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Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management

The organizational-management degree is offered in a "cohort" format. Simply put, this means that a small group of no more than 20 students will begin taking their major courses together, and will take each course in sequence. Because student groups stay together throughout the program, they develop a stronger sense of community and collaborative learning, while instructors build upon a knowledge base that increases with each successive course.

On campus, downtown in the U-District, and, now, in Moses Lake

We offer our organizational management program at both the Whitworth campus and the downtown location, as well as our new program in Moses Lake. Contact us as soon as possible to reserve your spot for the next cohort.

Organizational Management Curriculum
Students take one course at a time; each course takes six weeks to complete. Courses meet Tuesdays on campus, and Tuesdays or Wednesdays (depending on your cohort) downtown from 6-10 p.m. (with a break for dinner), as well as on two full Saturdays during the six-week period. The entire organizational management major takes just under 18 months to complete. The 18-month completion is only for the major; if you have other courses to complete, general requirements or electives, you'll need additional time to complete your degree.

SP 351 Group Dynamics	A focus on group behavior, including work teams and how their functioning affects organizational effectiveness. Emphasis on effective group processes for role clarification, decision-making, problem-solving, conflict resolution and group communications. Students develop communication strategies and application of concepts through completion of a small-group project.
BU 352 Human Behavior in Organizations	This course is designed to provide theoretical perspectives and empirical knowledge regarding human behavior as it relates to the organization. Emphasis is placed on the impact and implications of individual values, perceptions, motivation, diversity, growth and development as they relate to organizational culture and expectations.
BU 354 Management of Human Resources	A contemporary view of human-resource management. Emphasis is placed on the basic function of human-resource management, i.e., planning, recruitment, diversity, selection, training, performance appraisal, compensation, and union/management relations.
BU 457 Employment Laws and Regulations	An exploration of employment laws and regulations as they relate to avoiding claims for wrongful termination, ensuring equal employment opportunity, understanding affirmative action obligations and developing sound human resource policies and practice.
BU 356 Managerial Marketing	A study of the working knowledge of marketing management and learning to think strategically and to apply marketing theory in a manner that aligns marketing initiatives with market opportunities. Students will be able to understand the functional strategies and marketing plans to optimize customer and organizational value.
EC 356 Applied Economic Principles	Explore national economic factors and the impact of government policy, as well as the driving force behind all economic decision-making, to analyze how and why consumers and businesses make the choices they do. Decision-making in light of scarce resources will be examined.
BU 355 Managerial Accounting and Finance	This course will examine "the language of business" and provide an overview of key accounting and financial information that will assist managers in making sound business decisions that are based on standard financial analysis methods. Students will learn to read and understand business financial statements.
BU 459 Managing Technology	Examines information and skills needed by managers to make effective and informed decisions in regard to technological issues. Components will include technological literacy and innovations, as well as strategic technology management.
BU 460 Cross-Cultural Communication for Managers	Explores the importance of constructive communication in the international business arena. Study of how elements such as ritual, status, symbolism, concepts of time and use of space create our world view. This course will provide opportunities for students to enhance both professional and interpersonal skills in the area of communicating effectively across cultures. The intent is to broaden cultural awareness and enhance multicultural literacy.
BU 461 Ethics in Management	This course will raise foundational issues in connection with ethical values, and will apply those values in the context of organizations. Ethical principles and the process of applying those principles will be addressed, integrating Christian principles with standard ethical inquiry.
BU 458 Strategic Management	This course provides the opportunity to explore and apply core management theories with an application orientation in regard to individual and group behavior, operational and strategic planning, organizational structures, and performance measurement and control in a changing work environment.
BU 353W Organizational Development and Change	This course examines organizational theory, development and change from several different perspectives, or "frames": (1) structural, (2) human resources, (3) political, and (4) symbolic. Leadership, development of organizational strategies, and objective goal-setting will be explored.

Prior Learning Assessment (Portfolio)
Students enrolled in the organizational management program who have obtained knowledge through experience outside of the traditional classroom may earn university credit through portfolio assessment. Designed for the adult who is self-motivated and highly skilled in analytical process, portfolio development involves knowledge-assessment, documentation, third-party verification, and an understanding of college-level learning expectations. Examples of appropriate college-level learning might be work-related training seminars or self-directed study. Up to 32 semester credits may be earned through portfolio assessment. Please contact the Whitworth Continuing Studies Office for more information.