Community Development and Inclusive Leadership Bachelor of Science Degree

The community leadership development program ensures that you will develop the skills and capabilities you will need to lead and manage communities and not-for-profit organizations, advocacy groups, and other entities. You will learn to: 

• Identify and analyze traits, skills, communication styles, and best practices of domestic, international, historical, and modern-day community leaders
• Examine 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

You may also customize your course work by choosing one of six concentrations to further develop your knowledge and expertise in a particular area of community management, engagement, or concern. Concentrations are available in:

• Business management
• Community health
• Deaf leadership
• Political science
• Psychology and Human Services
• Public policy

The community development and inclusive leadership degree is a multidisciplinary major offered by RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and 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.

Additional information is available in the Community Development and Inclusive Leadership Program Handbook.

Careers In Community Development and Leadership

You will be prepared to assume entrepreneurial, managerial, and advocacy leadership roles in government, public, private, and educational organizations. You 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 that you 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.