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Undergraduate Minor inOrganizational Leadership

Program summary

Develop strong leadership skills and study leadership concepts and practices across a range of specialties. This minor can provide a valuable competitive advantage to those who wish to advance into management roles.

Credits and costs

18 Credits$626/$671 per credit

Enhance Your Penn State Degree

Add a minor to get even more value out of your education.

Gain Specialized Knowledge

Earning a minor enables you to complement your major, pursue a personal interest, or explore a different field of study.

Effective managers and supervisors must have an understanding of the role of leadership as a means of influence and motivation in the modern organization.

Penn State's organizational leadership minor provides you with the opportunity to study a wide range of topics to complement your interests, background, and career aspirations. In learning about key leadership concepts and practices, you will be able to select from courses relating to business administration, communication arts and sciences, criminal justice, economics, history, labor studies and employment relations, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and women's studies.

In this program, you will have the opportunity to study with highly regarded faculty from Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts, one of the premier institutions in the world to study and work in the liberal arts disciplines.

A minor in organizational leadership can benefit you if you envision being — or are currently — in a position of authority in an organization.

The minor is open to all interested undergraduate World Campus students who meet the prerequisites.  

Courses

The 18-credit organizational leadership minor consists of 12 credits of prescribed organizational leadership (OLEAD) courses and 6 credits of supporting and related topic areas, including business administration, communication arts and sciences, criminal justice, economics, history, labor studies and employment relations, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and women's studies.

Prescribed Courses (12 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    This course introduces key leadership concepts and practices based on current theory and research. It is designed to help students to discover the knowledge and skills that are characteristic of effective leaders.

  • 3
    credits

    Examines the nature of organizations along with its various interconnected functions such as leadership, financial, communications, technology, production, sales, etc.

  • 3
    credits

    Starts by examining different kinds of evidence and analyzing their quality and usefulness; students can then learn how to use that evidence to improve their leadership.

    • 3
      credits

      Theory- and research-based communication skills for leaders dealing with work-related problems in contemporary groups and organizations.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      Surveys the theory, research, and practice related to the communication processes by which individuals in groups and organizations exercise influence, whether or not they occupy positions of acknowledged leadership.

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (select 6 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    A comprehensive view of the contemporary environment of business. This course provides a broad overview of the study of business and its environment, organization, operation, and interrelationships with government and society.

  • 3
    credits

    This course examines human resource management (HRM) and employment relations (ER) from a strategic perspective embedded in a complex and evolving organizational system.

  • 3
    credits

    This course focuses on emotional intelligence, social, cultural intelligence competencies used to develop the leadership capacity to be self-aware, understand oneself and others, and to work across cultural differences to effectively meet the demands of work.

  • 3
    credits

    Compares and contrasts leadership in different types of industries. In this course students will learn about the various types of organizations and examine why leadership in those organizations have some leadership characteristics that are similar and others that are different.

    • 3
      credits

      The course examines the continuing influence of social and environmental factors in shaping leadership and leadership development.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      The course examines the continuing influence of social and environmental factors in shaping leadership and leadership development.

  • 3
    credits

    This course explores the science and practice of leadership around the globe through pertinent scholarly literature and related instructional resources.

  • 3
    credits

    Overviews scholarship relating to women in positions of leadership in groups and organizations, as well as obstacles to their success.

    • 3
      credits

      Application of theories of decision-making to work-related issues in groups and organizations requiring collective resolution and action.

    • or:
      3
      credits

      Application of theories of decision making to work-related issues in groups and organizations requiring collective resolution and action.

  • 1–12
    credits

    Supervised practicum in organizational leadership.

  • 1–18
    credits

    Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Costs and Financial Aid

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2023–24 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$626 per credit$671 per credit
12–19$7,602 per semester$8,206 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

How to Apply

Admissions Help

Please work with your adviser if you have questions about adding a minor. You can find your adviser's contact information in your student portal or by calling advising at 814-863-3283.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admittance into the organizational leadership minor, you must:

  • be a current Penn State undergraduate student in your fifth semester and be in a bachelor's degree major
  • maintain a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor
  • be majoring in a subject other than organizational leadership 

Adding a Minor

If you have achieved fifth-semester standing (60 credits completed), you can apply for admission to the minor. To begin, please follow these steps:

  1. Talk with your academic adviser about incorporating the minor into your major and to develop a semester-by-semester plan for meeting requirements.
  2. You can apply for the minor by adding it in LionPATH. You should do this as early as possible, but you can apply up to the late drop deadline of your graduating semester.
  3. You will receive a confirmation email once you declare the minor in LionPATH.

Technical Requirements

Review the technical requirements for this program.

Contact Us

To learn more about the Undergraduate Minor in Organizational Leadership, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, please contact:

World Campus Advisers
Phone: 814-863-3283
Email: [email protected]