Business Organizational Leadership/Business Leadership Course Descriptions

LDR 1362 Introduction to Organizational Leadership*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the nature of leadership, the development of teams and group dynamics, basic understanding of organizational culture and climate, and the overarching preparatory aspects leaders need to be effective in an ever changing organizational environment. Students will gain strategies for processing and sharing information through classroom dialogues, interactive projects, and practical research of current organizational trends and psychological challenges.

LDR 2351 Leadership and Organization in Sports*
3 Credit Hours
This course will provide an introduction to sports leadership. This course will also provide an application for the development of skills necessary to be an effective and efficient leader regarding communication, human resources, motivation, organizational culture, and decision-making in basic organizational structures found in the sport industry.

LDR 2370 Organizational Communication: Methods & Strategies for Leaders*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the function and structures of communication in both formal and informal situations in an organization. This course provides a practical view of leadership communication, strategies for transmitting, receiving, and understanding information in the organization. The emphasis of this course is on providing leaders with tools for overcoming communication challenges/barriers by utilizing appropriate strategies and methods.

LDR 3202 Managing Ethics in Organizations*
3 Credit Hours
This course applies biblical principles to business practices in order to provide a clear and reasonably comprehensive discussion of ethical choices available in organizations. This course expands biblical ethics to focus on challenging situations a manager will face in a secular or religious environment. Specific case studies will be used to validate so the student can make choices based upon biblical principles. Areas of discussion will focus on finances, marketing, dealings with employees and customers, and the community-at-large.

LDR 3215 Leading Organizations, Innovation and Change*
3 Credit Hours
This course is an analysis of the dynamics of change and the importance of innovation within modern organizations. Emphasis is on how managers can develop a culture receptive to new ideas, products, processes, and systems for improving organizational performance.

LDR 3333*/MNGT 3333 Strategic Human Resources in Organizations
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the fundamental nature and strategies associated with Human Resources. Students will study the traditional and modern principles of human resources in for-profit and non-profit contexts. Students will use many of the tools of successful human resource management principles in various exercises.

LDR 3341 Leadership in Nonprofits*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines fundamental principles and practices for nonprofit organizations. An introduction to management and leadership in the nonprofit sector, history, philosophy, ethics, and the organizations of nonprofit agencies. Concepts will include volunteerism, board selection, fundraising, role of the foundation, administration, and public relations.

LDR 3363 Team Dynamics and Leading Diverse Groups*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the application of leadership theory in groups and team dynamics. This course will also examine the factors that influence group membership and how the structure and development of groups progress overtime. Social identity, intragroup dynamics, perceptions, ingroup/outgroup membership, attitudes, judgments, and performance will also be discussed within the framework of situational factors and emerging technologies and how they influence both intra- and intergroup behaviors.

LDR 3364 Project Leader, Strategy, and Scope*
3 Credit Hours
This course will discuss the foundational aspects of strategic planning including what it is, why it is important, how it is done, who should do it, and why a vast amount of organizations struggle to do it. This course will also develop a foundation of concepts and solutions that support the planning, development, implementation, controlling, and closure activities required for successful completion of a project.

LDR 3373 Intermediate Leadership: Conflict/Negotiation*
3 Credit Hours
Intermediate study of leadership practices as related to translating a leadership vision into organizational effectiveness builds on previous foundation courses of leadership and introduces the student to skills relevant to effective communication in conflict interactions that occur in organizations. A practical emphasis will be placed on the area of conflict management and negotiation skills through the use of case study group sessions within the role of leadership.

LDR 4104 Concepts & Theories of Managerial Leadership*
3 Credit Hours
This is a senior research course which emphasizes how leaders position and guide their organizations using vision and strategy to help them meet internal and external demands for continuous improvement. This course provides the student ample opportunity to assess their own leadership ability and skills while learning their strengths and weaknesses and other practical and theoretical ways to apply leadership principles.

LDR 4164 Organizational Theory and Behavior*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the principles of organizational behavior and development within the confines of the organization, the individual, the group, and the external environmental levels. Emphasis for this course is placed on understanding current organizational theories and organizational design models.

LDR 4334 Resource Allocations in Organizations*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the necessity for leaders in organizations to address planning and resource allocation in organizations. This course emphasizes the process and strategy involved in an organization deciding how to make effective and efficient decisions with their scarce resources.

LDR 4540 Study of Great Leaders*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines cogent leaders, which includes both historical and contemporary. The purpose of this course is to gain insight into the leadership behaviors used by significant leaders during times of crisis and great success. This course will allow the student to engage in many different genre of texts. The students will read and learn about leaders ranging from Ghandi to Winston Churchill, and from George Washington to Bill Gates.

SPB 3013 Advanced Coaching and Leadership
3 Credit Hours
This course is designed to teach the principles, techniques, and strategies of coaching individual and team sports. In addition, an overview of the philosophy and psychology of coaching are examined. Testing for the national coaching certification through The American Sport Education Program (ASEP) is also granted upon successful completion of the course.

SPB 4753 Sport Science I
3 Credit Hours
In this course students will be introduced to a broad array of topics within the field. Through an introductory review of body systems and physiological concepts, students will gain an understanding and appreciation for the processes of response and adaptation which enhance and improve both health and fitness of people who exercise regularly. Career options will be reviewed and explored, giving students an informed exposure to potential areas of future employment.

SPB 4754 Sport Science II
3 Credit Hours
This course establishes a framework for developing a comprehensive exercise program. Using application-based activities students will develop the skills to recognize movement patterns, perform assessments, and correct inefficient movement. After successful completion, students will be able to provide appropriate instruction, leading to better movement mechanics, reduced risk of injury, and higher levels of athletic performance. The student will be introduced to common business practices and ethical scenarios within the field.

SPB 4703 Sports Administration*
3 Credit Hours
This course examines the intricacies in the management and leadership of sports programs. This course focuses on specified administration techniques and theories to provide a foundational basis for the student to be an effective leader and supervise sports programs. The student will gain an understanding of methods of system and program design.

MAR 3613/MKTG 3613 Marketing Research & Strategy*
3 Credit Hours
This course explores research in the context of making marketing decisions. This course assists in developing the skills necessary to make marketing decisions by providing students the ability to interpret market research, consumer research, opinion research, and survey research. Marketing Research & Strategy is an applied and practical course surveying contemporary advanced research methods and statistical techniques applied to business settings. The development and implementation of a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative marketing research project focused on a current marketing problem will be conducted assists in solidifying learning.

MNGT 3322 Leadership and Organization in Sports Management
3 Credit Hours
This course will provide an introduction to sports management. This course will also provide an application for the development of skills necessary to be an effective and efficient leader regarding communication, human resources, motivation, organizational culture, and decision-making in basic organizational structures found in the sport industry.

MNGT 4323 Business Financial Management
3 Credit Hours
Students will study the common principles and differing philosophies of effective financial management in for-profit and nonprofit contexts. This course instructs students on the main financial concepts and tools needed for effective business planning, including transactional analysis and cash flow management.

BSLD 4081/BSLD 4082 Business and Leadership Internship
0 Credit Hours

Internships: Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts degree programs except for Advanced Theological Studies majors are required to participate in a minimum two semester internship program in their specialized fields. The internship program is practical field work in a specialized area of ministry and will be supervised by the student’s academic advisor. A written report of the field experience will be submitted at the end of the second semester and will be graded by the academic advisor. It will be graded with satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

*indicates this course is included in the Statewide Course Numbering System.