Organizational Leadership Degree Online BS in Business Administration Concentration

Earn an Online Leadership Degree

Career Outlook

Want to lead an organization through an evolving business landscape? A bachelor's in organizational leadership can help you do just that.

“Leaders are solution architects," said Dr. Linda Ellington, faculty lead for organizational leadership at SNHU.

“Leadership skills are needed in all organizational structures to understand inter-group dynamics and change management from a global perspective. The functions of leadership include creating vision and movement toward a common goal. This comes through encouragement and motivation of peers and is needed at all organizational levels,” she said.

The business world is shifting rapidly. The growth of remote work, an increasingly diverse workforce and evolving technology are changing the way people and organizations get things done.¹ As organizations navigate these changes, they’ll need future-thinking leaders with the business acumen and interpersonal skills to move groups forward.

That's why Rachel McCulloch '19 '21 wanted an organizational leadership degree after earning her associate degree.

"I selected this concentration because I want to eventually move up in my career in management and help my organization and employees meet strategic goals."

Jobs for workers with an organizational leadership degree are available across many industries. These industries include:

• Public and private businesses
• Nonprofit organizations
• Government agencies

Opportunities for skilled leaders are significant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment opportunities for management occupations could increase 9% – totaling 906,800 new jobs – through 2030.²

“There is always going to be a need for skilled organizational leaders – today, tomorrow, and afterward,” said Deborah Gogliettino, faculty lead for human resources at SNHU. “Organizations will always embrace someone who can bring a vision, especially one of growth and sustainability. That’s a trend I don’t ever see going away."

With an organizational leadership degree, you could lead a group – or an entire organization – toward a common goal. Job growth and earning potential vary depending on your specific organizational leadership career.

Possible jobs include:

• Sales manager: Direct an organization’s sales teams. Set sales goals, analyze data and develop training programs for sales representatives. Sales managers earned a median annual salary of $132,390 in 2020.² Jobs for sales managers are projected to grow 7% through 2030.²
• Marketing manager: Coordinate marketing policies and programs for an organization or brand. Determine the demand for products and services and identify potential customers. Marketing managers earned a median annual salary of $142,170 in 2020.² Marketing manager jobs are projected to grow 10% through 2030.²
• Public relations and fundraising manager: In PR, you'll oversee communications for a company, enhancing the public image of their employer or client. Prepare press releases, media reports and marketing materials. In fundraising, you'll oversee campaigns and events to bring in donations for an organization. Determine which fundraising methods to use and connect with potential donors to spread an organization’s message. Managers in these roles earned $118,430 in 2020, and the job outlook is expected to grow 13% through 2030.²
• Financial manager: Develop plans for the long-term financial goals of an organization. Create financial reports and direct investment activities. Financial managers earned a median annual salary of $134,180 in 2020.² Jobs for financial managers are projected to grow 17% through 2030 – much faster than the average of all jobs.²
• Human resources manager: Plan and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. Oversee the recruiting, interviewing and hiring of new staff, and consulting with top executives on strategic planning. Human resources managers earned a median annual salary of $121,220 in 2020.² Jobs for HR managers are projected to grow 9% through 2030.²
• Administrative services and facilities managers: Plan, direct and coordinate initiatives that help an organization run efficiently. These managers earned a median annual salary of $98,890 in 2020, and roles are projected to grow 9% through 2030.²
• Compensation and benefits manager: Coordinate and supervise an organization’s pay and benefits programs. Monitor competitive wage rates and ensure programs align with laws and regulations. Compensation and benefits managers earned a median salary of $125,130 in 2020.²
• Industrial production managers: Oversee daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. Decide how to best use resources to meet production goals and ensure production stays on schedule. Production managers earned a median salary of $108,790 in 2020.²
• Training and development manager: Work with organization leaders to identify workforce training needs. Oversee training programs, staff and budgets. Training managers earned a median salary of $115,640 in 2020.² Jobs in training and development are projected to grow 11% through 2030 – faster than the national average for all occupations.²

If you want to start a new career in leadership, an organizational leadership degree online can help. Already a leader? You can apply your coursework to grow in your current position.

An organizational leadership degree helped Matthew Seawright '19 make a major career shift. After working in banking for a decade, Seawright took a job managing a high-end retail store. But he didn't feel prepared for the leadership challenges he faced in the new role.

After Seawright lost his manager job during a layoff, he decided it was time to finish his college degree. He earned an organizational leadership degree online and learned the skills he needed to succeed in a leadership role. Today, Seawright oversees more than 50 employees in a Fortune 100 company's online retail warehousing facility.

With the diverse business skills gained in the organizational leadership degree, Seawright knows his future is wide open. One day, he hopes to apply these skills toward founding his own human resources consulting company.

“By going back to school, it put me in the know and on a level playing field with my peers,” he said. “It taught more about the business world, especially today’s business world.”

Journey to an Organizational Leadership Degree

Want to watch Seawright's journey to earning his organizational leadership degree? Check out the video to learn how completing an online bachelor’s degree changed Seawright's life and inspired him to be “not only a game-changer, but a world-changer.”

Courses & Curriculum

SNHU’s organizational leadership degree concentration provides effective leadership techniques you can use to guide a team toward achieving organizational objectives.

The online business degree starts with a foundation in business administration. You'll also take general education courses designed to teach critical thinking and communication. Your degree explores topics like:

• Accounting
• Business law
• Business systems analysis
• Finance
• Human relations
• Marketing
• Operations management
• Strategic management

Core business learning is supplemented with organizational leadership courses online. Hands-on learning throughout the degree can help you apply your coursework in the real world.

“The [organizational leadership] concentration in business administration provides opportunity to enhance leadership skills and recommend solutions related to achieving organizational goals, developing individuals and teams, change management and supporting quality initiatives,” said Dr. Linda Ellington, faculty lead for organizational leadership at SNHU.

Your organizational leadership courses can help you gain a global perspective. You'll explore organizational structure, group dynamics and other management theories that impact leadership roles.

You'll also develop an understanding of management, planning and decision-making in organizations. You'll learn how change management is used to boost productivity, manage conflicts and grow an organization in today’s evolving business world.

Leadership courses online also examine the role of leaders within an organization. You'll dig deeper into the leadership development process, and explore leadership styles and theories and add new leadership skills to your management toolbox.

Hands-on learning opportunities are important parts of the online leadership degree program. Simulations and team exercises help you apply your coursework to real-world situations.

Internships are not required but can provide valuable hands-on learning experience and help you develop important career skills. These skills include:

• Analysis: Gather and review organizational data to set strategic goals. Lead individuals toward that goal and monitor an initiative’s progress.
• Communication: Effectively share ideas within an organization, department or leadership team. Target your message to a variety of audiences.
• Critical thinking: Evaluate problems objectively. Apply ethical, legal and socially responsible practices to make strategic decisions.
• Problem solving: Connect classroom learning and practical experience to solve real-world leadership problems.

You'll learn from instructors with real-world experience, ready to pass what they've learned on the job to you.

"It is very important for online professors to encourage their students," said Christie Newell '21. "My professors did not disappoint! My favorite professors were encouraging, respectful and knowledgeable."

"My instructors were awesome," agreed Rachel McCulloch '19 '21. "I have learned so much from my courses and professors and feel that I have all the right tools to be successful."

As an online student, you’ll also have access to a variety of virtual learning help. These include online tutoring and writing services. Online business clubs and professional groups are also available. These can help you make connections and start building your network.

You’ll also benefit from a full range of career services – even after you graduate. Services include networking opportunities with our vast alumni network, resume and cover letter review and mock interviews.

If you’ve already completed some college coursework, you may be able to graduate with your organizational leadership degree sooner. SNHU's generous transfer policy allows students to transfer a maximum of 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree. With a maximum transfer load, you could graduate in as few as 5 terms, or 10 courses.

Want to continue your management training after graduating? A master’s degree in organizational leadership could be a good fit.

SNHU's online master's in organizational Leadership can help you apply business values to improve organizational performance. You can learn how to evaluate business and societal trends. And you'll also explore how to establish an ethical and socially responsible work environment.

Our online MBA with a concentration in leadership can also advance a management career. You can develop the business and management skills needed to lead organizational change in a complex business landscape.

Curriculum Requirements & Resources

• Business core: Business programs require learners to complete the business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.
• General education courses: All online bachelor's degree students are required to take general education classes, if not obtained in prior coursework. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
• Technology resources: We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.
• Earn math credits for what you already know: Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment.

Tuition & Fees

As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation—and haven't raised our costs in a decade.

We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)