Leadership Studies Concentration
DESCRIPTION:
Students who select the Leadership Studies Area of Concentration seek a major
where they can investigate questions surrounding leadership and the changing
world. In this Area of Concentration, students examine, in an academic
setting, the development of positive leadership experiences and how education
effects the development of successful leaders. The Leadership Studies
Area of Concentration realizes a difference between socialization of a leader
and leadership studies. Students will learn that many successful leaders
obtain their leadership skills from practice and have experienced "socialized
leadership." These leaders develop from success and failure during
experiential practice. A collegiate leadership studies program
demonstrates an intentional exploration of leadership theory to enhance the
socialization process. It provides the environment where students study
the scholarly discipline of leadership theory and enhance the process to
successful leadership development. In the leadership studies
concentration, students learn theories and models of the leadership process and
they use analysis and evaluation to synthesize multiple leadership theories.
At this time, Texas A&M University does not offer an academic "leadership
major." Several entities throughout the university participate in various
components of leadership study but no one department or academic program
currently explores leadership as proposed by the Leadership Studies Area of
Concentration. The most important aspect of the Leadership Studies Area
of Concentration is that the student is able to place leadership theory into
the contexts found within their 2 Minors. Leadership scholars agree that
leadership theory should be taught with a contextual application.
Therefore, the University Studies degree provides an excellent opportunity for
students to select academic contexts (Minors) to practice leadership theory
found within the Area of Concentration courses.
The Agricultural Leadership and Development (ALED) major is different from the
Leadership Studies Area of Concentration as ALED requires 31 hours of
agriculture/life sciences courses. In addition, ALED does not incorporate
2 minors into its degree program.
REQUIRED COURSES:
The following 24 hours of course work are required.
Note: At least two 400 level courses are required to satisfy the University
Studies requirement.