Department of Leadership at Austin Peay.
The mission of the Department of Leadership is to offer online academic programs that address leadership-related theory, research, and practice grounded in the social and behavioral sciences, thereby helping students develop the leadership competencies needed to become formal or informal leaders and advance their careers in varied employment settings.
Have an associate degree? Complete a degree in Leadership Science in two years or less!
Graduate Certificates
Students will explore, research and reflect on leadership topics to include foundations of leadership, team building, diversity and inclusivity, ethics, communication, public relations and innovation.
Leadership Science graduates hold positions in a variety of fields to include Human Resource Management, Higher Education, Financial Services, US Military, Government Agencies, and Non-Profit Organizations. In addition, our graduates are well prepared to pursue graduate school in leadership studies, higher education administration, communications and public administration.
Degree programs
The Department of Leadership offers a bachelor's degree major in Leadership Science with two concentration options, and a master's degree with six graduate certificates also. All course offerings are available online through the calendar year.
The Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) with a concentration in Strategic Leadership is an interdisciplinary graduate degree program in the social sciences. The 30-hour program is designed for students who wish to pursue graduate professional studies in an online learning environment. The MSL is a professionally-oriented program that responds to the dynamic needs of students working in or preparing for rapidly changing professional environments and expectations. In this program of interdisciplinary graduate studies, students make connections between various professional fields and traditional social science disciplines.
The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in Leadership Science was developed around a conceptual model of leader development that is grounded in the social and behavioral sciences. The major consists of two components – a major core and a concentration. The major core seeks to develop in all students a set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to such topics as organizational ethics, cultural diversity, organizational behavior, communications, and strategic planning as these topics relate to leadership. In addition, students will develop the ability to consume primary research articles for insights on leader effectiveness. Lastly, students will have the opportunity to learn more about their own leadership potential and areas for self-development. The department offers two concentrations within the major in Leadership Science – Leading People and Leading Operations. For more information on these concentrations, see the links below.
The Leading Operations concentration consists of courses that address some of the
major systems and processes found in most organizations. Students will be exposed
to foundational concepts associated with leading operations as well as in-depth exposure
to
such topics as information technology, legal processes, and financial measurement
and analysis.
The Leading People concentration consists of courses designed to present students with content and insights related to leading individuals and teams in organizations. Students will be exposed to foundational leadership concepts and an in-depth treatment of such topics as team-building, judgment and decision making, and leadership and the uses of power.
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Professional Services degree is designed to prepare students for service industry careers. The degree consists of a general education core, a common set of required degree specific (core) courses, and concentration specific required courses and electives. Additionally, the A.A.S. coursework provides a multiple pathways to a Bachelor’s Degree in order to help meet an individual student’s educational and career goals. Students work closely with their academic advisors in determining their curriculum requirements. The A.A.S. offers concentrations in Culinary Arts and Recreation Administration. The concentration in Culinary Arts prepares students for careers in the culinary industry and provides necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities for entry into service-sector careers.
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Professional Services degree is designed to prepare students for service industry careers. The degree consists of a general education core, a common set of required degree specific (core) courses, and concentration specific required courses and electives. Additionally, the A.A.S. coursework provides a multiple pathways to a Bachelor’s Degree in order to help meet an individual student’s educational and career goals. Students work closely with their academic advisors in determining their curriculum requirements. The A.A.S. offers concentrations in Culinary Arts and Recreation Administration. The concentration in Recreation Administration prepares students for careers in the public an private sectors of the recreation industry and provides necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities for entry into service-sector careers.