Core Course Descriptions
New cohorts are not being accepted to the Learning and Leadership majors (Ed.D./Ph.D.). Current program offerings include the Leadership and Decision-Making (Ph.D), offered via hybrid delivery, and Leadership and Instructional Practice (Ed.D.), offered primarily via internet delivery. To access details regarding the new majors, please visit their respective program websites.
LEAD 7000 - Learning and Leadership Integration and Assimilation
(1) Credit Hour
The purpose of this course is to provide participants with an overview of the theoretical foundations for the Learning and Leadership Doctoral Programs, including expectations for competency. Additionally, participants will explore program core competencies and application of program theoretical constructs to participants’ professional practice.
LEAD 7010 - Leadership and Learning: Theory to Practice
(4) Credit Hours
Provides an overview of basic concepts and theories of leadership and learning. The primary focus of the course is for participants to use theory to analyze various situations and create and apply solutions grounded in leadership and learning theory. In addition, participants will engage in several self-assessments of their own leadership and learning styles/preferences and will evaluate their potential effectiveness based on identified strengths and weaknesses. After examining origins, definitions, and features of major theoretical models, participants will demonstrate advanced knowledge and application for professional practice.
LEAD 7020 - Research and Inquiry
(2) Credit Hours
Provides an overview into methodologies and practices both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Applies techniques and processes used in addressing a significant issue for a group with which the participant is affiliated. Emphasis is on self-understanding in the context of research and the appropriate use of various research methodologies. Participants conceptualize their own research design as well as become more knowledgeable consumers of extant literature.
LEAD 7030 - Leadership Decision-Making
(3) Credit Hours
This course will introduce decision-making perspectives and processes related to theory and practice. Participants will read, discuss, and apply original literature. Areas of study will include organizational strategy, leadership and learning practice, organizational culture, and influence factors of decision-making. Primary activities will include detailed and specific investigation of the decisions-making process from the participant’s professional practice/experience.
LEAD 7100 - Leadership Theory and Transformation
(3) Credit Hours
Provides an overview of basic concepts and theories of leadership. The primary focus of the course is for participants to use leadership theory to analyze various situations and create and apply solutions grounded in leadership theory. In addition, participants will engage in several self-assessments of their own leadership style preferences, and will evaluate their potential effectiveness as a leader based on identified strengths and weaknesses.
LEAD 7150 - Diffusion of Innovation and Technology
(3) Credit Hours
This course explores technology and the relationship of innovation and technology as innovation diffusion in a variety of organizational settings. It examines application of technology today and recognition of emerging trends including the roles of learning and leadership in selecting, developing, deploying, and assessing technology that fulfills the needs and mission of the organization. Participants will address past, current, and proposed research on the role of technology applications.
LEAD 7250 - Organizational Theory, Development, and Transformation
(3) Credit Hours
Presents a perspective of theories of organizations through a historical and developmental context as well as through their application to organizational reform in one or more current setting(s). The future of organizational development will be considered with respect to trends and possibilities for the 21st century. Understanding of these contexts is accomplished through the reading of primary texts, independent study of particular aspects of this history, and class discussion.
LEAD 7340 - Statistics for Research Design and Analysis
(3) Credit Hours
This course will focus on the use of statistics (descriptive and inferential), data analysis, and an introduction to the statistical software package (SPSS). Prerequisite: LEAD 7020.
LEAD 7350 - Research Methodologies
(3) Credit Hours
Provides an overview into methodologies and practices both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Applies techniques and processes used in addressing a significant issue for a group with which the participant is affiliated. Emphasis is on self-understanding in the context of research and the appropriate use of various research methodologies. Participants conceptualize their own research design as well as become more knowledgeable consumers of extant literature.
LEAD 7360 - Research Design and Analysis
(3) Credit Hours
This course provides a comprehensive perspective on research design, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, and provides opportunities to design, analyze, interpret, and report research. Prerequisites: LEAD 7020 or 7350, and 7340, 7370, 7610.
LEAD 7370 – Qualitative Research Design
(3) Credit Hours
The purpose of this course is to develop broader skills of scientific inquiry through qualitative research methods. In this course, students shape research questions by contextualizing theoretical insights through qualitative assessment in real-life settings and enhance the ability to conduct mixed-methods research. Prerequisite: LEAD 7020.
LEAD 7400 - Foundations of Human Learning Theories
(3) Credit Hours
This course focuses on learning theories and their relationships to learning and change across multidisciplinary fields of practice. Course activities provide an overview of contemporary views of human learning and cognition. After examining origins, definitions, and features of major theoretical models and the theorists most associated with them, participants will demonstrate advanced knowledge and application of representative theories for each model.
LEAD 7500 - Learning Models, Design, and Communication
(3) Credit Hours
This course focuses on the interrelationship among learning theories, learning models, and learning design. Course activities require participants to compare, contrast, and apply learning design and delivery process models that have emerged from recent major theoretical paradigms. Participants review origins and features of design procedures and demonstrate knowledge of the models by creating and presenting design products including planning, implementation, assessment and evaluation models that reflect theory-based concepts.
LEAD 7610 - Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment
(3) Credit Hours
Discusses contemporary individual and group approaches to the assessment of learners. Traditional assessment models will be examined and critiqued and more novel approaches will be discussed. Strengths of each approach will be described and the utility of each will be examined in reference to the desired outcome of the planned measurement.
LEAD 7700r - Pre-Dissertation Seminar
(3) Credit Hours
This seminar prepares participants for identification of a research problem appropriate for the doctoral dissertation through the development of a draft prospectus.Prerequisites: Completion of all core and elective coursework and successful Comprehensive Assessment defense. Graded S/NC.
LEAD 7810 - Cognitive Aspects of Decision-Making
(3) Credit Hours
This course will introduce the cognitive aspects of human decision-making, judgment and strategies. Participants will read and discuss original literature. Areas of study will include the evolutionary aspects of decision-making, factors that impact decision-making, probability and decision-making and the cognitive processes used for individual and group decision-making and judgment. Participants will compare, contrast and relate decision-making strategies to conceptual models of learning and leadership. Primary activities during this course will include detailed and specific analysis of decisions made in both leadership and learning design processes from the participant’s professional practice/experience.
LEAD 7815 - Ethical Aspects of Decision-Making
(3) Credit Hours
This course will introduce the ethical aspects of human decision-making, judgment and strategies. Participants will read and discuss original literature. Areas of study will include the theoretical aspects of ethics and decision-making, factors that impact ethical decision-making, and the organizational processes used for individual and group decision-making from an ethical perspective. Participants will compare, contrast and relate decision-making strategies to personal, professional, leadership, learning, and organizational ethical constructs. Primary activities during this course will include detailed and specific analysis of decisions made in both leadership and learning processes from the participant’s professional practice / experience.
LEAD 7820 - Data-Informed Aspects of Decision-Making
(3) Credit Hours
This course will provide participants with a sound understanding of the conceptual framework of the importance of data in the decision-making process. Areas of study will include different types of data assessment and application to the decision-making process, factors that impact decision-making, and the role of quantitative and qualitative analysis for individual and group decision-making. Participants will compare, contrast, and relate data-informed decision-making strategies to conceptual models of learning and leadership. Primary activities during this course will include planning for the use of data in detailed and specific analysis of decisions made in both leadership and learning processes from the participant’s professional practice/experience. Prerequisite: LEAD 7810.
LEAD 7999r - Dissertation
(2-6) Credit Hours
Doctoral research. Preparation and defense of a doctoral dissertation. Continuous enrollment required. Prerequisites: Admission to candidacy or department head approval. Department may have additional prerequisite requirements. Graded SP/NP.