COLS Certificate

The certificate in Community and Organizational Leadership Studies (COLS) provides you with the skills to lead teams, motivate people, articulate a compelling vision, foster positive communication, make strategic decisions, resolve conflicts, and create the positive work climate and culture needed to thrive through continuous organization change.

A minimum GPA of 2.3 is required in courses taken specifically for the minor. At least 12 of the 18 credit hours must be taken on the IU Indianapolis campus. 

O’Neill students earning an O’Neill certificate may double count up to 6 credit hours of certificate courses.

Declare intention to pursue minor

COLS certificate curriculum (18 credit hours)

Required courses (12 credit hours)

• SPEA–V 203 The Call of Public Service
• SPEA–L 377 Foundations of Leadership
• SPEA–V 412 Leadership and Ethics
• SPEA–L 477 Leadership Applications

Select one of the following (3 credit hours)

• SPEA–V 263 Public Management
• SPEA–V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• SPEA–L 384 Human Relations
• SPEA–L 385 Leadership: Quality and Productivity
• BUS–Z 302 Managing & Behavior in Organizations
• COMM–C 380 Organizational Communication
• SWK–S 423 Organizational Theory and Practice
• PSY–B 358 Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PSY–B 366 Concepts and Applications in Organizational Psychology

Select one of the following (3 credit hours)

• SPEA–V 264 Community Structures and Policy
• SPEA–V 365 Challenges in Social Policy
• SPEA–L 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement
• AMST–A 200 Comparative American Identities
• COMM–C 484 Intercultural Communication
• POLS–Y 280 Leadership, Civil Society and Public Policy
• SOC–R 100 Introduction to Sociology
• SOC–R 121 Social Problems
• PSY–B 370 Social Psychology
• SWK–S 102 Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society