Welcome to Leadership and Professional Studies
The Leadership and Professional Studies Department offers three distinct types of learning: a Bachelor of Science in Leadership Studies focused on leadership and management development, a certificate pathway program for community college students supporting degree completion, and the LeaderU Challenge, a competency-based initiative designed to prepare professionals to navigate change with confidence.
Bachelor of Science in Leadership Studies
Our goal is to provide students with the necessary performance leadership tools to help them succeed in their future career. The curriculum will help students build on their academic success and life skills and help them transfer these skills into the community. Students will build their brand by learning self, team, and organizational leadership concepts. Students are expected to participate in community service, be a positive role model, network, and manage their reputation.
The Leadership Studies degree works for those who want a degree plan that best fits their career choices in management. In partnership with FranklinCovey®, the world’s most trusted leadership development company, the Leadership Studies degree is made up of an essentials management course, five leadership courses and four professional development courses that will enhance your career goals. The management and leadership courses are offered as hybrid courses in a 8-week term.
Certificate Program
LeaderU Challenge: Navigating Change with Confidence (Professional Development)
Each competency is embedded into a single course and is organized into four key categories that allow you to earn Lamar University course credit and a FranklinCovey Certificate: Personal Leadership, Personal Effectiveness, Winning Culture, and Strategic Execution.
Competencies that Support Navigating Change with Confidence
- Active Listening
Listen empathically to bridge human and elements of technology, avoiding misinterpretations of data or outputs.
Two Day Session Topics:
- Proactive Strategies (Day 1)
- Living with Purpose (Day 1-2)
- Communicating and Listening Empathically (Day 2)Content:
LeaderU: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Leadership Competency - Personal Human-Centered Focus
Upskill teams and ensure technology enhances (not replaces) human roles.
Two Day Session Topics:
- Holding Effective 1-on-1s (Day 1)
- Team Vision and Strategy Alignment (Day 1-2)
- Coaching for Potential (Using Frameworks) (Day 2)Content:
LeaderU: 4 Essential Roles of Effective Leaders, 6 Critical Practices of Effective Managers - Transformational Leadership
Lead adaptability, model ethical technology adoption, encourage experimentation, and integrate change management.
Two Day Session Topics:
- AI-Human Integration (Day 1)
- Guiding Adoption via Change Management (Day 1-2)
- Ethical and Security Mindset (Day 2)Content:
LeaderU: Find out Why: Key to Successful Innovation and Technology Competency - Emotional Intelligence
Master understanding and managing emotions—yours and others'—to build trust and reassure teams during technology disruptions (e.g., addressing fears of job automation by emphasizing human-AI collaboration and new opportunities).
Two Day Session Topics:
- Self-Awareness (Day 1)
- Self-Regulation (Day 1-2)
- Social Awareness (Day 2)
Content:
LeaderU: Multipliers - Financial Wellness
Build financial literacy to reduce stress and empower decision-making. AI tools can automate budgeting, provide personalized insights, and optimize habits (e.g., apps like Monarch Money or Copilot for transaction analysis, forecasts, and auto-savings).
Two Day Session Topics:
- Creating a Budget and Managing Cash Flow (Day 1)
- Saving and Investing for Retirement (Day 1-2)
- Managing Debt, Credit, and Financial Risks (Day 2)
Content:
Personal Finance by Kapoor, Dlabay, and Hughes (Latest Edition) - Time Management
Prioritize high-impact tasks while technology handles routine administrative work (e.g., smart scheduling and reminders, potentially saving valuable time).
Two Day Session Topics:
- Prioritization and Decision-Making (Day 1)
- Organization and Focus (Day 1-2)
- Technology Management and Efficiency Tracking (Day 2)
Content:
LeaderU: 5 Choices of Extraordinary Productivity and Career and Self-Development
- Collaboration and Innovation
Foster teamwork and idea generation. Technology frees time for creative work and enables hybrid human-AI collaboration (e.g., AI-assisted brainstorming).
Two Day Session Topics:
- Collaboration (Day 1)
- Delegation (Day 1-2)
- Supportiveness (Day 2)
Content:
LeaderU: Teamwork Competency - Conflict Resolution and Trust
Manage emotions and build trust to secure teams during technological transformation (e.g., transparently demonstrating the benefits of technology).
Two Day Session Topics:
-Building Credibility and High Trust (Day 1)
-Getting Results through Trust Behaviors (Day 1-2)
-Resolving Conflict and Fostering Customer Loyalty (Day 2)
Content:
LeaderU: Leading at the Speed of Trust and Customer Loyalty - Creativity
Generate original ideas; Use human insight to drive true innovation and add your unique perspective to enhance technology.
Two Day Session Topics:
- Bias Awareness and Analytical Thinking (Day 1)
- Cultivating Connections and Emotional Intelligence (Day 1-2)
- Synergizing, Innovating, and Thinking Creatively (Day 2)
Content:
LeaderU: Unconscious Bias and Critical Thinking Competency - Project Management
Plan, execute, and deliver projects effectively. Technology enhances forecasting, automation of repetitive tasks, and resource optimization, freeing leaders for strategic oversight.
Five Day Session Topics:
- Defining and Developing Scope (Day 1-2)
- Planning and Stakeholder Engagement (Day 3-4)
- Tracking Progress and Adaptation (Day 5)
Content:
LeaderU: Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager and Professionalism Competency - Problem Solving and Execution
See the big picture, align artificial intelligence strategically with goals, and maintain accountability without over-reliance on technology.
Five Day Session Topics:
- Acting on Breakthrough Performance Metrics (Day 1-2)
- Maintaining a Rhythm of Accountability (Day 3-4)
- Developing Relationships through Ongoing Coaching (Day 5)
Content:
LeaderU: The 4 Disciplines of Execution and Four Disciplines: A Manager’s Certification