Leadership Development Program
What is the Leadership Development Program?
The Leadership Development Program (LDP) provides 10 foundational workshops that are designed to engage and prepare new leaders. Students also have the option to earn a leadership certificate by engaging in a coaching relationship and leadership experience, and completing the foundations workshops and a reflection paper.
What Do Students Gain?
- Students are inspired to see themselves as leaders.
- Students are guided in developing their leadership potential.
- Students are engaged in a self-exploration of their strengths.
- Students are empowered to make a positive difference on campus and in their communities
Leadership Certificate
Leadership is a lifelong journey, and the best leaders are committed to ongoing learning. The 10 Foundation Courses are designed to inspire students to view themselves as leaders and encourage them to commit to the ongoing development of their leadership skills. The leadership certificate recognizes students who practice their new leadership knowledge in a hands-on experience and continually reflect on their actions and areas for growth.
Requirements for the Leadership Certificate:
- Complete all 10 Leadership Development Program Foundation Courses (9 courses through LDP + 1 One-Time Workshop)
- Engage in a self-selected, on-going leadership experience (positional or non-positional) & identify a coach within their chosen leadership experience to meet with at least four times to discuss their learning and application.
- Complete a reflection paper that shows how, through the leadership experience, the student has applied their course learning. Students will be expected to share how they’ve begun using intentional processes to lead with purpose, while being inclusive, ethical, and empowering. Student will receive reflection question prompts during the Introduction to Leadership workshop.
If you have specific questions, please email sle-leadership@ncsu.edu.
Workshop Dates | Register Today!
Registration is required and is only open to current NC State students, including: Masters, Doctoral, international, and non-degree seeking. Leadership Development Program workshops are designed to be taken in order, therefore students are asked to commit to taking one of the scheduled paths:
Fall 2023 Workshop Dates and Info
Workshops are currently planned to take place in-person in 4210 Talley Student Union (Student Involvement Suite). Information on the required One-Time Workshop will be shared during the first session.
The nine foundation workshops towards the leadership certificate are offered on the following dates and times:
| Path Options | Fall 2023 Dates |
| Path 1: Weekly on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. | 9/5, 9/12, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14 plus 1 One-Time Workshop. |
| Path 2: Weekly on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. | 9/6, 9/13, 9/27, 10/4, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15 plus 1 One-Time Workshop. |
If you’re interested in attending One-Time Workshops not associated with the Leadership Development Certificate program, navigate to this section of the page.
Spring 2024 Workshop Dates and Info
Workshops are currently planned to take place in-person in 4210 Talley Student Union (Student Involvement Suite). Information on the required One-Time Workshop will be shared during the first session.
The nine foundation workshops towards the leadership certificate are offered on the following dates and times:
| Path Options | Spring 2024 Dates |
| Path 3: Weekly on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. | 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2 plus 1 One-Time Workshop. |
| Path 4: Weekly on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. | 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/21, 2/28, 3/6, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3 plus 1 One-Time Workshop. |
If you’re interested in attending One-Time Workshops not associated with the Leadership Development Certificate program, navigate to this section of the page.
Workshop Descriptions
1. Introduction to Leadership
Students will learn about LDP requirements and build community with those they will be taking courses with. The course provides an overview of the fundamentals of leadership and engagement, and an introduction to the Relational Leadership Model.
2. Personal Values
Values exist, whether we recognize them or not. Life and leadership can be much easier when we acknowledge our values, and we consistently align our actions with them. In this course, students will learn to understand the importance of values and how they can center their leadership around them.
3. Leading With Your Strengths
The key to personal development is to fully understand how to apply our greatest talents and strengths in our everyday life. To be an effective leader, we must be aware of our own strengths as well as those around us. In this course, students will be able to discover and explore their own top five talent themes from the Gallup Clifton Strengths profile and appreciate the differing talents of others.
4. Social Identity and Leadership
Incorporating components of the Relational Leadership Model, this session will help participants explore their own social identities and privileges, and how privilege and power have implications in the leadership process. Participants will undergo self-assessment and engage in dialogue with one another about identities, cultural competence, inclusion, and inequities. Students will explore how these concepts can be positively applied to their own leadership journey.
5. Ethical Decision Making
When ethical dilemmas arise, a natural tendency is to react too quickly to resolve the issue or pretend we didn’t notice. A necessary and vital component of leadership is the ability to make tough decisions for the greater good of the group by engaging in a process that includes intentional reflection before action. In this course, students will learn how to apply practical tools to handle moral dilemmas when there appears to be no clear right answer.
6. Strategic Communication
In this course, students will learn their own personal communication style, practice adapting to others’ styles, and learn how to use inclusive language. They will learn how to establish a strategic communication plan that will allow their organization to grow stronger internally and clearly communicate their purpose externally.
7. Team Development
In this course, students will learn how to make the most of working with a team. We’ll help you discover how to capitalize on the strengths of your teammates and how to motivate groups around a shared sense of ownership and mission. We’ll explore common phases of team development and how to keep the team moving forward.
8. Understanding and Facilitating Change
In this course, students will learn the skills and practices necessary to adapt to organizational change as well as navigating the complex process to facilitate change within the organization. Students will learn the process of the Change Curve as well as understand the principles of Kotter’s Change Model.
9. Personal Leadership Philosophy
(All foundation classes must be completed prior to taking this workshop.)
In this course, students will culminate their experience by creating their own personal leadership philosophy. A leadership philosophy is the product of discerning your core values, turning those values into operating principles, and integrating those operating principles into a coherent statement of how you intend to lead in life.
10. One-Time Course Elective (in addition to path)
Choose 1 One-Time Workshop outside of your comfort zone or that you are least knowledgeable about. More information will be shared during the first session of the program for specific overview and questions.
One-Time Leadership Workshops
Not quite ready to commit to the certificate program? Our office offers one-time leadership workshops for ongoing leadership development. Click here to see our upcoming workshops.
Contact Us
Connect with our team via email at sle-leadership@ncsu.edu.
Would you like to be contacted when dates are selected for the 2023-24 year? Click here to provide your information.