BA in Ethical Leadership

Why choose ethical leadership at North Central College?

The current political, social, and corporate climates speak to a need for ethical leaders. At North Central College, we are committed to preparing students to be curious, engaged, ethical, and purposeful citizens and leaders. Increasingly, new graduates indicate their desire to work with purpose and employers are looking for candidates who value social responsibility. Examine and establish the values that will guide you in your academic and professional journeys with our Ethical Leadership Major. Designed to be completed in tandem with minors ranging from Political Science to Management, our Ethical Leadership curriculum will enable you to evaluate complex societal issues, evaluate responsible choices, and lead the way in creating meaningful, positive change.

You can also:

• Join NCC LEAD during your first year. This strengths-based leadership development program has earned awards from NASPA and the Association of Leadership Educators for its innovative programming and practice.
• Hit the trail with our outdoor adventure leadership program, TRAIL Outfitters. Learn the fundamentals of teamwork, responsibility, attitude, integrity, and leadership as you embark on our many exciting adventures.
• Practice leadership through our community-engaged learning courses, internships, and service trips.
• Apply for our LEV Fellows Program and receive scholarship funding to pursue an LEV Major, Minor, or Concentration (comb the catalog for courses with the LEAD prefix).
• Get involved inside the classroom as a Preceptor and gain valuable, hands-on experience working alongside a professor in delivering a course.
• Pursue excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service by becoming a member of our Blue Key Honor Society.

Since 1861, North Central has been a place where new ideas lead to unlimited possibilities. We’re an independent college dedicated to the power of the liberal arts and sciences to transform students into leaders both in their careers and communities. Our nearly 3,000 students study across more than 65 undergraduate and graduate programs, with their education, made richer by supportive faculty and staff, world-class facilities, and countless opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

A College on the move

Building on the foundation of more than 150 years of excellence, North Central continues to grow with numerous new facilities, programs, and initiatives in the works.

The College opened with 40 students in a single two-story building in Plainfield, Illinois. Since then we’ve changed names twice (to North-Western, then North Central), moved once (from Plainfield to Naperville), and grown steadily (to about 3,000 students).

Over the years, thousands of dedicated students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends have helped us thrive through the toughest challenges – wars, economic crises, social upheavals, and more – and build a future brilliant with hope and promise.

We’ve met the changing needs of students from Civil War veterans to millennial entrepreneurs. And we’ve always stayed true to our heritage of moral courage and forward-thinking.

Today we’re a top-ranked private comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences. U.S. News & World Report counts us among “America’s Best Colleges,” one of the top six schools in the Midwest for a “strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.” Students choose from more than 55 undergraduate majors and five graduate program areas.

Although the College originally discouraged organized athletics as a distraction from weightier matters, our 26 intercollegiate sports in NCAA Division III make our athletic department the largest in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central is proud of its 32 team national championships and 123 individual national champions.

Though affiliated with the United Methodist Church, we welcome and encourage students and staff of all faiths. We are thoughtfully expanding our academic programs to respond to the needs of our ever-changing world, recently adding Middle Eastern and North African Studies, along with Arabic. And we’re transforming our facilities – most dramatically with a new interdisciplinary Science Center located at the corner of Brainard Street and Van Buren Avenue.

It’s been an amazing 150+ years. But it’s clear that the best is yet to come!