Leadership Studies Courses

The following are courses in the B.A. in Leadership Studies expected to be offered in Spring 2010.   

DCM 301  EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN A CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT (4 credits)
Students will learn uses of proven tools (psychometric-behavior/trait surveys), techniques, and processes to break down barriers to communication effectiveness.  Participants will learn to create, establish, and reinforce cultural rules of engagement designed to increase communication effectiveness and get the most out the current human dynamic in their respective environments.  

DCM 302  PROJECT MANAGEMENT: DESIGN AND ASSESSMENT (4 credits)
Project Management is an important discipline that can benefit students in their careers as well as personal life.  This course will explore project management methodologies, their common steps and tools.  The course translates Project Management theory into a practical and effective methodology, starting with working definitions of Project and Project Management, the course examines project initiation, evaluation and organization using analytic techniques such as discounted cash flow and PERT/CPM.  In addition, the course examines project execution and control, along with the documentation and communications skills needed to keep a project on track.  The course concludes with an overview of project management applied to computer information systems development.  

CMN 352  COMMUNICATION AND CORPORATE CULTURE (4 credits)
The purpose of this course is to analyze the structure and function of organizational cultures. Every organization has not only a unitary culture, but is also fragmented into numerous subcultures. Within every culture, one can identify such elements as rites, rituals, heroes, stories, myths, legends, as well as unique values and norms. The relative strength or weakness of an organizational culture is something we can link to organizational effectiveness. One can even argue that the strength of an organizational culture influences individual job performance, level of motivation and job satisfaction.  New employees go through a process of enculturation when entering organizations. This is the process through which the new employee learns the culture. These as well as other aspects of culture will be the focus of our study this quarter.

DCM 303  LEADERSHIP MODELS FOR STRONG ORGANIZATIONS (4 credits) 
This course is designed to explore the research, practices, purposes and scope of leadership as a tool to develop leadership skills that will influence and inspire others.  Both individual and organizational aspects will be presented and will include such areas as behaviors, ethics, communications, cultures and current practices.  Emphasis will be on application of leadership theories and skill building through self-assessment exercises and cases.  FX, H3A.

DCM 304  EVOLVING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS  (4 credits)
Evolving Professional Ethics analyzes and weighs ethical issues in the professions in relationship to pressing values of social responsibility and quality of life seen through lenses of moral philosophers and incisive thinkers.  It places business ethics and moral philosophy in juxtaposition.  In a time of tumultuous choices, the pursuit of self interest is questioned in the light of changing, evolving awareness of values in humanity, community, environment, including race and gender, as they influence business context and holistic awareness of professional ethics. A4, H3A.

DCM 305  ENTREPRENEURSHIP BASICS (4 credits)
Entrepreneurship is a powerful force that stimulates economic growth, promotes employment, and allows for self expression by turning ideas into tangible reality. Entrepreneurial thinking can be developed as can be the skills needed to successfully start and manage new enterprises. But entrepreneurship is not without risk and every person must assess risk in light of their own personality and life situation. This course leads students through a realistic understanding of entrepreneurship as an economic force and a way of life, its impact on involved persons and practices most likely to promote success. Learning is accomplished through a combination of lecture, discussion, reading and homework. Students are encouraged to bring their own personal experiences to class for discussion. H3G, FX.

DCM 306  PRODUCTIVE APPLICATIONS OF WORK BASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (4 credits)
In this course, students will learn about work-based information technology by exploring Windows PC and Mac operating systems. Students will be introduced to common work-based applications software in MS Office 2003: Word, Excel, Power Point, Access and Outlook.  Students will learn the basics, intermediate, and advanced level of MS Word, Excel, and Power Point.  Students will explore the use and security of Internet applications for both Windows and Mac operating systems. Students will also be introduced to MS office 2007 applications and learn its features. FX, S5.

CMN 313  NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
This course surveys various conceptual areas generally subsumed under the broad rubric of nonverbal communication.  Topics include:  physical appearance, gestures, face and eye behavior, vocalics, proxemics, touch, time, environmental contexts as well as application of nonverbal behaviors to specific interpersonal communication contexts. 

CMN 353  COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (4 credits)
In order to better understand the kinds of changes that occur in organizations as well as the situational or contextual appropriateness of what constitutes effective communication; fundamental organizational issues will be viewed from a number of prominent theoretical perspectives. Such issues will be examined from structural, human resource, political as well as symbolic theoretical perspectives.  In addition, the theoretical underpinnings of what constitutes "Change" as a dynamic organizational force will be explored.  Finally, in addition to this theoretical concentration, the structure, design and implementation of training/ development programs will be explored as well.

CMN 329  PERSUASION (4 credits)
Explores major theoretical assumptions of current persuasion research.  Examines causes and effects of effective and ineffective persuasion.  Develops persuasive skills and strategies for a variety of persuasion applications, e.g. political, intercultural, and advertising. This is not a persuasive speaking performance course.

PSY 347   SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (4 credits)
Survey of social psychological theory and research on how individual behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are influenced by the social context in which it occurs.  PREREQUISITE:  PSY. 105 or 106 [Intro. Psychology]

DCM 307  ANALYZING HUMAN BEHAVIOR (4 credits)
This course targets the link between the physical environment and social behavior. Every physical space is also a social space; its organization contains a “code” of responsive behavior for people to understand. We focus on these “codes,” and examine the ways they provoke conformity and deviance from individuals and groups. Students are expected to enter the social environment and gather publicly-observable data for analysis in the classroom setting. The ethics of social research, and of an observer’s interaction with the environment, are key points of inquiry during the quarter. Students in this course work at a “pre-ethnography” level, and are primed by its conclusion to enter and analyze any social group and its physical surround.  S2D, FX.

DCM  308  APPLIED STATISTICS (4 credits)
In this class, students will look at how numerical knowledge is created and interpreted, and how these processes give us tools to critical analyze ideas, policies, and scientific conclusions.  Some knowledge of mathematics is essential to understanding statistics. Thus, completion of a standard course in quantitative reasoning or college algebra will be of great help in succeeding in this course of study.  S2X, FX.

DCM 309  APPLIED RESEARCH (4 Credits)
This course focuses on the development of systematic, academic inquiry.  The course requirements examine key aspects of inquiry:  purpose, problem, question, hypothesis, review of the literature, and methodology. 
 
CMN 357  GROUP DECISION MAKING (4 credits)
This is an advanced undergraduate course in small group communication that addresses various issues in small group decision making processes in organizational contexts. Class materials will focus on various theories, research, and practices, and their applications to issues in real life.  The goals of the course are (1) to learn diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives related to small group communication, (2) to be able to identify and analyze decision making processes and outcomes in teams, (3) to learn various factors on individual, group, and organizational levels that influence the effectiveness of decision making, (4) to experience leading informal group discussions, and (5) to learn skills to work in groups effectively.

DCM 310  THINKING CRITICALLY (4 credits)
This course strengthens students’ analytical thinking ability through practice in the skills and strategies of critical thinking and reading, and in the construction and evaluation of logical arguments.  In pursuing these goals, we encounter principles of logic, strategies of persuasion, and techniques of propaganda. The course presents a variety of readings, exercises, and projects designed to help students develop learning and skill in the following areas: identifying assumptions, connecting assertions to evidence, stating generalizations, analyzing arguments, and bringing multiple perspectives to bear on complex issues and questions. 

DCM 311  CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND NEGOTIATION (4 credits)
This course will examine several aspects of communication. We will examine perception, assumption, language and sensitivity in the workplace and beyond, applying strategies drawn from theory to actual work-place situations. Successful collaboration and teamwork are the result of clear interpersonal communication. Done well, collaborative problem solving stimulates new ideas and more sophisticated approaches. To this end, we will consider the issues of empathy and personal style in the workplace and beyond. The question of conflict will be examined from several angles, and defined in several practical ways. We will analyze the differences and similarities between (among others) status-based, ego-based and issue-based conflicts in the workplace and beyond, and apply the theory of principled negotiation to identify and resolve these conflicts. 
 
DCM 312  WORK & SOCIETY (4 credits) 
We will consider work from the perspective of our needs and values, but also from the perspective of the needs of society. We will also consider the value that society assigns to different types of work (and the impact of that valuation on us as individuals and as members of various social groups). Other topics will include how work affects our family and social lives, the impact of modern values on how we view our work, and the role of technology in how we do our work and in how we view our work.

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Adult Learning Seminars (Required)
 
DCM 313  LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE AND SELF-ASSESSMENT (2 credits)
Students will explore the nature of learning from experience and self-assessment.  They will develop a reflective learning autobiography and read about theories of adult learning.  Students will also be introduced to the DePaul Library, taking the online library tutorial.  Time management issues and tools, as well as life stages and learning interests will also be explored.    

DCM 314  LEARNING AND TRANSFORMATION
Building on last quarter’s seminar, student will look closely at the notion of transformative learning.  Additionally, using learning style inventories, they will reflect on ways to exercise various learning styles in their work, and capitalize on their strengths. 

DCM 315  EXPLORING THE FIELD (2 credits)
Students will work on professional goal setting and action plans by conducting research on their chosen field, exploring trends, ethical issues, controversies, best preparation strategies, and other salient matters.  In addition, the concept of “good work” and what that means for one’s own career will be debated and discussed. 

DCM 316  WORK IN A GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT (2 credits) 
Globalization of the world’s economy has dramatically changed the interactions of people from different cultures.  As a result, the importance of understanding cultural difference has increased significantly.  This seminar will introduce students to the challenges and opportunities associated with living, working and learning in a global environment.  This will be done through discussion, reading, case studies, films and exercises to increase cultural self awareness as well as cross-cultural sensitivity.

DCM  317  ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS (2 credits)
Students will explore various approaches to determining right, morally acceptable, behavior.  Epistemology and several ethical frameworks will be examined.  Students will write, discuss, and debate case studies from their workplaces or field.  

DCM 318  SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES IN THE DISCIPLINES (2 credits)
Students will look at the nature of social justice, creating a working definition of the widely used term.  Readings will guide examination of issues of social justice in students’ fields or disciplines.  

DCM 319   CREATIVITY AND INNOVATIVE THINKING (2 credits)
Connections among such varied disciplines as physics, politics, and poetry will be examined and investigated within students’ own discipline/profession.  Using a variety of approaches to integrative and innovative thinking, students will explore interconnectedness, expanding possibilities, creativity, and decision-making

DCM 320  PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT (2 credits)
In this class, students will study the concept and use of professional portfolios and create criteria by which they will choose work to include in their own portfolios.  They will assess and evaluate their professional goals using the portfolio as a tool in that assessment.  Networking and sharing of information and experience will be emphasized.

DCM 321  CAPSTONE PLANNING (2 credits)
Students will begin the research for their capstone project, one that is directly related to the major and meant to be the final entry in the professional portfolio. Project ideas and topics will be discussed, refined, and formally proposed. Students will complete a review of the appropriate literature and construct a methodology by which they will carry out the capstone project in the final quarter.

DCM 322  CAPSTONE PROJECT/PORTFOLIO REVIEW (3 credits)
Students complete the capstone project in this course and also will review their learning portfolio selections thus far and make strategic choices for their (1) professional and (2) learning portfolios. In addition, this quarter will provide students the opportunity to wrap-up and reflect on their learning overall. (NOTE: This seminar is a 3-credit course.)

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