The Learning and Organizational Change (LOC) concentration examines key concepts and ideas about formal and informal change across levels of society - for example, individuals, groups, organizations, and sectors. Students learn how to analyze and solve organizational problems across contexts. They also acquire knowledge and skills in leading, anticipating, and responding to change. This concentration draws from theoretical and empirical research and practices from disciplines as diverse as the organization and management sciences, learning sciences, sociology, psychology, economics, and design.
Curriculum
As a student in LOC you must complete the following:
Total requirements—42 units
Distribution requirements—10 units
SESP Core—8 units
Foundations courses—2 units
Concentration cluster courses—5 units
Extension courses—5 units any level, 4 units 300-level courses
Electives—8 or fewer as needed to complete the 42-unit degree requirement
For a in-depth breakdown of these requirements, please visit the 2022-2023 Academic Catalog or reach out to your academic advisor in the SESP Student Affairs Office.
Real-World Practical Experience
All LOC students complete a one-quarter practicum internship for academic credit during their junior year, which allows them to use the skills and knowledge introduced in the classroom. The experience also includes conducting social science research. The program is offered year-round.
Recent LOC practicum sites have included the following:
- Mission Measurement
- The Cambridge Group
- HUB International
- Chicago Public Schools
- Evanston Township High School
Flexible Coursework
In addition to core courses in life span development, quantitative and qualitative research, and statistics, students have the flexibility to tailor the program to their own interests. Many students specialize, double major or minor while maintaining LOC as their primary focus. Classes typically encourage team projects, presentations, frequent discussions, and reflection.
Many courses include working for actual clients on real-world organizational problems. Students use their LOC knowledge to define the problem, design solutions, implement and test ideas, and evaluate the results. Clients represent a diverse array of corporations, non-profit organizations, and schools in the Chicagoland community.
Many undergraduate students also choose to participate in research projects with faculty in the School of Education and Social Policy. Faculty members conduct research on a variety of topics ranging from the distribution of leadership to the structural and cultural characteristics of knowledge sharing organizations.
After SESP
With a strong interdisciplinary understanding of forces of organizational change, learning and organizational majors are well prepared for leadership with for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Some graduates directly enter the workforce after graduation while others attend graduate school or pursue a fellowship. Graduates often pursue jobs in consulting, change management, instructional design, training or organizational development. Below are some examples of jobs and graduate degree programs that recent learning and organizational change majors have entered.
Jobs
- Mercer Human Resource Consulting • Consulting Analyst
- Deloitte Consulting • LLP Human Capital Analyst
- Sears • Business Analyst
- Baxter Healthcare • Business Analyst
- Booz and Co • Consultant
- Score Education Centers • Director
- Charles River Associates • Analyst
- Teach For America • Special Education Teacher
- Hillstone Restaurant Group • Management Team
- The Revere Group Business Transformation • Consultant
- Google AdWords • Associate
- LinkedIn • Sales Development Specialist
- U.S. PIRG • Campus Organizer
Graduate School and Fellowships
- Marquette University • Master's of Educational Leadership (College Student Personnel)
- Northwestern University • Master's in Communication
- Notre Dame de Namur • Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate
- Northwestern University • Master's in Sports Administration
- University of Vermont • Master's in Counseling