Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Leadership and Management in the Public Sector (Online)

PADM 6600-70I

Course: PADM 6600-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 20587

Course Description

This course explores the differences between leadership and management and how each can apply to the public and nonprofit professional. Students will complete self-assessments and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses as they learn now ethical guidelines, organization theories, human behaviors, and public sector values impact leaders and managers in the public and nonprofit sectors. (Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Graduate students only

Required Texts


Leadership, Theory & Practice, 10th Ed., Peter G. Northouse, California, 2018.  ISBN 9781071957394
Crucial Conversations, 3rd Ed., Joseph Grenny, et al.  ISBN 978-1260474183

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
  1. Identify the current theories associated with leadership and they apply to modern organizations
  2. Evaluate their personal leadership strategy in the context of public service values.
  3. Articulate the ethical challenges facing good public leadership and apply principled decision-making to ethical dilemmas.
  4. Create a personal leadership profile for good and effective governing relationships.

Course Requirements

Quizzes-Identify the current theories
Leadership Profile-Evaluate  & create your personal leadership style
Memos-Articulate the ethical challenges of public leaders
Video Diary-Identify current theories and ethical challenges of public leaders.

Course Outline


This course will be self-directed, which means, that you can move through the course at your own pace.  However, you will have to meet the minimal deadlines for the assignments. Also, your Leadership Profile memo and the Book Report will be submitted at the end of the semester.

  1. Videos & Assessments - 15% of total Grade.  Each chapter of the reading will include a number of videos and activities that will explain the leadership theory and provide some examples of its application.  Please complete all of the required exercises for each chapter.  You will be required to get 100% on each quiz in order to receive credit for that chapter.  However, you can take the quizzes as many times as you would like.
  2. Leadership Profile Memo - 30% of total Grade.  The memo (written in APA 7 memo format) will consist of the students writing about their personal leadership profile.  This profile will incorporate a reflection of what the student has learned from the different leadership theories, applied to their own personality type and characteristic.  The student will identify their personal leadership through analysis of the weekly leadership assessments and readings performed throughout the semester.  The Leadership profile paper should be approximately 6-8 pages and comply with APA formatting.  Please appropriately reference where needed.  
  3. Mini memos - 30% of total grade.  At the beginning of the semester, students will submit a 3-page memo entitled "What Leadership Means to Me."  This memo will give you an opportunity to talk about what makes a good leader and especially in the public administration arena.  The second memo will be an analysis of good or bad leadership.  You will need to make arrangements to view the movie "Lincoln" by Steven Spielberg or "Darkest Hour" by Joe Wright and assess the leadership styles of the main characters.  This summary must be at least 3 pages and address the questions that will be assigned.
  4. Crucial Conversations Video Diary - 15% of total grade.  As part of your engagement with Crucial Conversations, you will complete a series of short video diary entries (maximum 5 minutes each). These video reflections are designed to help you apply the book’s key principles to real or hypothetical situations in the public sector. Each entry should respond to a specific prompt, demonstrating your understanding of the concept, how it connects to your leadership experience, and how you might apply it in practice. The series will conclude with a final video reflection summarizing your key takeaways and how your leadership approach has evolved throughout the course. 
  5. Front Porch discussions - 10% of total grade.  I will be holding two synchronous sessions during the semester. During the sessions, we will be talking and going into more detail regarding the book Crucial Conversations. These discussions will deepen your understanding of this important concept and give you the opportunity to practice some of the mediation elements. These will be held at lunchtime on the dates noted and will be for one hour.  You will need to attend the sessions, or an alternative assignment will be provided.  

Syllabus Disclaimer -
This syllabus is intended to provide a general plan for the course; however, it is not a contract. As the instructor, I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus, including assignments, deadlines, policies, and topics, as necessary to accommodate the dynamic nature of teaching and learning. Any changes will be communicated clearly and in a timely manner.  

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Policy - In order to avoid point reduction, prior arrangements will need to be made between the student and the professor for any assignments to be turned in late.

Attendance Policy

This is an online class

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.