Masters Degree in Organizational Development

A masters degree in organizational development teaches you to enhance HR or management decisions with an understanding of the human side of an organization. This type of degree is valuable for any professional who works in human resources, management, or another type of role that requires leadership and decision making skills.

Most organizational development masters programs combine the theories and principles of the behavioral sciences, with an understanding of the organizational techniques needed in a human resources or management position. By combining these two seemingly different disciplines, a masters in organizational development teaches you how to organize and bring about change in a company without discounting the human factor. A typical masters degree in organizational development will emphasize the importance of critical thinking and communication skills, how to use the talent in your staff to your best advantage, and how to assess current company practices and bring about change as necessary.

In addition to masters programs in organizational development, students can choose between more specialized programs, such as a masters in organizational management and masters in organizational behavior. These programs might focus more on one end of the spectrum than the other. For instance, an organizational management program might focus more on the theories and concepts of management, whereas an organizational behavior program may emphasize more the impact of human behavior on HR and management decisions.

Career Options with a Masters in Organizational Development

A masters in organizational development is a highly marketable degree when you are looking for a job in human resources or leadership types of roles. Many companies look for highly qualified personnel when hiring for HR and management positions. Therefore, a graduate level degree in organizational development gives you the finely tuned skills needed to shape a company’s development while acknowledging the human factors that can make management decisions difficult.

In addition to corporate human resources and management positions, a masters degree in organizational development can give you a leg up on starting and managing your own business. Many entrepreneurs start their businesses without a clue on how to manage them, but especially on how the behavior of their staff can make their vision difficult to attain. A masters in organizational management or behavior gives you the tools you need to effectively manage your business and shape its growth and development from the very beginning.

Is a Masters Degree in Organizational Development Right for You?

Organizational development masters programs attract a wide variety of students and professionals, with vastly different careers and goals. For instance, mid-level managers and human resource professionals who want to advance in their career may find a masters degree in organization management just the stepping stone they need to achieve their career goals. Professionals who do not yet fill these types of positions, but would like assistance moving into such a career, may also find that this degree program fulfills their unique needs. In addition, a degree in organizational development can be highly beneficial to an entrepreneur or small business owner, as one of the best indicators of a startup’s success is the ability of its owner to create effective business plans, translate their vision into reality, and weather changes in the company.

Schools offering a Organizational Development Masters Degree