For students that recognize the importance and power of being a good leader, the Department of Recreation and Park Administration has designed an academic minor for students to pursue a career and lifetime enhancing leadership opportunities. In preparation for leadership roles in various profit and non-profit organizations including recreation, business, government, and education. Students complete courses which will cover academic and practical skills in many areas including problem solving, negotiating, leading, motivating and empowering others, team building, effective communication, etc. The following represents the various courses that can bring about these opportunities:

The 15-credit undergraduate leadership minor in the Department of Recreation and Park Administration is an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional program in which the student will explore and experience multiple frameworks of leadership. The minor prepares you for real-life leadership experiences, both on campus and in the large, global community. Leadership development will relate to student aspirations as they transition from the on-campus extracurricular services to professions, communities, and public and private organizations. By completing the minor, students will acquire skills and abilities to serve as competent leaders as they transition to life after graduation from Indiana University.

In preparation for leadership roles in various organizational settings including recreation, business, government, education and non-profit organizations, students complete courses which will cover skills in many areas including problem solving, negotiating, leading, motivating and empowering others, team building and effective communication.

Increasingly, agencies and organizations are recognizing the value of leadership education and the need for leader development programs to prepare tomorrow’s leaders for new challenges. This comprehensive minor of lectures, guest speakers, and practical experience provides you with:

• Opportunities to interact with professionals and leaders from campus and the community.

• Preparation for real-life leadership experiences.

• Leadership skills and understanding that will be essential in your future career and community citizenship.

• Experience, both academic and out-of-classroom.

• Exposure to a variety of campus leaders and student organizations.

• Explore life leadership skills and topics such as conflict resolution, critical thinking, service-learning, ethics, organizational dynamics, goal setting, consensus building, decision making, and time and stress management.

General Information

The undergraduate Leadership Minor consists of a minimum of 15 credit hours. All courses for the minor must be taken for a grade. To declare this minor, you must have approval from either Mr. Dan Sharpless, RPA Undergraduate Academic Advising Coordinator or Dr. Craig Ross, Option Coordinator. For more information about the Leadership Minor or to obtain an application form, please stop by the Department of Recreation and Park Administration in HPER 133.

Interested in completing an application form for the Leadership minor?  Click here!

Course Requirements

This course allows students to develop their self leadership skills through student participation in recreational/athletic/club activities sponsored and organized by campus organizations. Through such opportunities, students learn how their leadership capacity impacts their performance, as well as others with whom they come in contact. The key to this experience is the student’s recognition and willingness to couple leisure activities to a learning model that will enhance the individual’s awareness and appreciation of self leadership skills.

This course is designed to allow students to experience and learn leadership skills through their affiliation to a campus organization. The student’s organization advisor will monitor the tasks and responsibilities, assess progress, and evaluate the leadership strengths and weaknesses of each student. Throughout the course, students will learn to recognize leadership components and its unique skills that effectively impact desired goals. The key to this experience is the students’ willingness to learn and take responsibility for their assigned task and make a difference by applying leadership skills in their organization’s productivity.

This course is designed to allow students to learn about organizational leadership in the classroom. A theory based course that is designed to create hands-on situations or experiences with a student organization creating opportunities to observe and experience leadership skills.

This course is an analysis of recreation program activities, objectives, determinants, and group dynamics involved in the leadership process. Assessment and evaluation of programs and leadership techniques are studied and incorporated into student projects and assignments.

HPER R317-Seminar in Recreation and Parks: Leadership and Your Future (3 cr)

HPER R100-Recreation Leadership Skills: Coaches Leadership Development (1 cr)

A301-Air Force Leadership Studies (3 cr)

G102-Basic Leadership  (2 cr)

Note: The average of all courses taken for the Leadership Minor must be at least a 2.0 GPA, No Pass/Fail.