Leaders discussing in a meeting around a table and smiling

Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership Online

Arkansas State University’s 100% online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership spans 120 credit hours, accepts up to 90 transfer credit hours plus A-State-approved credit for prior learning and costs $302 per credit hour ($906 per course). The program builds communication, conflict-resolution, labor-negotiation and organizational-change skills and prepares graduates for roles such as HR manager, training and development manager, employee relations manager and operations manager.

Next Apply Date: 12/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 1/11/27
Apply Now
Next Apply Date: 12/28/26
Next Class Start Date: 1/11/27

Program Overview

What does A-State's online B.A. in Organizational Leadership offer?

Strengthen your people skills and become a highly valued member of any leadership team. This affordable, 100% online program equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to successfully communicate with stakeholders at all levels of an organization so you can move business forward.

Learn how to motivate teams, navigate conflict, negotiate labor-management relationships and manage divergent shareholder perspectives. Coursework covers human resource management, compensation and benefits, organizational change and social psychology.

Earn credits for knowledge and experience you’ve gained outside a formal educational setting and reduce the time and cost of earning your degree. Study online on a schedule that works for you.

In this program you will:

  • Learn strategies for navigating conflict, working with labor-management relationships, managing divergent shareholder perspectives, and other situations where knowledge of organizational structure and communication is key
  • Understand challenges in personnel management in the recruitment, retention and compensation design for employees
  • Develop and apply effective ways to lead and facilitate organizational change
  • Utilize critical thinking in solving organizational and people management challenges that involve human dynamics
In this program you will:+
  • Learn strategies for navigating conflict, working with labor-management relationships, managing divergent shareholder perspectives, and other situations where knowledge of organizational structure and communication is key
  • Understand challenges in personnel management in the recruitment, retention and compensation design for employees
  • Develop and apply effective ways to lead and facilitate organizational change
  • Utilize critical thinking in solving organizational and people management challenges that involve human dynamics

Prepare for careers such as:

  • HR Manager / HR Specialist
  • Training and Development Manager
  • Employee Relations Manager
  • Compensation and Benefits Manager
  • Change Manager
  • Organizational Development Specialist
  • Operations Manager / Business Operations Manager
  • Store Manager
  • District Manager
  • Team Manager
  • Program Manager
Prepare for careers such as:+
  • HR Manager / HR Specialist
  • Training and Development Manager
  • Employee Relations Manager
  • Compensation and Benefits Manager
  • Change Manager
  • Organizational Development Specialist
  • Operations Manager / Business Operations Manager
  • Store Manager
  • District Manager
  • Team Manager
  • Program Manager

Also available:

This is A-State’s undergraduate path in people and organizational leadership. If you are interested in additional focus areas or the next credential level, explore the related programs below:

Per Credit Tuition: $302
Transfer Credits: Up to 90 hours
Credit Hours 120
Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 866-621-8096

Call 866-621-8096

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Tuition

How much does the online B.A. in Organizational Leadership cost?

A-State's online programs are affordable and convenient. You may also qualify for financial aid. Learn more.

The B.A. in Organizational Leadership online program offers the same low, pay-by-the-course tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.

Tuition breakdown:

Per Credit Hour: $302
Tuition Per Course: $906

Transfer your credits for lower tuition

Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.

0
90
Transfer Credits: 0
Your Estimated Tuition: $Your Estimated Tuition:
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Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.

You may be closer to Graduation than you think!

A-State-approved credit for prior learning recognizes your previous accomplishments, reducing your tuition costs and time to graduation.

Calendar

When can you start the online B.A. in Organizational Leadership?

Our B.A. in Organizational Leadership online program is flexible and convenient—featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates per year.

Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.

View full calendar +

TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Fall 210/12/269/28/269/28/2610/8/2610/9/2612/4/26
Spring 11/11/2712/28/2612/28/261/7/271/8/272/26/27
Spring 23/8/272/22/272/22/273/4/273/5/274/30/27

Now enrolling:

Next Apply Date 12/28/26
Start Class 1/11/27

Have questions or need more information about A‑State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from A-State?

Apply Now

Admissions

What are the admission requirements for the online B.A. in Organizational Leadership?

Review the admission requirements for the online B.A. in Organizational Leadership program and take the next step toward earning your degree.

Applying to A-State Online is simple. Our streamlined process and dedicated enrollment specialists are here to help you complete your application quickly and confidently.

Admission Requirements:

  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • 2.0 GPA for transferring credits
View all admission requirements +

Admissions Requirements Details

Arkansas State University offers multiple admission pathways for undergraduate students, based on your academic background and prior college experience.

Transfer Students (13+ College Credits)

You may be admitted as a transfer student if you:

  • Have 13 or more transferable college credit hours
  • Earned a 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher on all transferable coursework

First‑Time Freshmen (0–12 College Credits)

All freshman applicants are required to submit official ACT or SAT scores.

Recent High School Graduates (within the last 5 years)

You may be automatically admitted if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • 3.0 cumulative high school GPA (or equivalent GED score), or
  • ACT 19+ (super score) or SAT 990+, or
  • Top 20% of your high school graduating class

Applicants who do not meet automatic admission criteria may still be considered through an admissions appeal process.

Non-Traditional Students (Out of High School 5+ Years)

If you have been out of high school five years or more and have completed 12 or fewer college credit hours, you may be admitted if you:

  • Hold a high school diploma or state‑approved equivalent
  • Submit official Accuplacer, ACT or SAT scores
  • Have not previously enrolled at Arkansas State University

High school GPA is not considered for this admission pathway. Applicants are admitted based on diploma status and test scores.

Note: Regardless of admission type, if you have 0-12 transferable college hours, test scores will still need to be submitted for reporting purposes to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE). Although test scores are not needed for an admission decision, they are needed to register for your first course. Accuplacer test scores are an acceptable alternative to ACT/SAT scores and must be dated within the past five years.

Application submission requirements

Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.

  1. When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
  2. Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
  3. Submit all official college transcripts.
  4. Submit official high school transcripts (if applicable).
  5. Submit official ACT/ SAT test scores (if applicable).

If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.

Document Submission Address

A-State Online
P.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467

Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]

For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:

A-State Online
c/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401

Courses

What courses are in the online B.A. in Organizational Leadership curriculum?

To earn your B.A. in Organizational Leadership, you need to complete 120 credit hours of coursework. The program includes 38 credit hours of general education courses, 39 credit hours of major courses and 43 credit hours of elective courses. Students can finish faster by transferring previously earned credit hours. Freshman students are required to take a 3-hour Making Connections course. Transfer credit hours will be evaluated during the admission process.

You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet:

View the AOS Course Smartsheet

How to Use the Course Smartsheet

Expand All
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Identification of barriers and breakdowns to com­munication among cultures.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Dynamics and theories of communication within an organization.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Conflict as a communication variable created through inter­personal interaction in dyads, small groups, families, and organizations.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an overview of foundational management principles, including internal and external assessment and planning, organization structure and design, leadership and motivation, and decision and control processes.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Functions and problems involved in personnel management with emphasis placed upon recruitment, selection, management development, utilization of and accommodation to human resources by organizations. Prerequisite: EMSL 3153.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An interdisciplinary analysis of the relationships of individuals and groups within the context of the organization, blending concepts drawn from psychology, sociology, philosophy and communication theory with basic managerial concepts.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Labor management relations in both the public and private sectors, with emphasis on the process of managing within a union environment that involves contract negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Prerequisite: EMSL 3143.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examines the interdependence of business and society. Students will develop skills to manage social impacts and divergent stakeholder perspectives. Prerequisite: MGMT 3123 or MGMT 3153.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Leadership processes and application at the organization, group and individual levels. Emphasis on team activities. Prerequisite: EMSL 3123 or EMSL 3153.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Application of planned organizational change and development with an emphasis on how change occurs in dynamic organizational cultures in contemporary business organizations. Prerequisite: EMSL 3153.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Design and administration of compensation systems. Deals with determinants of general pay level, job evaluation, wage and salary survey, fringe benefit plans and the impact of current government regulations on pay structures. Prerequisite: EMSL 3143.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Overview of the major areas of social psychology, including social cognition, attitude theory, and intergroup relations, with emphasis on dual process models and implicit processes.

You must complete 43-46 credit hours of electives to satisfy the 120 credit hours required for this program. Courses may be chosen with the assistance of an advisor and per your degree plan. 

Students must take the following courses.

First-year course - Students must take the following Making Connections online course. If you transfer in more than 12 credit hours, you will not be required to take the Making Connections course. You may replace that 3-hour course with a 3-hour elective course.

First-year course (3 hours)
UNIV11033

Communication Requirement (6 hours)

ENGL10103
ENGL10203

Mathematics Requirement (3 hours)

Students must take MATH11003 or any MATH course that requires MATH11003 as prerequisite.

Arts and Humanities Requirement (6 hours)
MUSC10003
ENGL21103
ENGL21203

Social Sciences Requirement (9 hours)

PLSC20003
PSYC11003
SOCI10103

Life Science Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete BIO 1003 with BIO 1001 lab.

Physical Sciences Requirement (4 hours)
Students must complete CHEM12103 with CHEM12101 lab.

Departmental Requirement (3 hours)
SPCH10003

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Laboratory, must be taken with BIO 1003. There will be a fee when purchasing the LabKit. Please visit the tuition and fees page for pricing.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The major characteristics and processes of life emphasizing the human organism. Promotes understanding of diversity and unity among living organisms with focus on ecological interactions and responsibilities of people within their social and natural environment. Lecture three hours per week. Special course fees may apply. Must be taken with BIO 1001.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
Special course fees ap­ply. Corequisites: CHEM 1043.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
A one semester chemistry survey course introducing selected fundamental concepts including dimensional analysis, mole concept, atomic and molecular structure, nomenclature, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, intermolecular interactions, gases, mixtures, kinetics, equilibrium and acid base chemistry. Prerequisites: completion of MATH 1023, MATH 1043, or a MATH course for which these are a prerequisite. Corequisites: CHEM 1041.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The theory and practice of communication in interpersonal, small groups, and public speaking contexts, emphasizing proficiency in message organization, delivery, and critical thinking.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study and practice of fundamentals of written communication in­cluding principles of grammar, punctuation, spelling, organization, and careful analytical reading. Fall, Spring. (ACTS#: ENGL 1013) Prerequisites: with grade of C or better, for ENG 1013.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Continues the practice of ENG 1003, to develop further the skills learned in that course. Based on reading and discussion of various types of writing, the students’ essays will provide practice in different kinds of rhetorical development including re­search and documentation. Fall, Spring. (ACTS#: ENGL 1023) Prerequisites: must complete ENG 1003 with grade of C or better for degree.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from early civilizations through the Renaissance.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the analysis and interpretation of literary works from several historical periods ranging from the Renaissance to the present.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, and miscellaneous topics. No credit given if taken following MATH 1054.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
FINE ARTS. An introduction to music for the listener who has had no formal musical training or experience. A study of musical styles and composers and their cultural and historical contexts. Fall, Spring, Summer. (ACTS#: MUSC 1003)
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
AMERICAN POLITICS. The con­stitution, government, and politics of the United States.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Study of the important scientific, principles of individual human behavior from biological, cognitive, social, and behavioral perspectives.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The scientific study of society: Social institutions, social interactions, social inequality, social organizations, and social change.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Required course for all first semester freshmen. Course content is centered around the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful ASU student, including academic performance, problem solving, critical thinking, self management and group building skills, university policies and other relevant issues.

Program Coursework Rotation Online

FAQ

Organizational Leadership Bachelor’s Online FAQs

Intro copy

The B.A. is an undergraduate degree of 120 credit hours at $302 per credit hour, and it accepts up to 90 transfer credit hours. The M.S. in Organizational Leadership is a graduate degree of 30 credit hours at $350 per credit hour ($10,500 total) that requires a bachelor’s degree with a 2.5 cumulative GPA (or 2.75 in the last 60 hours) and can be completed in as few as 12 months.
Conflict Resolution (COMM 43203) treats conflict as a communication variable created through interaction in pairs, small groups, families and organizations. Conflict Labor Negotiations (EMSL 3163) covers labor-management relations in the public and private sectors, including contract negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Organizational Change and Development (EMSL 4143) covers planned organizational change and how change occurs in dynamic organizational cultures. Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Management (EMSL 3193) covers managing social impacts and divergent stakeholder perspectives.
Of the 120 credit hours, 38 are general education, 39 are major courses and 43 are electives. That leaves more room for electives than a degree like the B.S. in Business Administration, which has 66 credit hours of major and other courses and 16 hours of electives.
Yes. A-State-approved credit for prior learning (CPL) recognizes accomplishments gained outside a formal educational setting and reduces tuition costs and time to graduation. The degree also accepts up to 90 transfer credit hours, so a student whose maximum credits transfer means just 30 credit hours at A-State are needed for degree completion. Transcript evaluation happens during admission.

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