American
Leadership
Academy
MGMT 1250
PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP
Instructor: Mr. Tim Becker
Room: HS 113
Phone: 801-794-2226 ext. 5943
E-mail: tbecker@americanleadership.net
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to introduce the fundamentals of leadership which are present in any situation
(i.e. – Business, interpersonal, professional, and academic relationships.) Its primary emphasis is to
awaken in the student the understanding that in every instance where two people are together, one
person is a leader and the other is a follower. The role of ‘leader’ and ‘follower’ may and often will
change between the two and progress will be made towards an end, either positive or negative. This
course will help the student recognize how to make the most positive impact in these relationships.
COURSE PREREQUISITES & CO REQUISITES
Be enrolled as a regular student at ALA. Preference is to Juniors and Seniors, however, Sophomores and Freshmen can
register for this class. The latter may not be eligible for college credit. In all cases where college credit is sought through Utah
Valley University, enrollment and registration through the University is required. Go to www.uvu.edu/concurrent and click on
the “Start here” button to get registered at UVU.
COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
The objective of this course is to focus on the basic principles of personal and interpersonal leadership
that can be used in any life arena. We will explore variables that affect productivity, effectiveness, and
efficiency, and a variety of interpersonal skill-sets. Emphasis will be placed on vision, goals &
objectives, motivation, decision-making, time management, power, team building, conflict, ethics,
dealing with change, communication skills, and diversity issues. In addition, we will explore a variety of
other topics including developing your personal leadership style, and organizational politics. Classroom
teaching methods will include lecture, class discussion, videos, oral presentations, written assignments,
and group projects.
A part of the course will include experiences to enhance your learning of the chapter concepts via
individual and group exercises. By the end of the course, you will have increased your personal and
interpersonal awareness, sharpened your analytical skills, and gained a greater understanding of the
complex issues facing today's leaders.
TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Two books:
(1) Principles of Leadership Student Study Guide
(2) Student Readings for Management 1250
Students must purchase these books at the UVU Bookstore in order to receive credit for the class.
Students will also be required to supplement their reading of leadership materials with additional books,
articles, seminars or lectures as they find or are made available.
COURSE TOPICS/ CHAPTERS/ UNITS/ TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Course Topics will follow the sections as delineated in the Principles of Leadership Student Study
Guide. That workbook will be enhanced with commensurate PowerPoint presentations and other
discussions as they develop in class.
The class schedule will follow the sequence of the workbook.
ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES
Each student will be required to complete the following:
Current Events / An Eye on Leadership Portfolio
For each Tuesday, each student will be required to provide a minimum ½ page written overview of
some current event in business, church, politics, etc. that demonstrates, illustrates, or negates a
leadership principle. These will be collected at the end of each term in a portfolio. Points will be
awarded based on organization, depth, and consistency (meaning that it was performed regularly over
the period of the term and not the night before it is to be turned in for credit). 100 points per term.
1st Semester Students – October 7th and December 9th.
2nd Semester Students – March 3rd and May 5th.
Leadership Biography Paper and Presentation:
1. Choose a leader
2. Oral Presentation
- 5 minutes
- Biography of the Leader
3. 2 page double spaced handout for the class
a. major biographical events
b. major accomplishments
c. leadership style and why or why not should the individual be admired
d. 3 (minimum) references of your sources of information
(30 points oral presentation, 20 points handout. 50 Points Total).
1st Semester Students – September 14, 16, and 17
2nd Semester Students – February 1, 3, and 4
Write a Resume. This resume will be a real resume that you will be required to submit to potential
employers. You will submit your resume to several potential employers and write a one page summary
of the experiences you had in doing so. Points will be given on the basis of structure, style and clarity
of the resume as well as the details and experiences you had submitting it. (100 Points total, 50 for the
resume and 50 for the report of job applications.)
1st Semester Students – Resume due Oct. 5, Summary page due Dec. 7.
2nd Semester Students – Resume due March 1, Summary page due May 10.
Movie Presentation Project (1 Movie project each - students working in pairs or small groups.)
1. Choose a movie
2. Oral Presentation (10 Minutes)
1.Prepare a 3 – 5 minute clip showing the leadership principle
2. 1 page paper showing:
a. summary of the movie
b. description of the leadership concepts /
summary of why the movie shows those specific leadership principles
(30 points for the oral presentation, 20 points for the handout.)
1st Semester Students – November 16, 18
2nd Semester Students – April 26, 28
Personal Leadership Style Paper:
A three page paper discussing what your future leadership style will be. This must include at least two
theories or examples from our leadership material. (10 points introduction; 30 points for theories and
overall body of paper; 10 points summary; 50 Points Total).
1st Semester Students Due: After completion of Chapter 3.
2nd Semester Students Due: After completion of Chapter 3.
Long Range Goals:
Create a list of at least 5 goals you have for yourself that are well thought out and follow the learned
principles of goal setting. These goals should project where you see yourself and what you see
yourself doing in 5 years and in 10 years. (10 points per goal. 50 points total.)
1st Semester Students Due: After completion of Chapter 5.
2nd Semester Students Due: After completion of Chapter 5.
Book Reports/Essays: Each student will be required to read the additional readings provided in the
Student Readings book. Additionally, each student will be required to read two books of their choice
which discuss leadership. In connection with these readings, each student will be required to write a 2
page essay on each of these readings. (This means three (3) two-page essays.) One of the two books
of choice can be a novel or a regular book. The other of the two must be a book specifically designed
as a book on leadership. Please see me for suggestions and approval of the books you choose. There
is no specific due date for these essays! This means it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to complete
this work. Part of the grade for these assignments is to see how well you can demonstrate
independent leadership and initiative by selecting a book, getting it approved by the teacher, reading it
and then writing an essay on it. If you wait until the last minute, you will not get as good a grade. BE
SMART ABOUT THIS! Each essay is worth 50 points and will be graded on content, clarity,
presentation, and when it is turned in. (This means you need to follow a high level of academic writing
and that you should turn your work in early.)
EXAMS & QUIZZES
Quizzes will be given at the end of each section. They are worth 10 points each.
Exams will be a mid term and a final. The mid-term covers the first 7 chapters and the final
covers the last 8 chapters. Each is worth 100 points.
GRADES
You will receive the same grade for your high school course as you receive
for your college course. Your grade will be based upon to following:
94% and up: A
90 – 93.99%: A88 – 89.99%: B+
84 – 87.99%: B
80 – 83.99%: B78 – 79.99%: C+
74 – 77.99%: C
70 – 73.99%: C69.99% and below: F
NOTICE: Your grade for this class will
become part of your permanent college
transcript and will affect your GPA. A low
grade in this course can affect college
acceptance and scholarship eligibility
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INSTRUCTOR POLICIES
All school policies (dress code, no gum, disruptive behaviour, tardies, etc.) will be enforced in this class. I
strongly believe these policies to be designed to establish a positive learning environment and hope for
the same in our class.
Classroom discussion is an essential component in this class. While I realize that some students may
feel uncomfortable speaking up in class, I hope that we can develop an atmosphere of trust and
understanding so no one feels their opinions or views do not matter. I expect every student to provide
allowances for differing opinions and ideas that may run contrary to your own. This does not mean you
have to agree. It simply means you need to be civil.
Classroom maintenance will be kept by the class. I expect scrap papers, candy/food wrappers, and other
messes to be cleaned up and the overall appearance of the room to be kept clean. To use a long used (if
not literary) phrase: “Your mother does not work here.” Please clean-up after yourself.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS POLICIES
All examinations must be taken at the regularly scheduled examination time. Any exception to this will result in
the following penalty: Taking the examination after the scheduled time will result in a penalty of 25 percent of the
student's score on the test. NO STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP AN EXAMINATION AFTER ONE
WEEK FROM THE ORIGINAL EXAMINATION DATE.
All projects and assignments will be treated in the following manner: Late projects/assignments will be penalized
50 percent if handed in after the due date (beginning of the class period on the assigned date.)
Projects/assignments turned in after a one-week period will not be accepted for credit. These are departmental
policies. Any exceptions must be submitted in writing to an evaluation committee for hearing within ten calendar
days from the original examination date or assignment due date.
Students With Disabilities - If you have any disability which may impair your ability to successfully complete this
course, please contact the Accessibility Services Office, 863-8747, room BU-146. Academic accommodations
are granted for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. All services are coordinated with the
Accessibility Services office.
Academic Dishonesty: No academic dishonesty will be tolerated. The penalty for a first offense is an "F" for the
assignment and the assignment cannot be redone. A second offense means that you fail (forfeit credit) the
course and will be reported to the Department Chair and to Student Advising. Below are some definitions of what
constitutes academic misconduct taken from the Utah Valley State College Catalog 2002-2003. Please read the
complete "Student Rights and Responsibilities" section in the 2002-2003 UVSC catalog to be aware of your
academic responsibilities.
Cheating: "Cheating is the act of using, attempting to use, or providing others with unauthorized
information, materials, or study aids in academic work. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, passing
examination answers to or taking examinations for someone else or preparing or copying others'
academic work."
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is theft. The Latin root of the word is plagiarius, which means a manstealer or
kidnapper. Anytime you present another person’s work as your own–even if that other person is a friend
and/or spouse–you have plagiarized. "Plagiarism is the act of appropriating any other person’s or group’s
ideas or work (written, computerized, artistic, etc.) or portions thereof and passing them off as the product
of one’s own work in any academic exercise or activity."
Fabrication: "Fabrication is the use of invented information or the falsification of research or other
findings. The following examples of fabrication include but are not limited to:
 Citation of information not taken from the source indicated. They may include the
incorrect documentation of secondary source materials.
 Listing sources in a bibliography not used in the academic exercise.
 Submission in a paper, thesis, lab report or other academic exercise of falsified, invented,
or fictitious data or evidence, or deliberate and knowing concealment or distortion of the
true nature, origin, or function of such data or evidence.
 Submitting as your own any academic exercises, (e.g., written work, printing, sculpture,
etc.) prepared totally or in part by another."
Note: This Course Outline/Syllabus is provided as a convenience to you however the instructor may change parts
during the semester. Any changes will be announced in advance in class. If you have any questions on any of
this material, please don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.