Enter OTP
4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
University of St ThomasThe Leadership and Management major at the University of St. Thomas helps students develop the confidence and practical skills to lead people, manage projects, and guide organizations through change. Through a combination of business fundamentals, leadership-focused courses, ethical decision-making, and real-world learning, students prepare for opportunities across industries, from business development and project management to organizational leadership.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
Students begin by building a strong foundation in business, accounting, and entrepreneurship. Courses such as Principles of Accounting I, Business for the Common Good, and Introduction to Entrepreneurship & Innovation introduce financial principles, responsible business practices, and how new ideas can become viable ventures. Students also begin allied coursework in economics, mathematics, and statistics.
Year 2
The second year expands students’ understanding of how organizations operate through courses such as Working Skillfully in Organizations, Introduction to Marketing, Core Financial Management, and Operations & Supply Chain Management. Students also study business law and ethics, while Business Learning Through Service connects classroom learning with community engagement.
Year 3
Students move into specialized leadership and management study, including Leading and Managing Change, Management and Leadership, Project Management, and Leading Diverse Teams. These courses develop skills in guiding teams, handling organizational change, planning projects, and working effectively with people from different backgrounds.
Year 4
In the final year, students deepen their strategic and professional capabilities through courses such as Negotiating with Positive Influence, Strategic Thinking, and the Leadership Capstone. These experiences help students bring together their knowledge of management, communication, ethical leadership, and decision-making as they prepare for professional roles or further study.
Focus Areas
Leadership development, organizational change, management and team effectiveness, project management, strategic thinking, negotiation, global business, ethical decision-making, business operations, communication, and inclusive leadership.
Learning Outcomes
Students develop the ability to lead people and projects, navigate organizational change, think strategically, negotiate constructively, work with diverse teams, apply ethical principles to business decisions, and contribute to organizations in changing and global environments.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The Leadership and Management major is offered through the AACSB-accredited Opus College of Business. AACSB accreditation reflects the business school’s commitment to recognized standards in business education; it is an institutional business-school accreditation, not a separate professional license for this major.
Reputation (Employability and Rankings)
The University of St. Thomas reports that 97% of Opus undergraduate students are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation. The university has also been recognized by Poets & Quants as the No. 2 undergraduate business program in Minnesota. These figures apply to the broader Opus undergraduate business population, not exclusively to Leadership and Management majors.
Students connect leadership concepts with practical experience through real projects, service learning, internships, business case studies, simulations, guest speakers, and opportunities to study abroad. The major’s Business Learning Through Service course includes 40 hours of community service and reflective seminars, while project-based work with local organizations helps students apply management skills to real business situations.
Students can build practical experience through:
Real-world project work: Apply project management and leadership skills to projects for local organizations.
Internships: Explore internship opportunities with support from the Career Development Center. Employers such as 3M, Target, UnitedHealth, Medtronic, Mayo Clinic, and U.S. Bank are among organizations that seek business interns.
Business Learning Through Service: Complete 40 hours of community service through BUSN 200, followed by reflective seminars.
Case studies and simulations: Practice analyzing business challenges and developing solutions.
Guest speakers and professional connections: Learn from business professionals and build industry relationships.
Study abroad: Explore international business through options such as the London Business Semester and Shanghai Business Semester; the Shanghai option includes an internship experience.
Career and academic support: Access faculty advising, free tutoring for selected business subjects, and career guidance for internships and job searches.
Graduates can pursue roles that involve coordinating projects, supporting organizational change, developing business relationships, and helping teams achieve strategic goals. The university identifies career paths such as Business Analyst, Project Manager, Leadership Development Associate, Management Consultant, and Business Development Manager.
Career preparation and graduate opportunities include:
Career Development Center: Get help identifying career paths, preparing résumés and cover letters, planning job searches, finding internships, and connecting with alumni and Twin Cities professionals.
Employment outcomes: The university reports that 97% of Opus undergraduates are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
Management graduate outcomes: In the 2023 First Destination Survey, 93% of Management graduates obtained full-time employment, with a median salary of $60,000; 4% continued their education. These figures are for Management graduates overall, not specifically the Leadership and Management major.
Employer connections: St. Thomas lists organizations hiring Management graduates, including 3M, Amazon, Ameriprise, Ecolab, Target, UnitedHealth Group, and U.S. Bank.
Industry engagement: Students can connect with professionals through internships, career events, alumni networks, and business-focused student organizations.
Accreditation: The Opus College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, supporting the academic standing of the business school.
Graduate outcomes: Alumni examples include careers in consulting, human resources, ethics and compliance, and business leadership.
Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Business Administration, graduates may consider postgraduate study such as an MBA or a specialized master’s degree in a relevant business field. The university’s Opus College of Business offers graduate options including the Part-Time Flex MBA and Executive MBA; admission requirements and eligibility should be checked separately.
Applicants must submit an online application through the university application or Common App, along with official high school transcripts. ACT/SAT scores are optional.
Essays and recommendation letters are optional. Admission is based on a holistic review of academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and personal achievements. US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.
Profile Assessment: Business-related applicants are assessed on academic performance, quantitative preparation, communication, initiative and evidence of engagement with organisations or economic issues. Mathematics is particularly important for Finance, Economics, Business Analytics and other quantitative programs. Entrepreneurship, business competitions, investment or economics clubs, internships, case studies, market research and community projects may strengthen the profile.Advanced Placement(AP) Guidance: AP availability depends on the student's school. Relevant APs can strengthen an application and may earn university credit, but are not compulsory unless the university or programme explicitly requires them.Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.Business AnalystProject ManagerManagement ConsultantBusiness Development ManagerLeadership Development AssociateOperations ManagerHuman Resources ManagerOrganizational Development SpecialistChange Management ConsultantTeam LeaderProject Coordinator
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