Organizational Leadership, MS
Are you excited about developing or furthering your knowledge of organizational leadership? This degree pairs an innovative outlook with a leadership-driven approach, readying you for the many directions your professional journey could take.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Organizational Leadership master's description
The Master of Science program in organizational leadership is a flexible and forward-thinking program designed to help you strengthen your leadership capacity across diverse sectors.
This program offers a rigorous, research-informed foundation in organizational theory and practice. You gain insight into strategic change, institutional dynamics, collaborative governance, conflict mediation, and the challenges of leading diverse teams. Emphasis is placed on actionable knowledge --- translating theory into effective leadership practice.
You also develop advanced skills in research methods and data analysis, positioning you to assess organizational effectiveness and drive evidence-based decision-making.
A wide variety of leadership-focused electives --- such as nonprofit leadership, intercultural leadership, emotional intelligence and ethical decision-making --- enable you to tailor your coursework to your personal goals and career aspirations. You are prepared to lead with insight and integrity, guided by expert faculty.
Why study organizational leadership at ASU?
Rather than leaning on traditional business or management practices, this degree is human-centered, emphasizing the individuals you work with and lead. It's also flexible instead of tied to a single career track, so you can prepare not only for today's roles but also for emerging careers that don't exist yet.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
33 credit hours and a thesis, or
33 credit hours including the required applied project course (OGL 593)
Required Core (12 credit hours) Required Methods Courses (3 or 6 credit hours) Restricted Electives (9 or 15 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information For the required methods coursework, applied project students complete OGL 570, and thesis students complete OGL 574 and 575. Depending on their chosen culminating experience, students select three or five courses from an approved restricted elective list, which is available from the academic unit. Other courses may be used for the methods and elective coursework with the academic unit's approval.
OGL 510 Advanced Theories of Organizational Leadership (3)
OGL 520 Organizational Leadership: Social Psychological Perspectives (3)
OGL 530 Critical Perspectives in Leadership Theory (3)
OGL 540 Evidence-based Inquiry in Organizational Leadership (3)
OGL 570 Analyzing Organizations (3) or
OGL 574 Qualitative Data Analysis in Leadership Research (3) and OGL 575 Quantitative Data Analysis in Leadership Research (3)
OGL 593 Applied Project (3)
OGL 599 Thesis (6)
Students complete either an applied project or thesis for the culminating experience.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Critically evaluate leadership literature in the disciplinary fields of psychology and sociology.
- Evaluate appropriate quantitative and qualitative assessment methods of data analysis
- Create an original scholarly project or thesis in the field of organizational leadership.
Critically evaluate leadership literature in the disciplinary fields of psychology and sociology.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any area or related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants are required to submit: Additional Application Information All applicants must submit a letter of intent that includes a detailed statement of purpose addressing how the program goals align with their personal and professional objectives. The essay should be a maximum of 500 words and is evaluated on the basis of content, presentation and evidence of graduate-level writing ability. The professional resume or curriculum vitae is limited to two pages. Applicants must submit two letters of reference that focus on their ability to do academic work. Friends and family members are not appropriate recommenders. All applications are reviewed holistically, taking into account all application materials, including GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statement and work experience. Applicants should note that meeting any single requirement does not guarantee admission.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency by scoring at least 4 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)®, or a score of 80 if taken before January 21, 2026 in a testing center; 6.5 on the IELTS; 105 on the Duolingo English test; or the applicant must have a passing score in the English for Graduate Admission online course through ASU Global Launch.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this organizational leadership master's degree prepares you for
Professionals with skills and expertise in critical thinking, organizational social psychology, teamwork, strategic change and leadership theory are in high demand across global industries. Government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations and other employers need professionals with the variety of skills that are developed and refined throughout the program.
Career examples include:
- CEO
- college professor
- human resources manager
- market research analyst
- training and development manager
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Applied Professional Studies
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EDB 308
SAPSGrad@asu.edu
602-496-0446
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
