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Program Curriculum
The Online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership Studies is a specially designed degree program that meets the needs of students who have earned at least 60 units of transferable academic credit. This program emphasizes the practical applications of academic subjects in real world situations.
Major courses are drawn from an interdisciplinary perspective of leadership through fields of communication, psychology, and business. The objective is to help students develop the leadership skills they will need to succeed in their career (see the CSUDH Catalog as the official source for the University's policies, regulations and academic programs). There are two options within the Organizational Leadership major, strategic communication or public sector management tracks.
(Course substitutions are used for the below catalog requirements as needed)
Requirements for students who begin their studies after Fall 2022 or Later
Requirements for students who begin their studies after Fall 2022 or later ►
Requirements for students who began their studies between Fall 2019 and Summer 2022
| Upper Division General Education (9 units) |
| HUM 310 Key Concepts: The American Musical (3) |
| IDS 318 Cultural Pluralism (3) |
| SMT 312 Natural Disasters (3) |
| ENG 350 Advanced Composition (3) |
| Transition to Organizational Studies (3 units) |
| OLS 300 Ethos of the Liberal Arts and the Role of Work (3) |
| Capstone (3 units) |
| OLS 490* Seminar in Occupational Leadership (3) |
| * Prerequisite APS 300, satisfaction of GWAR and senior standing |
| Liberal Arts Component (21 units) |
| ANT 335 Comparative Cultures (3) |
| BUS 300 Business Communications (3) |
| COM 365 Introduction to Public Relations (3) |
| ENG 352 Writing and Speaking Skills for Management (3) |
| HIS 301 Individual, Family, and Community in Historic Perspective (3) |
| HIS 348 Labor in American Society (3) |
| HRM 313 Human Resource Management (3) |
| MGT 310 Management Theory (3) |
| MGT 312 Organizational Behavior (3) |
| MGT 416 Leadership (3) |
| MKT 350 Principles of Marketing (3) |
| POL 310 Current Issues in American Government (3) |
| POL 335 International Politics (3) |
| THE 320 Speech Skills and Techniques (3) |
| Strategic Communications Track |
| In addition to COM 250, choose seven of the following courses: |
| COM 250 Required |
| BUS 300 Business Communications (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| LBR 411 Contracts and Negotiations (3) |
| HRM 316 Labor and Industrial Relations (3) |
| MGT 310 Management Theory (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| MGT 312 Organizational Behavior (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| MGT 430 Strategic Communications (3) |
| MGT 416 Leadership (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| MKT 350 Principles of Marketing (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| PSY 372 Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3) |
| SOC 315 Sociology of Work (3) |
| Any upper division communications course (if COM 365 not taken for liberal arts component, can be applied to track) |
| Any upper division law course |
| Public Sector Management Track |
| In addition to PUB 300 and PUB 301, choose six of the following courses: |
| PUB 300 Foundations of Public Administration (3) Required |
| PUB 301 Administrative Leadership and Behavior (3) Required |
| BUS 300 Business Communications (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| LBR 411 Contracts and Negotiations (3) |
| LBR 412 Labor Law (3) |
| HRM 313 Human Resource Management (3) (if not taken for liberals arts component) |
| HRM 316 Labor and Industrial Relations (3) |
| MGT 310 Management Theory (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| MGT 312 Organizational Behavior (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| MGT 416 Leadership (3) (if not taken for liberal arts component) |
| PSY 372 Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3) |
| SOC 315 Sociology of Work (3) |
| Any upper division economics course |
| Any upper division law course |
| Any upper division public administration course not PUB 300 or 301 |
Requirements for students who began their studies between Fall 2019 and Summer 2022 ►
Requirements for students who began their studies prior to Fall 2019
| Upper Division General Education (9 units) |
| HUM 310 Key Concepts: The American Musical (3) |
| IDS 318 Cultural Pluralism (3) |
| SMT 312 Natural Disasters (3) |
| GWAR (Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement) (0-3 units) |
| Select one from the following: |
| ENG 350 Advanced Composition (3) |
| or |
| GWE Graduate Writing Exam (0) - offered every two months |
| APS Major Requirements (33 units) |
| Transition to Applied Studies (3 units) |
| APS 300 Ethos of the Liberal Arts and the Role of Work (3) |
| Liberal Arts Component (9 units) |
| POL 310 Current Issues In American Politics (3) |
| POL 335 International Politics (3) (course substitution for ANTH 335 or HIS 348) |
| Public Administration minors may also select one from one of the following w/advisor approval |
| COM 435 Media Psychology (3) - (substitute for COM 300) |
| COM 365 Introduction to Public Relations (3) |
| Communication minors may substitute one public administration minor course w/advisor approval |
| Applied Component (18 units) |
| HRM 313 Human Resource Management (3) |
| HRM 316 Labor and Industrial Relations (3) (substitute for LBR 412) |
| MGT 310* Management Theory (3) |
| MGT 312* Organization Behavior (3) |
| MKT 350* Principles of Marketing (3) |
| PSY 372* Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3) |
| *Communication minors may substitute two Public Administration minor courses w/advisor approval |
| Capstone (3 units) |
| APS 490* Seminar in Occupational Leadership (3) |
| * Prerequisite APS 300, satisfaction of GWAR and senior standing |
| Minor Requirements (12-15 units) |
| Select from one of the following: |
| Minor in Communication (12 units) |
| COM 100 Media and Society (3) |
| COM 250 Writing for the Media (3) |
| COM 435 Media Psychology (3) |
| COM 365 Introduction to Public Relations (3) |
| Minor in Public Administration (15 units) |
| PUB 300 Foundations of Public Administration (3) |
| PUB 301 Administrative Leadership and Behavior (3) |
| PUB XXX* |
| * Recommended (may substitute PSY 482) |
| *PUB XXX = Any Public Administration course not used to satisfy other requirements |
Requirements for students who began their studies prior to Fall 2019 ►
Program Duration
Beginning in the Fall 2015 term, there will be three, 15-week terms per year (fall, spring, and summer).
Students do not need to complete any of the courses in sequence except OLS 300, which should be completed in the first or second term, and OLS 490 which should be taken in senior year or last term. Students can complete all of the upper-division courses and earn a fully accredited Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership without ever coming to campus. (Generally speaking, a full-time student could expect to complete the program in as little as two years; a part-time student typically completes in a little over three years.)
Students can use the Organizational Leadership Program Sheet to track their progress in the program and determine what courses they need to fulfill the requirements for the bachelor's degree.