Servant Leadership

The undergraduate Servant Leadership Program at CSU is an interdisciplinary academic program focused on developing future leaders committed to practicing servant leadership. The Program is a collaborative partnership between CSU and the broader Columbus, Georgia community. Students in the Servant Leadership Program have opportunities to develop their leadership skills through innovative academic courses, hands-on learning experiences outside the classroom, and meaningful service work. 

First-year CSU students are selected to be members of the undergraduate Servant Leadership Program and are called Stipend Fellows. Being a Stipend Fellow includes a $1,250 stipend for each Fall and Spring semester for up to eight semesters, provided students successfully complete the Program’s requirements.

The undergraduate Servant Leadership Program also offers Non-Stipend Fellow positions; these enable all CSU students interested in developing their personal and professional leadership skills to enjoy many of the same benefits as Stipend Fellows, such as taking leadership courses, participating in community service, and accessing other opportunities exclusive to students in the Program. As stipends become available, Non-Stipend Fellows are eligible and encouraged to apply for those open Stipend positions.

Academic Classes

The undergraduate Servant Leadership Program incorporates nine academic seminars into its comprehensive approach to learning the theory and practice of servant leadership. These seminars begin with an introduction to servant leadership and other popular leadership theories and build on the basic leadership concepts each semester, adding communication skills, “real-world” examples through film and biography, and the application of principles through teaching and project-based learning.

LEAD 1705  Introduction to Servant Leadership  (2-0-2)  
Open to the general student population, incoming freshmen in the program, and incoming associates, this seminar enables students to define leadership and to understand the concept of Servant Leadership. Students begin to examine their own beliefs about leaders, leadership, and themselves. They are introduced to the current research literature on leadership and become acquainted with various leadership theories. Students will develop logical, informed, evidence based solutions to real-world problems.
LEAD 1706  The Individual as Servant Leader  (0-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705 with a minimum grade of C
For students in the Servant Leadership Program who want to understand themselves in the context of Servant Leadership. This course will enable students to understand critical developmental issues for college students and develop their own personal vision through the lens of Servant Leadership. Students will examine their definitions of moral leadership and focus on applying universal human values in practical contexts.
LEAD 2705  The Language of Leadership  (1-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705
This course is for students in the Servant Leadership Program who want to explore the role of communication in leadership. Those interested in developing skills for authentic communication, in bridging the gap between style and substance, will find this course useful.
LEAD 2706  The Servant Leader and Power  (1-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705
This course will enable students in the Servant Leadership Program to examine the meanings of coercion, manipulation, and persuasion. Students study sources of credibility, logical argument, and emotional appeals. Ethical application of the principles of persuasion is the focus as the student develops his or her own unique power to persuade.
LEAD 3707  Servant Leaders in Films and Movies  (1-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705 with a minimum grade of C
This course is for students in the Servant Leadership Program who want to explore lessons in leadership through the timeless art of storytelling--stories told in movies and films. Students practice purposeful viewing of films, discuss principles of servant leadership, and write papers that analyze the leadership lessons.
LEAD 3708  Leadership: A Biographical Approach  (1-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705 with a minimum grade of C
This course is for students in the Servant Leadership Program who want to explore lessons in leadership through the lives of servant leaders. Students read biographies, discuss the principles of servant leadership, and make presentations about the lives of servant leaders.
LEAD 4709  Servant Leader as Teaching Assistant  (1-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705 with a minimum grade of C
Seniors in the Servant Leadership Program serve as teaching assistants for Servant Leadership seminars. Students serve as peer mentors, discussion group leaders, and overseers of the community service component of the seminars.
LEAD 4715  Servant Leaders in Project-Based Learning  (1-0-1)  
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 1705 with a minimum grade of C
Seniors in the Servant Leadership Program identify and carry out selected projects designed to benefit the campus and/or community. Students write a proposal, develop and execute a plan, and make a final report and presentation.
Repeatability: Repeatable for credit up to 1 times or 2 hours.
LEAD 5555G  Special Topics in Servant Leadership  (3-0-3)  
This course provides students with the opportunity to pursue a deeper understanding of special topics related to the subject of servant leadership. The course may be taken twice for credit when topics differ.
Repeatability: Repeatable for credit up to 1 times or 6 hours.
LEAD 5555U  Special Topics in Servant Leadership  (3-0-3)  
This course provides students with the opportunity to pursue a deeper understanding of special topics related to the subject of servant leadership. The course may be taken twice for credit when topics differ.
Repeatability: Repeatable for credit up to 1 times or 6 hours.