Program Availability
The online Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Professional Development is open to eligible students in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories). The program also is open to students in Canada (all provinces). The program is closed to students residing in countries other than the U.S. and Canada except for U.S. military and State Department personnel and their family members with APO/FPO addresses.
Why Earn an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and Professional Development at Indiana State?
Our online Leadership and Professional Development program offers a flexible, convenient, and individualized approach to completing your bachelor’s degree and advancing your career.
Benefit from a Program Designed for Adult Learners
The online Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Professional Development is designed for individuals who have earned 75 or more undergraduate credits and now wish to complete a bachelor’s degree. The program is ideal for working adults who need a flexible, fast-paced, online degree program that recognizes their prior education and work experience.
The program includes a required Core, a limited number of signature ISU Foundational Studies courses, and an Advisor-Approved Track that enables students to tailor the program to meet their career goals.
Our aim is to offer this online program with the greatest consideration for flexibility and cost. The Core is offered in fast-paced, 8-week semesters, while most other courses are offered in a blend of both 8-week and 16-week semesters. The Core uses open education resources where possible to minimize the costs of textbooks.
Learn from Our Excellent Faculty
The Leadership and Professional Development Program is housed in the College of Arts & Sciences and is offered in cooperation with the colleges of the University. This means your classes will be developed and taught by faculty members who have a diversity of specialties. Most hold doctoral degrees and engage in research and scholarly activities. Small class sizes ensure you will receive individualized attention.
Admission Requirements and Instructions
Leadership and Professional Development is a bachelor degree-completion program designed for transfer students who have earned 75 or more undergraduate credits and satisfy other eligibility requirements.
For details, see Admission Requirements and Application Instructions.
What You’ll Learn in the Online Leadership and Professional Development Program
Coursework includes a required Leadership and Professional Development Core that emphasizes transferable leadership skills such as communication, problem-solving, and motivating others. The Core courses are combined with an Advisor-Approved Track and a limited number of ISU signature courses in our Foundational Studies (General Studies) Program.
The Advisor-Approved Track enables you to tailor the program to meet your career goals—and engage in individualized professional development while enhancing teamwork, collaboration, and community-building skills. We continue to develop study tracks to serve student needs. Current study tracks include the following.
Tracks
The Open Track offers students the flexibility to build an individualized track by combining minors and/or certificates with electives. Students work with an advisor to tailor their coursework based on their prior educational background, work experience, and career goals. To discuss options, contact Dr. Lindsey Eberman.
The Intergenerational Relationships Concentration includes completion of the Gerontology Certificate plus directed electives chosen in conjunction with an advisor.
The Education Entrepreneurship Concentration includes completion of the Early Childhood Minor and either the Entrepreneurship Minor or the Business Administration Minor.
Expand your understanding of criminal law and procedure, criminology, police organizations and administration, victimology, and ethics in criminal justice.
Study all areas of health care as it relates to administrative leadership, policy, and public health. Courses include public health administration and policy, economics of health and medical care, psychology of health behavior, environmental health, public health concepts, medical sociology, and more.
Develop effective persuasion theories and leadership practices in relation to nonprofit organizations and civic leadership. Courses include leadership, ethics, and democracy; state and local government; volunteer engagement; fundraising fundamentals; nonprofit administration, and more.
Pursue a passion for public lands and recreation administration. Students fulfill requirements for the Public Lands & Recreation Administration, Nonprofit Leadership, and Civic Leadership undergraduate certificates.
Transfer Credit
Indiana State University accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities within the United States, and from selected schools located outside the United States. Credit also may be granted for military training and experience. Previously earned college credit can be applied toward completion of the program per Indiana State's transfer guidelines.
Transfer GuidelinesCareer Possibilities for Leadership and Professional Development Majors
With fast-paced (8-week semesters), online learning, flexible for today's worker, the Leadership and Professional Development BS program helps students gain a competitive advantage in their workplace or take their careers in a new direction with contemporary skills for today's marketplace. Specific career opportunities vary depending on the track selected and prior work experience.
In addition, the Leadership and Professional Development program provides a foundation for graduate study.
