Online BA in Organizational Leadership

Enhance the overall leadership capacity within an organization

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Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

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At a Glance

The online Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in Organizational Leadership is a fully online program that empowers you to lead with confidence by applying real-world leadership strategies that drive results in today’s dynamic workplaces.

Created for students who are at least 25 years old or five years post high school or GED, and who have completed a minimum of 60 college credit hours, this degree equips you with the tools to lead ethically and effectively. You will explore how ethics, conflict resolution, and social dynamics shape decision-making at the individual, team, and organizational levels—preparing you to lead with purpose and impact.

100% Online

Time to Complete:

12+ Months

Credit Hours:

30+

Time Commitment:

10 to 20 Hours Weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring, Summer

cost

The BA in Organizational Leadership delivers a strong return on investment by equipping you with the leadership skills and business insight to thrive in management roles across industries.

This degree completion program requires 120 credit hours, and you can transfer 60 to 90 of those hours from other accredited institutions—saving you time and money while accelerating your path to graduation.

Tuition and fees range from $15,450 to $30,900 ($515 per credit hour), based on the number of transfer credits. Books and additional materials are not included.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

About the Organizational Leadership online degree

Great leaders understand both the challenges and opportunities organizations face. Driving productivity and efficiency may seem complex, but leaders who grasp how their decisions influence every part of an organization can create a meaningful, lasting impact. Strategic, relational, and creative thinking are essential to building high-performing teams and cultures while aligning mission, strategy, and vision across the organization.

The online BA in Organizational Leadership is a 30- to 60-credit-hour degree completion program tailored for working adults who aspire to lead in diverse organizational settings. If you have already earned at least 60 college credit hours, you can complete your bachelor’s degree quickly and efficiently.

Offered through the nationally ranked OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies, this accelerated online program helps you explore leadership styles and develop the strategies needed to inspire growth, drive change, and cultivate leadership in others.

What Can I Do with a BA in Organizational Leadership?

Earn your online BA in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma and unlock new opportunities across diverse industries. This dynamic program equips you with the leadership skills, strategic insight, and innovative mindset to inspire teams, drive change, and make a lasting impact. Prepare to accelerate your career and step confidently into influential leadership roles.

Project Manager
Executive Coach
Associate Director
Director of Development
Management Analyst

Leadership Consultant
Program Manager
Director of Non-Profit
Training and Development Director

Industry Insights

Leadership roles remain in high demand across various industries, offering competitive salaries and opportunities for long-term career growth.

Median Pay: $122,090
Job Outlook: Management positions are projected to grow faster than average through 2033
Job Openings: An estimated 1.2 million management job openings are expected each year over the next decade

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Program Outcomes: What You’ll Learn to Shape the Future of Leadership

OU’s online BA in Organizational Leadership prepares you to lead with purpose and help organizations strengthen their leadership ability. You will expand your self-awareness, enhance team and organizational performance, and learn how to develop these essential leadership skills in others.

Through this program, you will:

Apply innovative problem-solving strategies to real-world challenges in both personal and professional settings
Communicate effectively from a management perspective using writing and multimedia tools
Use digital literacy skills to assess the credibility and quality of information sources
Strengthen your leadership ability by applying proven organizational leadership practices
Build interpersonal, communication, team building, and conflict resolution skills
Deepen your understanding of human behavior and its impact on leadership

Course Details

The online BA in Organizational Leadership delivers a strong foundation in leadership, communication, and digital literacy—enhanced by modern management practices that reflect today’s evolving workplace. This well-rounded curriculum equips you with the principles and practical tools to lead effectively in any organizational setting. Students will work with their advisor to choose additional courses if more than 30 credit hours of coursework are needed to complete their degree.

Effective Communication

Credit Hours: 3

Students will enhance their interpersonal and professional communication skills in this course. Special attention is paid to recognizing the role of listening in communication, in addition to enhancing verbal, nonverbal, written, and presentation skills. Throughout the course, students will apply these concepts to real-world situations and reflect on the impact of communication on their personal and professional lives.

Critical Inquiry in Interdisciplinary Studies

Credit Hours: 3

This course requires students to locate, critique, and integrate literature/concepts to demonstrate their understanding of the foundational principles of interdisciplinary studies and their primary area of concentration. During the course, students will complete a series of assignments that will be used in the development of a comprehensive ePortfolio in the program practicum course.

Portfolio in Interdisciplinary Studies

Credit Hours: 3

The practicum course for the Interdisciplinary Studies program requires students to create a comprehensive ePortfolio, which showcases their key learnings about effective communication, digital literacy, data analysis, innovative problem-solving, and their primary area of concentration.

Conflict Resolution

Credit Hours: 3

A review of several contemporary theories of the nature of conflict and how best to manage it. Students examine the communication process and practice effective communication skills through practice.

Measuring Human Performance

Credit Hours: 3

An exploration of how leaders use assessments to measure human performance in organizations. Topics include common research terminology, best practices in employee selection, performance appraisals, and organizational performance management.

Digital Literacy & Data Analysis

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to increase students' knowledge and application of digital and quantitative data literacy. Students will also be introduced to principles of ethical decision-making. Using applied activities and analyses, students will learn how to utilize these skills in the real world and the workplace.

Innovative Problem-Solving

Credit Hours: 3

This course is intended to empower students to think clearly and analytically about information and beliefs. Students will be prepared to recognize bias and common fallacies in reasoning and evaluate informational resources. An introduction to innovative thinking and creative decision-making will help position students to tackle problem-solving at the personal, academic, and career levels.

Leadership in Organizations

Credit Hours: 3

The general purpose of this course is to learn about contemporary thinking regarding leadership in organizations and the applications of these insights for growth as a leader.

Ethics in Leadership

Credit Hours: 3

Explores the principles and standards of conduct used by organizational leaders to build trust and integrity in business through systemic ethical practices. Students grow their leadership capacity by developing the behaviors and virtues of the workforce that contribute to sustainable ethical business conduct.

Social Processes in Organizations

Credit Hours: 3

An overview of how leaders use social processes to improve organizational performance. Topics include the individual factors that affect social processes, i.e. personality, emotion, attitudes, perceptions, etc., and strategies to motivate employees, lead teams, communicate ideas, and develop an organizational culture.

Why Choose OU Online for a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership: Proven, Practical, Powerful

OU Online delivers high-quality, affordable undergraduate and graduate programs in a flexible online format—backed by the reputation of a top-tier public institution. Courses are led by experienced instructors with real-world expertise in organizational leadership, giving you direct insight into the challenges leaders face and the strategies that drive results. You’ll gain practical knowledge you can apply immediately in your career, all while learning from professionals who have led teams, managed change, and solved complex organizational problems.

Faculty Expertise

The Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree is built on the foundation of world-class University of Oklahoma faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.

Robust Student Support

OU Online offers robust student support services, including academic support, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and an online career development center. The program accommodates the needs of working professionals, allowing you to expand your career possibilities while maintaining full-time employment.

Global Alumni Network

With more than 250,000 alumni across the world, becoming a Sooner means you’ll have access to a strong network of management professionals to accelerate your career. As a Sooner, you’ll be part of a powerful network of leaders working in organizations across the world, helping you expand your career potential.

Still have questions?

Our FAQ provides answers to questions about what to expect, how to apply, and where this degree can take you.

Flexible Format

The BA in Organizational Leadership is delivered 100% online in a flexible format built for working professionals around the world. Whether you’re managing a full-time job, family responsibilities, or both, you can earn your degree in as little as 12 months. Study from anywhere, on your schedule, while gaining leadership skills and strategic insight to move your career forward.

Tailored Experience

Move through the program as part of a focused cohort of professionals who share your drive to lead and grow. Courses are delivered asynchronously for maximum flexibility, allowing you to learn on your schedule without sacrificing engagement.

Higher education is a transformative process. It’s supposed to help us become better communicators, collaborators and critical thinkers. But, it can also be very practical and relevant to our daily work. I love having an experience where both of those things are happening at once for the students.

Linda Passamaneck

Program Director

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your BA in Organizational Leadership is a powerful investment in your future—and OU Online is committed to making that investment accessible and transparent.

Tuition is $515 per credit hour, with total program costs ranging from $15,450 to $30,900, depending on the number of transfer credits. Books and additional materials are not included.

Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Our dedicated financial services team will guide you through every step of the funding process, so you can stay focused on your education and career goals.

For questions about financial aid for your online program, contact the Online Aid office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

Take the Next Step

To apply to the online BA in Organizational Leadership, you must meet the following requirements:

Be at least 25 years old or a minimum of five years post-high school graduation or GED by the first day of class
Have completed at least 60 credit hours of college coursework
Hold a minimum 2.0 GPA on all prior college coursework

These criteria ensure that students enter the program with the academic background and life experience needed to succeed in a leadership-focused, fast-paced learning environment.

Application Timeline

The admissions committee for the BA in Organizational Leadership follows a rolling admissions process, reviewing applications as they are received. Admissions may remain open until two weeks before classes begin, though some programs may have earlier deadlines. Once your completed application is submitted, the committee aims to provide a decision within two weeks.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Complete the online application.

Step 3

Provide undergraduate transcripts from all prior institutions.