Courses

This course is designed for students who wish to advance their understanding of leadership and enhance their personal leadership skills, attitudes, and behaviours in keeping with the mission of TWU. It introduces students to the literature of leadership, helps them design tools for assessing their own leadership abilities, and enables them to develop a Christian servant leadership model within the context of a Christian worldview. Team building and self-assessment exercises, leadership presentations, case studies, and field research are included.

An introduction to learning in the contexts of academic studies and personal growth for a lifetime of success as a leadership student and practicing leader. Emphasis is given to exploring three themes: (a) understanding the self as leader, (b) understanding the role of learning in leading, and (c) understanding leadership studies.

An exploration of what leaders can learn from the past to understand contemporary leadership and to imagine future ways of leading. Students are provided with the opportunity to use the historical method, including primary sources, to understand past leaders and leadership thought. Emphasis is given to the social circumstances and philosophical ideas that led to the Classical and Scientific Management theories, and subsequent leadership theories emerging through to the 1980s.

An overview of contemporary approaches in leadership from the 1990s to present day, including practices that focus on psychodynamics, individual and organizational values, ethical relations, teamwork, emotional and social intelligence, and other aspects that have helped define current interpretations of leadership.

Examines leadership as systems of leading and following in various contexts. Multiple levels of analysis from self to society at large are considered. Core practices, such as, appreciative inquiry, systems thinking, and design thinking are investigated.

An exploration of the leader's decisionmaking practice, including the relation to problem analysis, decisionmaking techniques, and ethical considerations. Emphasis is given to a critical examination of individual, organizational, and macrolevel issues in ethics, and exploring the role of values and ethics in the leader's formulation of strategies for motivating, communicating, utilizing power, and developing followers.

A practical examination of leadership in the team context and its relevance to organizational flourishing. Emphasis is given to shared leadership in facilitating collaborative work, problem-solving, learning, and sustainable performance.

This course examines important aspects of Christianity's involvement in global culture. Alternative models and historical examples of this involvement are considered as well as the engagement of Christianity with specific current social and cultural issues.

This course is designed to provide a critical examination of a leadership topic or area through one's personal involvement in leadership practice. Readings emphasize leadership theory, personal reflection, and the application of leadership principles. The course involves both a critical examination of leadership and an investigation of one's personal strengths. Leadership practice is structured to provide a context to apply leadership theory, personally reflect on the theory and application, and learn how to be a more effective leader through interaction with a leadership facilitator.