Courses

The Leadership Integration Thesis (Part II) provides opportunity for students to conduct innovative independent leadership research. The process of research—from identification of problem for investigation, research design, data collection and analysis, to written report of findings—is the focus.

LDRS 697 is a two semester hour course that together with LDRS 698 comprises the four semester hour Leadership integration project capstone. The process of designing and completing LDRS 697/698 is the practical exercise of higher order learning processes. LDRS 697/698 is focused on integrating the learning from various program courses into a comprehensive understanding and personal practice of leadership. The learnings of program courses will be collectively analyzed and reevaluated to determine meta-themes to inform a deeper level of scholarly inquiry in the field of leadership. LDRS 697/698 represents the capstone demonstration of a learner's ability to integrate practical program curriculum content and to demonstrate achievement in the program's defined leadership competencies. The course requires competent use of evidence-based scholarly knowledge, ability to analyze an issue, discipline in the problem-solving process, and scholarly documentation and presentation of information.

LDRS 697 is a two semester hour course that together with LDRS 698 comprises the four semester hour Leadership integration project capstone. The process of designing and completing LDRS 697/698 is the practical exercise of higher order learning processes. LDRS 697/698 is focused on integrating the learning from various program courses into a comprehensive understanding and personal practice of leadership. The learnings of program courses will be collectively analyzed and reevaluated to determine meta-themes to inform a deeper level of scholarly inquiry in the field of leadership. LDRS 697/698 represents the capstone demonstration of a learner's ability to integrate practical program curriculum content and to demonstrate achievement in the programs defined leadership competencies. The course requires competent use of evidence-based scholarly knowledge, ability to analyze an issue, discipline in the problem-solving process, and scholarly documentation and presentation of information.

Grounded in Boyer’s Scholarship of Application, the Capstone Project bridges learning and practice through the applied use of servant leadership in real-world organizational contexts. Projects may involve direct engagement with organizational settings or based on analysis, design, or simulation. Leadership theory, research, and ethical reflection are integrated to address authentic leadership challenges, develop and evaluate actionable responses, and articulate a coherent leadership identity that informs wise, context-sensitive practices of leadership.

This course introduces students to language change. It considers how and why languages change and the role of language contact. It also presents different theories and methodologies useful for historical and comparative linguistic investigation. Students will investigate a number of related existing languages from language families around the world, and seek to reconstruct substantial elements of earlier proto-language stages in terms of phonology, morphology, lexicon, and historical dialectology.

This course explores the rich variety of morphological and syntactic constructions and processes found in human language, deepening the students’ understanding of morphosyntactic phenomena from a typological perspective. The topics are examined within the framework of a current theory of syntax.

This course introduces the students to the rudiments of linguistic and sociolinguistic survey. The focus is on purpose-driven language survey design and appropriate subsequent reporting of the findings. Consideration is given to current issues in social science research such as the ethics of sampling, and statistical significance of sample populations.

This course introduces students to theories of second language and second culture acquisition. Students develop and evaluate self-directed strategies based on personal learning styles. Practical experience in the above topics is gained by working with a speaker of a non-Indo-European language.