Butler University is launching a new online program this fall for adults with either an associate’s degree or at least 60 college credits who want to complete their bachelor’s degree online in as little as 18 months. Those with fewer than 60 college credits may request credit for prior learning (including credentials, certificates, work, or military experience) and apply up to the equivalent of 30 credit hours toward the degree. 

Students graduate from the program in 18-24 months with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. Tuition is $550 per credit hour, and financial aid is available for those who qualify. 

According to StatsAmerica estimates, more than 880,000 Hoosiers have earned some college credit but have not completed their bachelor’s degree. That includes more than 424,000 Hoosiers who currently hold an associate’s degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bachelor’s degree holders make, on average, $22,204 more annually than those whose highest degree is an associate. 

“Increasingly, employers are hiring individuals without a bachelor’s degree to address immediate talent needs, but as these employees seek to advance their careers and prepare for leadership positions, they require additional skills to advance internally and upskill,” Julie Straub, Senior Executive Director of Butler+, said. “Butler University’s new online completion program is focused on the critical skills employers need: human skills, business enablers, and digital building blocks that allow individuals to advance their careers and earning potential while balancing their personal and professional responsibilities.” 

Human Skills, often referred to as “soft skills,” are based on creative and critical intelligence as well as relationship-building. Business Enablers are the executing and synthesizing skills needed in the business world to move ideas forward. Digital Building Blocks are the skills that empower individuals to thrive in a digital and technology-centered world. 

The program was co-created in partnership with industry leaders to solve their talent challenges. TechPoint, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership’s industry-led growth initiative for Indiana’s digital innovation economy and overall tech ecosystem, was a key partner in the process. 

“It’s going to take all of us—businesses, community organizations, educators, and policy makers—to overcome the talent shortage that challenges the entire country,” Dennis Trinkle, TechPoint’s Senior Vice President of Talent, Strategy, and Partnerships, said. “There are hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers who have completed some college course work and need program options that fit their needs as working professionals to continue that learning. The Butler program fills a gap and addresses an urgent need to help adults upskill and reskill given the pace of change in the workplace. It will make a big difference and give other Indiana leaders a great example to follow with respect to finding how they can bring their resources to bear in this collective effort.” 

Butler officials say that the online B.S. in Organizational Leadership curriculum prepares graduates for a wide variety of leadership careers, including Operations Managers, Business Operations Specialists, Sales Managers, and Marketing Managers among others. There is high demand for skilled and educated leaders across those sectors, with median salaries often above six figures according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The program curriculum will teach students to: 

• strategically analyze effective processes for leading organizational change in a rapidly developing environment 
• demonstrate behaviors that enhance personal and organizational wellness and personal and professional learning 
• establish collaborative, diverse team relationships that effectively contribute to intended organizational goals 
• apply key concepts and theoretical approaches of organizational leadership to real-world challenges 

Students in the program will benefit from several support services provided by the Butler University staff and faculty. Academic advising, tutoring, and career counseling tailored to the needs of adult learners. Also, each student is assigned a dedicated Support Specialist who will help create a personalized academic plan and provide ongoing support throughout their journeys. Butler will also offer networking events, career workshops, and connections to industry professionals to help support students’ career advancement goals. 

Butler and Ivy Tech have signed an articulation agreement guaranteeing Ivy Tech graduates holding Associate of Arts or Associate of Applied Science degrees, with a minimum 2.0 GPA, admission into Butler’s online B.S. in Organizational Leadership program. 

Butler is currently accepting applications for fall 2024 enrollment. For more information and to apply, please visit Bachelor’s of Organizational Leadership on butler.edu.