Leadership and Organizational Studies, B.S.

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The baccalaureate degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies (LOS) combines a liberal arts program with the study of how organizations operate and how leadership functions. It emphasizes the critical need to understand and work with people, the dynamics of change, the interdisciplinary nature of organizational operations, and the practical application of theories and leadership concepts. Drawing on faculty from diverse backgrounds, the Leadership and Organizational Studies program is designed to prepare students for work in the nonprofit, public, or private sectors.

This program may be completed face-to-face on our Portland campus, fully online, or through a combination of the two. For more information and to apply, please contact Admissions at admitusm@maine.edu.

The LOS program also offers an Accelerated Graduate Pathway (AGP) for current USM students in any major. For more information on the AGP, please contact the Office of Admissions. Please note, LOS students in the AGP may only apply LOS 500, 501, 512, and 550 as general electives for their LOS-BS degree.

Program Requirements

Minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University’s Core Curriculum) required for the Leadership and Organizational Studies major: 49.
Minimum grade requirement for major courses listed below: Minimum of B- for LOS 299 , LOS 300 , and LOS 350 . All other major courses require a C- minimum.
Minimum GPA requirement for major courses listed below: 2.67.

Students must meet the USM Core Curriculum requirements for their catalog year of matriculation in addition to the LOS major requirements. The core courses of the LOS major will introduce students to the theory and practice of organizational behavior and leadership with emphasis on communication skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, key quantitative skills, and team functioning. Required and prerequisite courses for the major (49-55 credits) are:

Non-leadership Core Requirements or Prerequisite Courses (6 credits)

Any basic statistics course (e.g., LOS 120 - Statistics for Informed Decision Making )
LOS 400 - Senior Seminar: Global Citizenship Credits: 3

Service-Learning Component–choose one of the following (3-6 credits):

LOS 270 - Introduction to Leadership Credits: 3
LOS 399 - Special Topics Credits: 3 (see advisor for approved courses)
LOS 470 - Leadership Study Abroad Credits: 6

Requirements for the Major (28-31 credits)

*All LOS majors must earn a grade of B- or better in LOS 299 , LOS 300 , and LOS 350 . No waiver courses or substitutions will be permitted for LOS 299 , LOS 300 , LOS 350 , or LOS 450 .

Any LOS approved Ethics Course that is three or more credits and 200-level or higher (e.g., SBS 370 - Toward a Global Ethics ) 3-4 cr
LOS 299 - Writing in the Major Credits: 1 (must be taken in first semester of program)
LOS 300 - Organizational Theory Credits: 3 *
LOS 301 - Group Dynamics Credits: 3
LOS 304 - Organizational Budgeting and Finance Credits: 3
LOS 329 - Research Methods Credits: 3
LOS 330 - Cultural Contexts Credits: 3
LOS 350 - Leadership Credits: 3 *
LOS 440 - Leading Organizational Change Credits: 3
LOS 450 - Applied Leadership Practicum Credits: 3

Required electives for the Major (12 credits)

LOS majors must take any four LOS electives (LOS courses that are 300-level or higher). LOS Electives are listed below. They can be selected based on student interest or as concentrations, certificates, etc. Please note that not all LOS electives are available online.

In addition to completing these course requirements for the major, baccalaureate degree students must meet the proficiency and residency requirements of the University of Southern Maine, and complete the Core Curriculum and elective courses to accrue a minimum of 120 credit hours of coursework.

Prerequisites for major courses may be met through specific courses, through any one of several programs of prior learning assessment sponsored by USM, or through waiver by the instructor of the course. Before taking 300-level courses in this major, students must have completed a 100-level college writing course or an equivalent with at least a grade of C-.

No more than two courses from outside the major may be used toward completion of the requirements for the major without the permission of the faculty-students may work with their advisor for this permission.

LOS 270 - Introduction to Leadership Credits: 3
LOS 302 - Organizational Behavior Credits: 3
LOS 310 - Science, Technology, and Society Credits: 3
LOS 312 - Human Resource Management Credits: 3
LOS 314 - Employee Relations Credits: 3
LOS 316 - Diversity in Organizations Credits: 3
LOS 327 - Leading through Conflict Credits: 3
LOS 336 - Dealing with Difficult People and Behaviors Credits: 3
LOS 345 - Leadership and Film Credits: 3
LOS 360 - Innovation in Organizations Credits: 3
LOS 387 - Collegiate Leadership Competition Credits: 3
LOS 398 - Independent Study Credits: 3
LOS 399 - Special Topics Credits: 3
LOS 422 - Leadership in the Public/Nonprofit Sectors Credits: 3
LOS 439 - Women’s Ways of Leading: Building Partnerships, Creating Change Credits: 3
LOS 470 - Leadership Study Abroad Credits: 6

Recommended Course Sequence

We recommend that students start their Leadership Studies coursework with LOS 300 - Organizational Theory and LOS 350 - Leadership . Both courses must be passed with a B- or higher for LOS majors. Students should work with their advisors to organize the scheduling of the rest of their coursework.

Major Courses that Satisfy Core Requirements

Students are encouraged to explore Core courses that also count towards their major or minor. Courses listed below are part of this major and also satisfy University Core Curriculum requirements. Course lists that satisfy each requirement can be found on the Core Curriculum webpage.

Writing, Reading, and Inquiry 3:
Quantitative Reasoning: LOS 120
Creative Expression:
Cultural Interpretation: LOS 210
Science Exploration:
Socio-cultural Analysis: LOS 310
Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship: LOS 340 , LOS 341
Culture, Power, and Equity: LOS 316 , LOS 330
International: LOS 470
Engaged Learning: LOS 470
Capstone: LOS 400

USM Core Requirements

Students must complete all Core and degree requirements as part of the Graduation Requirements. For more information, see Academic Policies.

The USM Core Curriculum provides a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal arts education that fulfills general education requirements. It is designed to help students become globally aware, purposeful, and lifelong learners.

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor. For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.