Organizational Leadership
- Online and asynchronous
- This course will require between 7-10 hours of work per week
- Workload Rating: Heavy
Required Textbook
Northouse, P. G. (2025). Leadership: Theory and practice (10th ed.). Sage.
This book is available to purchase from:
- amazon.ca (Kindle & paperback)
- the ebook is available to rent or purchase on the Sage website and on VitalSource
The publisher, Sage, hosts an open-access Companion Website for the 9th edition that may be helpful even with the newer 10th edition used in the course.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of theories of leadership and an evolution of the practices of leadership within organizations in general, and educational institutions in particular. Participants will examine the social and cultural construction of leadership, will gain an understanding of the range of roles and responsibilities that a leader has within an organization, will apply effectively selected leadership skills and processes, and will develop conceptual frameworks to understand behaviours within the organization.
Learning Outcomes
The primary learning outcomes for GDE/PME 803 are to:
- Critically examine the social construction of a leader and the concept of leadership as it has evolved historically in Western civilization
- Understand the range of roles and responsibilities that a leader can and does have within an organization
- Understand and apply effectively selected leadership skills and processes
- Gain an understanding of the different cultures’ views of leading and leadership
- Develop conceptual leadership frameworks in order to understand behaviours within the organization
Assessments
Leader as Reader: Executive Book Summary
After Module 3 (35%)
Student Engagement and Completion of Mid-Course Self Assessment
After Module 3 (15%)
Leadership Case Write-Up and Analysis
After Module 6 (35%)
Student Engagement and Completion of End of Course Self Assessment
After Module 6 (15%)
How does this course support learners outside K-12 teaching contexts?
The leadership theories and approaches explored in this course apply across organizations. Course readings, learning activities, and assignments can be applied to a diverse range of professional contexts.
Each student’s professional practice and goals are unique. We highly encourage students to reach out to their course instructors at the start of the term to discuss the relevance and application of course learning and assignments to their own learning goals and context of practice.