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A new degree for a new world of work
Today’s government, military and private sector is challenged to do more, do it better, and do it differently – and that means employees are too.
Employers also want to see more – leadership skills, the ability to manage projects or people, flexibility to adapt to change. No matter the sector you work in, or your years in the field, you’ll be challenged to show your leadership and adaptability to stay current and move ahead in your career.
Demonstrate your commitment, leadership skills and adaptability to today’s employers
The best way to improve your skills and prove your leadership competence? An associate degree in leadership from a respected university program like the School of Business and Technology at William Woods University. An A.A. degree shows more focus and commitment than professional development or training seminars.
Admissions and Enrollment
To apply as an online student, select “Undergraduate Online” in the drop-down menu of our application.
To apply for in-person day campus enrollment (full- or part-time), select either “Freshman” or “Transfer” from the drop-down menu of our application. Freshman are any students with less than 12 college credits. Transfer students have earned more than 12 college credits. If you are a high school student, apply as “Dual Enrollment”. If you are not sure, contact us and we’ll guide you through the process.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or 800.995.3159. We are here to help.
We are happy to work with those with dual high school credit or college or community college credit to ensure they receive maximum credit for previous coursework.
Please refer to the William Woods University Curriculum Catalog for complete program information and discuss your options with an adviser. Please note that ENG 099, MAT 098 & MAT 099 do not count towards degree requirements.
Program Highlights
The A.A. in Leadership can be delivered on-line in convenient 5-week courses, allowing you to balance work/life obligations. Or students can choose an on-campus, in-person program in a traditional semester format.
The A.A. in Leadership curriculum includes
- 61 total semester hours
- Of these, 43 are general education credits
- 18 are specific leadership credits
- Pracitcal coursework in Adapting to Change, Leading Teams, Psychology of Leadership, and other essential modern topics
- These credits work together to create a program where you can learn, grow and flourish
- Transferring in existing credits may save you time in the program
Who should pursue an A.A. in Leadership
- Recent high school graduates will find an A.A. in Leadership can jump start their professional life and can be an asset in any field. It can be a great fit while working part-time or pursuing other interests.
- Those looking to strengthen their current career potential will find the AA program to be an affordable, flexible option. This is a great way to demonstrate commitment, leadership, management and people skills to any employer, or when seeking a promotion or new position.
- Career changers will broaden their background and learn skills that apply to any field.
- Small business owners can gain confidence to grow their business effectively by combining university education with real-world leadership practices.
Major Requirements
Core Credits: 18.00
| This course introduces students to a variety of leadership concepts and serves as a foundational course for more advanced study in leadership. Topics include but are not limited to motivating others, management communication, training and development, team building and improving leadership qualities within each person. credits: | Concepts in Leadership | 3 |
| In this course, students will develop perspectives on leadership in the organizational context. They will examine the models and theories of leadership with reference to organizational vision, goals, strategies, culture, and ethical standards. They will learn leadership practices to support and enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Through case studies, reflective and experiential projects, they will develop the leadership skills required to effectively lead individuals, groups, and teams. Students will build a sound grasp of leadership knowledge and competencies that they can apply to actual, real-life organizational and business problems. credits: | Introduction to Organizational Leadership | 3 |
| In this course, students will develop their ability to lead in complex, dynamic and often fast-changing environments. Students will analyze leadership as it is practiced and evaluate the personal dangers leaders often face when they practice leadership. This course is based on the research of Ronald Heifetz, Dean Williams and Marty Linsky. credits: | Adaptive Leadership | 3 |
| This course covers the new psychology of leadership, which considers the social relationship between leaders and followers. Processes such as how leaders work with followers to create, represent, advance and embed a sense of shared social identity will be explored. Real-world examples will be drawn upon to discuss leadership in historical, organizational, political and sporting contexts. credits: | Psychology of Leadership | 3 |
| This course aims to develop rational skills and evaluative abilities useful to students seeking leadership roles. There will be three main areas of study: 1) Philosophical perspectives on the role and value of leaders, including the works of Plato, Nietzsche, Machiavelli, Marcus Aurelius, and Confucius. 2) Reflection on the individual student’s motivation for pursuing a leadership role. 3) Game theory and rational choice theory to give future leaders a foundation to better evaluate and form effective strategies and plans. credits: | Philosophy of Leadership -Q | 3 |
| The course will cover the principles needed to create and lead effective teams. Students will generate, compare and assess effective team interventions to produce high achieving teams in organizational settings. Topics covered in this course include stages of team development, identifying and assigning appropriate human capital to teams, team culture and alignment to corporate culture, ensuring team productivity through effective and timely leader interventions and team disbandment. credits: | Leading Teams | 3 |