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The Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies from the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) emphasizes a multidisciplinary understanding of the theory and practice of leadership applicable to various environments. The degree offers an interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional studies curriculum that is especially suited to those who are already working and seek to advance their depth of knowledge of leadership and enhance their professionalism. The degree is equally appropriate for managers and leaders in the corporate or non-profit fields. 

This major advances students’ knowledge and professional skills related to effective leadership, communication, management of change and conflict, the role of technology and globalization in governance. Expertise in leadership is honed upon a solid foundation of ethics and responsibility, analysis and critical thinking, creativity and innovation. Courses are offered by School of Continuing and Professional Studies and the College of Communication with electives courses available from the Department of Psychology.  

This major is designed for working adult students and provides:

  • Flexible scheduling including online options available
  • Financial Aid, flexible payment options, and special adult student tuition pricing 
  • Acceleration and affordability through transfer credit and prior learning assessment (PLA) credit
  • Opportunities to combine bachelor's and master’s programs and apply graduate courses to both programs
  • Individualized program planning, course selection and advising assistance provided
  • Enhanced career opportunities through professional portfolio development, and career placement services instruction from industry practitioners, and wide-ranging Career Services support
  • Degree granted by DePaul University, with its excellent academic reputation and the opportunity to join its prestigious and extensive alumni network
Program Requirements Quarter Hours
College Core Requirements 78
Major Requirements 76
Open Electives 38
Total hours required 192

Learning Outcomes

​Students will be able to:

  • Analyze and apply knowledge and theories of leadership.
  • Investigate problems using qualitative and quantitative methods.
  • Apply ethical principles in context.
  • Explain the value of social justice in organizational contexts.
  • Apply various methods of communication in multiple settings.
  • Utilize principles of reflective practice in leadership studies.
  • Analyze and apply different liberal arts perspectives.

College Core (78 credits, 20 credits in residence):

Lifelong Learning Requirements (32 credits, 16 credits in residence):

Course Title Quarter Hours
LL 201REFLECTIVE LEARNING 12
or RPL 101 PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT
LL 305ACTIVE CITIZENS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, WORKPLACE WORLD
LL 205QUANTITATIVE REASONING4
or LL 206 ADVANCED MATH FOR PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
LL 261ESSAY WRITING4
LL 270CRITICAL THINKING4
LL 290RESEARCH WRITING 14
LL 301RESEARCH METHODS 16
LL 302EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PRACTICUM 14

 Liberal Learning Requirements (46 credits, 4 credits in residence):

  • Liberal Arts in Action Requirement: CCA 281CCH 281CCS 281 or courses with LA1 designation, 6 credits
  • CORE CURRICULUM ARTS & IDEAS, courses with the CCA, AL, PI, or RD requirement designations, 12 credits
  • CORE CURRICULUM HUMAN COMMUNITY, courses with the CCH, SCBI, or HI requirement designations, 12 credits
  • CORE CURRICULUM SCIENTIFIC WORLD, courses with the CCSW, SI, SILB, or SISK requirement designations, 12 credits
  • IN 307 INTEGRATIVE LEARNING, 4 credits 1
1

Must be completed in residence.

Major Requirements (76 credit hours)
40 credit hours must be completed in residence in the major, including FA 199 and LL 303

Professional Studies Core (20 credit hours, 8 credits in residence)

Course Title Quarter Hours
CAREER ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING
FA 199CAREER ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING2
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
DCM 330PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE4
ETHICS OR SOCIAL JUSTICE, courses with the PSES requirement designation. Choose one of the following:
DCM 317ETHICS IN THE PROFESSIONS2
DCM 318SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE PROFESSIONS2
CREATIVITY OR INNOVATION, courses with the PSCI requirement designation. Choose one of the following:
CCA 170CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP2
DCM 319CREATIVITY AND INNOVATIVE THINKING2
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, courses with the PSGP requirement designation. Choose one of the following:
CCH 283GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES OF WORK & FAMILY4
CCH 300GLOBALIZATION AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE4
CAPSTONE PROJECT
LL 303CAPSTONE PROJECT6

Leadership Studies Core (48 credit hours)

Course Title Quarter Hours
DCM 301EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN A CHANGING PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT4
DCM 302PROJECT MANAGEMENT: DESIGN AND ASSESSMENT4
DCM 303LEADERSHIP MODELS FOR STRONG ORGANIZATIONS4
DCM 304EVOLVING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS4
or BADM 359 ETHICAL BUSINESS BEHAVIOR
DCM 307ANALYZING HUMAN BEHAVIOR4
DCM 308INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS4
CCH 299ASSESSING AND MANAGING CONFLICT4
DCM 312ADVANCED LEADERSHIP THEORY & PRACTICE4
BADM 310GENDER IN BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP4
DA 200DATA ANALYTICS4
or DA 233 APPLIED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
CMNS 251ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION4
CMNS 353COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE4
or CMNS 316 COMMUNICATION AND DECISION-MAKING IN GROUPS AND TEAMS

Leadership Studies Electives (8 credit hours)

Course Title Quarter Hours
BADM 270BUSINESS STARTUPS2
BADM 315ECONOMICS FOR DECISION-MAKING4
BADM 334HUMAN RESOURCE AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT FUNDAMENTALS FOR MANAGERS4
BADM 335RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE4
BADM 340IMPLEMENTING CORPORATE TRAINING PROGRAMS4
CCH 220FRAUD IN REAL WORLD ORGANIZATIONS2
CMNS 313NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION4
DCM 324EFFECTIVE GROUP AND PERSONAL DYNAMICS4
HLTH 330HEALTH LEADERSHIP4
PSY 347SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY4
PSY 380INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY4
PSY 382ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR4

Open Electives (38 credits)

Open electives can be fulfilled through courses taken in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and other DePaul colleges, transfer courses, assessment of prior learning (PLA), and independent studies.