Course Descriptions
Four core courses totaling 9 credits are included in the series:
ENGR 408 Leadership Principles (2 credits)
ENGR 493 Individual Leadership Experience: Leadership Practicum (1 credit)
ENGR 409 Leadership in Organizations (3 credits)
ENGR 407 Technology-Based Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
ENGR 408 Leadership Principles (2 credits) and
ENGR 493 Individual Leadership Experience: Leadership Practicum (1 credit)
These courses serve as the introductory leadership courses and provide you with an appreciation for leadership concepts, principles, theories, and relevant
literature. Material is addressed in a manner that facilitates the practical application of knowledge to future leadership, business, and technical settings. These high-energy courses
place emphasis on oral and written presentations, mastery of course material in a practical way, and cooperative learning within teams.
Goals
- Understand and discuss contemporary leadership concepts in a way that facilitates practical application in social and professional settings.
- Develop a passion for the lifelong study and application of leadership.
- Become actively involved with groups to practice your leadership skills.
- Apply what you learn.
Topics
- What Is Leadership?
- Leadership vs. Management
- Socialization: Norms, Roles, and Expectations
- Personality Types
- Intrinsic or Extrinsic Motivation
- Teams and Teamwork
- The Moral Component: Values and Ethics in Leadership
- Impact of Globalization and Diversity on Leading in the Twenty-first Century
- Leading at Different Levels: Dyads, Small Groups, Span of Control, Organizations, Administration, and Institution
- Leadership Practicum/Applied Learning Project
ENGR 409 Leadership in Organizations (3 credits)
This course helps you to develop a deeper understanding of the important facets of leadership in organizations and how they relate to business in the technology field. This class is
often referred to as the "mini MBA" course and includes the analysis of best practices of exemplary organizations, as well as a review of process improvement methodologies, such as
Lean/Six Sigma.
Goals
- Recognize commonalities of leadership in organizations and their implications for success in a global business environment.
- Demonstrate fundamental knowledge in areas which are criteria for performance excellence.
- Demonstrate proficiency in identification of organizational problems and/or opportunities.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the application of performance gap analysis and closure principles.
- Demonstrate effective presentation skills.
Topics
- Components of Leadership: Natural Capacities, Learned Skills, Strategic Intelligence, and Personal Motivations
- Strategic Thinking
- Customer and Market Focus
- Establishing Priorities
- Information and Financial Analysis
- Human Resource Management
- Leadership Approaches and Development
- Process Improvement
- Business Results
ENGR 407 Technology-Based Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
This course focuses on the study of entrepreneurship and applies its principles to a real business venture. It also provides an atmosphere in which you must be as creative as possible to succeed. The course provides an introduction to innovation, creativity, change, and the change process, and includes opportunities to integrate technology into design and the tools for creating business plans.
Goals
- Assess personal risk tolerance.
- Become aggressive toward taking risks.
- Understand failure, and grow and learn from it.
- Understand how to mobilize commitment and passion.
Topics
- Introduction to Creativity, Innovation, and Change Process
- New Product Development
- Tools for Creating a Business Plan
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