This introductory course is designed for students who are interested in exploring public sector leadership. Students will be introduced to fundamental concepts and assumptions of leadership, will evaluate methods for conducting adequate academic research on leadership, and will assess skills and approaches for good public and non-profit sector leadership, with a focus on leadership self-assessment.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

LPS 201 offers up an introduction to the ideals and paradoxes of humanitarian intervention, with a special emphasis on military responses to humanitarian crises. This course explores the history, animating ideals and contemporary paradoxes of humanitarian action and related military interventions. Throughout history and ever increasingly in the present, there is an intersection between military and humanitarian operations in conflict zones.

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

The course covers the basics of fundraising for public and non-profit agencies which include the agencies history, board development, event planning, and the motivation of the giver. In addition, the students will learn the elements of grant proposals related to public sector agencies. The work will include case studies, weekly lectures, discussion assignments, final exam and a special event planning proposal.

Typically offered in Fall only

Perspectives on leadership dilemmas and strategies in a globalized, knowledge-based, network-dependent environment. Challenges of state and nation-building abroad. Trans-border policy concerns for the national, state, and local governments. Applications of soft power and public diplomacy. International interactions of non-profit and non-governmental organizations. International aspects of informal and grass roots activism.

Typically offered in Fall only

This course is designed for senior status LPS students who are considering a career change and are interested in exploring job opportunities related to the public sector field. Students will learn about their personal strengths, values, skills, and understand how these self-assessments will affect their career choices. Explorations of these areas include specific emphasis on developing and refining interviewing skills, professional and personal networks, and job application and selection.

Restriction: LPS Senior Status Only

Typically offered in Spring only

This course provides students with information regarding diversity and leadership in history as well as material and activities that foster an understanding of how diversity and leadership intersect in the public sector and how diversity can improve organizational effectiveness and performance. The concept of cultural competency is defined and evaluated as an important component of effective public sector leadership. Students will learn what it means to be a more culturally competent leader.

GEP U.S. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, GEP U.S. Diversity

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

The focus of this course is on obtaining grant funding for nonprofit and government organizations. This course covers the skills and strategies essential to the grants development process including basic strategies for researching funding sources and developing successful grant proposals.

Typically offered in Spring only

In this course, students will examine the phenomena of political conflict and terrorism in the modern world. We will examine these questions through a mix of theoretical readings and in-depth case studies of sectarian violence, terrorism, state failure and collapse, riots, and racial tensions commonly considered political conflict and terrorism. Students will learn the basic details of political violence and terrorism and understand the implications of these acts for those living in the region and the rest of the world. We will examine a range of armed violence globally and develop approaches to explain violence in different cases and context. Students will learn about the use of terror as a means of influencing public policy decisions and discuss the implications of counterterrorism policies at a societal and individual level.

Typically offered in Fall and Summer

Nature and varieties of political leadership by elected and appointed officials in government, officials and volunteers in nonprofit organizations, and leaders of political movements and community groups. The course draws on literature in political science, self-assessment of student's leadership characteristics, and examination of outlets for political leadership activity.

GEP Social Sciences

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course will teach students to investigate political and policy related questions in a systematic and scientifically rigorous fashion. Students will become familiar with the basic toolkit of social science methodology, practice basic data analysis, and develop a research project. They will acquire the skills essential for evaluating the claims of others and for advancing sound arguments of their own. This knowledge is applicable in a wide variety of organizational research, needs assessment, program and performance evaluation.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

For topics not part of regular course offerings, or offering of new courses on a trial basis. May be taken up to three times provided the topics are different.

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Decisive Leadership is a challenging course that will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of leadership, values and ethics, personal development, decision-making, influencing and motivating others and team tactics in problem solving and mission accomplishment. Military officers, especially, enrolled in the LPS program will gain immediate benefit from the leadership self-assessments and new leadership strategies.

Typically offered in Summer only

Leadership is a critical topic in public, nonprofit, and business administration. Leadership is what we expect of U.S. presidents, association directors, and CEOs, as well as of mid-level and frontline supervisors. Clearly, leaders are awarded the accolades when the organization succeeds and given the blame for its failures. But organizations succeed not just because of the top leader's actions; a positive leadership climate that pervades the organization helps it to learn, adapt, and perform at a high level. Only LPS major students must complete LPS 200 Introduction to Public Leadership course prior to enrolling in LPS 425.

Prerequisite: LPS Majors need to have passed LPS 200

Typically offered in Spring only

Students can earn 1-3 credits for completing internships in the public sector or non-profit agencies. Emphasis is placed on gaining work experience needed to explore and plan careers in the public and non-profit sector. Students must prepare an internship proposal. Students must provide own transportation for internship. Intern liability insurance is required. Individualized/Independent Study and Research courses require a Course Agreement for Students Enrolled in Non-Standard Courses be completed by the student and faculty member prior to registration by the department.

Prerequisite: LPS 200

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Extensive readings or research in leadership under direct faculty supervision. Individualized/Independent Study and Research courses require a Course Agreement for Students Enrolled in Non-Standard Courses to be completed by the student and faculty member prior to registration by the department.

R: LPS (Leadership in the Public Sector) Students Only

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer