Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership

• General Information 
• Program Features 
• General Regulations 
• Curriculum 
• Minor in Leadership Studies 
• Certificate in Leadership Studies 

Renaissance College

Faculty

Dean: Cynthia Stacey, BSc (Acadia), MSc (Guelph), PhD (Ottawa)

• Mira Bachvarova, BA (Trent), MA (Carleton), PhD (Queen's)
• Thomas Mengel, Dipl Paed, Lic Theol (Bamberg), MA (Toronto), Dipl Inf (Hagen); Dr Theol (Bamberg)
• John Valk, BA (Calvin), MA (St. Michaels), PhD (Toronto)

General Information

The Renaissance College Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Leadership Program is a 129 credit hour program. Approximately sixty percent of the program is held at Renaissance College in its classes, seminars, forums, and internships, with the remaining forty percent offered through other UNB courses. Graduates of the Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership will have learning experiences in leadership, depth in one discipline equivalent to at least a UNB minor, and an interdisciplinary approach to issues.

Program Features

• An understanding of leadership in different situations and cultures
• A breadth in interdisciplinary knowledge in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities and fine arts
• A wide selection of elective courses providing students with the opportunity for depth in a disciplinary or professional area
• An emphasis on experiential forms of education to enhance learning
• Activities to enhance the student's physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social aspects of personal well-being
• An intentional approach to meeting designated knowledge-based and experiential learning outcomes
• An international placement designed to foster multiple cross-cultural perspectives on issues
• The program can be completed following a four year option or intensive summer internships and international placements can reduce the calendar length of the eight semester B. Phil. degree program to three academic years plus two summers.
• Community-based resource people share their special expertise and will help to situate learning in a practical context

General Regulations

Any point not covered by the General Regulations of Renaissance College will be governed by the General University Regulations stated in Section B of the Undergraduate Calendar. Questions concerning the application of university regulations should be directed to the Registrar in writing.

1. To earn a Bachelor of Philosophy degree (in Interdisciplinary Leadership) a student must demonstrate, in a summative portfolio, growth and competence in each of the program’s designated learning outcomes. During each of the three years prior to graduation, students will show growth and competency in a formative learning portfolio. Within the context of Interdisciplinary Leadership studies, students are to achieve growth and competency in the following learning outcomes: Knowing Oneself and Others, Effective Citizenship, Problem Solving, Multi-Literacy, Personal Well-Being, and Social Interaction. No letter grade is assigned to the summative portfolio, rather the portfolio is assessed as credit or no credit.
2. The Renaissance College degree program is designated as a limited enrolment program and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Normally, not more than thirty students will be admitted in any academic year.
3. The maximum time period between the first registration in the Renaissance College program and the completion of the degree is seven (7) years.
4. Few prerequisites are specified; it is expected that students will ordinarily take courses in the normal sequence and exceptions will require the permission of the Dean and instructor of the course.
5. In exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the Dean, alternative arrangements may be made in lieu of the Internship or International Placement to meet degree requirements.
6. Where the educational objectives of a course will be best served by limiting enrolment in the course, the Dean may approve a limited enrolment for the course.
7. In course offerings of other Faculties/Departments, students must meet the prerequisite and other requirements of that Faculty/Department.
8. Each student's program of study must be approved by the College advisor.
9. A minimum grade of C will be required for all courses that are used to meet the core requirements of the program (Includes all leadership-related courses taken outside Renaissance College that are deemed acceptable replacements for RCLP 4001 , and courses judged to be ‘equivalent’ to RCLP courses as part of credit transfer).
10. Students must be in good academic standing (min. 2.0 assessment GPA) in order to register in RCLP 2023 Canadian Internship. Failure to meet preparatory course requirements could lead to disqualification from participation in the Canadian internship. Any costs incurred by the student up to the point of disqualification are the sole responsibility of the student. A student who fails to qualify will normally be expected to take RCLP 2023 the following year.
11. In order for students to register in RCLP 3046 , students must a) achieve a minimum grade of B (3.0) in RCLP 2023 , and b) achieve a term GPA of 2.7 in the fall term preceding the internship or a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. Failure to meet preparatory course requirements could lead to disqualification from participation in the international internship. Any costs incurred by the student up to the point of disqualification are the sole responsibility of the student. A student who fails to qualify will normally, be expected to take RCLP 3046 the following year.

Curriculum

Core Courses

RCLP 1001 Leadership Foundations 3 ch
RCLP 1010 Formative Learning Portfolio I 2 ch
RCLP 1011 World Views, Religions and Cultures 3 ch
RCLP 1021 Concepts of Enhancing Personal Well-Being 3 ch
RCLP 1052 Quantitative Approaches to Problem-Solving 3 ch
RCLP 1062 Citizenship and Community Issues 3 ch
RCLP 1111 Integrative Forum I 6 ch
RCLP 1112 Integrative Forum II 6 ch
RCLP 2001 Practicing Leadership in Community Projects 3 ch
RCLP 2014 Democracy and Public Policy in Canada 3 ch
RCLP 2020 Formative Learning Portfolio II 2 ch
RCLP 2023 Canadian Internship 12 ch
RCLP 2042 Science and Society 3 ch
RCLP 3002 Leadership in Cross-Cultural Contexts 3 ch
RCLP 3015 Democracy and Global Policy 3 ch
RCLP 3046 International Internship 12 ch
RCLP 4002 Change Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship 3 ch
RCLP 4028 Community Problem-Solving and Research Project 6 ch
RCLP 4031 Images and Insight 3 ch
RCLP 4040 Summative Learning Portfolio III 2 ch

Total credit hours of core courses is 84 ch

Electives

Electives shall constitute a minimum 45 credit hours, with at least 24 ch assigned to a concentration equivalent to a UNB Minor Program and at least 3 ch assigned to a Leadership elective. The Leadership elective can be done in two alternative ways.

RCLP 4001 Directed Studies in Interdisciplinary Leadership – 3 ch. An individualized study of a topic of interest to the student, developed in consultation with a faculty mentor and approval of the College.

OR

A course in a leadership studies related field from a list of courses pre-approved by Renaissance College. Courses already part of a minor will generally not be acceptable.

Minor in Leadership Studies

The Renaissance College Minor in Leadership Studies is an interdisciplinary program offered to students registered in other degree programs. Enrolment is limited and application to the program is required. The Minor consists of 8 courses (24ch) as listed below. Students are advised that in order to complete the minor they may need to take more than the usual number of credit hours required by their degree program. Students should check with their faculty advisor and the Renaissance College, College Coordinator.

Leadership Studies Minor Required Courses:

RCLP 1001 Leadership Foundation 3ch
RCLP 1011 Worldviews, Religions and Cultures 3ch
RCLP 1021 Concepts of Enhanced Personal Well-being 3ch
RCLP 1062 Citizenship and Community 3ch
RCLP 2001 Practicing Leadership in Community Projects 3ch
RCLP 3002 Practicing Leadership in Cross-Cultural Contexts 3ch
RCLP 3030 Learning Portfolio 3ch
RCLP 4002 Change Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship 3ch

Normally RCLP 1001 is taken in the first year of study. RCLP 1001 is a pre-requisite or co-requisite for RCLP 2001 .

Certificate in Leadership Studies

The Certificate in Leadership Studies requires the following 5 courses of the minor ( RCLP 1001 , RCLP 1011 , RCLP 1062 , RCLP 2001 , RCLP 3030 ) totaling 15 credit hours. The Certificate is open to students registered at UNB and students are advised that in order to complete the certificate they may need to take more than the usual number of credit hours required by their degree program. Students should check with their faculty advisor as well as the Renaissance College, College Coordinator.