Best online master’s in organizational leadership 2021: Top picks | ZDNet

Have you ever wondered about the difference between management and leadership? An organizational leadership degree answers that question: leadership sets an organization’s vision, while management carries it out. 

To form a strong company vision, leaders benefit from the strong communication skills and organizational behavior knowledge taught in a master’s in organizational leadership degree. Organizational leadership deals with organizational behavior, psychology, and business fundamentals.

 Students majoring in organizational leadership develop communication and leadership skills that can lead to jobs at the executive level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that training and development managers earn $115,640 annually, on average. 

Read on for our rankings of the best online master’s in organizational leadership programs, and some guidance for how to pick the right organizational leadership program for you.

The best online organizational leadership master’s degrees

We weighed programs’ admission rates, graduation rates, reputation, affordability, and more to bring you a list of the best online organizational leadership master’s degrees. For more details on how we chose these schools, check out ZDNet’s ranking methodology. 

Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.

What to expect in an online master’s in organizational leadership degree program

An online organizational leadership degree covers disciplines that include behavioral science, psychology, and business ethics. Students get an overview of the human components of leadership, including:

Learners in this major also study business fundamentals and statistics. Most programs offer concentration options that may include human resources development, public administration leadership, and criminal justice leadership.

To succeed in an organizational leadership degree program, you need strong communication skills, professional leadership or management experience, and a proactive, motivated mindset. Some programs even require candidates to submit a resume documenting several years’ relevant work experience. Most organizational leadership master’s programs culminate in a thesis or capstone, or a portfolio presentation.

Master’s in organizational leadership courses

An organizational leadership master’s degree touches on disciplines including organizational behavior, holistic thinking, and business. 

Degree courses drive home the importance of collaboration, creative thinking, and diversity. While the degree is business-focused, this major stands out for emphasizing communication-related people skills.

These courses are common among master’s in organizational leadership degree programs.

Organizational behavior theory

This course gives an overview of the study of human behavior within organizational environments. Topics may include group dynamics, leadership communication, and self and team management. The class may mix group work with individual projects.

Diversity in the workplace

Students investigate how to manage cultural misunderstandings and other conflicts that can arise in a modern, diverse workplace. They also study how diversity benefits and encourages innovation in workplaces.

Human resource management

This class tackles how human resource departments help guide organizations, and how state and federal laws and regulations affect them. Topics include recruiting, hiring, training, and organization development.

Organizational sustainability

Learners explore how social, environmental, and economic factors influence an organization’s long-term goals. Students leave the course empowered to express opinions on what environmental, social, and fiscal practices support organizational sustainability.

Organizational leadership degree levels

The right organizational management degree for you depends on your unique goals and learning needs. 

If you are earning a degree on a limited budget and want to quickly go from your degree to entry-level work, an associate degree may suffice. However, if you want to obtain an high-paying business leadership role, a master’s will likely prove a better fit.

Read on to learn more about what each degree level can offer you.

Associate in organizational leadership

Length: One to two years

Cost: $3,000-$10,000

Post-grad careers: Administrative assistant, office manager, sales support specialist

An associate degree in organizational leadership is a less-common degree that can either prepare for entry-level work or act as a bridge to earning a bachelor’s. The degree may appeal to people interested in human resources or office management jobs. 

An organizational leadership associate develops basic leadership skills such as communication, conflict management, and team-building. Coursework will likely concentrate on collaborative and independent projects.

Bachelor’s in organizational leadership

Length: Three to four years

Cost: $40,000-$200,000

Post-grad careers: Human resources manager, training and development manager, sales manager

A bachelor’s in organizational leadership may be ideal for a professional looking to switch careers or a student hoping to enter the workforce upon graduation. Typically, graduates use this degree to springboard into a mid- to high-level position in HR, sales, or marketing.

An organizational leadership bachelor’s delves more deeply into organizational behavior theory, leadership theory, and hard skills-related topics such as statistics. Graduates leave the program empowered with strong collaborative and leadership skills or ready to pursue their master’s. 

Master’s in organizational leadership

Length: One to two years

Cost: $60,000-$200,000

Post-grad careers: CEO, program director, organizational development manager

This degree can prepare you for executive leadership roles. Organizational leadership master’s programs usually attract established professionals looking to switch careers or boost their credentials.

The degree investigates organizational behavior, psychology, and advanced business topics such as global business operations. Typically, students complete a thesis or practicum as a culminating experience. Many programs require or encourage students to complete an internship.

Some learners opt to earn an organizational leadership MBA, which places more emphasis on business coursework.

Doctorate in organizational leadership

Length: Four to six years

Cost: $100,000-$200,000

Post-grad careers: University professor, university dean, policy analyst

Earning a doctoral degree in organizational leadership opens your options to academia and research roles. This degree often appeals to people interested in educating others on organizational behavior or innovating in the field.

An organizational leadership doctoral degree culminates with a thesis and defense. Curricula usually feature coursework in qualitative and quantitative research to prepare for the thesis. These programs often feature experiential learning, and many schools may ask applicants to present a resume.

In conclusion

Organizational leadership stands out among other management-related majors as deeply connected to the values of teamwork, collaboration, and empathy. 

If you choose to pursue an online organizational leadership degree, you will be immersing yourself in the human values that drive innovation. You can start preparing to pursue this degree by:

Best of luck.