Education

App State is about developing leaders. Whether you’re interested in taking one leadership course or earning the Leadership Studies (LDS) Minor, we have excellent learning opportunities that prepare you to lead.

Our leadership courses help you to develop life and career skills such as critical thinking, team development, conflict resolution, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and consensus building. In addition, leadership studies is a resume builder that stands out to employers who value leadership education and experience because it tells them that you are ready to accept the challenge to lead in an increasingly diverse and challenging environment.

Leadership Studies courses

The Leadership Studies Program, a part of the Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education (or CTH) in the Reich College of Education, offers a number of courses each semester. Leadership Studies courses utilize critical reflection, active engagement, and community-based learning to explore the phenomenon of leadership through theory, research, scholarship, and lived experience. All courses (except Senior Leadership Capstone) are open to all students interested in learning about leadership, even if you aren’t a part of the Leadership Studies Minor. Review the Undergraduate Bulletin for a full description of all Leadership Studies courses and the official Program of Study for the Leadership minor.

Selected topics

Each semester we may choose to offer a selected topic course not listed on the bulletin. These courses are open to any student and can count towards elective credit. For students in the Leadership Studies Minor, these courses can count towards the required upper-level LDS elective or your approved electives.

For Spring 2025, we are offering two selected topics:

LDS 3544 Selected Topics: Group and Organizational Leadership
LDS 3536 Selected Topics: Leadership and Culture – Socially-Responsible Leadership in Scotland – this course is a faculty-led study abroad!

Leadership Studies Minor

You receive a Leadership Studies Minor after completing 18 hours in leadership studies and related courses. The Leadership Studies Minor takes an interdisciplinary approach and allows you to draw from a variety of disciplines. You’ll learn that leadership is a process and be exposed to many different perspectives that enhance critical thinking and decision-making.

If you are interested in the Leadership Studies Minor then these are your next steps to take:

Review the Program of Study in the Undergraduate Bulletin to determine which courses you may need to take.
Complete the Minor Interest Form to connect with the Program Director.
Before declaring a minor, talk with your Academic Advisor about the requirements within your specific college or department.
Ask your advisor if courses counting towards your major can also fulfill electives for the minor. Substitutions to approved electives for the minor may be made with the approval of the Leadership Studies Program Director.
Contact the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership and/or the Leadership Studies Program Director at cel@appstate.edu with additional questions.

Global Leadership Exchange Programs

University of Johannesburg

The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership office is pleased to reflect on the success of the 2023 Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) program. Conducted during the week of September 3rd, this initiative brought twelve students from the University of Johannesburg to engage with our Appalachian State University community and thirteen App State students selected to be Global Leadership Exchange Fellows. Throughout the program week, student leaders from both institutions actively participated in global dialogue, fostering cultural exchange through small-group discussions and relationship-building activities.

A key objective of the GLE program was to cultivate participants’ curiosity and openness toward diverse identities, cultural perspectives, and global perspectives on leadership. Post-program feedback revealed that participants gained a deeper understanding of how culture influences individuals’ views and perceptions. The significance of our cross-cultural connections is underscored by the recognition that, even with variances in identities and backgrounds, a shared mission and values serve as cohesive elements within student leadership development. Participants engaged in shared learning around student leadership, activism, advocacy, and social change concepts in global contexts. Highlights from the week included shadowing AppState student leaders, a day trip to Greensboro to visit the International Civil Rights Museum and Bennett College, and community service with local nonprofits.