Integrated Studies, Applied Leadership Concentration, B.S.
University Studies
615-494-7714
Dianna Rust, program coordinator
Dianna.Rust@mtsu.edu
The Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies degree with a concentration in Applied Leadership is an interdisciplinary program and includes courses from the following departments: Communication Studies, Management, Military Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, and University Studies. The University works with corporate partners that make available to their employees this Applied Leadership focus on building greater depth in leadership.
The Applied Leadership concentration provides students with four undergraduate certificates of 10 credit hours each covering topics needed in today's business environment.
- Certificate in Leadership Theory
- Certificate in Communication and Problem-Solving
- Certificate in Leading Teams
- Certificate in Leading People and Managing Change
Each certificate consists of two seven-week online courses and a 40-hour onsite intensive training with additional online coursework. Completion of all four certificates will fulfill the major requirements of the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Integrated Studies, Applied Leadership concentration. Students must also meet all general education and other MTSU degree requirements. Elective course requirements for adult learners are often fulfilled through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program, which evaluates college-level learning gained through work, training, certifications, licensure, military, and other programs. Details about the program should be discussed with student's advisor.
This specialized curriculum is for adult learners employed in business and industry.
Academic Map
Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:
Integrated Studies, Applied Leadership, B.S., Academic Map
Degree Requirements
General Education (41 hours)
General Education requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Major Requirements (40 hours)
Leadership Theory (10 hours)
LEAD 3000 - Leadership Tools and Self-Assessment
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Introduces leadership theory and practice using self-assessments and current leadership books. Students develop a practical understanding of the value of good leadership for successful team development and completion of quality work. Self-assessments will help identify students' approach to leadership and provide guidance for best practices. (One week intensive.)
MGMT 3940 - Business Ethics
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing and admission to the College of Business. The impact of individual values and ethics on business operations, including management of the organization and marketing of goods and services. Topics include legal and ethical aspects of dealing with the environment, consumers, employees, and the general community.
LEAD 3010 - Leadership Theories and Practices
3 credit hours
Examines prominent leadership theories, approaches, and research.
MGMT 4200 - Leadership in Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing; MGMT 3610 or permission of department; and admission to the College of Business. Importance of leadership in organizations. Examines major theories and concepts relative to leadership in formal organizations. Emphasis on practical application of leadership knowledge in the leadership role.
(LEAD 3000 is a co-requisite or prerequisite)
Communication/Problem Solving (10 hours)
COMM 3220 - Small Group Communication
3 credit hours
Exploration and application of pertinent concepts and theories of group dynamics, decision-making procedures, problem solving, and leadership.
COMM 3500 - Communication for Organizational Effectiveness
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2100 and COMM 3240. Organizational communication and its relationship to employees, leadership, corporate culture, diversity, change, and innovation. Possible topics include work-life balance and organizational identity.
COMM 4260 - Independent Study
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of department. Intensive study of a specific area of communication; topic chosen in an instructor-student conference. May include a major research project, applied communication project, or applied debate practicum. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
COMM 4800 - Topics in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Rotating topics in Communication discipline perspectives. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
Leading Teams (10 hours)
MS 4520 - Leading and Developing Teams
4 credit hours
(Same as PRST 4520.) Introduces students to the military definition of leadership and provides knowledge on how to design and implement training strategies to continuously improve their team's performance.
Choose two:
MGMT 4680 - Organization Behavior
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: MGMT 3610 and admission to the College of Business. Human behavior in organizations. Emphasis on motivation, leadership, communication, group processes, and methods for managing change. Understanding human behavior allows student to learn better employee utilization strategies resulting in a more effective and efficient organization.
PRST 4510 - Using Teams to Facilitate Organizational Development
3 credit hours
Studies organizations as systems and how teams can help facilitate change in organizations.
PSY 4810 - Teams in Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: For students in the Bridgestone program pursuing the Leading Teams certificate. Online course that examines factors contributing to effective work team performance in organizational settings.
Leading People/Managing Change (10 hours)
MGMT 3800 - Managing Change and Conflict in Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing; admission to the Jones College of Business. Examines contemporary thought on managerial roles in identifying, fostering, and implementing change in complex environments. Study of current developments in leading groups through change and managing conflict in organizations by use of competencies related to negotiation and mediation.
SOC 3300 - Diversity in the Workplace
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SOC 1010, SOC 2010, or permission of department. Covers various aspects of organizational diversity, focusing primarily on the United States. Explores current patterns of social inequality in the workplace with a specific emphasis on gender, race/ethnicity, age, and family arrangements. Focuses on the link between these social patterns and workforce diversity.
MGMT 4600 - Strategies for Collaboration in Diverse Organizations
4 credit hours
(Same as SOC 4600.) Prerequisites: SOC 3300 and MGMT 3800. Case studies and application discussions of the impact of diversity in the workplace, particularly related to organizational change and conflict/negotiation.
SOC 4600 - Strategies for Collaboration in Diverse Organizations
4 credit hours
(Same as MGMT 4600.) Prerequisites: SOC 3300 and MGMT 3800. Case studies and application discussions of the impact of diversity in the workplace, particularly related to organizational change and conflict/negotiation.
Prerequisite of LEAD 3000; MGMT 3800 and SOC 3300 are prerequisites or corequisites
Electives
- To make 120 hours
- 4000-level electives 12 credit hours
- Unrestricted electives 27 credit hours
Total hours in program: 120
Curriculum: Integrated Studies, Applied Leadership
Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.
Freshman
ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing
3 credit hours
The first General Education English course. Emphasis on learning to adapt composing processes to a variety of expository and analytic writing assignments. Minimum grade of C- required for credit.
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: ENGL 1010. The second General Education English course. Emphasis on analytic and argumentative writing and on locating, organizing, and using library resource materials in the writing. Minimum grade of C- required for credit.
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
- Mathematics 3 credit hours
- Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
- Electives 8 credit hours
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication
3 credit hours
Principles and processes of effective public oral communication including researching, critical thinking, organizing, presenting, listening, and using appropriate language. Counts as part of the General Education Communication requirement. TBR Common Course: COMM 2025
- SPCH 1010 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Subtotal: 30 Hours
Sophomore
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I
3 credit hours
Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. HIST 2010 discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. HIST 2020 discusses the era from 1877 to the present. These courses are prerequisite for all advanced courses in American history and satisfy the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2010
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II
3 credit hours
Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. HIST 2010 discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. HIST 2020 discusses the era from 1877 to the present. These courses are prerequisite for all advanced courses in American history and satisfy the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2020
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History
3 credit hours
The role of the state in the development of the nation. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. TBR Common Course: HIST 2030
- English literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
- Electives 9 credit hours
- Upper-division elective 2 credit hours
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
- Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
Subtotal: 30 Hours
Junior
LEAD 3000 - Leadership Tools and Self-Assessment
4 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Introduces leadership theory and practice using self-assessments and current leadership books. Students develop a practical understanding of the value of good leadership for successful team development and completion of quality work. Self-assessments will help identify students' approach to leadership and provide guidance for best practices. (One week intensive.)
COMM 3220 - Small Group Communication
3 credit hours
Exploration and application of pertinent concepts and theories of group dynamics, decision-making procedures, problem solving, and leadership.
COMM 3500 - Communication for Organizational Effectiveness
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: COMM 2100 and COMM 3240. Organizational communication and its relationship to employees, leadership, corporate culture, diversity, change, and innovation. Possible topics include work-life balance and organizational identity.
COMM 4260 - Independent Study
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of department. Intensive study of a specific area of communication; topic chosen in an instructor-student conference. May include a major research project, applied communication project, or applied debate practicum. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
COMM 4800 - Topics in Communication
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Junior standing. Rotating topics in Communication discipline perspectives. May be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
MGMT 3940 - Business Ethics
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing and admission to the College of Business. The impact of individual values and ethics on business operations, including management of the organization and marketing of goods and services. Topics include legal and ethical aspects of dealing with the environment, consumers, employees, and the general community.
- Electives 10 credit hours
LEAD 3010 - Leadership Theories and Practices
3 credit hours
Examines prominent leadership theories, approaches, and research.
MGMT 4200 - Leadership in Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing; MGMT 3610 or permission of department; and admission to the College of Business. Importance of leadership in organizations. Examines major theories and concepts relative to leadership in formal organizations. Emphasis on practical application of leadership knowledge in the leadership role.
Subtotal: 30 Hours
Senior
MS 4520 - Leading and Developing Teams
4 credit hours
(Same as PRST 4520.) Introduces students to the military definition of leadership and provides knowledge on how to design and implement training strategies to continuously improve their team's performance.
MGMT 3800 - Managing Change and Conflict in Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Junior standing; admission to the Jones College of Business. Examines contemporary thought on managerial roles in identifying, fostering, and implementing change in complex environments. Study of current developments in leading groups through change and managing conflict in organizations by use of competencies related to negotiation and mediation.
SOC 3300 - Diversity in the Workplace
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: SOC 1010, SOC 2010, or permission of department. Covers various aspects of organizational diversity, focusing primarily on the United States. Explores current patterns of social inequality in the workplace with a specific emphasis on gender, race/ethnicity, age, and family arrangements. Focuses on the link between these social patterns and workforce diversity.
- Electives 8 credit hours
- Upper-division elective 2 credit hours
MGMT 4600 - Strategies for Collaboration in Diverse Organizations
4 credit hours
(Same as SOC 4600.) Prerequisites: SOC 3300 and MGMT 3800. Case studies and application discussions of the impact of diversity in the workplace, particularly related to organizational change and conflict/negotiation.
SOC 4600 - Strategies for Collaboration in Diverse Organizations
4 credit hours
(Same as MGMT 4600.) Prerequisites: SOC 3300 and MGMT 3800. Case studies and application discussions of the impact of diversity in the workplace, particularly related to organizational change and conflict/negotiation.
Choose two:
MGMT 4680 - Organization Behavior
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: MGMT 3610 and admission to the College of Business. Human behavior in organizations. Emphasis on motivation, leadership, communication, group processes, and methods for managing change. Understanding human behavior allows student to learn better employee utilization strategies resulting in a more effective and efficient organization.
PSY 4810 - Teams in Organizations
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: For students in the Bridgestone program pursuing the Leading Teams certificate. Online course that examines factors contributing to effective work team performance in organizational settings.
PRST 4510 - Using Teams to Facilitate Organizational Development
3 credit hours
Studies organizations as systems and how teams can help facilitate change in organizations.
Subtotal: 30 Hours
