The Novak Leadership Institute offers a variety of courses designed to inspire and equip the world’s future leaders in their professional careers. Novak Leadership courses leverage principles of strategic communication to create an innovative leadership education curriculum.

Students gain practical skills and experience in the areas of personal leadership development, communication, organizational leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation, and service.

For First-Year Students

Chancellor’s Leadership Class (1 credit hour)

Since 1980, the Chancellor’s Leadership Class has helped first-year students get a head start on their Mizzou leadership journey. The 1-credit-hour course offers practical and proven strategies to help you become a more effective communicator, develop your people skills, enhance your self-confidence, and gain strategies for leading yourself and others.

Instructor: Margaret Duffy, Ph.D.

Credits: 1 credit hour

Meets: Various times/days

Eligibility: Open to first-year Mizzou students (freshmen and transfers) by application only (learn more)

Honors Course

GN_HON 1050H – Cut the Crap: Reality-Based Leadership (1 credit hour)

Successful people know they need to see the world and their organizations the way they are — not the way they wish they were. Much of what we see, hear, (and maybe even say) is crap. This course is about why it’s important to recognize the BS, falsehoods, and poor reasoning that surround us. You’ll learn about the fallacies and psychological traps that mislead us about the nature of our reality, and you’ll get tools to help you make better decisions in school, life, and work.

Instructor: Margaret Duffy, Ph.D.

Credits: 1 credit hour

Meets: Tuesdays 11–11:50 a.m.

Eligibility: Freshman-sophomore seminar. Prerequisite: Honors eligibility required.

For Upper-Level Students

These courses are open to all Mizzou juniors, seniors, and graduate students. All courses except J4242/7242 – Strategic Communication Leadership require a permission number for non-Journalism majors. To get a permission number, email Catey Terry, M.A.

J4146/7146 – Leading with Purpose (1 credit hour)

In this 1-credit-hour course taught by Novak Leadership Institute Executive Director Dr. Margaret Duffy and MU Provost Dr. Latha Ramchand, students explore readings and discussions of contemporary leadership literature in a book club format. This course will help you critically evaluate and apply the latest ideas in leadership alongside driven peers with insight from experienced University administrators and educators.

Instructors: Dr. Margaret Duffy & Dr. Latha Ramchand

Credits: 1 credit hour 

Meets: Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.

Fall 2022 Class Session Dates: October 19 – December 7, 2022

Spring 2023 Class Session Dates: March 1 – April 26, 2023

J4242/7242 – Strategic Communication Leadership (3 credit hour)

In this course students develop individual leadership skills and the mindset of helping others achieve their goals. Students work in leadership development teams throughout the semester to learn how to lead oneself and others through hands-on projects, exercises and discussions. Students apply David Novak’s industry-tested leadership program to their own personal goals and learn how “thinking like a marketer” can make you a more effective leader.

Note: Course is writing-intensive (WI) and satisfies curricular WI requirement.

Instructor: Brandon Butcher, M.A.

Credits: 3 credit hours

Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays  3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

J4246/7246 – Entrepreneurial Leadership & Innovation (3 credit hour)

This course introduces students to an entrepreneurial approach to solving problems within their organizations and communities using the framework of human-centered design and the principles of “Taking People With You.” Students learn the process of design thinking and work in teams to develop a startup venture. At the end of the semester students present to a panel of industry professionals and entrepreneurs. This hands-on project is supplemented by online discussions, films, readings and guest lectures from industry professionals and entrepreneurs. Students will leave this course with an entrepreneurial mindset and be better prepared to work for a startup or launch their own, pursue freelance opportunities, or lead innovation efforts within existing organizations.

Note: Course is writing-intensive (WI) and satisfies curricular WI requirement.

Instructor: Brandon Butcher, M.A.

Credits: 3 credit hours

Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Only offered in spring semesters

J4244/7244 – Organizational Culture & Leadership (3 credit hour)

In this course students study effective approaches for leading in organizations and developing organizational culture through case studies, guest speakers, and experiential learning activities. They participate in leadership development teams throughout the semester culminating in an ethnography research project involving observation and interviews inside the walls of a real-world local business or organization.

Note: Course is writing-intensive (WI) and satisfies curricular WI requirement.

Instructor: Eleanor Farnen, M.A.

Credits: 3 credit hours 

Meets: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Only offered in fall semesters