Master of Arts Organizational Leadership
Today, companies are looking for effective leadership at all levels – from identifying and onboarding younger leaders faster to ensuring that senior leaders remain relevant and engaged. In every sector, industry, or setting, employers are looking for leaders that have highly desired leadership competencies including collaboration/team building, global cultural agility, driving creativity and innovation, and influence and inspiration. You can build those competencies with the Organizational Leadership program at WOU. In addition to the master’s program, WOU offers three Leadership Certificate options that can be completed individually or as part of the MA in Organizational Leadership.
Advance your career—start now and lead with confidence.
credits required
certificate options
Program Details
Overview
Where this degree can take you:
- Management roles
- Further career advancement
To start, you need:
- A bachelor’s degree
- Desire to further your professional career
Finishing will take:
- 45 credits
- Professional project
Begin your Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program:
- Fall or Spring terms
Where you will take classes:
- Online/distance fall, winter, and spring
- On-campus evening courses at the WOU Salem Campus
Technology you will need:
- Computer with internet connection
What you will learn:
This degree includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, and other leadership skills. The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership enables students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to a wide range of settings including: business, government, nonprofit, and education.
Learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of principles, theories, and concepts of leadership within organizational settings.
- Develop critical intellectual skills including: critical thinking and analytical reasoning; ethical reasoning; and communicative fluency.
- Apply teamwork, leadership, and communication skills to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrate integration of their knowledge and skills by engaging with and responding to civic, social, environmental and economic challenges at local, national and global levels.
Application Requirements
Program Start Dates:
You may apply to start the program in the fall and spring terms.
Application Deadlines:
- Fall Term: September 1st
- Spring Term: March 10th
Graduate Student Assistant Positions:
Graduate Student Assistant Positions offer a valuable opportunity for student employment, providing a compensation package comprising both salary and tuition remission. These positions involve the performance of research or teaching services to the University, contributing to students’ academic and professional training and development.
Application Deadline for Graduate Assistant Positions:
If you’re interested in applying for a Graduate Assistant Position, please ensure to submit your application no later than March 1st for priority processing. However, applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
Detailed application requirements:
Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:
- Application Fee $60
- Transcripts
- You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
- Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing GRE scores to be fully admitted.
- Current Resume
- Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the title.
Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.
Curriculum
MA in Organizational Leadership curriculum overview:
Provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to business, government, nonprofit, or educational settings. Includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication, and other management skills. Students will not only grow as professionals through action-based learning, but they also make a positive impact on their communities and workplaces through a practical application of cumulative skills.
The program is intended for currently working adults. Consequently, program delivery is flexible with courses being offered online and as hybrid courses at WOU’s Salem site. The program draws on WOU’s learning management system (Canvas) for all flexible format course delivery (including face-to-face), including instructional and curriculum design support from WOU’s Center for Academic Innovation. In addition, WOU’s electronic library resources will be central to providing access to students who may spend relatively little time on WOU’s main campus.
Your plan of study:
Once admitted to MA in Organizational Leadership , you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan, you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.
|
The Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership degree consists of 45 credit hours of approved graduate-level courses. The degree has four areas:
|
|||
Core CoursesFundamental Skills
Adaptive Leadership
Enabling Leadership
Elective Credits: 9Consult your advisor about elective options.
Executive Leadership
Exit EvaluationStudents must complete the following exit evaluation to receive their degree:
Total Credits: 45 |
Program Design
The course work within the Organizational Leadership master’s degree program is embedded primarily within three certificate programs: An Adaptive Leadership Certificate, an Enabling Leadership Certificate, and an Executive Leadership Certificate. Conferral of the master’s degree requires students must complete the course work for all three certificates complete plus a professional writing and research course. The exit requirement for the master’s degree is embedded within the Executive Leadership Certificate requirements. Qualified students may earn the certificates as either part of the master’s degree program or as standalone certificates.
The standalone Adaptive Leadership Certificate equips leaders with the knowledge and competencies needed to lead effectively within complex adaptive systems (teams). The certificate curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and competencies to learn, adapt, collaborate, and innovate while working with diverse team members. Students earn the certificate by completing the Adaptive Leadership core courses.
The standalone Enabling Leadership Certificate equips leaders with the knowledge and competencies needed to effectively lead multiple teams within an organization. The certificate curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and competencies to lead change; lead people; and build coalitions. Students earn the certificate by completing the Enabling Leadership core and elective courses.
The standalone Executive Leadership Certificate equips students with the critical capabilities and skills needed to assume top-level leadership positions. The certificate curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and competencies to plan; build vision; drive results; manage crises and establish organizational strategy. Students earn the certificate by completing the Executive Leadership core and elective courses.
Faculty
DAVID FOSTER
Professor
503-838-8805 | fosterd@wou.edu | TODD 327
PAUL DISNEY
NTT Instructor
503-838-8546 | disneyp@wou.edu | WEST 208
KEELY KILLPACK
NTT Assistant Professor
| killpackk@wou.edu |
JESSICA MURFIN
Partnership Specialist/Adjunct Instructor
503-838-8374 | murfinj@wou.edu | LIEUALLEN ADMINISTRATION
SARAH SHELDRICK
NTT Instructor
503-838-8152 | sheldricks@wou.edu | BELL 123
STEVEN WINEGAR
NTT Assistant Professor
| winegars@wou.edu |
KEELY KILLPACK
NTT Assistant Professor
| killpackk@wou.edu |
MARIANNE BRADSHAW
NTT Instructor
503-838-8466 | bradshawm@wou.edu |
Where this degree can take you:
- Management roles
- Further career advancement
To start, you need:
- A bachelor’s degree
- Desire to further your professional career
Finishing will take:
- 45 credits
- Professional project
Begin your Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program:
- Fall or Spring terms
Where you will take classes:
- Online/distance fall, winter, and spring
- On-campus evening courses at the WOU Salem Campus
Technology you will need:
- Computer with internet connection
What you will learn:
This degree includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, and other leadership skills. The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership enables students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to a wide range of settings including: business, government, nonprofit, and education.
Learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of principles, theories, and concepts of leadership within organizational settings.
- Develop critical intellectual skills including: critical thinking and analytical reasoning; ethical reasoning; and communicative fluency.
- Apply teamwork, leadership, and communication skills to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrate integration of their knowledge and skills by engaging with and responding to civic, social, environmental and economic challenges at local, national and global levels.
Program Start Dates:
You may apply to start the program in the fall or spring terms.
Application Deadlines:
- Fall Term: September 1st
- Spring Term: March 10th
Graduate Student Assistant Positions:
Graduate Student Assistant Positions offer a valuable opportunity for student employment, providing a compensation package comprising both salary and tuition remission. These positions involve the performance of research or teaching services to the University, contributing to students’ academic and professional training and development.
Application Deadline for Graduate Assistant Positions:
If you’re interested in applying for a Graduate Assistant Position, please ensure to submit your application no later than March 1st for priority processing. However, applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
Detailed application requirements:
Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:
- Application Fee $60
- Transcripts
- You can upload an unofficial copy of your transcript to complete your application for admission. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in time from all previous colleges. We will require an official transcript from the Colleges or Universities you have attended for formal admission.
- Transcripts are used as Evidence of completion of a four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from a regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, with a cumulative B average (equivalent 3.00 on a U.S. 4.00 grading scale) on the most recent baccalaureate degree. Applicants who hold a master’s degree will have the 3.0 GPA requirement waived. Students with less than 3.0 can also provide passing GRE scores to be fully admitted.
- Current Resume
- Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the title.
Process: Applications will be reviewed once all application materials have been submitted. Please refer to the Application Checklist in your Graduate Application Portal to confirm the status of your submitted materials. The Graduate Application Portal will also provide additional details about the checklist items for further clarification. You will be notified via email regarding changes in the status of your application or if you are missing any application components.
MA in Organizational Leadership curriculum overview:
Provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills that can be applied to business, government, nonprofit, or educational settings. Includes instruction in organizational planning, dynamics of leadership, communication, creativity and innovation, team building, conflict resolution and mediation, communication, and other management skills. Students will not only grow as professionals through action-based learning, but they also make a positive impact on their communities and workplaces through a practical application of cumulative skills.
The program is intended for currently working adults. Consequently, program delivery is flexible with courses being offered online and as hybrid courses at WOU’s Salem site. The program draws on WOU’s learning management system (Canvas) for all flexible format course delivery (including face-to-face), including instructional and curriculum design support from WOU’s Center for Academic Innovation. In addition, WOU’s electronic library resources will be central to providing access to students who may spend relatively little time on WOU’s main campus.
Your plan of study:
Once admitted to MA in Organizational Leadership, you will work with an advisor to plan the courses you will take and how you will complete the academic requirements of the program. By filing this Program Plan, you have a road map for completing your degree and clarity on what to expect.
|
The Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership degree consists of 45 credit hours of approved graduate-level courses. The degree has four areas:
|
|||
Core CoursesFundamental Skills
Adaptive Leadership
Enabling Leadership
Elective Credits: 9Consult your advisor about elective options.
Executive Leadership
Exit EvaluationStudents must complete the following exit evaluation to receive their degree:
Total Credits: 45 |
The course work within the Organizational Leadership master’s degree program is embedded primarily within three certificate programs: An Adaptive Leadership Certificate, an Enabling Leadership Certificate, and an Executive Leadership Certificate. Conferral of the master’s degree requires students must complete the course work for all three certificates complete plus a professional writing and research course. The exit requirement for the master’s degree is embedded within the Executive Leadership Certificate requirements. Qualified students may earn the certificates as either part of the master’s degree program or as standalone certificates.
The standalone Adaptive Leadership Certificate equips leaders with the knowledge and competencies needed to lead effectively within complex adaptive systems (teams). The certificate curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and competencies to learn, adapt, collaborate, and innovate while working with diverse team members. Students earn the certificate by completing the Adaptive Leadership core courses.
The standalone Enabling Leadership Certificate equips leaders with the knowledge and competencies needed to effectively lead multiple teams within an organization. The certificate curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and competencies to lead change; lead people; and build coalitions. Students earn the certificate by completing the Enabling Leadership core and elective courses.
The standalone Executive Leadership Certificate equips students with the critical capabilities and skills needed to assume top-level leadership positions. The certificate curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and competencies to plan; build vision; drive results; manage crises and establish organizational strategy. Students earn the certificate by completing the Executive Leadership core and elective courses.
DAVID FOSTER
Professor
503-838-8805 | fosterd@wou.edu | TODD 327
PAUL DISNEY
NTT Instructor
503-838-8546 | disneyp@wou.edu | WEST 208
KEELY KILLPACK
NTT Assistant Professor
| killpackk@wou.edu |
JESSICA MURFIN
Partnership Specialist/Adjunct Instructor
503-838-8374 | murfinj@wou.edu | LIEUALLEN ADMINISTRATION
SARAH SHELDRICK
NTT Instructor
503-838-8152 | sheldricks@wou.edu | BELL 123
STEVEN WINEGAR
NTT Assistant Professor
| winegars@wou.edu |
KEELY KILLPACK
NTT Assistant Professor
| killpackk@wou.edu |
MARIANNE BRADSHAW
NTT Instructor
503-838-8466 | bradshawm@wou.edu |
