Course Proposal Cover Form

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

GENERAL STUDIES PROGRAM COURSE PROPOSAL COVER FORM

Courses submitted to the GSC between 2/1 and 4/30 if approved, will be effective the following Spring.

Courses submitted between 5/1 and 1/31 if approved, will be effective the following Fall.

(SUBMISSION VIA ADOBE.PDF FILES IS PREFERRED)

DATE

1. ACADEMIC UNIT: College Of Public Programs

2. COURSE PROPOSED: PAF 411 Leadership and change

(prefix ) (number) (title)

3. CONTACT PERSON: Name: Afsaneh Navahandi Phone: (602)496-0404

Mail Code: 0685 E-Mail:

4. ELIGIBILITY: New courses must be approved by the Tempe Campus Curriculum Subcommittee and must have a regular course number. For the rules governing approval of omnibus courses, contact the General Studies Program Office at 965–0739.

5. AREA(S) PROPOSED COURSE WILL SERVE. A single course may be proposed for more than one core or awareness area. A course may satisfy a core area requirement and more than one awareness area requirements concurrently, but may not satisfy requirements in two core areas simultaneously, even if approved for those areas. With departmental consent, an approved General Studies course may be counted toward both the General Studies requirement and the major program of study. (Please submit one designation per proposal)

Core Areas Awareness Areas

Literacy and Critical Inquiry–L Global Awareness–G

Mathematical Studies–MA CS Historical Awareness–H

Humanities, Fine Arts and Design–HU Cultural Diversity in the United States–C

Social and Behavioral Sciences–SB

Natural Sciences–SQ SG

6. DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED.

(1) Course Description

(2) Course Syllabus

(3) Criteria Checklist for the area

(4) Table of Contents from the textbook used, if available

7. In the space provided below (or on a separate sheet), please also provide a description of how the course meets the specific criteria in the area for which the course is being proposed.

CROSS-LISTED COURSES: No Yes; Please identify courses:

Is this amultisection course?: No Yes; Is it governed by a common syllabus?

______

Chair/Director (Print or Type) Chair/Director (Signature)

Date:

Arizona State University Criteria Checklist for

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES [SB]

Rationale and Objectives

The importance of the social and behavioral sciences is evident in both the increasing number of scientific inquiries into human behavior and the amount of attention paid to those inquiries. In both private and public sectors people rely on social scientific findings to assess the social consequences of large-scale economic, technological, scientific, and cultural changes.

Social scientists' observations about human behavior and their unique perspectives on human events make an important contribution to civic dialogue. Today, those insights are particularly crucial due to the growing economic and political interdependence among nations.

Courses proposed for General Studies designation in the Social and Behavioral Sciences area must demonstrate emphases on: (1) social scientific theories and principles, (2) the methods used to acquire knowledge about cultural or social events and processes, and (3) the impact of social scientific understanding on the world.

Proposer: Please complete the following section and attach appropriate documentation.

ASU--[SB] Criteria /
A Social and Behavioral Science [SB] course should meet all of the following criteria. If not, a rationale for exclusion should be provided.
YES / NO / Identify Documentation Submitted
1. Course is designed to advance basic understanding and
knowledge about human interaction. / See attached
2. Course content emphasizes the study of social behavior such
as that found in: / See attached
· anthropology
· economics
· cultural Geography
· history / Psychology
Political science
Sociology
3. Course emphasizes:
a. the distinct knowledge base of the social and behavioral
sciences (e.g., sociological anthropological).
OR
b. the distinct methods of inquiry of the social and behavioral sciences (e.g., ethnography, historical
analysis). / See attached
4. Course illustrates use of social and behavioral science
perspectives and data. / See attached
The following types of courses are excluded from the [SB] area even though they might give some consideration to social and behavioral science concerns:
· Courses with primarily fine arts, humanities, literary, or
philosophical content.
· Courses with primarily natural or physical science content.
· Courses with predominantly applied orientation for professional skills or training purposes.
· Courses emphasizing primarily oral, quantitative, or written skills.
Course Prefix / Number / Title / Designation
PAF / 411 / Leading change / SB

Explain in detail which student activities correspond to the specific designation criteria.

Please use the following organizer to explain how the criteria are being met.

Criteria (from checksheet) / How course meets spirit
(contextualize specific examples in next column) / Please provide detailed evidence of how course meets criteria (i.e., where in syllabus)
See attached

Leadership and change - PAF 411

The field of leadership is cross-disciplinary relying on theories and methods primarily from psychology, sociology, political science, and management. It is the study of how one person - the leader, helps and guides a group of others – the followers, an organization, or an institution (or even country), set goals and achieve them. It therefore involves understanding individuals, groups, and organizations and human interaction, all topics that are at the heart of social sciences. There are no leaders without followers. By nature, the topic of leadership is therefore a social science most often studied in social psychology and political science. The methods that have been typically used to explore leadership, such as lab experiments, surveys, naturalistic observation, interviews, and case studies, are also based on various social sciences.

The School of Public Affairs is requesting SB designation for two courses that are offered in a sequence, PAF 410 and PAF 411. This document addresses PAF 411.

Attached materials include a sample course syllabus, and the copy of the Table of Contents of the required textbooks, “The Leadership Challenge” (LC), and the “Heart of Change” (HC).

Specific course topics and activities that address the criteria are presented in the following pages.

Course prefix / Number / Title / Designation
PAF / 411 / Leading change / SB

Explain in detail which student activities correspond to the specific designation criteria.

Criteria (from checklist) / How course meets spirit / Detailed evidence and examples
SB – Criteria 1: Advance basic understanding and knowledge about human interaction / As indicated by the course description, PAF 411 is designed to provide students with an understanding of the key role of leadership in bringing about change at various levels. It is designed to advance the understanding of the change process and the role of and impact on individuals, groups, and organizations. Change is first and foremost about human interaction and human behavior. / The PAF 411 course description states: A theoretical and practical overview of the leader’s role in bringing about significant organizational and societal change, with special attention to establishing a vision, mobilizing and empowering individuals and groups, and assessing outcomes of the change process in a variety of settings. (see attached syllabus, p. 1)
SB – Criteria 2: Emphasize the study of social behavior such as that found in psychology, political science, and sociology / PAF 411 focuses on understanding the change process and the particular role leaders play in that process. It studies the interaction between leaders and followers within the context of small groups and organizations.
. / For example, the course includes a study of personality as it may support or inhibit acceptance of change (psychology), the role of personality and traits (psychology), the importance of group processes (social psychology), and the change process (psychology, political science, sociology; (see page 5 of attached syllabus):
· True colors inventory (week 2)
· Multiple intelligence (week 4)
· Group dynamics (week 5)
· Change process (week 6)
· Transformational leadership (week 11 and 12)
Additionally, an examination of the table of contents of the required text, Leadership Challenge (copy attached) indicates that the topics covered pertain to social behavior. For example in section I chapter 1, the focus is on leadership as a relationship between leaders and follower; section III and VI are about motivating followers; and section VI is further based on rewards that encourage learning.
Because of the nature of leadership and change as a social processes, the topic of leading change is inherently a study of social behavior
SB – Criteria 3a: Emphasize distinct knowledge based of social and behavioral sciences / PAF 411 relies on knowledge base developed in social psychology and other social sciences. Leadership traits, various leadership styles that are supportive of change, use of group dynamics, the change process itself, as well the course assignments are based on social and behavioral science theories. / The underlying change model used in the course is one developed by Kurt Lewin. Its practical application to managing change in organizations is the basis for the text Heart of Change. The concepts of unfreezing, implementation and refreezing are evident in the steps presented in the chapters of the book (see Heart of change Table of Contents, attached)
The assignment of Leadership Articles Mini-Teach (syllabus, p. 4) relies on students drawing their information from various social and behavioral science field and the list of Suggested Readings (syllabus, pp. 1-2) is strongly dominated by social and behavioral topics and sources (e.g., Gerth, Mills, and Wright’s edited book; Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership; and articles from Psychology Bulletin, and Journal of Psychology)
The structure of the book “The Leadership Challenge’ (table of contents attached) is based on social psychological concepts of learning and practice with most sections ending in a “Reflection and Action” component to help readers practice what they learn.
SB – Criteria 4: Illustrate use of social and behavioral science perspective and data / PAF 411 reviews various theories of leadership and change from a social and behavioral perspective considering the impact on individuals, groups, and organizations. / For example the concept of transformational leadership considers the role of charisma, relationship with followers, and challenging followers as essential elements of leading change. The “Leader story” assignment (see attached syllabus, p. 4) considers the importance of communication about self as the source of motivation for change. Similarly the “Leadership article Mini-teach” assignment (see syllabus, p. 4) requires students to explore the academic literature on leadership, almost entirely found in social science journals.

PAF 411 – Syllabus, p. 1

Leadership and Change Sample Syllabus

PAF 411

Course goal and description

The course provides a theoretical and practical overview of the leader’s role in bringing about significant organizational and societal change, with special attention to establishing a vision, mobilizing and empowering individuals and groups, and assessing outcomes of the change process in a variety of settings.

Leadership is a multidisciplinary discipline that relies on several social sciences as its base. In dynamic modern public and private organizations that rely more on the flow of information, flatter structures, and knowledge workers, leadership often involves creating and institutionalizing organizational change, acting with integrity, developing relationships, and working through groups. It is not only about the individual but also about getting others to take action and solve complex problems.

This course will cover leadership theory and skills as they relate to change in a variety of settings, including small groups through large organizations. Through interactive discussion, study of existing theories, case studies, experiential exercises, and evaluating leadership as portrayed in American culture (movies, music, and print media) the course will further your ability to exercise leadership and implement change. Students will have an opportunity to analyze change through small group, organizational, and social lenses.

Required Texts

Kouzes, J.M. & Posner, B.Z. (2007). The Leadership Challenge. 4th Ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. (earlier editions are fine)

Kotter, J.P. & Cohen, D.S. (2002). The Heart of Change. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.