The Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership curriculum has been designed to help you acquire a practical set of skills that you can transfer across various aspects of your life and career. As you build a solid foundation in understanding the roles and major functions of leadership in contemporary organizations, you can gain the tools necessary for overcoming obstacles to effective organizational performance.
In addition to the required courses in organizational leadership, you will also choose from courses in communication arts and sciences; crime, law, and justice; labor and employment relations; management; philosophy; political science; psychology; and sociology.
This program requires that you complete a minimum of 123 credits. To earn this degree, you must successfully complete:
- 36 credits required for the major
- 12 prescribed core course credits
- 24 supporting and related course credits
- 45 general education credits
- 24 bachelor of arts degree credits
- 18–24 elective credits
The degree's 12 credits of prescribed core courses focus on contemporary labor management and supervisory leadership issues. Many different course options are available to fulfill the remainder of the program, allowing you to customize the degree to meet your specific goals.
Course List - Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Requirements for the Major (36 credits)
A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Leadership | OLEAD 100 | 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 |
| Leadership Development: A Life-Long Learning Perspective | OLEAD 409 | The course examines the continuing influence of social and environmental factors in shaping leadership and leadership development. | 3 credits |
| Communication Skills for Leaders in Groups and Organizations | OLEAD/LER 464 | Theory- and research-based communication skills for leaders dealing with work-related problems in contemporary groups and organizations. | 3 credits |
| Collective Decision Making | OLEAD/LER 465 | Application of theories of decision making to work-related issues in groups and organizations requiring collective resolution action. | 3 credits |
Supporting and Related Courses (24 credits)
Choose one of the courses from the Conflict Management table.
| Title | Abbreviation | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Conflict Resolution and Negotiation | CAS 404 Prerequisite: CAS 100 |
3 credits |
| Workplace Dispute Resolution | LER 437 Prerequisite: LER 100 |
3 credits |
Choose one of the courses from the Research Methods table.
| Title | Abbreviation | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods in Labor Studies and Employment Relations | LER 312 | 3 credits |
| Research Methods in Sociology | SOC 207 Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology |
3 credits |
Choose one of the courses from the Motivation table.
| Title | Abbreviation | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership and Motivation | MGMT 321 Prerequisite: B A 304 or MGMT 301, or 3 credits of psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology |
3 credits |
| Work Attitudes and Motivation | PSYCH 484 Prerequisite: PSYCH 100; PSYCH 200 or STAT 200 or 6 credits of GQ |
3 credits |
Choose one of the courses from the Ethics table.
| Title | Abbreviation | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Ethics | LER 460 Prerequisite: Take one of the following courses ARMY 402, H P A460, HM 466, MGMT 341, MGMT 441, NAVSC402, NURS 432, PSYCH281, 3 credits in Labor and Employment Relations (LER), or Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) |
3 credits |
| Ethical Leadership | PHIL 119 | 3 credits |
| Abbreviation | Credits |
|---|---|
| CAS 404, 452, 475 | 3 credits each |
| CRIM 100, 113, 482 | 3 credits each |
| LER 100, 136, 201, 312, 400, 434, 435, 437, 458Y, 460 | 3 credits each |
| MGMT 321 | 3 credits |
| PHIL 103, 119 | 3 credits each |
| PL SC 001, 490 | 3 credits each |
| PSYCH 484, 485 | 3 credits each |
| SOC 207, 404, 455, 456 | 3 credits each |
Note: 3 of the 45 credits in the General Education section are included in the requirements for the major.
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Foreign Language | 12 credits |
| Other Cultures | 3 credits |
| Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, Quantification, and/or Foreign Language (beyond 12th credit or a different language) | 9 credits |
| Description | Credits |
|---|---|
| Arts – GA | 6 credits |
| Humanities – GH | 6 credits |
| Health and Wellness – GHW | 3 credits |
| Natural Sciences – GN | 9 credits |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences – GS | 6 credits |
| Writing and Speaking – GWS* | 9 credits |
| Quantification – GQ* | 6 credits |
| Integrative Studies | (6 credits)*** |
*A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.
**12 credits are included in the requirements for the major.
***This requirement only applies to students starting in summer 2018 or later. Learn more about the Integrative Studies options and consult your academic adviser when choosing courses to fulfill these requirements.
Electives (18–24 credits)
Please note: Among the above degree requirements, students should incorporate at least 3 credits in US cultures, 3 credits in international (IL) cultures, and 3 credits in writing across the curriculum courses. The above course list includes only courses offered by World Campus. An official degree audit or the recommended academic plan for this program may include additional course options and detailed requirements. All students are expected to complete at least 36 Penn State credits to earn this degree. Please consult an academic adviser for details.
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.