SPCM 220: Communication Leadership

Department of Communication Studies Colorado State University

Instructor: Ryan J Allred
Class hours: MWF, 9:00-10:15am (Face-to-face)
Office Hours: M 10:00-11:30, W 1:00-2:30, (And by Appt.)
Email: ryan.allred@colostate.edu
Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is to provide students with a strong understanding of the
role in which communication plays in leadership contexts. We will explore real world leadership and
evaluate social change through the lens of communication. Students will learn about communication skills
and be able to apply them through leadership.
Throughout this semester, students should be able to:
1. Identify and understand leadership techniques and communication skills pertaining to leadership.
2. Effectively evaluate leaders for their application of techniques and skills.
3. Proficiently teach a specific communication skill for improved leadership.
4. Ethically influence others through effective communication.
Readings: All course readings will come from academic journals and excerpts from the biographies of
well-known leaders throughout history. Students will be responsible for all reading assignments before
class begins and will be expected to contribute to the class discussion through appropriate comments and
questions. Reading may be found on the course website. Students who are prepared will experience
increased learning through class discussions.
Quizzes: Seven weekly quizzes (Weeks 2-8) will assess students understanding of course material and
comprehension of assigned readings.
Research Requirements: Students will individually research a specific leader (contemporary or
historical) of their choice and evaluate the success of their communication styles. Students will be
responsible for a 15 page research paper (minimum of 10 academic sources) in which they apply
academic leadership and communication research to the lives of their chosen leader. Papers should
contribute a specific communication skill that is effectively demonstrated through the life of the leader
and suggest ways for the development of that skill.
Due: Week 8
Class Instruction: Each student will be assigned a day in the semester to teach for 30 minutes. Lessons
should include the specific skill that developed from research papers and the class should be able to
effectively use that skill by the end of the meeting. Before the assigned class time, students will provide
the class with a short synopsis of the leader so that students are familiar with the case study before class.
Students should be prepared to teach the skill, relate the skill to the case study, and help the class develop
the skill through a hands-on activity.
Final: Students will demonstrate knowledge of communication skills through a cumulative final covering
course principles and application through case studies.

Grades:

Weekly Quizzes (25%)

Research Paper (40%)
Class Instruction (20%)
Final (15%)

A
AB+
B
B-

Grading
94-100
C+
90-93
C
87-89
D
84-86
F
80-83

77-79
70-76
60-69
< 60

Academic Integrity: Dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated. Students should submit original work
and accept responsibility for contributions to the class. Plagiarism and other academic misconduct will
result in academic penalties according to CSU policies (http://www.catalog.colostate.edu/) including
failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or removal from the university.
Accommodations: As per university policy, this course will work to assist student with special needs.
The student and instructor with coordinate with the office of Resources for Disabled (RDS) to ensure
appropriate provisions for the successful education of all students.
Tentative Course Schedule:
WEEK #1 Leadership Ethics/What is a Leader?
-

Syllabus
Journal Readings
Readings from the Life of Martin Luther King Jr

WEEK #2 Leadership through Communication

-

Journal Readings
Journal Readings
Readings from the life of Abraham Lincoln

WEEK #3 Notions of Power

-

Journal Readings
Journal Readings
Readings from the life of William Wilberforce

WEEK #4 Applications of Power

-

Journal Readings
Journal Readings
Readings from the life of Mahatma Ghandi

WEEK #5 Communication within Organizations

-

Leadership and Self-Deception Part 1

Leadership and Self-Deception Part 2

Leadership and Self-Deception Part 3

WEEK #6 Political Communication

-

Journal Readings
Journal Readings
Readings from the Life of (Current President)

WEEK #7 Communication in Contemporary Social Movements

-

Journal Readings
Journal Readings
Readings from the life of (Current Activist)

WEEK #8 Teaching Leadership Communication Skills

-

Excerpts from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Excerpts from How to Win Friends and Influence People
Excerpts from Nonviolent Communication: A language of Life
o DUE: Research Paper

WEEK #9 Student Led Discussions

-

Student Assigned Readings

Student Assigned Readings
Student Assigned Readings

WEEK #10 Student Led Discussions

-

Student Assigned Readings

Student Assigned Readings
Student Assigned Readings

WEEK #11 Student Led Discussions

-

Student Assigned Readings

Student Assigned Readings
Student Assigned Readings

WEEK #12 Student Led Discussions

-

Student Assigned Readings

Student Assigned Readings
Student Assigned Readings

WEEK #13 - Finals