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Thrive in Your Vocation
Your persistent, purposeful qualities point toward a rewarding leadership career. Gain key skills applicable across a range of industries while completing your bachelor’s with the support of our vibrant, virtual Christ-centered community. 
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire undergraduate degree.
About the Program
With a focus on vocational formation integrated into every course, the online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership program helps you explore your identity, relationship to the world, and connection to the life and mission of God. Use these principles to guide your career, lead with purpose, and make a difference no matter the industry you pursue.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
Stand out from the competition while understanding what it takes to succeed in today’s global workforce. Complete your bachelor’s degree or gain the skills to move up in your career with a 64 credit-hour major focused on leadership theories and applications, purposeful communication, data- and research-based decision-making, and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.
Required Hours
Total: 120 hours
University Requirements: 56 hours (including 9-15 hours in Bible)
Major: 64 hours (up to 25 hours in electives)
Example Coursework
Self Assessment in Leadership
Teams and Team Leadership
Crisis Management in Organizations
Ethics for Leaders
Department
Upcoming Start Dates
January 9, 2024
March 5, 2024
April 30, 2024
Common Job Titles
Management Analyst
Compliance Manager
Social and Community Service Manager
Executive Coach
Nonprofit Executive Director
Curriculum
Leadership extends beyond giving directions and persevering in the face of challenges. Instead, fostering collective success and a sense of accomplishment rests on support, collaboration, and a culture where all ideas are heard. In turn, the online Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership focuses on relationship building — listening, motivating, and nurturing innovation and advancement through teamwork.
The program is divided into two segments: a 39 credit-hour core and 25 credit hours of electives for exploring higher-level leadership, communications, and business subjects. However you envision your career, the program covers:
- classic and contemporary leadership principles;
- the art of cultivating your leadership style in relation to your vocation;
- ethical, top-down decision-making skills;
- research designs and statistics methods for making data-backed decisions;
- organization-level decision-making skills to encourage success and cultural change;
- management theory;
- human resources management;
- team dynamics;
- psychology-rooted organizational behavior theory;
- race and racism and their influence on the workplace;
- crisis management principles;
- models of organizational change and development; and
- organizational communication theories and methods.
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Dena Counts, Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
Dr. Dena Counts is an assistant professor and the program director for two programs – the online B.S. in Applied Communication and the online B.S. in Organizational Leadership. Dena received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication from ACU. After working in the fields of fundraising, consulting, training, and human resources, Dena returned to ACU where she has served in multiple roles during the past 12 years. Dena received her doctorate in Organizational Leadership through ACU Online in 2019. Dena loves the challenge of teaching online and she is continually looking to improve learning and communication strategies for the online student.
Spotlight
Leadership Lessons Learned: The Blessing of Failure
Failure can teach us about ourselves and refine our leadership skills unlike anything else. And leadership is an evolutionary process. The more we see leadership as a learning opportunity, the better leader we will become. Read more about how failure can be a blessing in our blog post.
The Difference Between Transactional and Transformational Leadership
Transactional and transformational practices lie at separate ends of the leadership spectrum, but both are applicable to today’s business environment. Read on to learn the differences between these styles and how they are practiced in the workplace.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Dena Counts
Dena Counts is no stranger to ACU. After receiving degrees both on campus and online, she furthered her Wildcat career as ACU Online’s assistant dean and director for the Organizational Leadership and Applied Communication programs. Check out our latest faculty spotlight to learn how she’s bringing the ACU difference to an online format.
5 Key Skills Future Leaders Need
In today’s evolving work environment, aspiring leaders need to develop a variety of skills to grant them a competitive edge. Here are 5 key skills that all future leaders need to be successful.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Gae Goodwin
From a young age, Dr. Gae Goodwin wanted to make an impact on the world. After overcoming many life obstacles, creating a successful career in HR and earning her doctorate from ACU Online, she is now living out that dream as an adjunct professor in ACU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership program. Learn more about Dr. Goodwin’s commitment to leadership and community involvement in our latest faculty spotlight.
Defining Meaningful Work: What Does it Mean and How is it Valuable?
Do you want to come home from work each day feeling fulfilled? Meaningful careers may be what you seek. Learn more here.
The School of Organizational Leadership oversees this online bachelor’s program. Students are encouraged to hone their strengths not only in relation to their career but vocational calling and role in their community. This intersection sparks curiosity through exploration of leadership theory alongside formation and imparts Christian values not just for personal guidance but for making ethical decisions and operating with integrity and authenticity in the workplace.
Through this framework, the online Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership program:
- stresses the relationship between driving results and empathetic, collaborative leadership;
- touches on various leadership styles, including transactional and transformative, and their applications;
- aims to strengthen your decision-making skills, cultural intelligence, and team building, with the goal of creating more diverse organizations;
- explores leadership not just as a tool of innovation and direction but of change that extends beyond your organization;
- delivers a global perspective of business and leadership;
- encourages you to uncover your own leadership style — one that’s equal parts vision, empathetic communication, and purposeful management to bring individuals together and inspire change;
- equips you to anticipate and persevere through various organizational challenges; and
- refines your written and verbal communication, critical-thinking, analytical, problem-solving, and strategic-planning skills.
Reach higher, switch fields, or prepare for a role with more responsibilities. ACU’s online Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership degree program prepares you for the steadily growing number of management positions: between 2020 and 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the workforce will need nine percent more management professionals, including in private, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Based on where you see yourself making a difference, your degree prepares you for positions in:
- employee relations;
- sales;
- organizational dynamics;
- human resources;
- business development;
- project management; and
- customer service.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Submit official high school and/or college transcripts.
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
Students are not required to submit ACT or SAT test scores.
Graduation Requirements: Students must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher to meet graduation requirements and complete at least 33 advanced hours.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).