Leadership Bachelor’s Degree Online
Is a Leadership Degree for You?
Businesses and organizations would not be able to thrive without people who can lead teams, make difficult decisions, and encourage change. Many of these individuals learn and practice their leadership abilities through a leadership degree program. Leadership bachelor's degrees vary according to the focus of your chosen field. These degrees are most closely associated with careers in some type of management, administration, or executive role. However, leadership degrees are general and should be combined with a specialization or further education to maximize career options. Specialized areas of study include law, recreational leadership, organizational leadership, business leadership, liberal studies, leadership development, labor relations, communications, and education. Students interested in pursuing a leadership bachelor's degree must be people-oriented and have a desire to work closely with others. While critical thinking and precision are important, the ability to think on one's feet is also essential.
Advice for Earning Your Leadership Degree Online
Classes for online leadership degrees are conducted in a similar manner to those for traditional leadership degrees. Online students take the same classes and fulfill the same requirements as students enrolled in brick-and-mortar programs. However, online students must be self-motivated and able to work independently, as they will not have the structure of face-to-face instruction. Because leadership plays such an essential role in the professional world, individuals with bachelor's degrees in leadership are often regarded highly by employers. Many who have earned their bachelor's degree in leadership also choose to continue in higher education. Some pursue a master's in business administration (MBA) to supplement their business knowledge and enhance their resumes. Others will pursue a master's or doctoral degree in a specialized field, such as administration or marketing. Whether you plan on pursuing a graduate degree or not, the most essential step in choosing any college or university program is researching the institution's accreditation. Accreditation ensures that the institution meets strict standards of education.
Required Courses
Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in leadership will complete courses specifically designed to develop the skills required to guide a business or organization. Some of these classes include fundamentals of human communication, interpersonal and group communication, persuasion, argumentation, intercultural communication, organizational behavior, ethical decision making, logic, finance, and several leadership-specific courses. Students should also expect to take classes that help them put their knowledge into practice. Many leadership degree programs involve a leadership practicum or internship, which give students firsthand experience in the nature of running a business or organization.
Common Career Paths
As a graduate from a leadership program, you will have the freedom to choose the type of environment in which you would like to work. Leaders can find positions in the government, large corporations, small businesses, or even through self-employment. Overall, a bachelor's degree in leadership can lead to many different management-related positions within any organization or business. Common careers include (but are not limited to):
- Human Resources Manager
Human resource managers assist businesses that are looking to bring in, keep, and motivate qualified employees. Human resource managers perform administrative functions, such as answering questions employees have regarding their benefits, recruiting, holding job interviews for all prospective candidates, and choosing which individuals to hire. They also discuss strategic planning with executives and help businesses develop and implement new policies. They conduct training and look to increase employee satisfaction. The efforts put forth by HR managers can increase morale and productivity, improve results and performance, and even reduce job turnover. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median annual wage of human resources managers was $96,130.
- Education Administrator
Education administrators handle the daily activities of their school or institution. They direct all of the educational programs of businesses, museums, correctional institutions, and community service organizations. They implement educational standards, pursue administrative goals, and create the policies and procedures that are required to reach them. They oversee teachers, counselors, members of the athletic department, and other employees. Administrators create academic programs, observe students' progress, motivate and instruct teachers, and run career counseling sessions. They also put together budgets and interact with both parents and students. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median annual wage of preschool and child care program administrators was $39,940.
- Administrative Services Manager
Administrative services managers are in charge of keeping a business running smoothly. They accomplish this by planning, running, and managing a wide range of services, like space allocation and maintenance. An administrative services manager manages multiple operations, dealing with various departments like mail, distribution, records management, recycling, security, transportation services, and telecommunications. Administrative service managers handle contracts, government regulations, insurance requirements, and safety, and therefore must be highly responsible. In some instances, they may also be expected to monitor technology usage and energy consumption. Further job duties depend upon the size of company and the amount of authority you have.
The salary you can expect to receive will depend heavily on your employer and location. However, in 2008, the median annual wage of salaried administrative services managers was $73,520, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
