Graduate Level Servant Leadership Course Descriptions
555— Servant Leadership and Global Change, 3
Cr.
The
challenges communities and organizations face often reflect, refract, and
interact with a range of global forces at work in the world today. In order to
evaluate the prospects and ambiguities of servant-led social change in the
twenty-first century, this course will analyze how the very real and often
contentious political, economic, and cultural processes of globalization affect
the diverse local contexts in which participants currently serve.
601
– Servant Leadership Theory and Practice, 3 Cr.
By examining the
foundations of servant leadership in scripture, theology, and the experience of
the people of God, participants may begin to identify and understand their own
ways of leading and the gifts and skills that they bring to leadership for the
common good so that they may set goals for developing them. The course should
help participants answer these questions: What are the virtues of a servant
leader? If I am to be a servant leader, what type of person would I need to be,
and how would I need to act?
602
– Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Servant Leadership, 3 Cr.
This course will
build an understanding of the theological and philosophical foundations of
servant leadership. In addition, this course will develop the essential methods
pertinent to servant leadership: the study of scripture, the analysis of key
documents, graduate level writing, reflective writing, and discernment of case
studies.
603
– The Art of Leadership, 3 Cr.
This course, within
the context of Christian service, helps participants understand organizational
theory, organizational cultures, leadership styles, the dynamics of power and
change, and the aesthetics of leadership. In pursuit of the common good, the
true, and the beautiful, the participants will have the opportunity to develop
skills to lead effectively.
604
– Ethical Decision Making for the Common Good, 3 Cr.
This course is aimed
at providing a framework to help participants make the hard moral decisions
that face servant leaders if they are to promote the common good. This course
will emphasize traditional ethical principles, contemporary ethical theory, and
Catholic social teaching. Application will be made to leadership theory and
practice and how these principles shape the common good, especially in our
institutions and communities. Prerequisite: 601 or 602.
605
– Colloquium, 1 or 2 Cr.
As
a culmination of their work, participants will complete a scholarly project in
servant leadership. This project will continue from the work previously
completed in SVLD 610. The students will present findings from their research
project as a formal written paper and at a seminar to their peers.
Prerequisite: 601, 602, 610. May be repeated for credit.
610
– Methods of Leadership Research, 3 Cr.
In this course
participants will read and discuss the current literature in servant leadership
and trends in servant leadership research. Research methods relevant to servant
leadership will be presented and analyzed. From readings and previous course
material, students will work with a faculty mentor to complete a literature
review on a topic in servant leadership, and propose a scholarly project. This
literature review and research design will be presented as a formal paper and
to peers in seminar format for discussion. Prerequisite: 601 or 602.
650
– Building Community, 3 Cr.
One of the key
characteristics of servant leaders is facility in building community while
respecting and supporting the diverse gifts of individuals. This course will
examine the dynamics of community, ways of nurturing community development,
finding core values, healing divisions, and facilitating change in
congregations and other organizations.
651
– Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution, 3 Cr.
This course will be
an examination of nonviolence and movements for nonviolent social
transformation as they are expressed in world religions. The life of Jesus of
Nazareth, the work of Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and
Dorothy Day, among others in the history of nonviolence, will be analyzed in
exploring practical ways to peacefully resolve conflicts.
653
– Ritual and Celebration, 3 Cr.
Rituals and
celebrations form our core identities as we live and work within community.
Servant leaders are asked to lead people in appropriate reflection, rituals,
and celebrations within each community they serve. This course will explore
meditation, prayer, and a discipline of self-reflection as well as help
participants create and facilitate rituals that celebrate important moments in
community and practice leading others in those celebrations.
655
– Stewardship: Franciscan Theology of Environmental Stewardship, 3 Cr.
At the heart of a
Franciscan theology of environment is the notion of ecological stewardship—a
responsibility and opportunity to embrace the cosmic earth story with an
attitude of care for the planetary household of God. Stewardship understood in
this way is another key characteristic of a servant leader. This course will
examine ecological guidelines for behavior (ethos) for the household (oikos),
and explore the relationship between environmental justice and issues of social
justice.
657
– Prophetic Leadership, 3 Cr.
The prophet is
called and calls others to read the signs of the times. Prophetic leadership is
genuinely involved in the social, economic, and political realities of the
communities they serve. This course will examine prophetic voices throughout
history. Participants will discern and discover their own prophetic voice in
leadership and the courage of their own conviction.