100% Online
Earn your degree part-time and online while you continue to work or serve.
1 in 3 Students
About 33% of organizational leadership students are military-affiliated.
Grow and Thrive as a Leader
Propel your career forward with a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership (OLEAD), available online through Penn State World Campus. Whether you want to run your own small business or aspire to lead teams within a multi-national organization, these degree programs deliver in-depth leadership knowledge and a transferable skill set that can prepare you to advance into a supervisory role.
You can:
- build expertise in organizational behavior
- improve soft skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, and communication
- learn to capitalize on diverse perspectives in the workplace
- strengthen emotional and social intelligence
- gain a practical toolkit for planning and prioritizing strategic initiatives
- learn to motivate a team, exercise influence, and resolve conflict
- explore the ethical dimensions of leadership
Matthew heightened his leadership and communication skills
The OLEAD program exposed me to a broad range of topics that enhanced my understanding of leadership concepts, which helped me to better contribute to organizational goals, support leaders as a communicator, and enhance my own leadership capabilities.
Expect More from Your Online Program
This online program is grounded in the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State, one of the premier institutions in the world to study and work in the liberal arts disciplines. As a student, you may:
- earn up to 6 credits for work experience through a prior learning assessment
- apply leadership skills in a real-world setting with an optional internship
- enjoy enhanced engagement and innovative course work — such as acting as a senior leader in an organization
It was very important to me to earn a degree from Penn State — one of the best universities in the country. I feel the value of my OLEAD degree has only increased over time. The skills of motivating colleagues, resolving conflict, and leading teams are more nuanced and important than ever.
Choose Your Degree — B.S. or B.A.
Both programs, crafted by faculty from the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, explore various leadership approaches and the managerial behaviors of successful leaders.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) integrates more prescribed (core) courses, thus offering a solid foundation and more direction to students who are newer to leadership.
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) offers a higher degree of customization and is an ideal choice if you already have significant leadership experience.
Online learning can be tricky to navigate when you are virtual and asynchronous, but somehow Penn State World Campus has mastered it. The faculty and staff want you to succeed, and I have received nothing but support from them throughout my educational journey.
100% Online for Maximum Flexibility
Penn State World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than 25 years, helping adult learners achieve their educational goals. Benefits include:
- asynchronous learning
- start in fall, spring, or summer
- study whenever, wherever
- complete weekly assignments at your preferred pace
- have freedom to take a semester off
- no SAT scores required
Penn State’s OLEAD program gave me an understanding of the psychology of leadership during this historic restructuring of the workforce. Businesses can no longer rely on offering the best wages and benefits to attract and retain talent. Those of us involved in the management process need a better understanding of the social and emotional factors that motivate a team to achieve shared vision, values, and goals. The OLEAD program can properly prepare every current and future leader for the 21st-century workforce.
Special Benefits for Military Members
Military members can earn a respected Penn State degree in less time and at a considerable discount. Penn State:
- may grant credit for military training courses, so you can get a head start on your degree
- offers its Military Grant-in-Aid program — an award per credit for which all service members and their spouses are eligible
- accepts Military Tuition Assistance and VA benefits
- provides scholarship opportunities and undergraduate application fee waivers
For more information, fill out the form above or email our dedicated military support team at [email protected].
Request Information to Get Started
If you need immediate assistance, contact us directly at:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
[email protected]