Organizational Leadership

Donald R. Johnson, Ph.D., Division Chair, Leadership & Management Studies

Janet Cooper Jackson, Ph.D.

Ashour Badal, Ph.D.

Christine Cecil, Ed.D.

James Liberty, D.P.A.

Kurtis Takamine, Ed.D.

Kay Talbot, Ph.D.

Lynne Valek, Ph.D.

Glenn Worthington, Ed.D.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership focuses on understanding and transcending barriers to individual and organizational effectiveness. The program provides a curriculum which links theory and practice to promote seven principal learning outcomes:

Communication: The ability to write, speak, and listen effectively.

Critical Inquiry and Reflective Practice: The ability to read, reflect, and think logically and engage in critical analysis leading to thoughtful action.

Social and Interdisciplinary Perspective: The ability to understand the historical antecedents and current forces that shape our lives and influence our beliefs and actions.

Multicultural and International Perspective: The ability to view and appreciate the world from cultural perspectives other than our own.

Ethical and Social Responsibility: The development of ethical values that enhance human dignity and justice.

Self-Directed and Lifelong Learning: The development of an enhanced sense of personal autonomy and initiative that flows from the process of learning and a corresponding ability to define and pursue learning needs throughout one's life.

Values-based Leadership: The development of an attitude and aptitude for leadership that stresses inclusion, empowerment, and service to others.

The program is ideally suited for students with strong interests or experience in leadership, management and/or administration. Depending on the emphasis area chosen, students with degrees in organizational leadership are prepared for entry- and mid-level supervisory positions in a wide range of administrative careers or for graduate school in a variety of academic disciplines. (Not all emphasis areas or courses may be offered at all campuses.)

Students wishing to major in organizational leadership are encouraged to complete the prerequisite requirements before the start of their junior year. Transfer credits may be applied toward major requirements, subject to all university guidelines or the approval of the Program Chair or designee. Students must attain at least a "C+" (2.30) grade point average in all required work with no course below a "C-" (1.70). All required courses must be taken for a letter grade where the option exists.

The organizational leadership major consists of 54 credits of coursework, including 18 credits in electives or a pre-selected emphasis area, and 6 credits in a senior research project. This project should be completed toward the end of the student's program, but no earlier than within 12 credits of the completion of major requirements.

A minor in organizational leadership (18 credits), a master of arts (36 credits), and graduate certificates in organizational leadership and organization development are also offered. Contact the organizational leadership program coordinator at your campus for more information.

Departmental Honors

Students who are majoring in organizational leadership are eligible for departmental honors if they meet the following criteria:

1. Chapman University GPA of 3.80 or higher
2. Organizational Leadership Major GPA of 3.80 or higher
3. Complete a special project (OLCU 499) in which he/she examines some aspect in organizational leadership which results in a paper of publishable quality.

Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Electives/Emphasis Area (18 credits in electives)

Upon admission, each student develops a plan for electives in the degree program. Electives may lead toward a formal emphasis area in Organizational Management or Organizational Communications (see below). Students who do not wish to develop a formal emphasis area, which are not designated on the student's transcript, may select 18 elective credits to meet individual educational and professional goals, and may be selected to build either functional career skills and/or career context awareness. With the assistance of their advisor, students may design an emphasis area that reflects their career goals. Electives may be chosen from programs having a leadership, management or administration component. Approved electives include courses from the following programs: Organizational Leadership, Management, Human Resources, Health Services Management, Criminal Justice, Organization Administration and Communication. Other electives specifically involving leadership or administration in the following programs may also be selected as electives: Psychology, Social Science, Sociology, and Computer Information Systems. At least 9 credits must be upper division (300+). Internship and independent study credits do not count toward an emphasis area, but do count as general electives.

Emphasis in Organization Administration

Most appropriate for students contemplating a career in leadership, management and/or administration. This emphasis addresses the fundamentals of management and administration. This emphasis will be designated on the student's transcript. Students select six courses (18 credits from the following):

* Also can be taken as SOCU 453

Emphasis in Organizational Communication

The emphasis in organizational communication combines the dynamics of speech communications with the principles of organizational leadership. Together, these skills prepare students to effectively utilize interpersonal, presentation, and written competencies in organizational communications. This emphasis will be designated on the student's transcript. Students select six courses (18 credits from the following):

Minor in Organizational Leadership

Consistent with the department's commitment to educate students about and for leadership, a minor in organizational leadership is offered as an option to students who prefer to major in a different academic subject, but who wish to supplement their academic program with leadership studies. Students desiring or contemplating a minor in organizational leadership should file their Intent to Minor with the offering department no later than their junior year or as soon as possible. Filing does not obligate the student. Internship and independent study credits do not count toward the minor.

Minor requirements (18 credits)