Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership

Organizations need leaders at all levels who can effectively understand the environment and society in which they operate; analyze situations and solve problems; supervise and manage, interact and communicate appropriately within and outside the organization; anticipate change; and plan for the future. The Bachelor of Applied Science degree (BAS) is designed for individuals with a minimum of two years' work experience who have completed an Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Science, Associate of Business or an Associate of Arts degree at a Wyoming Community College (or an equivalent degree at another accredited institution) and who need or desire the additional breadth in skills, knowledge, and professional expertise to enhance their capabilities in their own careers and in the organizations in which they work. The fundamental philosophy of the B.A.S. degree is that the student must complete the general education (University Studies Program - USP) requirements expected of all UW bachelor’s degrees and must engage in upper-division coursework sufficient to provide focus and depth of learning. Following this philosophy, the B.A.S. has four basic components. These components are university studies, career specialty, professional concentration, and electives. The fundamental elements of the baccalaureate degree are provided by the general education core (USP) and the upper division professional concentration. At the end of the program, students are expected to meet the following Student Learning Outcomes: to develop proficiency in accessing, evaluating and utilizing information and ideas; to gain an appreciation for civic engagement as a mechanism for individual, organizational and community problem solving; to gain an appreciation for civic engagement as a mechanism for individual, organization and community problem solving; to demonstrate the ability to acquire, evaluate and utilize information and data; to demonstrate an understanding of organizational design, behavior, ethical practices, and effective managerial and supervisory practices; to gain and understanding of social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts essential for effective leadership and the management of change. The Career Specialty Component is fulfilled with the Associate of Applied Science, the Associate of Science, or Associate of Arts degrees. This component will consist of a minimum of 40 credit hours in the major. The Professional Concentration Component is the advanced component of the program and the courses are selected by the student and the advisor. All students are required to take a range of courses from the prescribed set of areas of concentration within this component in order to provide them with the breadth and depth of learning necessary for a baccalaureate degree. This component will consist of 36-40 upper division or articulated equivalent credit hours. Note: Within the Professional Concentration, students have a choice between two Organizational Leadership areas. Option A focuses on Community Leadership; Option B focuses on Business Leadership. This program is available by distance delivery only. The University Studies Program (USP) ensures that each student’s program includes the elements essential to a lifetime of personal and professional growth: habits of mind, practices of active citizenship, and development of intellectual skills. The USP program requires students to develop skills that include the ability to express oneself in speech and writing; to locate, evaluate and effectively use information; and to examine problems from quantitative, qualitative, and scientific perspectives. The USP requirements will be approximately 30 credit hours of your overall degree program.