Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Online
Complete your studies on your own time
Finish in 22 months
Average completion time
Next start date
Every Monday
Year-round enrollment
Next Date
Every Monday
Program Overview
Degree:
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Application:
$0 application fee. No essays/exams.
The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) program provides students with the knowledge to evaluate personal leadership skills and the components of leadership that contribute to the health of an organization, as well as how to apply leadership best practices in an organization.
Students will learn how to lead diverse teams, manage conflict, and create a positive culture of continuous improvement. This program can help prepare students for a position of leadership within a range of organizations, including government agencies, nonprofits, and the general business sector.
If you are looking for the former class-based MSOL—it has been renamed to MS in Leadership Studies (MSLS).
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is a 30 credit program comprised of 18 core credits, 9 specialization credits and 3 capstone credits. Graduates of the program must complete 30 credit hours. Students may select a discipline-specific specialization of their interest.
Applicants with a previously completed bachelor’s degree in business from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution may immediately begin the MSOL program in our Direct Entry Track. Individuals who do not meet direct entry requirements will begin their degree plan with MSOL-500 – Leadership Development and Practice, followed by SKS-5001 – Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies, and upon successful completion of SKS 5001 take the remaining courses in their degree plan
PRogram Requirements
9 Courses
Leadership Development and Practice
3.0 Credit Hours
In this course, you will begin to develop and enrich your leadership skills, while exploring historical trends in management through the lens of leadership theories and behaviors. In the leadership role, you will analyze and apply concepts and models to real organizational situations. Through self-assessments, explore your own leadership style, skills, and goals to create a personal leadership profile that will grow throughout the program.
Ethics and Decision Making
3.0 Credit Hours
In this course, you will continue your journey of leadership development through introspective reflection, examining your personal/organization values in business and societal settings. You will develop skills in ethical decision making to further enhance organizational performance and goal achievement.
People, Processes, and Organizational Health
3.0 Credit Hours
Today’s organization is immersed in a competitive and dynamic environment requiring adaptive organizational structures to increase capacity and create a framework for development and growth. Within the organizational environment, leaders must be equipped to resolve conflict. The emphasis in this course is on leadership and relationship styles among individuals within the organization. You will develop skills needed to lead diverse teams, develop others, and apply strategies to create a culture of continuous improvement.
Leadership: Change, Crises, and Communication
3.0 Credit Hours
Leading change is one of the most important and difficult challenges facing any leader. This course is an introduction to the role of leadership in managing change and responding to organizational crises. As a leader, you will analyze strategies for managing change as a constant state, evaluate situations for potential crises, and develop proactive approaches for crisis management. Effective communication strategies are key to successfully leading through these situations.
Leadership and Organization Strategy
3.0 Credit Hours
Organizational strategy is impacted by increasing globalization, uncertainty in the marketplace, and disruptive innovation. Leaders must respond by creating an organizational learning culture to promote strategic innovation, and adapt and grow in a constantly changing environment. This course helps you build the capacity for strategic leadership to meet organizational challenges. In the role of leader, you will learn to develop leadership strategies, skills, and tools required for creating a plan to reinforce organizational strategies and competitive growth.
Understanding Data
3.0 Credit Hours
You will learn to use data analytics that can be used for leadership development to guide your decisions, set priorities, and determine where to invest your times and resources. You will also utilize data analytics to assess an organization’s ability to effectively use data to compete in the 21st century marketplace.
Specialization Course 1
Specialization Course 2
Specialization Course 3
Capstone Professional Project
3.0 Credit Hours
In this capstone course, you will have the opportunity to apply the concepts and principles that you have learned throughout your Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program, after you first identify a challenge or issue that you choose to investigate, utilizing an organization that you are familiar with. This can include issues of diversity and awareness, communication problems, leadership issues, and conflict, to name a few. You will begin by recognizing the applicable stakeholders and then use relevant knowledge and data to construct a plan for addressing and resolving the challenge. The project will culminate in the creation of an assessment strategy for evaluating plan results. An important component of this course is a comprehensive self-analysis of your preparedness to act in a leadership role including an understanding of your own bias’, through the finalization of your Personal Leadership Profile that you have been working on throughout your degree program.
Career Outlook
Here are some careers this degree could prepare you for:
- Top Jobs in this field
- Median Salary (USA)
- JOB Openings (USA)
- Fundraising Managers
- $118,955 avg. salary (USA)
- 3,238 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
Top companies hiring for this role
- General and Operations Managers
- $100,939 avg. salary (USA)
- 320,505 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
Top companies hiring for this role
- AutoZone
- CVS Health
- Buckle
- Walmart
- Menards
- Enterprise Mobility
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Sales Managers
- $134,023 avg. salary (USA)
- 46,534 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
Top companies hiring for this role
- AutoZone
- Marriott International
- Hilton
- US Foods Holding
- Wolters Kluwer
- Carter's
- Amazon
- Administrative Services Managers
- $106,287 avg. salary (USA)
- 21,903 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
Top companies hiring for this role
- CBRE
- Brookdale Senior Living
- Genesis HealthCare
- Ryder
- Morgan Stanley
- Life Care Centers of America
- United Surgical Partners International
- Human Resources Managers
- $135,435 avg. salary (USA)
- 17,619 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- Human Resources Information System (HRIS)
- Talent Management
- Project Management
- Human Resource Management
- Employee Engagement
Top companies hiring for this role
- Amazon
- Lumen Technologies
- Deloitte
- Marriott International
- GAF Materials Corporation
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
- Training and Development Managers
- $124,285 avg. salary (USA)
- 4,075 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Project Management
- Learning Management Systems
- Instructional Design
- Marketing
- Adult Education
- Continuous Improvement Process
- Curriculum Development
Top companies hiring for this role
- Circle K
- Johnson & Johnson
- AT&T
- Pacific Dental Services
- Sherwin-Williams
- Legacy Marketing
- Humana
- Management Analysts
- $99,486 avg. salary (USA)
- 99,171 job openings (past yr.) past year
Most desired skills
- Project Management
- Data Analysis
- Business Process
- Business Requirements
- Finance
- SQL (Programming Language)
- Process Improvement
Top companies hiring for this role
- Wells Fargo
- Elevance Health
- Accenture
- Deloitte
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Prime Therapeutics
- USAA
Program Learning Outcomes
Learn the key skills to help you excel in your field of study.
- Assess the current state of leadership practice within a given profession
- Evaluate the components of leadership that contribute to the health of an organization
- Apply best leadership practices within a given organization
- Evaluate themselves as leaders
Admissions
Next start date: Every Monday
Year-round enrollment
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Accreditations
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.
As a leading accreditation association for business education, ACBSP “develops, promotes, and recognizes best practices that contribute to continuous improvement of business education.” The Association emphasizes the importance of “learning how to learn,” by balancing teaching and research activities to enhance the quality of classroom instruction and contribute to student learning. To learn more about the ACBSP, visit their website.
Why National University?
We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners.
Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 240,000 alumni worldwide.
“National University has impacted my career. You can immediately apply what you learn in class to your business.”
Francisco R.,
Class of 2016
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Transfer Students Welcome
NU makes it easy to get your degree, even if you started it with another university. Learn more about transferring to NU.
Accelerate Your Career With NU
At National University, you’re part of a family. As a student, you’ll have the support of staff, faculty members, students, and alumni who will be there with you every step of the way, cheering you on as you pursue your goals.
Our network of 240,000 alumni is a large global community that provides our graduates with the professional connections to get a leg up in your new career.
Additional Resources
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.
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National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.
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