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Last fall, University of North Georgia's (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û) Department of Psychology and Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) partnered to expand the reach and impact of the university's leadership minor.

Revised in 2015, the minor offers a three track system that allows students to tailor their studies in either organizational leadership, leadership in society or global leadership.

"The organizational leadership tracks focuses on organizational structure, success and management. The leadership in society track takes students down the path of communication, sociology and leadership principles. The global leadership track provides students with leadership principles related to foreign affairs and global issues," explained Dr. Bryan Dawson, associate professor and leadership advisor at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û.

Today, there are more than 55 students with leadership as a declared minor at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û. The multidisciplinary program attracts students from art, criminal justice, psychology, computer science, international affairs, and political science, among others.

In the MSA, an African American Male Initiative (AAMI) cohort version of the core adaptive leadership course was created to help promote leadership education and retention among black male students at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û. The course counts towards the leadership minor and is currently available on the Gainesville Campus.

"With the $10,000 AAMI grant awarded to Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û by the University System of Georgia, the hope is to expand the initiative past our Gainesville Campus to include our Dahlonega Campus," said Robert Robinson, director of Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û’s MSA.

The minor in leadership is designed to equip students with an integrated understanding of leadership theory and practice. The minor focuses on training the best leaders through teaching, research and service in order to acquire the skills necessary to generate, disseminate, integrate, and apply knowledge in practical settings while engaging in collaborative activities across departments at the Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û.

Each student must successfully complete the Adaptive Leadership and the Advanced Studies in Leadership courses in order to pursue the minor. In addition, students are required to complete three elective courses in one of the three track. 

Students are also expected to engage in extracurricular activities and external programs that provide them with opportunities to exercise leadership. This component of the program is designed to broaden students' understanding of leadership and engage them as citizens. Service learning participation is highly recommended for all leadership minors.

For more information or to speak with a leadership advisor, visit the Department of Psychological Science.