be fulfilled with a Formative Experience.

3. Diversity Requirement

This course has been approved to meet FSU’s Diversity course requirement.

The Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies is a 12-credit program open to all Florida State undergraduate students. The certificate program prepares students for leadership in multiple contexts and uses practical experience and service-learning projects to frame leadership learning within the context of social change. Upon completion, the Leadership Certificate appears on students’ academic transcripts.

Teaching Assistant Opportunities

Each semester we identify several HESA second-year masters student to serve as teaching assistants in the Undergraduate Leadership Studies courses. These students are able to apply their personal leadership learning gained in EDH Leadership Theory and Practice, a required course in their degree program.

Course Development

We actively research and develop leadership studies courses offered to the undergraduate students across the campus.

How do I become admitted to the certificate program?

Email Leadership-Studies@fsu.edu to schedule an advising session.

What are the overall requirements for the certificate?

The Undergraduate Certificate in Leadership Studies is a 12-credit, interdisciplinary, multidimensional and experiential program open to all degree-seeking undergraduate students. You must take LDR 2101, LDR 3215, LDR 3221 and one elective course with an LDR prefix. You must attain a C or above in all leadership courses to be eligible for the certificate. You must meet with the leadership certificate advisor to discuss your plan of study and the requirements of the certificate. Finally, you take the courses and continue your communication with the certificate advisor as you progress through your classes.

In what sequence must I take the courses?

You can take the courses in any order.

Who teaches LDR courses?

Our courses are taught by faculty and staff from Florida State University and beyond. The bulk of the core courses are taught by the LLRC staff. Our teaching assistants are second-year master’s students in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program.