370s09

As a Distance Learning [On-Line] Course, this course is primarily designed as a form of independent study. Thus, this experience involves only electronic and telephone contact with the professor. However, the professor will be more than willing to discuss matters related to the course over the phone or by e-mail. Office visits will be impossible unless the student wishes to fly to California, where the professor lives, for a conference. The only way that learning can be assessed will be through the student's communication through writing and electronic communication. Therefore, the student will have to work diligently to effectively use these modes of communication.

This course has been approved as a General Education Course and for the SOCIAL JUSTICE CLUSTER. As a course in this cluster the following objectives will be pursued:

1) Students will be able to describe political and financial organizations as communities composed of leaders and followers.

2) Students will be able to identify and parse the values needed for effective political and financial leadership.

3) Students will be able to translate the values of leadership into the virtues (actions) needed by leaders to move followers to accomplish the goals of the community.

4) Students will be able to place the practice of effective leadership into appropriate historical theories and contexts.

5) Students will examine the features and advice of recognized leaders in history.

6) Students will develop strategies for leadership roles in various cases presented.

7) Students will hone their skills at using electronic technology and interacting by using computer technology.

TO ENGAGE IN THIS KIND OF COURSE SUCCESSFULLY, THE STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:

SELF MOTIVATION
TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS
A COMMITMENT TO MEETING DEADLINES
REASONABLY DECENT WRITING SKILLS
A WILLINGNESS TO DEVELOP SKILLS OF THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION OF SKILLS TO PROBLEM SOLVING.

SINCE THIS COURSE IS CONDUCTED ELECTRONICALLY, THE STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING MINIMAL ELECTRONIC CAPABILITIES:

MSWORD for writing assignments and submitting e-mail attachments

ELLUMINATE MINIMUM REQUIRMENTS

Pentium II
233 MHz
128 MB RAM
5 MB free disk space
28.8 kbps connection speed (56 for A/V)
Microsoft Windows 95 / Windows 98 / Windows NT 4.0 workstation / Windows 2000 Professional (preferred)
Internet Explorer 5.0.1 & 5.5 (preferred) / Netscape Communicator 4.7
Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine

QUICKPLACE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Windows 98 / Windows NT / Windows 2000 / Windows XP Professional / Macintosh System 9
Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2 / Internet Explorer 5.1 (Macintosh) / Internet Explorer 6 / Netscape 4.79
Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine

We are all painfully aware of the lapses in moral Leadership on the political and economic scene in recent decades, months, weeks, etc. This course will use that awareness as the point of departure for examining the parameters of moral Leadership in the political arena. Because many of these failures have had profound economic ramifications, that dimension of leadership will no doubt enter into our discussion as well.

A discussion and examination of moral Leadership must be grounded in an exploration of the values that underlie human decisions and actions within the context of the community in which we live. The aspirations of a morally healthy community must be grounded in a sound set of values and translated into the virtues (actions) of the members of the community. Since these values and virtues are not always apparent to all members of the community, Leadership is required to articulate them and use them to guide the forward progress of the community. Recent events, including a lengthy Presidential campaign, the collapse of many of our major financial institutions, and the election of a new President, provide us with the opportunity to reflect on the kind of moral Leadership we need. Philosophy provides us with the tools and skills necessary for engaging in a successful examination of the ethical characteristics that can produce a fruitful inquiry into the requirements for effective moral Leadership.

This course will provide an ethical framework for analyzing and assessing Leadership issues in the current political scene. This ethical framework will examine the values and virtues needed for effective Leadership. An historical context will be established to focus on the meaning of community and the dynamics of Leadership in the current political scene. Cases illustrating Leadership practices will be used and examples will be drawn from significant political leaders and their struggles in the past, e.g. the Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan and other historical figures. We may even look at some not-so-admirable Leaders.

There will be six (6) Threaded Discussions in the course. Each Threaded Discussion will run for one week. The topic will be chosen by the professor. Each student will be required to make three (3) [ROBUST=2 HEALTHY PARAGRAPHS] contributions to each Threaded Discussion. The stipulations for participating in the Threaded Discussions will be found on the Threaded Discussion webpage. Each Threaded Discussion will be worth 30 points.

There will be three (3) essays of about 300-500 words. Essay topics will be posted on the website to allow students sufficient time to reflect on the issues. Each essay will be worth 50 points.

Three (3) Web Conferences (Audio Chat Rooms) will also be held during the course. These are OPTIONAL and each Web Conference will count as ten (10) extra credit points. CLICK HERE to see what is involved in a Web Conference (audio chat room).

Texts: [The textbooks will be available in the bookstore prior to the end of the current term.]

-The Ethics of Leadership. Joanne B. Ciulla. Thompson-Wadworth, 2003. [ISBN-13: 978-0-15-506317-4] [ISBN-10: 0-15-506317-0].

-Transforming Leadership. James MacGregor Burns.Grove Press, 2003. [ISBN 0-8021-4118-8].

-A few additional Selected Readings will be linked from the course schedule webpage.