Program Overview
The Leadership Studies Minor and Certificate program is a transdisciplinary academic offering providing a minor, certificate and elective courses in leadership theory and practice for all undergraduate students at UMD. Regardless of major, students from every academic college/school are welcome to pursue Leadership Studies.
Our mission is to promote leadership learning and development by educating students for and about leadership in a complex world. Valuing global citizenship and civic education, we aim to prepare students to effectively engage in leadership in both formal and informal ways within campus, local, national, and global contexts.
“If you plan on making an impact on someone’s life then the College of Education is meant for you. They have a range of different majors to choose from and they are willing to do anything to help you achieve your goals.”
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of leadership theories and practices through diverse social, historical, and disciplinary perspectives.
- Critically analyze and challenge conventional narratives of leadership, privilege, and authority, while centering marginalized voices, global communities, and leadership for social change.
- Recognize personal biases and assumptions about leadership, fostering the ability to construct a thoughtful leadership philosophy rooted in ethics, civic engagement, and multicultural awareness.
- Apply acquired knowledge, skills, and competencies to enhance personal growth, interpersonal relationships, disciplinary practice, future careers and community engagement beyond the classroom setting.
Careers
Career Options
This minor and certificate covers powerful content that can help you in any career field. Below are a few examples of jobs directly related to what you will study:
- Leadership Development Specialist: Design and lead training programs to enhance leadership skills.
- Nonprofit Manager: Direct operations and programs to advance social causes.
- Human Resources Manager: Oversee recruitment and training to promote effective leadership.
- Community Organizer: Mobilize communities for social justice and policy change.
Educational Consultant: Support schools in fostering inclusive leadership and learning.
How to Apply
How to Apply
The Leadership Studies Program is transdisciplinary, and therefore is relevant and open to undergraduate students from any major.
You must be an existing University of Maryland student to apply.
Before applying, please make sure you meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You are currently completing HESI/LEAD 217 or have completed HESI/LEAD 217 with a C- or better.
- You are in good academic standing
- You have at least one full academic year left before you graduate from UMD
- You understand and accept that no more than 9 credits of leadership studies coursework taken prior to admittance into the program will count toward completion of the minor/certificate.
The application contains three sections:
- Personal Information
- Leadership Studies Coursework (your plans for completing the program requirements)
- Short Answer Questions (250-300 words each).
- How will learning about leadership inform your future aspirations?
- Tell us a bit about where and how you spend your time when you are not in class.
- What strengths do you bring to a learning community?
*Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with reviewing and admissions occurring every fall and spring semester. If you apply to the program during winter or summer term, we will confirm receipt of your application and keep it on file, but may not be able to officially admit you to the program until the next regular term. During fall and spring terms, we typically notify students regarding decisions on applications within two weeks of submission. For questions, please contact the Leadership Studies program at leadershipstudies@umd.edu.
Applicants should review the program requirements and list of various courses prior to filling out the application.
Requirements
Program Requirements
The Leadership Studies Program offers both a minor and certificate option.
- The minor requires 15 credits total, with at least 9 credits at the 300 level or above.
- The certificate requires 21 credits total, with at least 12 credits at the 300 level or above.
Both the minor and certificate programs require completion of our three core courses in sequence. 217 and 315 serve as the theoretical foundation for the program. 417 is a capstone course taken in your final year at UMD and after all other requirements for the minor/certificate have been completed.
- LEAD 217 - Introduction to Student Leadership
- LEAD 315 - Student Leadership in Groups and Organizations (HESI 217 prerequisite)
- LEAD 417 - Advanced Leadership Seminar (Capstone) (HESI 217 & 315 prerequisite)
Both the minor and certificate programs require completion of one course (3 credits) from a series of courses on a variety of topics designed to help students dive deeper into applications of leadership theory. This course can be taken at any point in the program, and options include some online courses offered over winter and summer terms. You may also use these courses to count as their General Elective requirement.
- HESI 221 Leadership, Power, & Privilege (Winter and/or Summer online)
- LEAD 320 & 321 Social Action Seminar Sequence (2 credits Fall, 1 credit Spring, online, restricted to minor/certificate students)
- LEAD 318 Courses: Applied Contextual Leadership**
- HESI 318A: Leadership in Film (Winter and/or Summer online)
- HESI 318E: Exploring Strengths & Values for Effective Leadership (Spring in-person, Summer & Winter online)
- HESI 318F: Facilitating Leadership Learning (Spring in-person, permission required)
- HESI 318W: Leadership and the Workplace (Summer online)
- HESI/LEAD 418 Courses: Special Topics in Leadership**
- HESI 418V: Global Leadership in a Virtual Context (Fall and/or Spring online)
- HESI 421 Leadership and the Black Community (Spring in-person)
- HESI 422 Women and Leadership (Spring in-person)
- HESI 423 Leadership and Ethnicity (Fall in-person)
- HESI 424 Leadership and the Jewish Community (Fall and Spring in-person)
** HESI 318 and 418 options not listed here may also count toward the Leadership Elective requirement for the minor and certificate. Many of these course are open only to students in special programs and organizations (i.e. Greek chapter presidents, orientation leaders, adventure education employees, etc.)
If you have questions about these courses, please contact leadershipstudies@umd.edu.
The minor requires completion of one general elective (3 credits) and the certificate requires completion of two general electives (6 credits).
General electives are courses offered through a variety of schools and colleges across the University that offer unique disciplinary and contextual lenses on leadership and organizational life. General elective requirements can be fulfilled at any point in the leadership studies program.
Pre-approved general elective courses are below:
Business and Management (BMGT)
- BMGT 361: Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing the Entrepreneurial Venture
- BMGT 364: Management and Organization Theory
CIVICUS (BSCV)
- BSCV 301: Leadership in a Multicultural Society
Communication (COMM)
- COMM 324: Communication and Gender
- COMM 330: Argument and Public Policy
- COMM 420: Theories of Group Discussion
- COMM 424: Communication in Complex Organizations
- COMM 461: Voices of Public Leadership in the Twentieth Century
- COMM 469 (various letters): The Discourse of Social Movements
Education, Counseling, & Personnel Services (EDCP)
- EDCP 210/310: Peer Counseling Theory and Skills
- EDCP 220: Introduction to Human Diversity in Social Institutions
- EDCP 312: Multi Ethnic Peer Counseling
- EDCP 386: Experiential Learning**
- EDCP 420: Advanced Topics in Human Diversity and Advocacy
** Subject for approval
Education, Human Development (EDHD)
- EDHD 230: Human Development and Societal Institutions
- EDHD 402: Social Development
- EDHD 421: Peer Relations
Education Leadership, Higher Education, & International Education (EDHI)
- EDHI 338 (various letters): Teaching and Learning about Cultural Diversity through Intergroup Dialogue**
- ** Offered for 1-3 credits. Must be taken for 3 credits to count for the Leadership Studies Program
Higher Education, Student Affairs, & International Education Policy (HESI)
- HESI 220: Adaptive Strategies for Multicultural Leadership and Dialogue
- HESI 221: Leadership, Power, and Privilege
- HESI 320 & 321 Social Action Seminar Sequence
- HESI 318: Applied Contextual Leadership (variety of courses offered under this prefix. See listing above.)
- HESI 418: Special Topics in Leadership (variety of courses offered under this prefix. See listing above.)
- HESI 470: Introduction to Student Personnel
- HESI 489: Field Experiences in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy**
- HESI 498: Special Problems in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy**
** Subject for approval
Gemstone (GEMS)
- GEMS 208: Special Topics in Leadership and Team Development**
- ** Offered for 1-3 credits. Must be taken for 3 credits to count for the Leadership Studies Program
Journalism (JOUR)
- JOUR 300: Journalism Ethics
- JOUR 402: Journalism Law and Ethics
Psychology (PSYC)
- PSYC 221: Social Psychology
- PSYC 334: Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships
- PSYC 361: Survey of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Public Policy (PLCY)
- PLCY 201: Public Leaders and Active Citizens
- PLCY 311: Women in Leadership
- PLCY 313: Advocacy in the American Political System
Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies (WGSS)
- WGSS 250: Introduction to Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies - Art & Culture (formerly WMST 250)
You can read more about these courses in the Undergraduate Catalog or by contacting the sponsoring departments directly. If students would like to count a course not on this list, they have the option to propose an alternative using the General Elective Proposal Form. This form must be submitted and approved PRIOR to taking the course.
Contact
Contact
