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				Nov 04, 2025			
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	2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog																	 
	    Leadership and Professional Development Major
				
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				(32-38 credits) 
The Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Professional Development is designed for working adults with documented work, military, educational, and/or life experience. This degree-completion program is ideally designed for adult learners with at least 75 credits of undergraduate course work, prior learning, and/or an associate (AA/AS) degree. The admission requirements are consistent with University guidelines (2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale in all college-level studies). Applicants are encouraged to apply for prior learning credit that may not be formalized education. 
With fast-paced (8-week semesters), online learning, flexible for today's workers, the degree will help students gain a competitive advantage in their workplace or take their careers in a new direction with contemporary skills for today's marketplace. Students will complete a 5-credit focused degree with an emphasis on transferable leadership skills, like communication, problem-solving, and motivating others. The 5-credit core is paired with a focused plan of study in an area of their choosing, where students will engage in individualized professional development and enhance their teamwork, collaboration, and community-building skills. 
The program is restricted to students who have completed at least 75 credit hours.The program is designed for non-traditional transfer and returning adults, not for first-time college students. 			 
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		Leadership and Professional Development Core (5 credits):
 Foundational Studies Path
 75-89 credits: Students who enter ISU with 75-89 credits will need to complete 12 credit hours in the following Foundational Studies categories:   JR Composition, Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity, Ethics and Social Responsibility, and the Upper Division Integrative elective.  90 credits: Students who enter ISU with 90 credits will need to complete 9 credit hours in the Foundational Studies categories:   JR Composition, Ethics and Social Responsibility, and the Upper Division Integrative elective.  
 
  Advisor Approved Track/Concentrations (27 credits minimum):
 Advisor-approved track/concentrations are intended to match the market needs and should be created through courses, certificates, and minors that already exist. Along with the pre-approved concentrations below, a student in conjunction with their advisor can create an open track allowing for flexibility to meet student needs. Intergenerational Relationships Concentration (27 credits):
 Choose Between Two Options: Criminal Justice Studies Concentration (27-33 credits):
 Choose Between Two Options: Education Entrepreneurship Concentration (30-33 credits)
 Completion of the following: - Early Childhood Minor (15 credits) 
 
  
 AND - Entrepreneurship Minor (15 credits) OR Business Administration Minor (18 credits)
 
 Health Care and Health Care Policy Concentration (27 credits):
 Select 27 credits from the following: Nonprofit and Civic Engagement Concentration (29 credits):
 Select 12 credits from the following: - COMM 312 - Persuasion Theories 3 Credits
 - GNDR 450 - Student Activism in Theory and Practice 3 Credits
 - PSCI 107 - Leadership, Ethics, and Democracy 3 Credits
 - PSCI 305 - State and Local Government 3 Credits
 - PSCI 415 - Public Policy 3 Credits
 - RCSM 440 - Volunteer Engagement 3 Credits
 - RCSM 483 - Fundamentals of Fundraising 3 Credits
 - RCSM 489 - Advanced Nonprofit Admin 3 Credits
 Select an additional 15 credits from the courses above (cannot be repeated), or from the following list below:   - GNDR 301 - Gender, Race, Nation 3 Credits
 - ECON 100 - Basic Economics 3 Credits
 - ECON 200 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credits
 - ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credits
 - ECON 331 - Public Finance 3 Credits
 - ECON 347 - Economic Development 3 Credits
 - ECON 351 - Survey of Labor Economics and Labor Institutions 3 Credits
 - ECON 353 - Gender and Economics 3 Credits
 Or elective approved by advisor (up to 6 credits) Note: PSCI 107, PSCI 305, and Comm 312 or GNDR 450 or PSCI 415 comprise the Civic Leadership Certification. RCSM 440, 483, and 489 together complete the Non-Profit Leadership Certificate. - SOC 302 - Work, Employment, and Society 3 Credits
 
 Public Lands Philanthropy & Advocacy Concentration (27 credits)
 Completion of the track will also result in completion of the Public Lands & Recreation Administration, Nonprofit Leadership, and Civic Leadership Certificates.
  Open Track (min 27 credits):
 Courses are choosen in conjunction with an advisor.  Note:
 Note:All students must have 45 credits of 3/400 level coursework which should be considered when choosing elective credit to complete requirements. 
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