Organizational Leadership

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Organizational Leadership is a multidisciplinary field of study that focuses on the human side of organizations and prepares individuals for leadership positions in corporate, government, not-for-profit, and community organizations. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, opportunities for those trained in organizational leadership are expected to increase faster than the average through the middle of the next decade.

The Organizational Leadership program at Maryville University begins with a liberal arts core and then incorporates coursework in organizational leadership, psychology, sociology, business, philosophy, and communication to promote skills in problem analysis, decision-making and strategic planning.  Students also identify a concentration of choice that allows students maximum flexibility in custom designing their major to fit the student’s interests and career goals. A flexible and inclusive major, organizational leadership is designed to provide students with the course work and experiential learning experiences that will make students maximally competitive in the changing workforce of the 21st century.

Degree Offerings and Requirements

• Organizational Leadership, B.A.
• Organizational Leadership, M.A.

Program Features

A Custom-Designed Degree Program

When you enter the undergraduate Organizational Leadership program at Maryville, you can create a major with emphasis in the area that most interests you, such as psychology, sociology, criminal justice, communication, environmental science, international and cultural studies, women’s studies, health care management, legal studies, business, education, or the fine arts, just to name a few. Core coursework is multidisciplinary and draws from the areas of psychology, sociology, business, philosophy and communication.

A Contemporary Education

Organizations are increasingly looking to hire individuals with leadership skills and knowledge of human behavior. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, opportunities for those trained in organizational leadership are expected to increase faster than the average through the middle of the next decade. As a student of Organizational Leadership, you will learn the knowledge, skills, and abilities most valued by organizations and you will be taught by educators who hold real world experience in applying these skills.

Pre-Professional Training and Early Access Graduate Bridge Programs

A major in organizational leadership is also excellent preparation for many graduate and professional degree programs, including those in law, business, industrial/organizational psychology, human factors engineering, and political science. Qualified students may be able to gain early access into one of the many graduate programs offered by Maryville University. Graduate bridge programs are accelerated courses of study that lead to a master’s degree. These programs permit students to begin working on their master’s degree program while still completing undergraduate requirements.

Masters in Organizational Leadership Bridge

Maryville undergraduate students, who have a cumulative GPA of 3.6 and a minimum of 100 credit hours completed, with at least 20 credit hours from Maryville, may apply for early admission into the Masters in Organizational Leadership graduate program.  Qualified undergraduate majors in Organizational Leadership may take up to 12 credit hours at the graduate level that count toward the undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and the graduate degree in Organizational Leadership. Students should consult with their academic adviser for information.

Masters in Strategic Communication Bridge

Maryville undergraduate students, who have a cumulative GPA of 3.6 and a minimum of 100 credit hours completed, with at least 20 credit hours from Maryville, may apply for early admission into the Masters in Strategic Communication graduate program.  Qualified undergraduate majors in Organizational Leadership may take up to 12 credit hours at the graduate level that count toward the undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and the graduate degree in Strategic Communication. Students should consult with their academic adviser for information.

Masters in Business Administration Bridge

This program provides students the opportunity to accelerate their progress toward a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Qualified undergraduate majors in Organizational Leadership may take up to 12 credit hours at the graduate level that count toward the undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and the graduate MBA program. Students must have completed 100 undergraduate credit hours (at least 20 credit hours from Maryville) and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.6.

Other Potential Graduate Bridge Options

Qualified Organizational Leadership majors with interests in education, rehabilitation counseling, or social work may also qualify for the Master of Arts in Elementary Education Bridge, the Masters of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling Bridge, or the Social Work Bridge (through St. Louis University’s Masters of Social Work program). Students should consult with their academic adviser for information.

Pre-Law Concentration

Majors in Organizational Leadership interested in pursuing a law degree should add a Pre-Law concentration to their major. Students should consult with their academic adviser for information.

Student Involvement

Students majoring in Organizational Leadership are encouraged to join the Psychology, Organizational Leadership, and Sociology Exchange (POLSE). POLSE promotes activities, events, and professional development opportunities related to the social sciences. Students might also be interested in getting involved with M*PWR – Maryville Promoting Women’s Rights.

POLSE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MUPOLSE

POLSE on Maryville Blogs: http://blogs.maryville.edu/kbramesfeld/ 

M*PWR: http://blogs.maryville.edu/mpwr/

Professional/Career Opportunities

Maryville organizational leadership graduates, with uniquely customized programs of study and applied learning experiences, are well-prepared and competitive for numerous career opportunities.  Recently, a number of our students have started careers in private corporations, community service agencies and higher education establishments. Others go on to pursue graduate degrees in higher education or business with the intent of starting their own company. For more information about career opportunities in Organizational Leadership, visit the Organizational Leadership Information Page on the Psychology, Organizational Leadership, and Sociology Exchange (POLSE): http://blogs.maryville.edu/kbramesfeld/organizational-leadership/.

Admission Requirements

If you’re interested in joining our Organizational Leadership program, you need to meet the general admissions requirements for the University. We recommend that you complete a variety of high school or college prep courses in English, science, math, social studies and foreign language before applying.