Program Overview

Program Overview

The Essentials for Leading the Self course is designed to help individuals understand the concept of leadership and its importance in today's world. This course exposes some of the leadership myths that no longer serve the needs of our organizations, communities, or the world. The kind of leadership required now is not defined by one's position, but by the choices made every day to positively impact the people and environment around them.

Course Details

• Location: Online
• Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
• Duration: 10 weeks
• Tuition: $875
• Can be applied to: Leadership Essentials Certificate

Upcoming Offerings

The course is offered at various times throughout the year. The upcoming offerings include:

• Start Date: Wed, Jan 14, 2026
  • Schedule: Wed, Jan 14 - Tue, Mar 24 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: Sonya Littlejohn
  • Cost: $875.00
  • Seats Available: 26
• Start Date: Wed, Sep 23, 2026
  • Schedule: Wed, Sep 23 - Tue, Dec 1 (self-paced within deadlines)
  • Location: Online
  • Instructor: Sonya Littlejohn
  • Cost: $875.00
  • Seats Available: 30

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Define the impact they want to have as a leader
• Apply a range of critical-thinking tools to identify and address personal and organizational gaps
• Recognize when they are caught in a reactive mindset and learn to shift to a more creative leadership approach
• Explain the neurophysiology of stress and the steps to create resilience in a key aspect of their life
• Critically examine how their identity determines how they understand and address issues of power and privilege
• Describe the importance of being able to shift between an individual and a collective/relational understanding of leadership
• Articulate the values that define who they are

Course Structure

• Students can expect to spend about 10 hours per week on coursework
• Reading and other assignments will be given on a weekly basis
• Students should plan to access the course at least once every few days to keep up with their work and group assignments

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated on:

• Assignments
• Participation in online discussions

Learning Materials

No textbook is required, as all course materials will be provided online.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, students will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. The online system used for the course is Canvas. For more information and online support, visit the Online Learning page.