Module 10-1
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Graduate Course Syllabus
OL 676: Women in Leadership
Center: Online
Course Prerequisites
None
Course Description
This course is designed to create a supportive environment where both women and men can learn about
challenges and opportunities facing women in the workplace. Historically, women have had less access to
leadership positions; however, over the past 50 years, they have made tremendous strides to succeed in all levels
of organizations. Topics will include why women matter and reasons for inequities in the workforce, the historical
context of women and leadership, do men and women lead differently, work/life/family balance issues,
professional skill development (networking, mentoring, negotiation, risk-taking), entrepreneurship and executive
leadership, advancing societies by advancing women and strategies and tactics for women to act as change agents.
Course Outcomes
Identify the unique challenges, constraints, and opportunities that women face as they ascend to
leadership positions
Understand women in leadership from a historical perspective
Build professional skills to become more self-confident and effective leaders
Understand and communicate effectively about roles as entrepreneurs and chief executives
Describe how societies advance by advancing women
Identify strategies, tactics, and women as change agents
Present personal/professional experience about difficulties of the past, challenges of the present, and
opportunities for the future
Required Materials
Using your learning resources is critical to your success in this course. Please purchase directly through the SNHU
Online Bookstore rather than any other vendor. Purchasing directly from the bookstore ensures that you will
obtain the correct materials and that the IT Service Desk, your advisor, and the instructor can provide you with
support if you have problems.
Using your learning resources is critical to your success in this course. All required resources can be accessed
through the Shapiro Library or other online sources, and links to these materials are provided in your course.
Technical Requirements
Make sure you’ve met the technical requirements to complete this course.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As indicated in our core values, SNHU is committed to “embrace diversity where we encourage and respect diverse
identities, ideas, and perspectives by honoring difference, amplifying belonging, engaging civilly, and breaking
down barriers to bring our mission to life.”
This may or will be reflected in SNHU’s curriculum as we embrace and practice diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
to provide the most transformative experience for our students, faculty, and staff. Because topics pertaining to DEI
can be sensitive, please remember that embodying and practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion is one of our core
values that you will encounter throughout the academic experience. In higher education, we are expected to think
and engage critically. Use a growth mindset to embrace the diverse readings, course assignments, and experiences
of your peers and faculty.
For more information about DEI at SNHU, please visit our website at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Instructor Availability and Response Time
Your class interaction with the instructor and your classmates will take place on a regular, ongoing basis. Your
instructor will be actively engaged within the course throughout the week. You will normally communicate with
your instructor in the weekly discussions or the General Questions discussion topic so that your questions and the
instructor’s answers benefit the entire class. You should feel free, however, to communicate with your instructor
via SNHU email at any time, particularly when you want to discuss something of a personal or sensitive nature.
Your instructor will generally provide a response within 24 hours. Instructors will post grades and feedback (as
applicable) within seven days of an assignment’s due date, or within seven days of a late submission.
Grade Distribution
Assignment Category Number of
Graded Items
Point Value
per Item Total Points
Discussions 10 30 300
Reflective Journals 8 25 200
Final Project
Milestone 1 1 100 100
Milestone 2 1 100 100
Milestone 3 1 100 100
Milestone 4: Proposal Final Draft 1 200 200
Total Course Points: 1,000
This course may also contain practice activities. The purpose of these non-graded activities is to assist you in
mastering the learning outcomes in the graded activity items listed above.
University Grading System: Graduate
Grade Numerical Equivalent Points
A 93–100 4.00
A˗ 90–92 3.67
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Grade Numerical Equivalent Points
B+ 87–89 3.33
B 83–86 3.00
B˗ 80–82 2.67
C+ 77–79 2.33
C 73–76 2.00
F 0–72 0.00
I Incomplete
IF Incomplete/Failure *
W Withdrawn
* Please refer to the policy page for information on the incomplete grade process.
Grading Guides
Specific activity directions, grading guides, posting requirements, and additional deadlines can be found in the
Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course.
Weekly Assignment Schedule
All reading and assignment information can be found within each module of the course. Assignments and
discussion posts during the first week of each term are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Assignments and
discussion posts for the remainder of the term are due by 11:59 p.m. of the student’s local time zone.
In addition to the textbook readings that are listed, there may be additional required resources within each
module.
Module Topics and Assignments
1 History of Women in Leadership
1-1 Discussion: Historical and Contemporary Women Leaders
1-2 Journal: Women Leaders in Your Organization
Final Project Review
2 Current State of Women in Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities
2-1 Discussion: Family, Career, or Both?
2-2 Journal: Challenges Facing Women Leaders in Your Organization
3 Women Leading in a Man-Dominated Economy
3-1 Discussion: Man-Dominated Economy?
3-2 Journal: Work Versus Family
4 Women’s and Men’s Communication Styles
4-1 Discussion: Communication Styles
4-2 Journal: Communication-Related Challenges
4-3 Final Project Milestone 1: Contemporary Analysis
5 Women’s and Men’s Leadership and Management Styles
5-1 Discussion: Leadership Styles of Women and Men
5-2 Journal: Women’s and Men’s Leadership Styles in Your Organization
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Module Topics and Assignments
6 Effective Women Leaders: What Makes Them Effective?
6-1 Discussion: Characteristics of Effective Women Leaders
6-2 Journal: Effective Women Leaders
7 Organizational Design and Culture With Women in Mind
7-1 Discussion: Cultural and Design Elements
7-2 Journal: Design and Cultural Elements in My Organization
8 Power, Negotiation, and Risk-Taking
8-1 Discussion: Power, Negotiation, and Risk-Taking
8-2 Final Project Milestone 2: Proposal First Draft
9 All-Women Organizations: Will This Work?
9-1 Discussion: Women-Dominated Organizations and Their Future
9-2 Final Project Milestone 3: Application
10 Women as Change Agents
10-1 Discussion: Change Agents
10-2 Journal: Change Agents in My Organization
10-3 Final Project Milestone 4: Proposal Final Draft
Course Participation
Course participation is required within the first week of the term for all online courses. Participation in this context
is defined as completing one graded assignment during the first week of the course. Otherwise, students will be
administratively removed for nonparticipation. Students who do not participate during the first week may forfeit
their rights to be reinstated into the course. Students who stop attending a course after the first week and who do
not officially withdraw will receive a grade calculated based on all submitted and missed graded assignments for
the course. Missed assignments will earn a grade of zero. See the course withdrawal policy and the full attendance
policy for further information.
Late Assignments
Students who need extra time may submit assignments (excluding discussion board postings) up to one week after
the assignment due date. Discussion board submissions will not be accepted for credit after the deadline except in
extenuating circumstances.
A penalty of 10 percent of the total value of the assignment will be applied to the grade achieved on the
late assignment regardless of the day of the week on which the work is submitted.
Students who submit assignments more than one week late will receive a grade of zero on the assignment
unless they have made prior arrangements with the instructor.
Students must submit all assignments no later than 11:59 p.m. (in their own time zone) on the last day of the term.
No assignments are accepted after the last day of the term unless an incomplete has been submitted. See the
incomplete grades policy.
There may be times an instructor makes an exception to the late assignment policy. Instructors may accept late
work, including discussion board posts, with or without prior arrangement.
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Exceptions to the late policy on these grounds are left to the instructor’s discretion, including whether the
late penalty is applied or waived. Students should not assume that they will be allowed to submit
assignments after the due dates.
If an instructor finds that they are unable to determine whether an exception to the late policy would be
appropriate without documentation, the collection and review of student documentation should be
handled through the Dispute Resolution team in order to protect the student’s privacy. In these cases,
students should file a Student Concern Dispute form to have the circumstances reviewed.
If a student is experiencing (or knows they will experience) a circumstance, including pregnancy, that is protected
under the Americans with Disabilities Act or Title IX, they are encouraged to contact the Online Accessibility Center
(OAC) as soon as possible to explore what academic accommodations might be offered. Instructors must honor all
deadlines established through the OAC.
Student Handbook
Review the student handbook.
ADA/504 Compliance Statement
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is dedicated to providing equal access to individuals with disabilities in
accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.
SNHU prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of disability and takes action to prevent such discrimination by
providing reasonable accommodations to eligible individuals with disabilities. The university has adopted the
ADA/504 Grievances Policy (version 1.2 effective October 16, 2017), providing for prompt and equitable resolution
of complaints regarding any action prohibited by Section 504 or the ADA.
For further information on accessibility support and services, visit the Disability and Accessibility Services webpage.
Academic Integrity Policy
Southern New Hampshire University requires all students to adhere to high standards of integrity in their academic
work. Activities such as plagiarism and cheating are not condoned by the university. Review the full academic
integrity policy.
Copyright Policy
Southern New Hampshire University abides by the provisions of United States Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United
States Code). Any person who infringes the copyright law is liable. Review the full copyright policy.
Withdrawal Policy
Review the full withdrawal policy.
Southern New Hampshire University Policies
More information about SNHU policies can be found on the policy page.