Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and ChangeHenry Predolin School of Nursing, Business, Education, and Health Sciences

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Imagine outside the lines

Do you consider yourself a natural leader? Are you ready to build leadership skills to improve your organizational effectiveness? If you are looking to become a change agent, then Edgewood College’s Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Change is the program for you.

Designed for working professionals, this program is offered entirely online with no on-campus requirements and can be completed in 10 months to two years. Our program teaches you to understand and improve organizational dynamics through sound leadership and organizational development practices. You will strengthen your leadership through assessment, reflections and project-based learning You will have the tools to advance your career and succeed in the ever-changing, global economy.

Locations
Madison, WI

Formats
Virtual

Number of Credits
30

Program Highlights

Completion of the MSOLC program requires a total of 30 credits and can be accomplished in one to two years. To accommodate the busy schedules of working professionals, the coursework is offered completely online.

Complete in as little as 10 months
Fully online
No GRE required
Only 10 classes, no prerequisites
The MSOLC Program curriculum is designed to meet the needs of working professionals and provides a flexible schedule. Students can finish in as little as one year, or spread their coursework across multiple semesters to accommodate personal schedules and needs.
Courses are offered in an eight-week accelerated format.
The MSOLC program uses a format limited to small groups of no more than 20 students.
Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, creating a rich diverse community of learners who support each other in both intellectual and personal growth.
Classes are highly interactive with appropriate combinations of presentations, discussions, case analyses and group/individual projects.

Unique program design and schedule

Courses are offered in an accelerated format. You can create course schedules to meet your work and family schedule. Accelerate your learning and complete the degree in less than two years or choose a schedule that fits an individual schedule. A dedicated advisor and faculty coordinator will assist you with course planning. New students may begin the program in either the fall or spring semesters.

Interactive small class sizes

Courses in the program are small, creating a rich and interactive class allowing in-depth learning with highly qualified faculty. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, creating a rich and diverse community of learners who support each other in both intellectual and personal growth.

Interdisciplinary, real-world approach

Classes are highly interactive with appropriate combinations of presentations, discussions, case studies, and group/individual projects. The curriculum is designed with courses that are integrated across multiple business disciplines to cultivate creative, intellectually engaged, and ethical problem solvers.

Careers within Organizational Leadership and Change

Whether you’re pursuing a career in consulting, human resources or mid-level management in just about any organization, the Master of Science in the Organizational Leadership and Change (OLC) program teaches you to create engaging work environments, build strong effective teams, and empower your employees to be the best they can be. Our curriculum gives you a deep understanding of any business’ greatest asset; its people.

Students and graduates of the OLC program lead positive growth in a variety of fields throughout Wisconsin and in some of the top companies in Madison, including American Family Insurance, TDS and the city of Madison. Sample careers include:

Corporate Communications Manager, Hooper Corporation
HR Specialist, City of Madison
Office Manager, UW Systems
Merchant Services Representative, John Deere Financial
Manager of Solution Architecture, Dell Software
Project Leader, Madison College
Registrar, UW Medical Foundation
Workforce & Talent Strategies Specialist, American Family Insurance
Account Executive, Morgan Murphy Media
Intelligence Officer, United States Army
Team Lead, Baptist Health South Florida
Operations Manager, Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement at UW-Madison
Human Resources Manager, Aprilaire
HR Manager, Blast Cleaning Technologies

Organizational Leadership and Change Student Spotlight

Alicia Hazen

MS Organizational Leadership and Change

“If you are considering a degree at Edgewood College, just do it. My degree has already paid off ten-fold. I feel better equipped to do my job, and also more prepared for future roles. All of the projects were relevant to my work in that we used current scenarios, challenges, and teams for our projects and discussions. It felt like a true investment in myself and my future and I am a better employee as a result.”

Featured Courses in Organizational Leadership and Change

BUS 603 – Organizational Development/Behavior

Organizational Development and Behavior is the study of human behavior in an organizational setting. The purpose of this kind of study is to equip organizational leaders with the insight necessary to develop interpersonal relationships that will build teams, increase productivity, enhance the quality of work life, orchestrate change, improve employee retention, and augment communication. Topics in management including: Perception, Personality and Attitudes, Group Process: Building Teams, Communication, Orchestrating Change, Motivation, Empowerment, Leadership, Performance Appraisals and Business Ethics.

ORG 615 – Organizational Leadership

Leadership, provides students with an overview of a variety of theories, methods, and models of leadership, with an emphasis on the cultural context in which leadership is pursued. Students will explore their own model of leadership by reflecting on the models presented in class, through interactions with peers/colleagues within the course, and by constructing a leadership profile.

ORG 640 – Sustain Decision-Making for Leaders

Effective decision making is key to success in the workplace and beyond. In organizations, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making are among the most important tasks people perform on a daily basis. However, increasing levels of complexity can put a significant strain on our judgement, often leading to poor choices that can have a long-term impact. Learn key decision-making concepts and processes necessary for developing and implementing long-term strategies that create a competitive advantage to support sustainable organizations. Understand factors that impact individual and group decision-making processes as well as tools and techniques to improve strategic decision making with a focus on sustainability. Learn how to avoid common decision-making errors and blunders that lead to failure in the competitive marketplace. This course is essential for leading the strategic decision-making processes and impacting the direction of the organization.

Explore All Courses For This Program

Faculty Spotlights

Victoria Palmisano

Associate Dean for Business, Communications, and Innovation / Assistant Professor, Department of Business

VPalmisano@edgewood.edu

Jacob Gill

Director of Accounting Programs/ Senior Lecturer

JGill@edgewood.edu

Raj Kamal

Senior Lecturer

RaKamal@edgewood.edu

Leigh Maxwell

Associate Professor

LMaxwell@edgewood.edu

Ken Kavajecz

Professor

KKavajecz@edgewood.edu

Xiaodong Kuang

Associate Professor

XKuang@edgewood.edu

Annette Mondry

Senior Lecturer

AMondry@edgewood.edu

View All Faculty

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Frequently Asked Questions About Organizational Leadership and Change

How do I apply for this program?

We encourage students to submit their application and admissions materials by the priority deadline. However, we will continue to accept applications on a continuous basis until the start of the session. Applications considered complete after the priority deadline can be considered for admission for the next session.

New students may start their program at six entry points throughout the year. Please note our priority deadlines:

Fall Session II – October 21, 2024
Spring Session I – January 21, 2025
Spring Session II – March 10, 2025

To be considered for admission, applicants must provide the following:

Completed graduate application. This application is for students who want to pursue a Master’s degree, certificate, or take courses as a non-degree seeking student.
Official transcripts reflecting completion of a baccalaureate or more advanced degree from a United States accredited or equivalent post-secondary institution with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Students who do not meet the 2.5 GPA requirement may still be considered for conditional admission. Please contact your admissions counselor for more information on how to apply for conditional admission.

The GRE/GMAT is not required.

Can I transfer credits from a different institution to this program?

You may submit up to 10 semester hours of graduate credit for consideration of transfer to Edgewood College for application to a degree program. Approval of the respective department is required. To be considered for application to a degree program, a course must have been taken within the past five years. For more information about transfer credits, please contact your admissions counselor.

What are the degree requirements to complete this program?

A total of 30 credits are required to complete the MS in Organizational Leadership & Change degree. Course requirements can be finished in one to two years.

What options are there to double major or add minors?

Many students take advantage of the opportunity to double major or add minors. Within the Art Department, we offer a diverse range of studio art concentrations as part of our major. Additionally, we provide minors in Art History, Photography, and Entrepreneurial Studies. For those interested in pursuing their artistic passions alongside another major, we also offer a Certificate of Art. This certificate allows students from any major outside of the Art Department to complete 12 credits in courses with an ART prefix. It serves as an excellent means to nurture your creativity and demonstrate your artistic abilities to potential employers within your chosen career field.