Illinois Leadership® Certificate Program
ACADEMIC COURSES
Leadership Certificate students must enroll in and complete TWO University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
academic courses in leadership.
To take a course outside of the approved list, a student must gain approval from their Leadership Coach by
submitting a syllabus and a written explanation highlighting how the course helps them achieve their learning
goals. Approval must also be granted by Coaches prior to enrollment in the course. Coaches should consult the
Illinois Leadership Center if questions exist regarding the suitability of a particular class. If a student has not been
matched with a coach at the time of course registration, course approval materials outlined above may be
submitted to the Illinois Leadership Center.
*Note: Some of the courses listed in this document may be restricted to students in specific majors and minors.
1. Below are courses that have a significant content in theory regarding leadership development,
effectiveness, or assessment.
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AGED 199: Leadership and Social Responsibility
AGED 260: Introduction to Leadership Studies
AGED 360: Advanced Leadership Studies
AGED 380: Leadership in Groups and Teams
CMN 421: Persuasion Theory and Research
2. Below are courses that provide students the opportunity to practice leadership, based on the 11 Skills
and Attributes.
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ACE 199: Agribusiness Leadership &
Policy Course
ADV 481: Advertising Research Methods
AFRO 398: Black Leadership
Development
AGCM 430 Communication in
Environmental & Social
AGED 199: Leadership & Social Change
AGED 230 Communications in
Leadership
AGED 340 Leadership Ethics &
Multiculturalism
AHS/KIN/CHLH/RST 365: Civic
Engagement & Wellness
ANSC 471 Leadership & Entrepreneurial
Skills
BADM 310: Management &
Organizational Behavior
BADM 311: Individual Behavior in Orgs
BADM 395 Negotiation (restricted to
Business majors and minors only)
CMN 230: Introduction to Interpersonal
Communication
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CMN 321: Persuasive Speaking
CMN 414: Communication & Leadership
EPSY 202: Exploring Cultural Diversity
EPSY 203: Social Issues Group Dialogues
ENG 315: Learning in Community
ENG 498: Project Management
ENVS 430: Communication in Social
Movements
EOL 199: Dialogue Courses
FAA 391 Action Research Seminar
GE 361: Emotional Intelligence Skills
GE 398: Engaging Leadership (1 credit)
GE 462: Leading Sustainable Change
JOUR 250: Journalism Ethics & Diversity
KIN 239/369: Coaching Strategies
LEIS 300: Leisure Services Programming
& Leadership
MILS 101: Introduction to Military
Science
PHIL 105: Introduction to Ethics
PSYC 245: Industrial Organizational
Psychology
PSYC 455: Organizational Psychology
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PS 453: Ethics, Leadership & Democracy
RST 200: Leadership in Leisure Services
SOC 380: Social Research Methods Class
SOCW 321 Social Entrepreneurship &
Social Change
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CMN 113: Group Discussion &
Conference Leadership
CMN 230: Interpersonal Communication
CMN 496: Advanced Topics in
Communication
Although every course listed above provides excellent opportunities for leadership learning, it is
recommended that students take one of these core courses offered.
COURSE
HOURS
AGED 199
Leadership and
Social
Responsibility
3
AGED 260
Introduction to
Leadership
Studies
3
AGED 360
Advanced
Leadership
Studies
AGED 380
Leadership in
Groups and
Teams
3
3
GE 361
Emotional
Intelligence Skills
3
GE 398
Engaging Leaders
1
GE 498
Leading
Sustainable
Change
3
DESCRIPTION
Students enrolled in this course will consider significant historical contexts for the
practice of leadership, and study the varying ways that power and societal
privilege have contributed not only to the current Westernized conceptualization
of “leadership” but to the concept of social justice.
Study of leadership theories and their application to the development of
leadership skills. Students develop a personal philosophy of leadership, prepare a
development plan for enhancing leadership skills during their collegiate
experience and begin a portfolio to record their leadership growth. Topics
concerning diversity, ethics, and leadership/followership roles are explored.
This interdisciplinary course is designed as a capstone academic experience for
students to study the practice of leadership in personal, team organizational, and
community contexts. Emphasis is placed on transitional development of
leadership skills including networking, mentoring, and developing others.
Explores the concept of leadership applied explicitly to sustainable team
environments. Reviews team development concepts & the role leaders play
within them.
This course emphasizes the importance and the validity of our emotions in
improving your self-awareness, self-management, and relationships with others
you work with in organization. As part of this course you take the ECI-U
assessment, develop a personal mission statement & personal development plan,
and begin a portfolio of your personal growth.
This course explores leadership from the perspective of leaders in various types
of settings and organizations. You examine what is common among leaders in
different settings as well as key differences. This course is based on the
framework provided by Kouzes and Posner in their book, “The Leadership
Challenge.” As part of this course you will be asked to write your own personal
philosophy of leadership. This course is offered only in the Fall semester.
Students enhance their ability to lead, manage and adapt to sustainable change
in this class. Students will initiate and conduct a change project during the
semester to apply concepts from the course to a real situation.