oRGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Degree Requirements and Course Information

The Organizational Leadership program prepares students to assume management-focused leadership positions at organizations in both the public and private sectors. Through a dynamic curriculum that links theory with best practices, students are trained in the principles and skills of transformational leadership – leadership that translates vision into change within the team-based management environments that characterize today’s organizations.

A Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership is offered as a weekend program throughout the year (including summers) to cohorts of students who sign up for the entire experience. Admission to the program is limited to those who have the rough equivalent of an associate’s degree from an accredited two-year institution or at least 51 credit hours of transferable course work from an accredited two- or four-year institution.

Students complete 36 hours of major-area courses (in Leadership, Business, Communication, and Psychology) in addition to 16 Practicum hours, and 9 hours of mission-specific, general education courses. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

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REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Students must have one of the following:  (1) an Associate’s Degree from an accredited two-year community college with transfer eligible course credit; or (2) a target minimum of 57 but not less than 51 hours credit hours of transferable course work (preferably satisfying the IAI transfer agreement) from an accredited two- or four-year institution. Applications will be evaluated on an on-going basis utilizing a rolling admission's process.  Therefore, applicants are advised to apply early. 

Students may need to complete additional coursework once the cohort sequence is complete, depending on the number of transferred credits.  Any questions regarding transfer of credit can be handled by the Academic Advisor. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

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COURSE SEQUENCE

- Year 1 -

Organizational Leadership Courses

BUA 222W Organizational Management -- 3 hours
An overview of the role of management in an organization. The course will cover the functions of planning, organizing, influencing, and controlling with emphasis on leadership principles.

LDR 110 Introduction to Leadership -- 3 hours
An introduction to the nature of leadership, with a focus on the history and origins of leadership, theoretical approaches to leadership, and the essence of contemporary leadership. Application of these concepts to life experiences will be addressed. Students will be exposed to the nature of leadership through presentation of objective material, group activities, and laboratory exercises.

LDR 220 Organizational Behavior and Leadership -- 3 hours
This course is designed to provide students with the basic principles and elements of the growing Organizational Leadership discipline. Leadership theories and behaviors are examined in the context of the modern organization. The course introduces the student to the tasks, strategies, and skills of effective leadership. Course activities will move the student from theory to the practical processes of leadership within an organization. Concepts essential to personal skills development and organizational leadership behavior are emphasized.

LDR 240 Philosophy of Leadership -- 3 hours
This course explores leadership from a philosophical point of view, that is, from the viewpoint of asking some fundamental questions about what it means to be a leader. Topics could include one or several of the following. What are some of the particular moral questions that being in a position of leadership could raise and how might several moral theories help to illuminate those questions? What might be some of the spiritual dimensions of leading or guiding others and how might several of the religious traditions shed light on those? How might leadership fit into a conception of human nature and the possibilities for human fulfillment and happiness? Following consideration of these theoretical topics, students will begin to develop their own personal leadership philosophy.

LDR 280 Organizational Research Methods -- 3 hours
An introduction to research and inquiry regarding leadership within various types of organizations, with special attention to a performance focus as applied to leadership. Students will design and complete a mini research project that includes: a problem statement, definition of terms, limitations and delimitations, literature review, description of research method, collection of data, data analysis, and interpretation of data.

LDR 295/395/495 Practicum in Leadership -- 16 hours
During the program, each student will have practicum experiences relating to courses they are taking. Some practicums may be arranged with the student’s place of employment.

LDR 310 The Practice of Leadership -- 3 hours
A survey of important practices essential to good leadership. Topics may include negotiation and conflict resolution, facilitating effective group dynamics, leadership awareness of occupational and organizational cultures, and transformational leadership.

LDR 399 Special Topics in Leadership -- 3 hours
(Great Leaders Cases or Sector Specific for Group)
This is a seminar course that is offered whenever a mutual interest in a more specialized topic in Leadership Studies exists for a faculty member and a sufficient number of students.