- Choose one of six concentrations in deaf leadership, business management, public policy, community health, political science, or psychology.
- All students (hearing, deaf, and hard of hearing) are invited to apply for the program.
The bachelor of science degree in community development and inclusive leadership is an innovative, interdisciplinary program in which students gain skills in leadership, interpersonal communication, research, and data management–all of which are needed by dynamic leaders at the helm of 21st century organizations. This is a multidisciplinary degree offered by RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf, in partnership with Saunders College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Health Sciences and Technology, and the School of Individualized Study. All students (hearing, deaf, and hard of hearing) are invited to apply for the program. Hearing students accepted into the program will be in the deaf leadership concentration.
A comprehensive curriculum ensures that students in the program will be able to:
- Identify and analyze traits, skills, communication styles, and best practices of domestic, international, historical, and modern-day community leaders.
- Examine their personal leadership strengths and weaknesses.
- Learn and apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to help identify and address community needs, develop and implement strategies, and assess outcomes.
- Recognize and value multicultural, accessible, and inclusive community members and groups.
- Determine strategies for dialoguing, identifying, and addressing social justice issues, concerning ability, race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity within different communities.
- Identify and utilize best leadership practices in individual, group, and social media communication skills to advance community inclusion, consensus, and productivity.
- Integrate grant writing and grant management skills into development of community strategic planning.
- Apply core theoretical foundations of inclusive leadership and community development to a variety of government, education, business, and not-for-profit agencies.
Students are well prepared for leadership opportunities and will be adept at meeting the demands of the rapidly changing needs of workplaces and community organizations. The program will also prepare students for advanced study in graduate degree programs in a range of areas. (Additional information is available in the Community Development and Inclusive Leadership Program Handbook.)
Concentrations
Students choose one of six concentrations in the following areas: deaf leadership, business management, public policy, community health, political science, or psychology.
Careers
Students will be prepared to assume entrepreneurial, managerial, and advocacy leadership roles in government, public, private, and educational organizations. Students will graduate with a leadership e-portfolio that demonstrates qualitative and quantitative research acumen, grant writing and leadership experience, multicultural competency, and social media management skills as well as a strong foundation in leadership theory and best practices in community development. These transferable and sought-after skills will ensure graduates will have success in the workforce or in an advanced graduate program.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.