Program Description
The M.A. in Organizational Leadership combines theoretical and practical leadership strategies with best practices to equip today’s adaptive leaders—those who stand poised to respond quickly yet intelligently to ongoing change. The program is delivered in six distinct clusters, each cluster establishing a layer of skills and thinking that builds to the next layer, culminating in a synthesis of applicable adaptive leadership principles. Developing their own leadership style, students learn both analytical and interpersonal skills such as influencing, collaborating, and managing conflict. They become agents of organization development and effectiveness as they learn to think critically and strategically about a myriad of organizational and ethical issues, to communicate and collaborate, to manage talent, to build high performing teams, to become inclusive and responsive, and to be creative in problem solving.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program are expected to be able to do the following:
- Interpret the contexts and environments in which organizations operate.
- Integrate and apply analytical principles and skills to make complex strategic decisions.
- Develop individual awareness, style, and communication skills that influence outcomes.
- Collaborate in complex work teams utilizing effective communication techniques.
- Develop and integrate creative, adaptive strategies that promote positive change and innovation.
- Evaluate the ethical implications of one’s actions.
- Conduct research and communicate results successfully.
- Create an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion.
- Activate self-directed strategies for continued personal and professional learning.
The program is organized by themes. Six clusters of skills and knowledge are examined that combined create a contemporary organizational leader. A cohort of students moves through the program together, taking courses in sequential order.
Cluster I: The Learning Leader reflects on individual experience, preferences, and attitudes to build a growing awareness of how a leader influences outcomes with personal style and skills.
Cluster II: The Connected Leader builds the relationships and connections essential for successful organizations.
Cluster III: The Global Leader understands and maneuvers among the cultural, economic, political, legal, and social spheres that influence work.
Cluster IV: The Organizational Leader considers both the art and science of managing talent and exploring the dynamics of power and influence to create a positive and progressive environment in organizations.
Cluster V: The Change Leader considers both organization development and organizational effectiveness to address opportunities for positive impact on organizations and their missions.
Cluster VI: The Adaptive Leader synthesizes and applies leadership principles from the previous clusters to create a strategic, innovative, and competitive organization.
Program Structure and Delivery
The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership program is offered in a blended format or fully online. Courses delivered in the blended format integrate face-to-face classroom meetings and online activities or interactions in a planned, instructionally valuable manner.
Graduate Certificate Credit Use Toward Degree
Students may substitute 6 credits from any of the following completed SMUMN certificates to replace OL634 Economic and Political Contexts and OL635 Social and Cultural Perspectives. The substitutions allow these certificate students to complete the M.A. in Organizational Leadership with just 30 credits.
