LCP | Outcomes and Commitments
Desired Learning Outcomes
Through participation in the LCP, students will:
- Identify and discuss the strengths and challenges of a variety of leadership styles and theories
- Discuss and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of leadership topics, concepts, and skills
- Discuss and demonstrate an understanding of and appreciation for the fundamental principles and practices of effective leadership
- Identify and pursue leadership opportunities, and gain direct leadership experience
- Examine personal leadership roles and responsibilities, reflect on leadership experiences, evaluate leadership actions, and discuss leadership lessons learned
- Develop and demonstrate effective leadership skills
Opportunities and Commitments
Students participating in the LCP must complete the following:
LEAD 1000: Principles of Leadership | LEAD 1000 encourages a greater understanding of fundamental principles and practices of effective leadership and a variety of leadership styles, theories, topics, concepts, and skills. Students will demonstrate effective group and leadership skills, examine personal leadership roles and responsibilities, reflect on leadership experiences, evaluate leadership actions, and discuss leadership lessons learned.
The course is worth two credit hours, students generally enroll in it during their first semester in the program, and they must earn a grade of "C" or above in order to fulfill this commitment.
LEAD 2000: Leadership in Action | LEAD 2000 encourages students to assume leadership responsibilities with a partnering GCSU organization, campus initiative, or special project in order to gain direct leadership experience, apply the leadership lessons they have learned while participating in the Leadership Certificate Program, and further the mission and goals of the chosen partnering organization. Students will reflect on and discuss their leadership actions as they pursue and fulfill their respective leadership roles and responsibilities within their selected organizations. Students will also work in pairs to lead in-class discussions on a variety of leadership topics.
The course is worth one credit hour, and service learning and/or community service opportunities may be possible. Students generally enroll in it during their second semester in the program, and they must earn a grade of "C" or above in order to fulfill this commitment. LEAD 2000 is now repeatable for students interested in continuing their work on their leadership practicum or taking on new leadership challenges.
Leadership Option Assignment | Leadership option assignments (L-Options) provide opportunities for students to incorporate leadership components into identified courses or take on leadership roles with designated projects or initiatives. Depending on the nature of the assignment, the L-Option may be structured as a service, civic engagement, or social change project, a literature review, active involvement in research or field work, class facilitation, a creative work, a presentation, a paper, a series of position papers, or participation in the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) Program. These assignments allow for critical insight into how leadership principles and practices are applied within a variety of disciplines and settings.
The Leadership Option Assignment is an optional commitment of the LCP. Students are not required to complete one; however, they are strongly encouraged to, as this assignment gives them the opportunity to continue their study of leadership.
In the instance of a curricular leadership option assignment, students work with the coordinator of leadership programs and professors of identified courses to generate leadership option proposals. Students will complete this commitment during or after their third semester in the program unless they receive special permission to complete it sooner.
Leadership Events | Leadership events offer opportunities for students to build relationships with fellow student leaders and learn more about a variety of leadership topics.
LCP students must earn 30 leadership event participation points in order to complete this commitment of the program. Students may earn points by participating in leadership retreats, conferences and case study competitions, workshops, forums, lectures, presentations, service projects, campus and community initiatives, and attending designated programs and events coordinated by other GCSU units such as the School of Business, the International Education Center, the Honors & Scholars Program, the American Democracy Project, American Humanics, the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity, the GIVE Center, and various academic departments.
Possible participation points range from 1 to 4, depending on the nature of the event, and students earn them throughout their time in the program. If students earn at least 10 points during the course of any given semester, they receive special recognition for their active involvement. Participation points are tracked by the LCP staff, but students are encouraged to record their own as well.
Leadership Lessons Presentation | Graduating LCP students are asked to give presentations on what they learned from their leadership experiences at GCSU to fellow LCP participants, members of the university community, and other invited guests. This event offers students an opportunity to reflect on their campus leadership roles and responsibilities, the impact they had at GCSU, and the lessons they learned. Students generally complete this commitment during their last semester at GCSU.
LCP Student Guide | For a comprehensive overview of the LCP, formatted as a word document, you may download our LCP Student Guide (doc).
