Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Practical Skills for New World Leaders
Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership is one of the most sought-after degrees for candidates who aspire to reach an executive or a top-level position in an organization. While traditional MBA programs emphasize business-driven outcomes, the MA in Organizational Leadership draws from a more human-centered approach, prioritizing meaning, values and vision to unlock the fullest potential of human capital.
Program Advantages
In this program, you will learn how to analyze and apply organizational leadership theories to respond to real leadership challenges such as organizational inefficiencies, corporate culture issues, dormant productivity and more. You will gain a deeper understanding of how to instill effective leadership practices, policies and systems to enable 21st-century organizations to grow, evolve and adapt to the realities of an ever-changing, globalized world. This degree will help you develop your leadership style and learn to build highly effective teams and a culture of collaboration within an organization. All along the way, you will have an opportunity to learn from a diverse group of experienced and accomplished faculty with backgrounds and specialty areas ranging from Fortune 500 companies, military, adult learning, strategic foresight, and behavioral sciences.
The MA in Organizational Leadership program is really close to my heart. Future-oriented leadership, strategic foresight, innovation, managing human capital, and all that is needed to lead successfully in the new world of 21st Century industry. - Dr. Miriam O’Callaghan, Author, Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship, Program Manager for the MS in Business Analytics
Admission Requirements
- Completed application
- Transcripts showing a minimum 2.5 GPA from an accredited university or college.
Capstone Requirements
During their final term, students will be working on their leadership capstone, which is an action based leadership project. As leadership consultants, students will develop a set of initiatives to solve leadership issues faced by a real-life organization or community.
Through this course, students will demonstrate mastery of concepts covered in this program. Each course in the program consists of a number of action learning assignments through which students will learn complex problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and other important leadership skills.
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Courses
This 30 credit-hour degree is comprised of 10 courses.
ORL 505 - Fundamentals of Organizational Leadership - 3.00
Fundamentals of organizational leadership course will prepare students to lead and develop highly effective and efficient organizations. Students will explore a number of leadership theories and analyze leadership dynamics at individual, team, and organizational levels. They will also examine various concepts related to the leadership vision, leadership competencies, relationship between leaders and followers, and leadership as an integrated organizational process. From real world case studies ranging from first-time managers to CEOs, students will learn how to effectively lead organizations facing challenges and transformations.
ORL 520 - 21st Century Organizations - 3.00
This course aims at providing students with knowledge on how the changes in business environment are shaping the new world of industry. In this course, students will learn the new ways of inventing and creating effective work systems. They will examine what is changing, reasons for change, results and implications of change for future of the organizations. They will learn to develop new business strategies demanded by todays transforming institutions. In this future oriented course, students will develop the perspectives on why organizations need to focus on human values as much as they focus on pure profits.
ORL 525 - Human Behavior and Learning - 3.00
In this course, students will explore a wide range of concepts related to human behavior and learning. Topics include but not limited to personality, perception, attitudes, learning and reinforcement, motivation, leadership, teams, creativity, culture, organization design, change, and diversity. Students will develop various people management skills throughout the course by understanding the ways in which humans respond as individuals and interact within organizations. They will also examine relevant readings, case studies, and researches on theories of human behavior and learn to analyze how to manage human performance for organizational success.
ORL 530 - Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility - 3.00
In the context of individual and organizational effectiveness, this course emphasizes on the importance of ethics and moral values including integrity, honesty, fairness, and trust. Students will learn to solve problems and make decisions ethically. They will explore ethical dilemmas with case studies and experiential learning exercises. In addition, they will synthesize business’s influence on government, policymaking, consumerism, social systems, stakeholders, and natural environment. Students will learn to develop strategies focused on sustainable organizational practices and corporate social responsibility.
ORL 540 - Organizational Communication - 3.00
This course aims at key communication skills that leaders in modern organizations require. Students will learn effective ways to communicate with different types of parties – clients, employees, leaders, and other stakeholders. They will learn about interpersonal and professional skills to improve their communication. Emphasis will be given to various types of communication, styles, and modes. Students will learn how to write professional reports, presentation of projects, use of data, writing day-to-day professional messages, conducting effective face-to-face and virtual meetings. Prerequisite: ORL505
ORL 570 - Leadership Development - 3.00
In this course, students will learn to develop their personal leadership vision and goals. They will examine various theories of leadership development and typical challenges leaders face in the context of modern-day workplaces. The course provides students with contemporary leadership perspectives, researches, and case studies. Students will compare different leadership styles and expand their own self-concept as a leader. They will develop key leadership competencies to create and lead a successful organization. Prerequisite: ORL505
ORL 580 - Research for Decision Making - 3.00
In this course, students will develop skills to conduct research for effective decision making in the organizational context. They will explore various data and information sources to find credible information. The course provides them with various research techniques and methodologies that they can apply in researching problems of different kinds. Students will learn to use qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods to solve different types of research problems. Prerequisite: ORL505
ORL 590 - Organizational Leadership Capstone - 3.00
In the capstone course, students will complete an approved research work or service project. Their work will require them to apply integrated knowledge of organizational leadership and skills that they have developed throughout this program. The course is intended to generate reflection and critical thought on various leadership theories and practices. Students will be expected to engage in research, utilize quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods to formulate their final paper that produces effective outcomes for leaders in real-life work settings. Prerequisite: Must be completed during the student's final term in the program.
Curriculum
Your digital classroom. Available anywhere.
William Woods online graduate programs are available to students across the country. In Missouri, our students come from Fulton, Columbia, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas City, Moberly, Springfield, Ozark, Cape Girardeau, Rolla and many more locations. Beyond Missouri, our online graduates hail from California, Illinois, Kansas, Washington, Arkansas and other states.
Admissions Information
Learn more about online admissions requirements, deadlines, tuition and financial aid available to you.
Careers in Organizational Leadership
- Directors of Diversity
- Directors of Human Resources
- Executive Directors
- Healthcare Manager
- Learning and Development Managers
- Organizational Consultant
- Program Managers
- Project Managers
- Sales Manager
- Training and Development Manager