LDR 710: Introduction to Ethical Leadership (previously named 'Leadership')
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an overview of theoretical foundations for the program including program expectations and core competencies.

LDR 715: Culture and Leading
This course analyzes leadership theory and practice through various cultural perspectives. Research in leadership from non-Western cultures will be compared/contrasted with Western perspectives.

LDR 720: Ethical Leading
This course focuses on the role of normative ethics in leading. Students will explore the place of virtue, consequentialism, deontology, and justice theory in leadership. LDR 725: Strategic Thought This course builds capabilities for leading across international boundaries and leading in a changing geopolitical arena.

LDR 730: Opportunity Through Crisis
This course explores crisis as not a single event but a series of errors involving humans. Understanding how to lead instead of being reactionary to crisis will be analyzed.

LDR 740: Coaching & Talent Management
Students within this course will develop the capacity to maximize the performance of those whom they work with in organizational settings. Students will learn applied processes grounded in transitional and developmental coaching to maximize individual and organizational performance. Students will also explore the major facets of talent management from developing core competencies to the design and implementation of performance management systems to recruit, assess, and develop talent to drive employee engagement and retention.

LDR 750: Decision-Making and Moral Choice
This course evaluates the moral factors that impact decision-making.

LDR 755: Original and Innovative Disruption
This course focuses on originality and leader disruption in organizations. Personality factors that influence one's tendency to be an originator/disruptor will be explored.

LDR 760: Interpersonal Leadership
Students within this course will develop a capacity for self-reflection, a deeper understanding of self, personal hardiness, a more integrated philosophy of leadership, and a more transcendent perspective on how they and others can maximize individual growth and create more emotionally intelligent and psychologically safe organizations.

LDR 765: Assessment and Evaluation
Students within this course will explore and develop formative, summative, and developmental assessment, and evaluation metrics. Students will learn about, design, and apply key performance indicators (KPI) and collaboration, learning, and adaption (CLA) practices that will advance organizational projects and strategic initiatives. Additionally, students will learn about how to justify and articulate return on investment (ROI) to stakeholder groups and customer bases.

LDR 770: Complex Problems
This course explores questions in human well-being, organizational sustainability, and community development building upon a foundation for addressing challenges associated with our most pressing global problems. Transdisciplinary experts will lead diverse and innovative experiences engaging students in discussion-based inquiry, complex adaptive problem-solving, and the integration of economic, environmental, health, political, and social systems, and perspectives.

LDR 775: Ph.D. Resident Seminar
This course is conducted annually at the main campus in Fulton, Missouri, and is a repeatable course. The resident seminar varies in focus depending on student progress through the program however, the primary focus will be on the dissertation process.

LDR 780: Special Topics
This course explores various aspects of leadership while students work with their dissertation committee to finalize and present their dissertation proposal.

RSH 715: Research Design (formerly "Statistics")
This course focuses on how research is conducted in Leadership Studies. Special focus will be on the rigor and relevance of research, establishing research purpose, and upholding ethical practices.

RSH 720: Quantitative Analysis
This course will provide training in the quantitative skills needed for research and data analysis. It will include a review of basic statistical concepts as well as an introduction to the following statistical methodologies: Correlation, Regression, t-test, ANOVA, Repeated Measures, Non-parametric test, Factor analysis, and Categorical Data (Chi-Square). This course is designed with the dissertation in mind to provide the foundation of knowledge and skill if a student chooses to do a quantitative analysis. Prerequisite: Graduate Level Statistics.

RSH 740: Qualitative Research
This course will introduce students to the concepts and strategies in qualitative research in preparation for conducting independent research. Students will critically understand and develop a qualitative research design with an applied course project. Course topics will include the framing of research questions, identifying data and data sources, and using theory in the design process. Prerequisite: Graduate Level Introductory Research and Introductory Statistics Course.

DIS 780: Dissertation I
This course focuses on dissertation research and preparation for the dissertation defense.

DIS 781: Dissertation II
This course focuses on dissertation research and preparation for the dissertation defense.

DIS 790: Dissertation III
This course focuses on dissertation research and preparation for the dissertation defense.

21 DIS 791: Ph.D. Dissertation Continuation
A continuation of Dissertation III. As needed, this is a repeatable course focusing on dissertation research and preparation for the dissertation defense. Upon recommendation from the dissertation committee, the student may defend their dissertation during this course. Waived if the student has met the program requirements by the end of Dissertation III. Prerequisites: Completion of the Dissertation III course.