Leadership & Organizational Development, M.A.

Offered through Saint Louis University's School for Professional Studies, the Master of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Development curriculum will teach you the skills needed to work effectively as a self-aware, reflective change leader. You will learn to improve organizational dynamics through sound leadership and organizational development practices. 

Through assessments, reflections, and project-based learning, you will strengthen your leadership competencies while learning with a network of peers from around the world with a diverse range of academic and professional backgrounds. You can also earn a graduate certificate that complements a master’s degree, often without taking additional credits. This allows you to tailor the program to your specific interests.

As part of the School for Professional Studies, this 36-credit online program offers you a flexible option to meet your personal career goals. With multiple start terms, you can begin the master's program in fall, spring, or summer through SLU online. All courses are offered entirely online in 8-week terms, making advanced education more accessible for working professionals. 

Careers

Organizations are searching for professionals capable of facilitating strategic change and who are fluent in designing cross-cultural interventions. Upon graduating from SLU's leadership and organizational development program, students will be ready to navigate complex organizational systems and apply research to develop oneself, their employees and their organizations. Ultimately, through the leadership courses, students will develop a portable set of knowledge and skills that aren't about how to perform their job but are about how to be a leader in their current job, their future job and all areas of their life.

Admission Requirements

• An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) (Students with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.)
• Three years of full-time work experience or its equivalent (recommended)
• Completed coursework in at least one basic statistics or research methods course
• Knowledge of computer technologies involved in day-to-day business operations (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

Students missing the above prerequisite course will be permitted to fulfill it through the School for Professional Studies prior to acceptance into the program.

Application Requirements

• Application form and fee
• Transcript(s)
• Three recommendations using an online evaluation form
• Résumé
• A 500-word statement of professional goals articulating why a master's degree is needed within the student's present or future career and how the program will help meet that need

Requirements for International Students 

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following: 

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted. 

Note: The online nature of the program precludes us from offering documentation needed for obtaining student visas. 

Application and Assistantship Deadlines

The priority deadline for fall admission is April 1. Students may be admitted until July 1, as space permits. For spring admission, applications are considered on a case-by-case basis until Nov. 1.

Students seeking assistantships should apply by Feb. 1.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by a committee of School for Professional Studies faculty members.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by February 1. 

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.  

1. Graduates will be able to apply organizational development theory in intervention design.
2. Graduates will be able to apply leadership competencies appropriate for a given situation or context.
3. Graduates will be able to apply program-specific knowledge to address practical problems using an ethical, evidence-based framework.
4. Graduates will be able to utilize argumentation skills appropriate for a given problem or context.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Graduate Core Courses

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions please call (314) 526-2825 or email sps@slu.edu.