Business Leadership Minor

Virginia Tech undergraduate students in any major may apply for admission to the leadership minor. We have a diverse group of students combining leadership skills with many different disciplines.

Admission to the minor is competitive, but is open to all Virginia Tech undergraduate students with a 2.50 GPA and 24 hours completed at Virginia Tech.  Application for admission may be made starting sophomore year. Please see our link below or visit either the Business Leadership Center in 2103 Pamplin Hall or the Undergraduate Programs Office in 1046 Pamplin Hall.

Completed applications should be submitted to the Undergraduate Programs Office, 1046 Pamplin Hall.

We believe that leadership is not confined to those in authoritative positions.  Leaders are all who inspire others, serve others, build commitments, create opportunities, and work toward better organizations and a better society.

We believe that all individuals, in any organization and context, have leadership potential.  This minor will help students to identify and nurture their own leadership skills and principles.

The minor provides a multi-disciplinary, experiential education in the history, values, skills and theory of leadership.  It gives students an opportunity to tailor their leadership education and experience to their personal and career needs.

Part of the course work is a leadership service activity which enables students to explore different avenues of interest. The work is  individualized and enables students to incorporate leadership skills into various areas of campus and community life

Our objectives are for students to:

• Acquire an appreciation for the leadership and “followership” dimensions of citizenship.
• Acquire and practice leadership skills in business, not-for-profit, government, military, and civic organizations.
• Understand and practice the ethics of leadership.
• Understand differing perspectives on the process of leadership in a global and multicultural context.
• Understand differing perspectives on the process of leadership in a global and multicultural context.
• Learn and practice skills for self-leadership, team leadership, project/task leadership, and organizational leadership.
• Gain understanding of one’s own leadership potential.

The leadership field study experiential activity is a leadership opportunity that you create for yourself. It may take the form of a campus activity, community activity, or an internship that offers significant leadership experience that is consistent with the goals of the minor.

The experience must be pre-approved by Reading Day the semester before you begin your experience, with final approval paperwork submitted by Friday of the first week of classes during the semester you will conduct the experience. If you plan to conduct your experience over the summer, pre-approval is required by April 15th with final paperwork turned in by Reading Day of the spring semester. Pre-approval involves attending an information session or other meeting with the Director of the Business Leadership Center to receive feedback on your idea.

The field study requires 100 hours of leadership experience over a minimum of 8 weeks. Each student must have two mentors who agree to meet with you at least three times during the experience to give you objective feedback on your leadership learning objectives and skill development.