Pathway to Organizational Leadership
Course Description
The Pathway to Organizational Leadership is a FREE online course designed to provide adult students with a foundational understanding of concepts of interest to leaders in all kinds of organizations. During this course, participants will explore the global context of leadership, and how the global environment influences the way we lead. Participants will gain insight into their own decision-making and communication styles, increasing self-awareness, and will apply what they learn about themselves to better understand decision making and their approaches to conflict.
1 Credit Equivalency
Each Pathways experience is equivalent to one academic credit hour. Students can choose to pay $499 to have the one credit transcripted, and they can apply it to a degree in any of our Adult Degree Programs, including Management and Organizational Leadership. George Fox University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
If you're interested in purchasing credit for the course, you'll need to complete the course requirements by one of the following deadlines: August 18, December 15 or April 26.
All Pathways courses are self-directed, allowing you to complete the course on your own time — and at your own pace.
It's totally free!
Meet the Prof

Rae Casey, PHD
“Have you thought about what it takes to be a good leader? Have you thought about developing leadership skills in order to move into a new role or be more accomplished in your current role? If so, you’re in the right place because that’s what this course is all about.”
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be equipped to:
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Explain what it means to be a leader in a global context.
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Be self-aware as they describe their own leadership and communication styles.
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Explain their values framework and how it applies to their decision-making practices.
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Identify conflict situations and some approaches to managing through them.
What to Expect
The course includes videos, readings, quizzes, downloadable resources, short written assignments, forum discussions, video feedback, and optional Zoom sessions with our faculty experts.
Fully engaging with this course will take about 1.5–3 hours of your attention per week.
Not interested in credit? No sweat! Pathways are built for you to explore, meaning there's no expectation that you complete readings or submit assignments.
Online Textbooks or E-Resources
- Introduction to Business (free open-access textbook)
- Organizational Behavior (free open-access textbook)
General Assignments / Projects
- Read: Define leadership/management
- Listen: Videos (instructor and TedTalk)
- Complete: Inventories
- Participate: in either Zoom or online discussion - topic: Your leadership style
- Apply: Cultural influences on leadership approaches; applying your leadership style
- Read: Leadership communication
- Listen: Videos (instructor and TedTalk)
- Complete: Communication Style Inventory
- Participate: either Zoom forum discussion or written online forum - topic: Communication and Leadership
- Apply: Listening activity
- Read: What are your values; how do your values influence your decision making; ethics
- Listen: Videos (instructor, instructional)
- Complete: Values Activity
- Participate: either Zoom forum discussion or written online forum - topic: Assess your decision-making style; how do your values guide you?
- Apply: Results of values activity
- Read: Types of conflicts, recognizing conflict
- Listen: Videos (instructor, instructional)
- Complete: Conflict styles assessment (choose one)
- Participate: either Zoom forum discussion or written online forum - topic: conflict scenarios and your approach
- Apply: Conflict, Leadership, and You
Get Started
All Pathways courses are self-directed, allowing you to complete the course on your own time — and at your own pace.
It's totally free!