595.781.8VL2 - Executive Technical Leadership

Expanded Course Description

EP courses that include optional or required in-person components in the United States are only available to students who already hold an immigration status that independently permits study. Students should not enter the United States in visitor status (B-1/B-2) or under the Visa Waiver Program to complete required academic coursework or residencies. Alternatives to the required in-person components are available to international students to complete their course requirements.

Course Structure

Content is divided into Modules. The course is a mix of  

• On-line Asynchronous Lectures/Videos
• Virtual-Live Discussions on Module Focused Topical Questions
• Case Study, Team Presentations, Practicing Executive Interviews, (Virtual)
• Live Presentations
• Mid-Course Presentation (Group)
• Board of Directors Presentation - Capstone Day (Group)
• Your instructors will act as your “Executive Coaches” throughout the process
  

Weekly modules consist of:

• Pre-recorded lectures
• Boeing 777 Project -focused video excerpts
• Recorded interviews of currently practicing technical executives to illustrate key teaching
• Points with real-life experiences §Selected articles and podcasts from prominent business journals and books *
• Virtual-live discussion based on case study progression through each module
• Real-time role-playing interaction with professors

Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline.  You should regularly check the Announcements for an assignment updates or messages.

Course Topics

Please see the syllabus for specific course topics.

Course Goals

This course gives you the experience of what it’s like to be a senior technical executive. A student's understanding and achievement of the following goals are as follows:

• Lead the development of a strategic technical plan §Preserve/enhance existing money-making businesses
• Make sound decisions based on various factors
• Create execution plans to achieve the strategic plan
• Work collaboratively with other senior executives
• Present a persuasive strategic investment case to a Board of Directors 
  

Textbooks

Module reading and links to videos are referenced in the Module overview and all texts are online in eReserves.

Student Coursework Requirements

The table below indicates the breakdown of assignments and points. Attendance is mandatory and all absences must be coordinated with the instructors in advance of the class, unless it is an emergency and then follow up with the course instructors should be as soon as possible following the absence.

Item	Points
Seminar-Type Discussions (Team)	90
Mid-Course Team Presentation 1 (Team)	100
Final Capstone Team Presentation 2 (Team)	100
Technical Executive Job Description	30
Peer Assessment	20
Class Participation	20
Total	360

Grading Policy



EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

Score Range	Letter Grade
100-97	= A+
96-93	= A
92-90	= A−
89-87	= B+
86-83	= B
82-80	= B−
79-77	= C+
76-73	= C
72-70	= C−
69-67	= D+
66-63	= D
<63	= F

Course Policies

• Attendance in the weekly class meetings is mandatory and absences should be coordinated with the instructor as soon as possible, or, if due to an emergency, as soon as possible following the absence.
• Capstone Presentation on Campus Saturday, 5/3/25 (Team) – in-person attendance is required, Students can request to participate via Zoom if in-person attendance presents a professional or personal hardship. 
• All assignments should be uploaded by Tuesday at 3:00PM on the day of class.  Tardy submissions will result in points being deducted from the grade for the assignment. Please ensure you have a reliable person available to upload the course content for the team.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course. 

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students. This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Our courses are designed with a proactive approach to accessibility to minimize the need for disability disclosure and accommodation requests, but we recognize that you may need additional support. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions, and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.  For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact EP Student Disability Services at ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu. 

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. For a full description of the code please visit the Student Conduct Code website.

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.