Main Content
Syllabus
PSYCH 485: Leadership in Work Settings - Review of research and application of behavior principles in the areas of management and supervision.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accommodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
This course will explore the science and practice of leadership, with an emphasis on leadership in organizational settings. In order to evaluate various approaches to the study of leadership, we will study leadership as it is played out in modern organizations, fiction, drama, and in each student’s life. At the end of the course, students are expected to: understand the scientific study of leadership and be able to identify different leadership perspectives; synthesize ideas into meaningful concepts that can be applied in organizational settings; and critically evaluate and develop their own leadership potential and philosophy.
Course Objectives
- Appreciate the complexity of the leadership process
- Be able to critically think about the leadership process
- Learn about psychology oriented leadership theories and approaches
- Learn about the science of leadership; including facts regarding leadership as well as how those facts are obtained
- Learn about the practical implications of the leadership process
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Expectations
Students are expected to have read the assigned readings before completing lesson activities. Some weeks the lesson commentary is closely related to Northouse (2016), while on other weeks it covers different material. Students can read the assigned readings in any order. It is expected that everyone will participate in discussions by utilizing message boards and responding to messages that other students have posted. It is also expected that all members of a group will contribute to group work. Make sure not to fall behind on assignments. See the late policy at the end of this section.
Assignments
Almost every week you will have to complete an assignment. Assignments for the semester include five discussions, one theory essay, five blog entries, two movie reviews, five blog comments, and three policy paper assignments. Each is described in more detail below:
Theory Essay
For the essay you will prepare a formal APA paper (approx. 4-5 typed, double-spaced pages). The content of each paper will focus on explaining the assigned topic supported by evidence from theory and/or fact from both the readings and any relevant outside sources. You are NOT to summarize the assigned chapters. Instead, you will need to address questions and synthesize the ideas into a coherent explanation. Please see essay instructions for more detail. The essay is worth 20 points.
Blog entries
For each blog entry, you will prepare an informal APA cited and referenced entry (approx. 4-5 paragraphs). The content of each blog entry will focus on applying an idea from the course materials to a current event, your life, outside readings, or any other application by linking evidence from leadership theory and facts to the example you have chosen. While these are not formal essays, you will need to write them in a more formal style than you would write to your friends and family. A key component of these blog entries is that you are making connections. For example, you can connect course material to other courses you are studying, other things you are reading or things that are going on in your personal life or in the world at large. These are publicly viewable documents where you want to demonstrate to the world what you are learning during your studies. Treat them as if you were writing a news article for the USA Today or the New York Times. Please see blog entry instructions for more detail. Each of the five blog entries is worth 25 points for a total of 125 points. The blog entries will be distributed throughout the semester. You can choose when to complete them within each portion of the course. See the course schedule for due dates.
Blog comments
For each blog comment (both to your classmates’ original entries or to comments that they have made to your blog entries) you will prepare a well-thought-out informal response (approx. 1-2 paragraphs). The content of each blog comment will focus on asking questions about points that you did not understand in a person’s entry (or getting more information for something that you are interested in), or clarifying those matters for commentors. Like the blog entries, these are publicly viewable documents where you want to demonstrate what you are learning during your studies to the world. Treat them as if you were following up with an expert in the field who was verifying your facts to your story. Please see the blog comment instructions for more detail. Each of the five blog comments is worth 10 points for a total of 50 points. The blog comments must be distributed throughout the semester. You can choose when to complete them within each portion of the course. See the course schedule for due dates.
Movie Reviews
Over the course of the semester, you will also be required to view two movies and analyze them in terms of the leadership demonstrated by the characters. For each movie, you will be required to have a discussion with your assigned movie review group (assigned by me after the first week of the semester) about how the movie relates to a leadership theory. Each person in the group needs to participate appropriately according to deadlines and standards set by the group. Then, one group member will submit the final document at the end of the lesson. See movie review instructions for more details. Each of the two movie reviews is worth 25 points for a total of 50 points. Each group member will complete a confidential peer evaluation with each Movie Review. Based on the input from yourself and your peers, your grade may be adjusted at the instructor's discretion.
Discussions
Almost every week there will be a discussion question for you to respond to. These questions are designed to elicit discussion from members of the class. You will choose five questions over the course of the semester. The final discussion “Putting it all together” is mandatory as one of your five chosen. You are expected to put a good deal of thought into your answers for these questions by using examples from your personal life experiences, knowledge of leadership in society, and by incorporating information from the class (Lessons or readings). You will write approximately 2-3 paragraphs in response to the question. You will also provide a substantive reply to responses that other students have posted. Do not simply agree or disagree with other students, but explain why you agree or disagree. In order to get full credit you must make at least two posts for the discussions that you decide to participate in. Your first post is due by 9 am the fourth day of the lesson (Thursday if the lesson started on a Monday, Saturday if the lesson started on Wednesday) so that your classmates have time to read and respond in a thoughtful conversation. You will be graded on the thoughtfulness of your responses and your effort in getting involved in discussion. Please see discussion board instructions for more detail. Each of the five questions is worth 10 points for a total of 50 points.
Policy Paper
In order to help you apply the concepts we have discussed in class, you will be required to write a formal APA paper about leadership concepts we have discussed. You will choose at least two major theories from the course materials and use them to create and justify an organizational or governmental policy stance. You will need to explain the ideas, gather evidence that supports the conclusions that emerge from the ideas, and then reason why a certain policy should be adopted. Think of yourself as advocating for a certain stance within your organization based on leadership science or as a concerned citizen petitioning your congressperson. The paper should be approximately 9-12 pages. Please see policy paper instructions for more detail. There will two assignments leading up to the paper. You must first get your topic approved by your instructor, which is worth 5 points, and then you must create an outline with a list of references for 15 points. The policy paper itself will be worth 100 points. Together, the paper and related assignment are worth 120 points.
Due Dates
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are due by 9 am Eastern Time the day after the lesson is completed. So for instance, an assignment that addresses the topic in Lesson 3 would be due at 9 am the day Lesson 4 starts. There is one exception to this rule, the discussions. Your first post is due by 9 am on the fourth day of the lesson (Thursday if the lesson started on a Monday, Saturday if the lesson started on Wednesday) so that your classmates have time to read and respond in a thoughtful conversation. The final post is then due by 9 am the day after the lesson is completed.
Late Work Policy
This is a semester-based course with deadlines. Students are expected to complete work by posted deadlines. Please check the course schedule for the times and dates that assignments are due in this course (times are listed in North American Eastern Time). Please contact your instructor to discuss legitimate and unavoidable situations that may cause lateness (such as illness, injury or family emergency). If you know that you are going to miss a deadline, please contact your instructor in advance of that deadline to discuss an extension (or if you are not able to contact the instructor before the deadline, as soon as you are able). Decisions regarding extensions will be made at the discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
You cannot complete late work for the discussions. Should you miss those during the specified time periods for each assignment, you will simply lose those points.
In the absence of a legitimate and unavoidable situation, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and will be penalized up to 10% of the total assignment points for each day of lateness. Unless there is a legitimate and unavoidable situation that causes prolonged lateness, work more than 1 week late will not be accepted.
Grading
The final grade will be determined from your grades on: quizzes, blogs, blog comments, essays, movie reviews, discussions, and your policy paper. Please see specific grading rubrics within each assignment’s instructions for details on how points are achieved.
| Assignment | Points | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Blogs | 125 | ~30% |
| Blog comments | 50 | ~12% |
| Discussions | 50 | ~12% |
| Theory Essay | 20 | ~5% |
| Movie Reviews | 50 | ~12% |
|
Policy paper Topic Outline |
100 5 15 |
~24% ~1% ~4% |
| Total |
415 | 100% |
The final grading scale will be as follows:
| Points | Percentage | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 387-415 | 93.4-100 | A |
| 372-386 | 89.4-93.3 | A- |
| 360-371 | 86.6-89.3 | B+ |
| 347-359 | 83.4-86.5 | B |
| 330-346 | 79.4-83.3 | B- |
| 318-329 | 76.6-79.3 | C+ |
| 288-317 | 69.4-76.5 | C |
| 247-287 | 59.4-69.3 | D |
| 000-246 | 0-59.3 | F |
Course Schedule
- Course length: 16 weeks
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Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
NOTE: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please see "Graduation" on the World Campus Student Policies website.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity—scholarship free of fraud and deception—is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to
- cheating,
- plagiarism,
- fabrication of information or citations,
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others,
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations,
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without, informing the instructor and securing written approval, and
- tampering with the academic work of other students.
Students are responsible for maintaining academic integrity. Violations include cheating on exams or quizzes, talking to others during an exam or quiz, getting help from others on exams or quizzes, having notes accessible during exams or quizzes, looking at another student's answers during an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and dishonesty in any aspect of course participation. Also, you may not share any information from this course (including assignments and papers) with others, nor post such information electronically without the permission of the instructor. Violations of academic integrity including charges of plagiarism) and may result in a grade of F for the course as well as other penalties (see Faculty Senate Policy 49-20).
Heads up – several note-taking/note-sharing companies approach students about “jobs” (including Nittany Notes and those that appear to be connected to PSU). If this is something that you want to do, you MUST talk with your instructor first. Unless you have permission, you risk academic sanctions related to charges of plagiarism and disciplinary sanctions.
How to avoid plagiarism in this course
- Always place copied information within quotation marks, cite the source, and include information about the source in a bibliography.
- Always cite paraphrased information and include information about the source in a bibliography.
- When in doubt, cite and include the source in a bibliography.
Please make sure you submit the correct version of your paper. Whatever you hand in will be considered your final version and will be graded, even if you submit a blank document. Please note, claiming that you submitted the wrong file is NOT an acceptable excuse for work containing plagiarism.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedure requires an instructor to notify a student of suspected dishonesty before filing a charge and recommended sanction with the college. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us.
Additionally, World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
For More Information on Academic Integrity at Penn State
Please see the Academic Integrity Chart for specific college contact information or visit one of the following URLs:
- Penn State Senate Policy on Academic Integrity
- Turnitin (a web-based plagiarism detection and prevention system)
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
Late Work Policy
Assignments submitted within 24 hours after the assignment deadline (i.e., 9:00 AM every Monday) will be accepted, but will receive a 10% point deduction for each day it is late. You cannot complete late work for the discussion forums. Should you miss those during the specified time periods for each assignment, you will simply lose those points.
Penn State Grading Policy
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Computer and Network Security Policy
The purpose of course communication tools is to provide students with a quick method for contacting faculty, teaching assistants, and other students of the class, in regards to course related questions, comments, and concerns. Please note that, according to University policy AD95/AD96, course communication tools may not be used as a method for emailing unauthorized content including but not limited to: solicitation for businesses, advertisements, selling or distributing personal or class materials, transmitting offensive, obscene, or harassing materials, chain letters, news posts, or other forms of “spam” email. Doing so will be considered a violation of course and/or University policies, and might also violate the student code of conduct and the expectations expressed in the Penn State Principles. Resulting penalties might include the suspension or termination of system access, as well as disciplinary or academic sanctions. When appropriate, information about violators will be passed on to University Police Services. If you have any questions in regards to whether or not a particular email you wish to send would violate University policies, please check with your instructor before sending messages to others through the University system.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.