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Program at a Glance

Program
Bachelor
College(s)
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department(s)
Interdisc Studies, Schl of
120
Credit Hours
Us News and World Report - Most Innovative 2026

Shape Your Future as a Leader

Take lead on your future with a bachelor’s degree in Leadership from UCF, where you’ll take an interdisciplinary dive into what a role in leadership entails — and how to maximize your impact in a world that demands strong, visionary leaders who can navigate complex issues, inspire change and catalyze innovation. With five tracks to choose from, you’ll study organizational behavior, team dynamics, conflict resolution and strategic planning. You’ll be equipped with the skills needed to manage change, provide strategic guidance, problem-solve and foster a spirit of collaboration. And by the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared to apply those skills in the real world, cementing your role as a leader.

Available Tracks

Leader smiles

Highlights

Flexible curriculum with up to 60 credits of electives and options to add minors or certificates.
Fully online Leadership BA or BS option available.
Up to 30 internship credits can count toward your degree.

Undergraduate Application Deadlines

Fall
May 1
Spring
November 1
Summer
March 1
Fall
June 1
Spring
November 1
Summer
March 1
Fall
March 1
Spring
September 1
Summer
January 1

Ready to get started?

Course Overview

Contemporary Issues in Leadership

Why just study leadership when you can live it? In this experiential course, the community becomes your classroom. You'll explore core leadership concepts like the 7Cs of social change, empathy, and civic engagement, then immediately put them into practice through a meaningful service-learning project of your choosing. You'll grow your self-awareness, refine your unique leadership style and create positive change in your community.

This isn't your typical theories course. Sure, you’ll dive deep into the major leadership approaches — traits, skills, behavior, situational and beyond — but you’ll also meme them, debate them, and apply them to your life. Assignments include creating infographics based on leaders you observe, choosing leadership styles for navigating a zombie apocalypse, and a mid-semester meme war. If you’ve ever wondered why some leaders thrive and others flop, this course will help you figure it out. Blending intellectual challenge with playfulness and purpose, you'll leave with a clearer view of leadership, and of yourself.

Inspired by The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this one-of-a-kind course blends humor, creativity and real-world application to help you build the leadership skills today’s world demands. Each week, you’ll try out a practical leadership skill — from managing conflict to building trust — and reflect on what actually works in your life, your job or your community. You’ll grow your emotional intelligence, expand your communication toolkit, and develop confidence through experience, not just theory. With weekly "Ford’s Field Guides," a Deep Thought Leadership Journal, and a Book Club based on Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last, this course turns leadership into a hands-on adventure.

Guided by curiosity, compassion, accessibility and evidence-based practice, we help students build their confidence, clarity and courage to lead themselves and others.”

Amanda Pacheco, Ed.D. - Lecturer in Leadership

Leadership Skills You’ll Learn

  • Develop the ability to make ethical, values-driven decisions in complex and uncertain situations.
  • Strengthen critical thinking skills to analyze problems, evaluate information, and make informed judgments.
  • Enhance communication skills to clearly and effectively share ideas across diverse audiences and contexts.
  • Build the capacity to lead and develop high-performing teams.
  • Cultivate self-awareness to better understand your strengths, values, and impact as a leader.

Career Opportunities

  • Entrepreneur
  • Financial advisor
  • Human resources manager
  • Marketing coordinator
  • Project Manager
  • Recruiter
  • Social services manager

University of Central Florida Colleges