Undergraduate :: Curriculum

Curriculum

What is Learning and Organizational Change (LOC)?
The LOC concentration explores how organizations and the individuals within them use knowledge and learning to create and respond to change within their environments. LOC addresses the forces of change including technology, globalization, and changing demographics, and the theories and applications of learning, management, innovation and knowledge sharing. The interdisciplinary program draws upon current research in the fields of learning sciences and organization behavior. It also draws on the disciplines of economics, anthropology, psychology, sociology and computer science to give students robust lenses with which to view, understand and influence change.

Core course work addresses topics such as:

Learning theory
Organizational theory
Education in work
Adult development
Organizational change

LOC classes often encourage project work in teams, presentations, frequent discussion and designing tools and initiatives for local clients.

Many courses include working for actual clients on real-world organizational problems. Students have the opportunity to bring their LOC knowledge to bear on defining the problem, designing a solution, implementing, and evaluating the results. Clients stem from an array of corporations, nonprofit organizations and schools in the Chicago community.

For more information, please see past course syllabi.

What kind of work does LOC prepare me for?
LOC students acquire knowledge, skills, and flexible ways of thinking and working with real world problems. This learning is transferable to many different industries and professions. Frequently, students will seek their first jobs in business consulting, e-learning development, instructional design, change managment, marketing, and management rotation programs. Many LOC students enter the workforce upon graduation, gain valuable work experience, and then pursue graduate studies in education, business, psychology, law, or computer science.

What are the degree requirements?
Students in the LOC concentration (or major) earn a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy (BSEd). Forty-five credits (or courses) are required for the degree. View a brief description of each course. There are four broad requirement areas for the LOC major:

Concentration Requirements
Core Requirements
Distribution Requirements
Elective Credits

18 credits of concentration courses
- Introduction to Organization Theory and Practice (LOC 211)
- Learning and Understanding (LOC 212)
- Macrocognition: Intelligence in Context (LOC 301)
- Studies in Organizational Change (LOC 306)
- Learning Organizations for Complex Environments (LOC 310)
- One of the following courses:
  - Group Dynamics (HDPS 311)
  - Tools for Studying Organizations (LOC 311)
  - Organizational Learning and Analysis (LOC 391)
  - Program Development and Implementation (SESP 303)
  - Adult Development and Work Careers (SESP 318)
- One Learning Science approved course:
  - Introduction to Cognition Modeling (COG SCI 207)
  - Language and the Brain (COG SCI 210)
  - Learning Representation and Reasoning (COC SCI 211)
  - Cognitive Psychology (Psych 228)
- 11 courses from the approved concentration course list (five of which must be at the 300 level). Approved courses may be taken from within SESP and across Northwestern, including (but not limited to the following departments):
  - African American Studies
  - Anthropology
  - Cognitive Science
  - Economics
  - History
  - International Relations
  - Linguistics
  - Mathematics
  - Philosophy
  - Political Science
  - Psychology
  - Sociology
  - Communication Studies
  - Computer Science
  - Industrial Engineering and Management Science

8 credits of core courses
- Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods (SESP 210)
- Methods of Observing Human Behavior (SESP 372)
- Childhood and Adolescence (SESP 201) or Adulthood and Aging (SESP 203)
- 1 Development class chosen from:
  - Childhood and Adolescence (SESP 201)
  - Adulthood and Aging (SESP 203)
  - Moral Values and Human Development (SESP 316)
  - Gender and the Life Course (SESP 317)
  - Adult Development and Work Careers (SESP 318)
- 4 practicum credits (SESP 383 and SESP 385)

10 credits of distribution (general education) courses
- 2 science courses
- 2 formal studies (math, logic, etc.) courses
- 2 historical studies courses
- 2 values (philosophy, religion, etc.) courses
- 2 literature and arts courses
- Complete list of courses that currently fulfill the distribution requirements.
- Up to seven (7) distribution credits may be fulfilled by AP or IB credit. View detailed information regarding test credit.
- NOTE - SESP does not have a language requirement. We do, however, strongly encourage students to develop their skills in another language.

9 credits of elective courses
- Any courses of the student's choosing (with some minor exceptions)

To learn more about the numerous course offererings at Northwestern, view the undergraduate catalogue.

Second Majors and Minors
LOC students may earn a second major in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS). Many LOC students earn a second major or minor in Economics, International Studies, or Business Institutions. For full details regarding second majors or minors, refer to the SESP Student Handbook.

Interdisciplinary Specialization
An Interdisciplinary Specialization is a set of five classes within the concentration, organized around a particular area of interest, such as:

International business
Leadership development
Information technologies
Nonprofit management
School reform
Healthcare management
Design of interventions

The Interdisciplinary Specialization does not appear on the student's transcript, but is an effective planning tool. LOC students interested in an interdisciplinary specialization should consult with Megan Redfearn, the LOC Adviser.