The certificate in leadership studies gives students the opportunity to gain both practical and academic experience in leadership studies that serves as a perfect complement to any major field of study. In addition to introductory and advanced leadership seminars representing disciplines across the curriculum, students will complete courses offered through the Batten Leadership Institute (BLI), where they develop working knowledge of leadership theories and skills, as well as gain experience conducting a leadership project. The program culminates with the year-long leadership capstone course, during which students serve on the BLI advisory board, provide mentoring to beginning leadership studies students, and supervise leadership labs. The program is open to all interested undergraduates and does not require an application process.
20 credits.
It is strongly recommended that students choose an introductory and advanced seminar from two different departments.
BLI 101: Leadership Skills (4)
This course has three components: skills seminar, leadership lab, and communication skills group. The skills seminar seeks to familiarize participants with contemporary leadership theories and styles, as well as refine presentation, conflict management and negotiation skills. The lab provides opportunities for students to practice their skills with senior students in a videotaped setting. Communication skills group provides a small group experience for support and challenge as participants work toward a specific individual goal. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite. Offered both terms.
This course provides an opportunity to use your leadership skills to design and implement a BLI group project - and to experience the life of a team. Through this collaborative project, students will delve into the way teams function, examining elements that create success and foster dysfunction. The class will form a team and process areas that require attention for enhanced team functioning, as members support one another to further their individual and collective leadership development. Students with work to strengthen accountability through pointed sessions of giving and receiving meaningful peer-to-peer feedback. Throughout the project, we will be working to expand your capacity for innovative thinking and in turn more productive and creative approaches to individual and group problem solving. Open to first-year students. Prerequisites: BLI 101 and an introductory leadership seminar. Offered both terms.
BLI 211: Leadership Experience Seminar (4)
This discussion-based course offers a learning environment to help you to either plan or more fully integrate your intercultural, international, and/or leadership experience (focus experience) into your leadership development. We will use your focus experience to reflect upon and analyze the art and practice of leadership, particularly as it fits into a specific cultural context. Interwoven throughout the course is a deep exploration of your core values and the way in which those values manifest in your life, relationships, and worldview. Through discussion and interaction, we will create a space to explore cultural constructs and their implications for leadership and systemic change. Your leadership development is a process and the structure of this class reflects that principle. Please plan to meet with the professor to discuss your focus experience prior to enrolling. Prerequisites: BLI 101 and an introductory leadership seminar. Offered both terms.
BLI 471, 472: Leadership Capstone (2, 2)
Designed for students who have completed all other courses offered by BLI, this course serves as the capstone experience for leadership development. The central focus of the course is to strengthen considerably your ability to both give and receive constructive, meaningful feedback—a goal we will meet through leadership lab and the goals that will grow out of your personal assessment results. Further, you will be challenged to use your relationship with BLI faculty as a template for those relationships you hope to craft with future supervisors. This course requires strong interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, as well as the willingness to integrate these insights and skills for the practice of mentoring and the advancement of the program. To that end, students will receive specialized board governance training and serve in an advisory board capacity, making recommendations to the institute and preparing to participate in meaningful board work upon graduation. As the year unfolds, we will work to create a supportive, resilient group of participants mutually invested in making your final year at Hollins a meaningful one. Prerequisites: BLI 471: BLI 201 and 211; BLI 472: BLI 471. BLI 471 offered Term 1; BLI 472 offered Term 2.
Introductory Leadership Seminars:
Seminars open to all students:
First-Year Seminars:
Advanced Seminars:
