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Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership develops leaders who are prepared to serve in today’s dynamic organizations. Students will gain the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to lead their organizations through complex changes in our global society by continually transform their organizations through developing people and processes, and implement strategic initiatives in order to maintain a competitive advantage.
"Students who complete the Organizational Leadership program at CSU-Global will walk away with the confidence to know that they can lead their organizations to greatness, that they can inspire others to be fabulous employees and great leaders themselves and they'll also walk away with a family, because part of what our students at CSU-Global do is network with other students and other leaders within the program."
- Dr. Dana Thomas, Program Coordinator
Organizational Leadership Degree Specializations
Students who choose the online master's in Organizational Leadership at CSU-Global also select a specialization area, consisting of four (4) courses. Specializations allow students to take a sequence of courses in a career-relevant field. These courses will complement the program of study based on professional and personal interests.
Accounting
Ideal for students interested in pursuing advanced business opportunities in financial planning, bookkeeping, or accounting fields.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the M.S. in Teaching and Learning program.
Applied Business Management
Gain a competitive advantage and increase career prospects through this specialization with a focus on practical business and management skills in accounting, financing, strategic development, organizational change, and more.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the M.S. in Management program.
Contemporary Practices in K-12 Online Learning
Educators looking to gain advanced knowledge of online learning within K-12 instruction should consider this specialization. Focus is on the best practices and theorical knowledge on how to incorporate engaging curriculum into online environments and the specialization includes a hands-on practicum.
This specialization is only available for students in the M.S. in Teaching and Learning program.
Learn more about Contemporary Practices in K-12 Online Learning »
Criminal Justice Leadership
The criminal justice field includes careers in security, courts, corrections, forensics, as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The graduate level Criminal Justice Leadership Specialization provides advanced management skills to further one’s professional development.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the M.S. in Teaching and Learning and Master of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration programs.
Fraud Management
The Fraud Management Specialization is ideal for financial specialists focused on the prevention of deceitful practices and activity through the effective management and protection of sensitive information.
This specialization is available for students in all graduate programs except the M.S. in Teaching and Learning program.
Healthcare Administration
Professionals interested in the management of healthcare facilities and departments should consider a master’s degree with a specialization in Healthcare Administration in order to acquire knowledge and best practices for effective supervision and decision making in the healthcare field.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the M.S. in Teaching and Learning and Master of Healthcare Administration and Management programs.
Human Resource Management
Students interested in furthering their career in the field of human resources should consider this specialization which provides organizational management skills with an emphasis in personnel, staff training and development, policy and procedures, and more. This specialization is designed as an HRCI certification prep course.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs.
Human Resource Performance
Students who aim to improve an organization’s effectiveness through human resources should consider the Human Resource Performance Specialization. Emphasis is on the successful management of organized labor employees in dynamic environments.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs.
Information Technology
Managers, directors, and senior executives in Information Technology can gain vital knowledge to increase an organization’s efficiency and effectiveness in the marketplace through advanced Information Technology strategies and implementation provided by this specialization.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs.
International Management
In today’s global marketplace, effective leadership in any industry requires special skills. Students interested in pursuing a career with multi-national strategic vision benefit from the skills and application of knowledge obtained in the International Management Specialization.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the Master of International Management program.
Online Teaching
The online learning environment provides new opportunities and challenges for teachers and students alike. Leaders in all fields of study who are interested in gaining new skills and methods for teaching online courses and professional training sessions will benefit from pursuing their master’s degree with a specialization in Online Teaching.
This specialization is only available to students in the M.S. in Management and M.S. in Organizational Leadership programs.
Organizational Training and Instructional Design
Corporate trainers, program coordinators, teachers and other instructors will benefit from the knowledge gained in this specialization with emphasis on the basic principles on instructional design, program development, learner comprehension, and more.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the M.S. in Teaching and Learning program.
Learn more about Organizational Training and Instructional Design »
Project Management
This graduate level specialization in project management offers extensive leadership and skill development regarding improved organizational efficiency and performance. These courses include topic areas, practical skills, and knowledge aligned to professional certifications associated with the Project Management Institute (PMI) including the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® and the Project Management Professional (PMP)®.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs except the Master of Project Management program.
Strategic Innovation and Change Management
This specialization focuses on enhancing one’s ability to efficiently manage though the strategic implementation of change and evolution within a business or organization. Managers who effectively adapt to meet the needs of their environment are more likely to succeed.
This specialization is available to students in all graduate programs.
Learn more about Strategic Innovation and Change Management »
Each core course in the program incorporates a portfolio-quality project with close supervision and collaboration by the instructor that requires students to apply skills to specific scenarios. The final course in the fully accredited M.S. program in Organizational Leadership is designed as a capstone course, in which students apply research and established theory to design an innovative and original approach to address a current problem within the field of organizational leadership. Students apply established research and theoretical frameworks to address a current organizational challenge. Utilizing knowledge, theories, and research-study understanding gained throughout the program, students analyze and evaluate the organization and then propose constructs for enhancing organizational effectiveness.
As a student in the Organizational Leadership master's degree program, you will study:
- Analyze how individuals and groups interact within organizations
- Develop knowledge of strategies that support stakeholders and enhance organizational capacity
- Evaluate human behavior within organizations to understanding effective leadership, organizational communication, ethical practices, and cogent decision-making principles
- Demonstrate the ability to create and sustain lifelong learning to promote cohesive culture within an organization
- Assess current challenges of organizational leadership in historical and current contexts.
- Analyze and integrate theories of leadership within personal and professional contexts;
- Demonstrate skills for effective strategy development within an organization by completing a capstone project.
Online degree programs from CSU-Global Campus are designed for adult learners with the drive to further their career. Coursework is completely 100% online and, therefore, at your convenience. Through flexible start dates, affordable tuition rates, and a tuition guarantee, your master’s degree has never been so attainable. Financial assistance is available for most students and CSU-Global’s easy admissions process can help you get started right away.
Core leadership classes for this graduate degree from CSU-Global Campus are listed in the order of completion:
RES501 Fundamentals of Research and Writing: Students accepted into this program with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 may be required to take RES501 as an additional requirement. This course helps students entering graduate level programs develop awareness of current and effective research and writing practices.
ORG502 Effective Organizations — Theory and Practice: Gain a contemporary understanding of managing operational and strategic issues in public and private organizations facing accelerated social, economic, and technological changes. This course will examine organizational theory, strategic thinking and management, theories of decision-making, leadership, organizational culture, and change management in a postindustrial society.
ORG530 Business Ethics and Sustainability: Explore the economic, environmental, and ethical impact of a sustainable business model. Examine the environmental and ecological challenges facing business worldwide. Analyze and develop skills for creating models for a sustainable business.
ORG555 Leading Diverse Teams: Develop a comprehensive understanding of diversity to apply in the strategic planning efforts of cultural change and acceptance. Identify the realities of developing and implementing diversity initiatives for the organization and the workforce. Explore emerging issues in diversity management.
ORG560 Leadership Development: Explore the tools, models, and practices for leadership development. Gain a working knowledge of developing leadership skills and programs for future leaders to effectively compete in a global world.
ORG525 Decision Theory in a Global Marketplace: This course analyzes the roles of leaders and managers in organizational decision making, at both the individual and organizational levels. In the contact of organizational theories of behavior and leadership, students consider how decision and choice theory are applied in organizational settings. Practical problem solving and conflict management skills are practiced through the application of decision-making tools and leadership approaches for leading change in professional settings.
ORG536: Contemporary Business Writing and Communication: This course is designed for the practicing professional and focuses on internal and external communications practices and strategies within and beyond organizational settings. Audience is considered and includes employees, executives, first-line supervisors, community, customers, and board members. Students consider communication styles, interpersonal skills, business and professional writing, reports, and presentations based on substantive and credible data, and various modes of communication, including virtual communication.
ORG575 Critical Evaluation of Research and Theory: Understand research related to degree area of study from both a consumer and a creator perspective. Evaluate and analyze research studies and the foundations for established theories and theoretical frameworks. Deconstruct research studies for close evaluation of their components within the context of study types, methodologies, data analysis and evaluation, and the basis for researcher recommendations.
ORG581 Organizational Leadership—Strategy and Execution (Capstone): Understand and integrate the components of organizational strategy development and execution. Experience the process of mission creation, structural design, and tactical decision-making that managers must address for competitive success. Credit will not be granted for both ORG580 and ORG581.
Students who begin in either the M.S. in Management or the M.S. in Organizational Leadership program in 2013 or later may be eligible to participate in the dual degree program. Upon completion of an additional 18 credit hours (54 credit hours total), students who enter this program may be eligible to receive both the M.S. in Management and the M.S. in Organizational Leadership degree. Students must enroll in the Dual Degree Program prior to conferral of their first degree.
For students who initially enrolled in the M.S. in Organizational Leadership program, the following additional 3-credit courses are required for a dual degree:
- ACT500: Managerial Accounting
- ECN500: Global Economics
- FIN500: Principles of Finance
- MGT545: Strategic Planning
- MGT575: Critical Evaluation of Research and Theory
- MGT581: Management–Strategy and Execution (Capstone)
Dr. Dana Thomas
Program Coordinator for M.S. in Organizational Leadership
Dr. Dana Thomas has 18 years of experience with Jacksonville, Florida’s Duval County Public Schools and has served as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Florida State College’s North Campus for the past nine years.
Dr. Thomas holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, two master's degrees (Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction), and a bachelor's degree in English, all from University of North Florida.
What Dr. Thomas says about the M.S. in Organizational Leadership degree:
"A master's degree in Organizational Leadership is one of the top degrees for students who are seeking to advance their skills in business and management. They will be able to collaborate with collegues. They will be able to apply real life situations, apply leadership to real life situations, and they will come away with a degree that will help them not only in their current jobs but will also help them advance to be the best leader that they could be."
