Online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Introduction to Psychology

This course is designed to give an overview of the field of Psychology and its major sub-fields, including (but not limited to) physiological (biology of behavior, consciousness, perception), cognitive (learning, thought, language), social, organizational, developmental, personality, and psychopathology and its treatment. Students will be equipped to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the various research methods used in the field. Students will be encouraged to critically think about the psychological theories discussed, and be able to apply those and their findings to their lives.  

Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology I

This course utilizes an integrated approach to research methods and statistics that underpin the scientific study of psychology. Using a problem-based approach to learning, this course will introduce the student to basic research methods, designs, and statistics commonly used and reported within psychology. Further, through a series of guided lab experiences, this course will provide students with the opportunity to conduct, interpret, and report results of simple psychological studies using current and accepted practices and approaches within the discipline.

Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology II

This course continues the integrated approach to research methods and statistics from Research Methods and Statistics I. This course will use a problem-based approach to learning to cover more advanced research designs (e.g., between-groups vs. within-groups designs) and statistical concepts including the assumptions behind complex designs. Further, through a series of guided lab experiences, this course will provide students with the opportunity to conduct, interpret, and report results of complex psychological studies using current and accepted practices and approaches within the discipline.

Foundations of Leadership

The Foundations of Leadership course is designed to help students explore the concept of leadership as a discipline that studies the individual, group, organizational, and societal factors that impact how effective leaders develop and how various traits and behaviors shape multi-level outcomes. The course provides a general introduction to historical and current theories of leadership, exploring how each theoretical approach can be applied in real-world organizations. Students engage in a variety of learning activities in order to assess and develop their own leadership knowledge and abilities. The fundamental premise of the course is that leadership requires mastery of multiple practices and skills and is enhanced by applying knowledge gained from the research and study of leadership.

The Practice of Leadership

This course is designed to introduce students to the practice of leadership. Students will engage in a variety of individual- and team-based experiential activities in order to apply the theories and concepts learned about leadership in the Organizational Leadership foundation courses. These activities will also provide students with opportunities to assess and develop their own leadership knowledge and abilities. The fundamental premise of the course is that leadership requires mastery of multiple practices and skills. This can only be accomplished through a better understanding of self and others.

Organizational Behavior for Effective Leaders

This course explores the attitudes and behaviors of individuals and groups in organization in order to learn how to effectively lead and manage complex organizations. Leaders must possess a good understanding of human behavior, power and authority, organizational design, managing organizational culture and change, teamwork and collaboration, organizational effectiveness measurements, and decision making, motivation, and leadership styles. In addition, students will learn how organizations can be structured more effectively and how events in their environments affect these organizations. The course will address five areas essential for leadership, organizational success, and personal achievement: Writing, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Organizing, and Application.

Organizational Assessment and Evaluation

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with different types of program evaluation, including needs assessment, formative research, process evaluation, monitoring of outputs and outcomes, impact assessment, and cost analysis. Students gain practical experience through a series of exercises involving the design of a conceptual framework, development of indicators, analysis of computerized service statistics, and development of an evaluation plan to measure impact. Covers experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental study designs, including the strengths and limitations of each.

Business Communication

This course introduces foundational business communication principles and practices. Students will learn to analyze different communication situations; to plan and design oral and written communications; to communicate effectively using appropriate formats, styles, and technologies; and to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in order to achieve desired communication objectives.

Ethical Issues in Organizations

The intent of this course is to provide an introduction and general discussion of the meaning of ethics and how it relates to organizations in for-profit, community, and non-profit groups. We will discuss applicable laws and examine real-world ethical situations in order to learn how to build an ethical organization. Specifically, we will focus on the role of leaders and professionals in this endeavor and how to conduct an ethical audit in modern times.

Fundamentals of Organizations

Organizational leaders are often called to play strategic roles in the business world, which can be problematic if one is unfamiliar with the nuisances of organizations. The course seeks to make future organization leaders familiar with crucial functional areas of organizations (accounting, finance, and marketing, etc.) for them to become more effective organizational contributors and play a wider strategic role, which includes data interpretation, and digital and information systems skills. Key concerns of each functional area, important concepts in each function, application of concepts, and how organizational leaders can help other functions achieve their missions will be covered.

Organizational Leadership and the Law

This course focuses on the legal framework for employer-employee relations. It includes legislation and court decisions governing discrimination in hiring, advancement and termination, sexual harassment, affirmative action, wrongful discharge, breach of employment contracts, and other aspects of Human Resource Management (HRM).

Organizational Theory, Design, and Change

This course will examine theories about the ways that organizations function and adapt to the demands of our rapidly changing world. Leaders need to understand the patterns and structures practiced by organizations used to solve problems, maximize efficiency and productivity, achieve organizational goals, and address stakeholder expectations. With this information, leaders design and execute plans to achieve maximum organizational effectiveness.

Applied Psychology for Personal and Professional Success

This skill-based course explores how the practical application of psychological science and organizational leadership theories, principles, and techniques inform practice across various fields. Topics covered will include human behavior, motivation, conflict management, emotional intelligence, resiliency, success, and effective communication. The course provides practical strategies for improving self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and professional effectiveness across contexts. Through case studies, hands-on activities, and practical examples, students will develop a deeper understanding of how psychology influences everyday life and will be equipped with the tools to apply psychological and organizational leadership concepts in solving problems and enhancing outcomes in various personal and professional contexts.

Application of Fundamentals of Organizations

Organizational leaders are often called to play strategic roles in the business world, which can be problematic if one is unfamiliar with the nuisances of organizations. The course focuses on the application of the material learned in Fundamentals of Organizations (ORGL2060). In this class, students will practice with the key documents and concept utilized in 2060 to provide them hands on experience with the crucial functional areas of organizations (accounting, finance, and marketing, etc.) for them to become more effective organizational contributors and play a wider strategic role. The application of key organizational concerns will be utilized to provide greater context and experience to future organizational leaders that will help other functions achieve their missions will be covered (data interpretation, information systems and digital skills).

Introduction to Human Resources

Introduction to Human Resources is about the management of what most organizations consider to be their most important asset - people. This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the role of HR within an organization as well as the link between HR and an organization's overall strategy. Students will gain insight into the various functions of HR, including (but not limited to): HR Planning, Recruitment and Selection, Performance Management, and Compensation and Benefits.

Social Influence and Persuasion for Leaders

Persuasion and Influence techniques are ubiquitous.  This course is designed to help students identify persuasion and influence attempts, ethically apply these techniques in real-world settings, and to recognize the differences between persuasion/influence, propaganda, and manipulation.  We start by reviewing  established theories and models of persuasion and progress to applying these models in everyday life, especially in career and community settings.

Leading the Diverse Workplace

Presently, more than fifty percent of the US workforce consists of minorities, women, and immigrants. Organizational leaders are confronted with the challenge of managing a workforce that is increasingly diverse relative to race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, sexual preference and age. Organizations have also realized that highly competent associates come from a variety of cultural and group identities. It is a fundamental business fact that organizations that value the talents of a diverse workforce will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The intent of this course is to increase one's awareness of issues of diversity and differences in order to work more effectively and ethically with a variety of populations defined by gender, class, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, age, and sexual orientation. The course will introduce students to a historical, economic, political, personal and social framework for understanding culture and diversity in a social and workplace environment via readings, cases, and exercises designed to clarify the complexity of managing and working in a changing and increasingly diverse workplace.

Teams

This course examines conceptual frameworks for understanding and increasing individual and team performance in organizations, including practical applications of related concepts.

Organizational Leadership Capstone

The Capstone course is designed to be the culmination of students' undergraduate degree program. It provides an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in either an internship experience or through the development of a community- or school-based service project. Students work closely with the Organizational Leadership faculty member overseeing the course to develop a detailed learning contract that specifies how the student will demonstrate leadership competencies while serving in an approved leadership role. At the end of the term, students synthesize and report their experiences as they relate to the theoretical foundations of leadership being studied as well as to university's baccalaureate competencies.

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Spring 2027

March 15, 2026

July 15, 2026

November 15, 2026

May 11, 2026

August 24, 2026

January 11, 2027