LEAD 121. Ministry Skills: Backpacking. (1 Credit)
This course is specially designed to equip Vanguard Gap Year students with tools for ministry and the holistic, spiritual formation of others in a variety of contexts. Students will be fully immersed in developing backpacking skills as a means to explore how physical activity within a Christian community and in an outdoor setting can contribute to holistic formation of self and others. Course objectives will be taught through two trips: a 6-day and a 3-day backpacking trip . Students will experience a formational process in their own life through course readings, community focused backpacking, and critical reflection and discussion. They will also consider how to facilitate similar formational experiences for others. This course is only available to Vanguard Gap Year students.
LEAD 122. Ministry Skills: Rock Climbing. (1 Credit)
This course is specially designed to equip students with tools for ministry and the holistic, spiritual formation of others through rock climbing. Students will be fully immersed in developing rock climbing as a means to explore how physical activity within a Christian community and in an outdoor setting can contribute to holistic formation of self and others. The class will primarily be conducted through facilitated rock climbing at Devil's Lake state park where students will learn the basics of rock climbing, facilitation, and how it can be used as a ministry tool. Students will experience a formational process in their own life through course readings, community-based rock climbing experiences, and critical reflection and discussion. They will also consider how to facilitate similar formational experiences for others.
LEAD 123. Ministry Skills: Horsemanship. (1 Credit)
This course is specially designed to equip students with tools for ministry and the holistic, spiritual formation of others through horsemanship. Students will be fully immersed in developing horsemanship as a means to explore how physical activity within a Christian community and in an outdoor setting can contribute to holistic formation of self and others. The horsemanship course will introduce care for horses, riding, and facilitation of equine experiences. Students will experience a formational process in their own life through course readings, a community based equine experience, and critical reflection and discussion. They will also consider how to facilitate similar formational equine experiences for others.
LEAD 124. Ministry Skills: Cross-country Skiing. (1 Credit)
This course is specially designed to equip students with tools for ministry and the holistic, spiritual formation of others in a variety of contexts. Students will be fully immersed in developing cross-country skiing as a means to explore how physical activity within a Christian community and in an outdoor setting can contribute to holistic formation of self and others. The cross country skiing course will equip students with technical and equipment related skills including gliding, stopping, navigating terrain, waxing and caring for skis, and winter wilderness skills. Students will experience a formational process in their own life through course readings, community based outdoor experiences, and critical reflection and discussion. They will also consider how to facilitate similar formational experiences for others.
LEAD 125. Ministry Skills: Downhill Skiing. (1 Credit)
This course is specially designed to equip students with tools for ministry and the holistic, spiritual formation of others in a variety of contexts. Students will be fully immersed in developing downhill skiing as a means to explore how physical activity within a Christian community and in an outdoor setting can contribute to holistic formation of self and others. The downhill skiing course will help students build on their existing downhill skiing skills and move them through the PSIA skill levels while creating space for them to encounter God in creation and consider what ministry looks like in that context. Through three days of skiing at resorts in Northern Wisconsin, students will experience a formational process in their own life through course readings, community based outdoor experiences, and critical reflection and discussion. They will also consider how to facilitate similar formational experiences for others.
LEAD 201. Foundations of Leadership. (2 Credits)
This course provides a foundation for understanding the concepts and theories of leadership. Students will interact with a biblical/Christian approach to leadership and explore the history of the study of leadership. After studying core leadership theories, students will assess their competence, explore questions of calling, begin to build their own approach to leadership, and develop a growth plan for their time at Wheaton.
LEAD 242. Facilitating Leadership Development. (2 Credits)
This course is an introduction to facilitating group development and training to respond to emergent issues that occur during leadership practice. Students will study and practice skills necessary in facilitating group development amongst teams. They will reflect upon their formation and leadership tendencies while exploring processes for leading and developing others. Students will begin to build a philosophy of leadership.
LEAD 243. Leadership Development Practicum. (2 Credits)
This course seeks to apply the theory and skills of facilitating individual and team development as learned in LEAD 242. This course involves multiple weeks of experiential training prior to leading in the context of summer camp and/or Wheaton Passage. Students will reflect and receive feedback on their effectiveness, formation, and leadership tendencies throughout and after the leadership experience. Prerequisite: LEAD 242.
LEAD 353. Leadership and Human Systems. (4 Credits)
This course is part of the Leadership Certificate offered at HoneyRock. Students will integrate a Christian worldview on leadership with the use of influence in human systems. They will have opportunity to apply their learning with direct leadership experience in developing processes, context and culture to promote team health, organizational effectiveness, and individual team member development. This course is held at HoneyRock each summer and requires application as a team leader (L3 Leader) at HoneyRock or another location approved by the Leadership Certificate faculty.
LEAD 474. Integrative Leadership Seminar. (2 Credits)
A course designed to develop advanced critical thinking and personal philosophy of leadership. Students will integrate their knowledge of leadership and faith while collaboratively identifying and assessing a real world leadership issue. This is a 400 level course that necessitates a major research paper and analysis/integration paper that draws on their multiple leadership experiences and all the courses they have taken up to this point as part of the Leadership Certificate. Offered at HoneyRock.
LEAD 496. Internship. (0 Credits)
Provides practical experience under supervision in a setting appropriate to the student's major interests. Graded pass/fail. Prerequisite: junior standing and a minimum of 16 hours completed in Christian Formation and Ministry including background courses appropriate to the internship setting.
LEAD 503. Cultural Engagement. (2 Credits)
This course introduces students to concepts of culture and social dynamics as they relate to various race, ethnicity, gender and other complex cultural issues. Students will be equipped to work and serve with and among diverse people in various contexts. Cross-listed with OAL 503.
LEAD 512. Leadership and Spiritual Formation. (4 Credits)
This course provides a theological and theoretical overview of the role of leader with people and in organizations with a particular focus on self-leadership. All leadership starts with the health, character and competence of a leader and, as a result, this foundational course focuses on fostering the spiritual maturity and long-term faithfulness of those called to shepherd and lead in the church and in the world. Cross-listed with OAL 512.
LEAD 555. Leadership Concepts & Theories. (2 Credits)
Provides a foundation for understanding macro, mezzo, and micro levels of leadership. Includes a theological grounding of leadership and an overview of key leader and leadership theories and models that span different contexts and cultures. Students will assess their own competency at each level of leadership and then create a development plan for growth.
LEAD 557. Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World. (4 Credits)
This course aims to facilitate the personal leadership development of students by identifying core leadership principles and exploring ways to nurture and adapt leadership in different cultural and organizational contexts in a globalized world. It integrates scholarly works on leadership, scriptural illustrations, and case studies, helping students refine their leadership knowledge, motivations, dispositions, and practices.
LEAD 557L. Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Foundations of Leadership in a Globalized World. Concurrent registration with LEAD 557.
LEAD 558. Personal Leadership and Ethics. (4 Credits)
Examines the biblical, theoretical, and practical foundations for personal leadership. Specific areas of focus will include leader capacity and capability, justice and forgiveness, leadership style, stages of development over the life cycle, spiritual disciplines, personal witness, and building support networks. The course encourages reflection on the ethical considerations of power, conflict management, and personal concerns for integrity and personal health.
LEAD 559. Organizational and Change Leadership. (4 Credits)
This course explores organizational theory, processes, stages and leadership capacities and skills for leading change and cultivating innovation in organizations. Examines biblical and theological perspectives on leadership, organizations and change. Attention will be given to principles of social entrepreneurship, managing uncertainty and conflict, awareness of power dynamics, leader and organization adaptability and leadership aptitude for change and successful transition.
LEAD 559L. Organizational and Change Leadership Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Organizational And Change Leadership. Concurrent registration with LEAD 559.
LEAD 561. Communication for Leadership. (2 Credits)
This course is designed to grow your communications skills in this course as you understand communication principles that enable you to be more persuasive and influential in a variety of leadership settings. You will study recent research advancements in organizational communication studies including investigation of power and influence tactics, upward and downward communication, leader-member exchange, framing, culture, ethics, gender influence, power allocation, social media influence, communication theory, communication roles, and group work.
LEAD 573. Qualitative Research Methods. (2 Credits)
Equips students with the rationale and methodology of qualitative research, with an emphasis on the application of qualitative methods to a specific context through research proposals.
LEAD 611. Foundations of Organizational Structure: Finance, Operations, Governance, and Legal. (2 Credits)
The Foundations of Organizational Structure course is designed to introduce students to the competences necessary to oversee and manage a variety of entities, both for profit and not-for-profit, with emphasis on the way operations, financial integrity, management (governance) and fiscal and legal reporting, compliance, and other regulatory requirements. Students will gain an understanding of the functioning of an organization, responsibility for governance, and obtain a working knowledge of financial statements, balance sheet and income statement and be able to understand and use metrics to evaluate health and sustainability of the organization.
LEAD 611L. Foundations of Organizational Structure: Finance, Operations, Governance, and Legal Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Foundations of Organizational Structure: Finance, Operations, Governance, and Legal. Concurrent registration with LEAD 611.
LEAD 615. Entrepreneurial Marketing. (2 Credits)
Entrepreneurial marketing combines two disciplinary fields of entrepreneurship and marketing. The essence of entrepreneurship is creation of value through innovation. The essence of marketing is communication and delivery of value. As the merger of the two fields, entrepreneurial marketing is about creating, communicating and delivering value (i.e. something worthwhile for others) through innovative means. This class will introduce the concepts, tools and methods of entrepreneurial marketing. This class will also explore biblical principles on marketing communication, and consider how we can honor God and serve others through marketing.
LEAD 615L. Entrepreneurial Marketing Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Entrepreneurial Marketing. Concurrent registration with LEAD 615.
LEAD 621. Introduction to Nonprofits. (2 Credits)
A nonprofit (all called not-for-profit or non-profit) has many moving parts, while balancing the many requirements and reaching the mission and vision. This course guides students through those parts while incorporating best practices, and common pitfalls for those involved in a nonprofit. Whether a new nonprofit or a mature organization, students will understand the various challenges of nonprofits and options to mitigate challenges in the nonprofit sector as a whole. Although not comprehensive, students will be exposed to real-life situations and experiential learning in this introduction to nonprofits.
LEAD 621L. Introduction to Nonprofits Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Introduction to Nonprofits. Concurrent registration with LEAD 621.
LEAD 623. Leading and Managing a Sports Organization. (2 Credits)
This course builds an understanding of sports management in theory and practice. Tools for organizing teams and budgets are given. The student will be equipped to plan, fund, program, direct, evaluate and assess a sports program’s effectiveness. Students will learn how to manage logistics – the who, what, where, when, and how – of running events, including task list development, process management, and development of contingency plans. Strategies and techniques required to run successful sporting, workplace wellness, and fitness and exercise programs will be applied.
LEAD 625. Sports Ethics and Ministry. (2 Credits)
This course builds an understanding of sports ministry by providing an ethical foundation, organizational tools, communication insights, and showing how the Christian can advance evangelism and discipleship through sports. Questions of ethical competition among both youth and adults are addressed. The student will be equipped to plan, fund, program, direct, and assess a sports ministry’s effectiveness with an emphasis on outreach to athletes on school and college campuses, in the local church, and with community organizations. Students will learn how to manage logistics – the who, what, where, when, and how – of running a sports ministry, including task list development, process management, and development of contingency plans.
LEAD 627. Global Entrepreneurship: Launching a Missional Enterprise. (2 Credits)
This course provides tools to help students evaluate and develop new business ideas into effective missional enterprises. It teaches the entrepreneurial process in a cross-cultural context, and the Biblical underpinnings of entrepreneurship. Successful business ventures improve life for customers, provide financially for workers, indirectly support vendors and suppliers and, through taxes, they support local infrastructure and government. On a spiritual level, enterprises teach dependence on God for wisdom, protection, and favor. Healthy companies may also serve missional goals and influence culture positively. But business is risky; losses and bankruptcies are costly. This course aims to improve the success rate of missional enterprises by equipping students with the wisdom of Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs who have gone before them.
LEAD 631. Leading Nonprofit Organizations. (4 Credits)
Leading a nonprofit requires a wise gathering and deploying of resources, including people, processes, and passion. This course prepares students to effectively lead a nonprofit while incorporating a heart for people first, and a decisive mind for process and action second, all undergirded by missional passion. Students will understand the various challenges of each resource and options to mitigate challenges in the nonprofit sector as a whole. Students will be exposed to real-life situations and experiential learning to lead a nonprofit well through people, processes, and with passion.
LEAD 631L. Leading Nonprofit Organizations Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Leading Nonprofit Organizations. Concurrent registration with LEAD 631.
LEAD 633. Character and Leadership. (4 Credits)
This course will emphasize character development through the lens of Christian beliefs and practices of our faith. The topics exploring character will include theology, Christian spiritual formation, ancient virtues, modern personality theories, non-cognitive models, institutional character, processes for character formation, and cultural and individual dangers that impede its development.
LEAD 633L. Character and Leadership Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Character and Leadership. Concurrent registration with LEAD 633.
LEAD 635. Managing for High Impact: Purpose, Planning, Operations, and Execution. (4 Credits)
Every organization is built to flourish. Flourishing, as the economist Anne Bradley explains, is “God’s Kingdom on earth.” It’s us living in God’s abundance “as an image bearer of our creator.” It means becoming everything we are created to be. Since the reality is that not all organizations flourish, how do we create impactful and flourishing organizations? Flourishing organizations have distinct characteristics. They generate material provision (economic capital), build authentic relationships (social capital), and instill a purpose for living (spiritual capital) among their constituency. The High Impact Business model is designed to enable organizations to create economic, social, and spiritual capital, and become a catalyst for flourishing. This course will take you through exercises to learn how to transform ordinary organizations into impactful and flourishing organizations.
LEAD 641. Biblical and Theological Foundations of Leadership. (2 Credits)
Approaching leadership as a unique role exercised by various members of Christ’s body, this course considers the biblical and theological discernment necessary to be a witness to Christ as a Christian leader. The course will focus on the development of Christian thought about leadership, as well as offering frameworks for engaging leadership theories and navigating organizations from a biblical and theological perspective. The overarching goal of the course is to provide a framework for a thoroughly biblical and theological approach to leadership.
LEAD 641L. Biblical & Theological Foundations of Leadership Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Biblical & Theological Foundations of Leadership. Concurrent registration with LEAD 641.
LEAD 643. Theology of Work: Equipping God's People to Flourish in their Calling. (2 Credits)
We spend most of our waking hours at work. What does the Bible have to say about our purpose and role at work and in the marketplace? This class explores biblical themes of God’s intention for humanity as well as the changing nature of work in the history of creation, fall and redemption. The aim is to equip Christ-followers with robust theology of work to flourish and be the salt and light in their place of calling.
LEAD 643L. Theology of Work: Equipping God's People to Flourish in their Calling Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Theology of Work: Equipping God’s People to Flourish in their Calling. Concurrent registration with LEAD 643.
LEAD 645. Mental Health and the Leader. (2 Credits)
Examines the theological, psychological, and practical foundations for effective mental health ministry in the contexts of the local church and the marketplace. Leaders will see perspectives on the history of pastoral care, the nature of persons, and understanding essentials of mental illness. Best practices for people-helping and the vital importance of character formation for leaders will be emphasized throughout.
LEAD 645L. Mental Health and the Leader Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Mental Health and the Leader. Concurrent registration with LEAD 645.
LEAD 647. The Best and Worst of Christian History: Key Insights for Today's Leaders. (2 Credits)
This course offers a sweeping survey of Christian history, with special attention to the first thousand years. It explores the many and varied ways Christian leaders both embodied and betrayed the way of Jesus Christ. While heavily informed by the relevant primary sources and historical best-practice, the course seeks to draw out tentative lessons for contemporary ethics, worship, mission, social engagement, and, especially, Christian leadership.
LEAD 647L. The Best and Worst of Christian History: Key Insights for Today’s Leaders Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to The Best and Worst of Christian History: Key Insights for Today’s Leaders. Concurrent registration with LEAD 647.
LEAD 652. Strategic Management. (2 Credits)
This Strategic Management course is designed to provide a fundamental exploration of organizations in their environments and provide an introduction to the strategic management process with a focus on Strategic Planning and Analysis, Evaluating the Opportunities and Threats Landscape, Establishing Strategic Direction and Leadership, Formulating a Business and Corporate Strategy, and Strategy Implementation and Control.
LEAD 652L. Strategic Management Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Strategic Leadership. Concurrent registration with LEAD 652.
LEAD 655. Leading Effective Organizations: Structural, Financial, and Legal Foundations. (4 Credits)
The Leading Effective Organizations course is designed to introduce students to the competences necessary to oversee and manage a variety of entities, including for profit and not-for-profit organizations, with emphasis on operations, financial integrity, management, governance, fiscal and legal reporting, compliance, and other regulatory requirements. Students will gain an understanding of the functioning of an organization, responsibility for governance, obtain a working knowledge of financial statements, balance sheets and income statements and be able to understand and use metrics to evaluate the health and sustainability of organizations.
LEAD 662. Leading Multicultural Teams. (2 Credits)
Explores concepts and skills needed for socially responsible and ethical leadership of multicultural teams. Topics covered include developing and coaching others cross-culturally, leading virtual teams, creating inclusive teams and organizations, appreciating and capitalizing on cultural diversity, and creative problem solving and conflict resolution.
LEAD 662L. Leading Multicultural Teams Lab. (0 Credits)
Promotes personal and professional growth through weekly professor and student interaction on topics related to Leading Multicultural Teams. Concurrent registration with LEAD 662.
LEAD 692. Special Topics in Leadership. (2 Credits)
Courses to provide opportunity for students to study a concept or topic in greater depth, or to explore a specialized topic and its relationship to leadership. Topics will vary and will be determined by department faculty members.
LEAD 693. Capstone. (2 Credits)
In-depth exploration of current issues in global leadership. Seminar integrates core content from the Global Leadership degree in an integrative comprehensive paper. Graded pass/fail. Pre or Corequisite: LEAD 547, LEAD 557, and LEAD 559.
LEAD 694. Special Topics in Leadership. (4 Credits)
Courses to provide opportunity for students to study a concept or topic in greater depth, or to explore a specialized topic and its relationship to leadership. Topics will vary and will be determined by department faculty members.
LEAD 695. Independent Study. (1 to 4 Credits)
LEAD 696. Internship. (2 or 4 Credits)
LEAD 811. Healthy and Spiritual Leadership. (4 Credits)
This Healthy & Spiritual Leadership course is designed to provide the busy pastor and Christian leader an opportunity to reflect on their work-life balance by examining their ministry and leadership activities. The student will reflect on their mission, calling, as well as their capacity. The context of this self-focus will be their behavior to be their authentic self, pay attention to their soul, and desire to build a sustainable ministry on spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and relational dimensions.
LEAD 831. History of Women in the Church. (4 Credits)
This course will look at the unique contributions women have made to the Church, from the first century through the late-20th century. Such advances usually happened despite official impediments to women’s spiritual leadership and active ministry. The course highlights conflicts women faced as a result of doctrine, traditions, and practices of the Church, as well as issues of ethnic and racial bias.
LEAD 833. Gender Issues in Ministry Leadership. (4 Credits)
This course explores gender issues encountered by women in ministry leadership in the church and in other ministry vocations. It will explore issues specific to women in ministry, as well as issues faced by women in leadership across sectors. The topics will include differing rates of representation, leadership styles, organizational practices, gender bias, and other current issues from a variety of perspectives. Students will engage current scholarship in order to understand their current setting and to gain resources and tools that will benefit their ministry context.