SDSU Leadership Minor
Visit the official SDSU Leadership Minor website
Why enroll in the Leadership Minor?
As one of a handful of universities offering a minor in leadership, we recognize the
important role that leadership plays in shaping our world. Across industries (educational,
political, or corporate), leadership has a significant impact on our quality of life
calling for strong leaders throughout the global community. Leadership Minor graduates
obtain skills and experiences that distinguish them as being prepared to meet the
challenges of leadership in the modern world. Our comprehensive, interdisciplinary
approach to leadership education has been designed to give you the resources you need
to transform your future career and build a better world for us all.
The SDSU Leadership Minor seeks to develop emotionally intelligent, transformational leaders capable of taking themselves and others to higher levels of performance, purpose, and passion. Established in 2008, the minor is an interdisciplinary program open to all SDSU undergraduate students. The Leadership Minor consists of required coursework, experiential opportunities or Field Labs (which include internships, service learning, and formal leadership roles), plus elective coursework determined by the student, and a capstone class that integrates the art and science of leadership. The minor requires the completion of 15 units.
I'm interested in the SDSU Leadership Minor! See below to find out how to declare the SDSU Leadership Minor.
Leadership Minor on YouTube:
Why is SDSU offering a Leadership Minor?
The research is clear that employers want students who can lead and work well with others. In the Leadership Minor program, students explore a variety of leadership theories and foster critical thinking related to leadership styles and practices. Central to the minor is increasing students’ self-awareness through the exploration of strengths, values, beliefs, culture, and identity. The curriculum considers ethical approaches to leadership, relational leadership, and a social change perspective.
Course Requirements for the Leadership Minor
Inquire: Students engage the SCIENCE of leadership through sound theoretical exploration by critically examining the underpinnings
of current leadership research. In collaboration with their instructors, students
lay a foundation for understanding leadership and its application. Through the process
of inquiry, the Leadership Minor fosters self-awareness and emotional intelligence
and a corresponding awareness of others in order to promote effective engagement that
transforms people, programs, and organizations.
Serve: The data are clear: employers want to hire college graduates who can lead others and
work collaboratively as part of a team (National Association of Colleges and Employers
November 6, 2015). According to NACE (2015), leadership and teamwork are the number
one and two skills employers seek on a candidate’s resume. The ART and practice of leadership is explored through three modes of service that develop
these critical skills:
o Internships: Students engage in a 1-unit internship experience in an area of work of their choice. o Service: Students connect with organizations to serve in the local San Diego community. o Leadership Opportunities: Students choose from the many opportunities to serve at San Diego State University in an on-campus leadership position.
Explore: SDSU Leadership Minor students benefit from cross-discipline collaboration with
peers and faculty from the College of Education, the College of Business Administration,
the College of Engineering, and other academic departments. These schools and colleges
collectively offer key courses affording students the opportunity to choose courses
that support their academic and professional pursuits; courses that prepare them to
effectively lead in the workplace and in their communities.
Integrate: The Capstone course, led by award-winning faculty, integrates the art and science
of leadership and extends students’ understanding of leadership through the completion
of an applied project. The focus of the Capstone is the interplay of current research
on leadership along with the students’ experiences as leaders. One cornerstone of
the Leadership Minor is connecting theory with practice.
I’m Interested! How do I declare the Leadership Minor?
Visit the FAQs page for more frequently asked questions.
Students interested in pursuing the Leadership Minor should enroll in the first required course entitled LEAD 205: Exploring Leadership. Next, obtain and complete a Declaration of Minor form available at the Registrar’s Office Student Services West, Room 1641 and deliver it to the Leadership Minor Advisor, Dr. Lisa Gates. You may drop the form off ARPE Office Suite in Education and Business Administration (EBA) 246. From there, your form will be signed and submitted on your behalf to the Registrar’s Office for processing. Once your form has been processed, it will show up in Web Portal.
Questions?
Students can contact Dr. Lisa Gates, the Leadership Minor Advisor, at [email protected] with questions.
For more information on the Leadership Minor email: [email protected].
