Courses
Bachelor of Science
Major in Organizational Leadership
(Entrance requirement: A.A. or A.S. degree, or at least 60 undergraduate credits)
Objectives
At the end of this program, students will be able to:
- Think critically and creatively about organizational challenges.
- Understand the ethical and moral issues of leadership.
- Communicate effectively.
- Work productively with others.
- Contribute positively to the health and vitality of organizations.
General Education Courses
ADCG 301. Professional Communication: Writing. (3) This course reviews fundamental principles of effective writing and focuses on applying them in the forms and styles used in business and the professions.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Determine the audience for a writing assignment.
- Choose the form and style appropriate for that audience.
- Write with focus on a point.
- Provide relevant evidence to support the point.
- Meet professional standards for usage, spelling, and punctuation.
ADCG 302. Professional Communication: Speaking. (3) This course develops speaking skills necessary for success in professional work environments.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of the communication process particularly as it applies to professional work environments.
- Demonstrate the speaking skills necessary for success in professional work environments.
- Prepare, deliver, and evaluate ideas effectively in various communication situations.
- Explain the importance of personal and ethical responsibility in being an effective professional communicator.
- Describe the standards for professional conduct.
ADCG 303. Ethics in the Western Tradition. (3) This course introduces students to problems of moral philosophy or ethics in the Western tradition.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Recognize and describe the major topics, ideas, and thinkers of moral philosophy.
- Identify and construct moral arguments.
- Engage critically moral ideas orally and in writing.
- Demonstrate an understanding about the requirements and exercising of systematic moral thinking.
ADCG 304. Globalization in the 21st Century. (3) This course examines the political, economic, and cultural aspects of contemporary trends of globalization.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Identify and explain current political, economic, and cultural trends in globalization.
- Analyze and evaluate the impacts of globalization on the world, the nation-state, regional/local areas, and individuals.
- Demonstrate the impact of globalization on how we think, feel, and act as groups and individuals.
- Apply their knowledge by constructing solutions to the challenges posed by globalization.
ADCG 305. Capstone Project. (6) In consultation with a student’s advisor, the student develops a research project from conceptualization to implementation.
Outcomes: At the end of this project, students will be able to
- Apply the information, knowledge, and skills developed in the general education and major courses.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills both orally and in writing.
- Identify and apply personal values and ethical principles throughout the planning and implementation of the project.
- Demonstrate respect for and inclusion of diversity within the project.
- Identify and solve problems effectively.
Major in Organizational Leadership
OLDR 311. Principles of Leadership. (3) This course examines the foundational theories, development, and applications of effective leadership principles and skills.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Recognize and explain the various theories of leadership.
- Identify the values, attributes, and skills necessary for healthy leadership.
- Analyze and evaluate the performance of leaders.
- Apply their knowledge of leadership.
OLDR 312. Interpersonal Communication. (3) This course examines the processes, concepts, and theories associated with person-to-person communication.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Recognize and explain the various theoretical approaches of interpersonal communication.
- Identify and describe interpersonal communication processes and concepts.
- Analyze and evaluate interpersonal communication situations.
OLDR 313. Industrial and Organizational Psychology. (3) This course examines how the principles, concepts, and theories of psychology can be used to increase organizational effectiveness and individual well-being in the workplace.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Identify and describe the various theoretical explanations of the industrial-organizational process.
- Demonstrate how the principles, concepts, and theories of psychology can be used to increase organizational effectiveness and individual well-being in the workplace.
- Use the knowledge acquired in the course to assess an organization and develop a plan to improve the organization’s or industry’s effectiveness.
OLDR 314. Social Psychology. (3) This course examines human behavior in its social context to reveal how one’s feelings and actions can be influenced by other people.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Recognize and explain the basic concepts, theories, and research findings on social psychological processes.
- Identify how situations influence one’s own and others’ behavior and mental processes.
- Demonstrate an understanding of intergroup relationships, conflict and cooperation.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the forces that create group difference in patterns of social behavior.
- Describe cross-cultural differences and similarities in social behavior.
- Apply the constructs of social psychology to positions of leadership and one’s own life experiences.
OLDR 315. Conflict and Negotiation. (3) This course explores ways of understanding the roots and dynamics of conflict and conflict resolution through a combination of theories, case studies, and hands-on experiences.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Explain the basic concepts, theories, and perspectives on the causes of conflict.
- Explain the basic concepts, theories, and perspectives about conflict resolution.
- Identify and demonstrate an understanding of the various methods of conflict resolution, such as litigation, negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
- Use their knowledge of conflict and conflict resolution to successfully resolve a conflict.
OLDR 316. Legal Issues and Policies. (3) This course focuses on the identification of potential legal concerns to organization leadership and management, particularly in the areas of common employment law issues, contract dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and negligence.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Identify and describe practical legal principles and issues that often arise in organizations.
- Describe basic legal concerns ranging from employment law issues, contract disputes, regulatory compliance, and negligence claims.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to identify potential legal concerns and how to appropriately address those concerns.
- Identify informational sources available to provide practical guidance to aid in mitigation of legal risk and exposure.
OLDR 317. Ethics and Leadership. (3) This course will introduce students to the ethical dilemmas that face leaders and will prepare students to create and sustain themselves as ethical decision makers.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Recognize and describe standard philosophical models of ethical thinking in relation to leadership.
- Apply classic and contemporary philosophical analyses to issues of role models, character development, confidentiality, informed consent, deception, whistle-blowing, and social responsibility.
- Think systematically and logically about ethics in the workplace.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the Illinois Ethics Act.
- Adopt and be able to implement a standard model of ethical thinking in the workplace.
OLDR 318. Fiscal Resources. (3) This course introduces students to the language of finance and to financial issues that have impacts across organizations.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Identify and interpret financial statements.
- Use financial statements to evaluate financial performance and plan future financial performance.
- Prepare master budgets and supporting budgets.
- Apply incremental analysis to various organization decisions.
OLDR 319. People and Organizations. (3) This course examines practices and theories associated with managing human resources for effective organizations.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Explain the practices and theories associated with the processes of recruitment, selection, training, and performance appraisal.
- Develop an effective recruitment strategy for a position in an organization.
- Create and deliver a training program for an organization.
- Design a performance appraisal system for an organization.
OLDR 320. Technology and Organizations. (3) This course examines the influence of technology on organizations with a focus on how technology can improve organizational performance.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Identify and organize relevant technology office products.
- Explain the role and importance of advanced technology in today’s work environment.
- Develop a QA/QI project using appropriate technology and equipment.
- Assess the technology needs of an organization.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the successful integration of technology resources into the work environment.
OLDR 321. Understanding Organizations. (3) This course explores structures, processes, and theories for understanding organizational performance.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Describe various organization designs and their relation to organization performance.
- Explain how theories and practices of leadership, motivation, change, culture, and decision-making contribute to organization performance.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how external forces, such as government, the economy, and society affect organization performance.
- Assess the effectiveness of an organization using the knowledge acquired in the course.
- Use organizational theory to improve the management, leadership, change, and effectiveness of an organization.
OLDR 322. Diversity and Organizations. (3) This course explores the dynamics of culture and diversity on organizations and personnel.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Examine critically the current state of theory, research, and application regarding the role and management of differences and the creation of inclusion in organizations.
- Describe the impact of race, religion, gender, disability, generational differences, sexual orientation, and others on organizational effectiveness.
- Demonstrate best practices in intercultural understanding, sensitivity, and skills.
- Recognize and interpret applicable laws and policies related to workforce diversity and equal opportunity practices and management.
OLDR 323. Statistics. (3) This course introduces students to descriptive and inferential statistical procedures and probability.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Demonstrate an understanding of basic statistical procedures and probability.
- Analyze data using descriptive and inferential statistical procedures.
- Analyze data using elementary probability principles.
- Make and explain conclusions about data using statistical methods.
OLDR 324. Research Methods. (3) This course introduces students to research practices and methodologies.
Outcomes: At the end of this course, students will be able to
- Explain the practices and methods associated with data collection and the design of qualitative and quantitative studies.
- Describe the best practices associated with data management, evaluation, and analysis.
- Analyze and evaluate professional research in terms of the scientific method.
- Conduct a study and write a report using the appropriate research methodologies.
