Online Master's in Organizational Leadership

Improve the Performance of Individuals, Teams, & Organizations

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At a Glance

Visionary leaders do more than make decisions—they spark transformation that drives lasting impact across entire organizations.

The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership at OU Online empowers working professionals to become these transformational leaders through hands-on, real-world learning. With a flexible, customizable format, you can master organizational influence and accelerate your career in as few as 20 months.

100% online

Time to Complete:

20+ months

Credit Hours:

Time Commitment:

20 to 25 hours weekly

start dates

Fall, Spring & Summer

cost

The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership delivers a strong return on investment. The skills and insights you gain can be applied immediately to drive meaningful results and long-term success within your organization.

Tuition and fees for the program total $27,885 based on a rate of $845 per credit hour. Books and additional materials are not included.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE

Complete the form below to learn more about our online programs and how to get started.

About the Master's in Organizational Leadership

The online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership is a 33-credit-hour program designed to elevate your leadership potential and drive meaningful change across organizations. This dynamic degree empowers you to lead with confidence, strengthen team performance, and cultivate leadership in others. You will sharpen your self-awareness, master strategies to enhance organizational effectiveness, and gain the tools to inspire individuals and teams to thrive.

Customize your path with one of three in-demand concentrations: Organizational Leadership, Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership, or Government and Military Leadership.

What Can I Do with an MA in Organizational Leadership?

Earning your online master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma prepares you to lead across industries and sectors. This versatile degree opens doors to high-impact roles where strategic thinking and leadership are essential.

Consulting – Prepare for roles such as management analyst, executive coach, or organizational development consultant
Nonprofit Management – Lead as a program manager, director of development, or executive director
Military Leadership – Advance your military career or transition into strategic roles in defense and think tanks

Corporate Leadership – Step into positions like HR director, talent manager, or training and development director
Government Administration – Pursue careers as a budget director, agency leader, or project manager in public service
Public Safety – Lead in law enforcement or emergency services as a police officer, sheriff, or fire department leader

Industry Insights

Median Pay: $122,190
Job Outlook: Employment for management occupations is expected to grow faster than average by 2033
Job Openings: 1.2 million openings for management positions are projected each year, on average, over the next decade

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Program Outcomes: What You’ll Learn

OU’s online Organizational Leadership program develops forward-thinking leaders who understand how their decisions shape every part of an organization—and who are ready to lead with vision and purpose.

Build adaptable thinking strategies and leadership theories that apply across industries and organizational types
Advance your career in complex environments such as government, healthcare, technology, human resources, and more
Learn from expert faculty who blend academic excellence with real-world leadership experience
Personalize your education with three specialization tracks aligned to your goals, interests, and real-time professional needs

Course Details

The online Organizational Leadership curriculum equips you to think strategically, build strong relationships, and lead with creativity. You will learn to develop high-performing teams, foster a purpose-driven culture, and align mission, strategy, and vision across every level of an organization. *Students will choose one additional concentration elective from a list of approved courses for their concentration.

Introduction to Graduate Studies

Credit Hours: 3

Intensive seminar providing orientation to advanced interdisciplinary study, appreciation for standards of performance and scholarship appropriate to graduate study, development of skills necessary for success in academic research and writing in a graduate interdisciplinary program.

Research Methods in Interdisciplinary Studies

Credit Hours: 3

Theories, techniques, and the application of research designed to prepare leadership students to understand and respond to applied research involving organizational leadership and organizational settings.

Creating, Leading, and Managing Change

Credit Hours: 3

This course examines the effective leadership skills needed to create and manage change in a variety of organizational settings. Topics include leadership styles in change management, organizational change strategies, models, frameworks, and the potential barriers to change in organizations.

Experiential Leadership I

Credit Hours: 3

The course equips students with skills critical to developing strategy and maximizing their impact in leadership roles and develops advanced leadership tools including how to increase an organization’s leadership capacity.

Concentration: Organizational Leadership

Financial Leadership
Credit Hours: 3

Introduces foundational accounting principles and financial concepts for non-financial managers. Topics include analysis of financial reports, communication of financial data to organizational leaders and stakeholders, and financial planning.

Building High Performing Teams
Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with the knowledge needed to identify a group’s current functioning and build the necessary conditions to create a high-performance team. The course explores components of teams and examines the qualities of one who is capable of leading groups of people effectively.

Concentration: Government & Military Leadership

Leadership in History
Credit Hours: 3

This course analyzes principles of leadership, using prominent examples drawn from history to discern patterns and test categories of theoretical generalizations on leadership. Discussions aim to facilitate the understanding of leadership in different historical contexts. Consideration is given to success and failure, the relative importance of personality versus circumstances, leadership characteristics and styles, and more.

U.S. Military Leadership: Insights and Applications
Credit Hours: 3

Studies leadership, both uniformed and civilian, in the United States military from 1775 to present within the context of the evolution of American military from a small 18th-century army and wooden ship-and-sail navy to the globe-dominating colossus of the late 20th-century. Includes the impact of technology, maturing military theory, and the changing position of the United States in the world that produced diverse leadership styles which are illustrated in the careers of military leaders such as George Washington, U.S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, David Farragut, John Pershing, Hap Arnold, George C. Marshall, and many others.

Interdisciplinary Foundations for Leadership

Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to the concept of interdisciplinarity as an organizing principle for understanding and interpreting models, theories, and applications of leadership in a variety of organizational settings. Provides selected readings designed to reinforce the interdisciplinary approach to graduate studies in leadership.

Theories of Management and Leadership

Credit Hours: 3

This course explores and analyzes the concept of leadership including such topics as leadership theory, changing leadership roles, power, decision-making, empowerment, vision, communication, diversity, and ethics.

Cultures of Organizations

Credit Hours: 3

The course looks at the meaning of organizational culture and its significance for leadership behavior, ways of thinking about organizations and the structure of organizations, the implications for leaders, and other relationships between organizations and aspects of leadership.

Graduate Capstone in Organizational Leadership

Credit Hours: 3

Experiential application of leadership development skills, abilities, and strategies to enhance individual leadership performance, build productive teams and organizations through effective strategic planning, employee selection, succession planning, talent management, and training and development.

Concentration: Non-Profit & Volunteer Leadership

Fundraising & Budgeting
Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with an overview of the history, philosophy, and ethics of fundraising and development. Students will learn about building relationships, goal setting, communication, and how to build strategic fundraising plans to support a non-profit organization’s vision.

Non-Profit Governance
Credit Hours: 3

Students will explore key issues involved in the governance of non-profit organizations and the role of non-profit boards. Major governance models are examined and implications of using the different models are discussed.

Why Choose OU Online for a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Organizational Leadership offers unmatched career flexibility. You’ll gain practical skills you can apply immediately to lead your organization forward and drive meaningful results.

Faculty Expertise

Once admitted, you’ll be connected with a dedicated MAOL program advisor to support you throughout your journey. As you begin your coursework, you’ll engage in dynamic online discussions with peers from across the country and around the world. You’ll also learn from expert faculty who bring a powerful blend of academic excellence and real-world leadership experience—and who are deeply invested in your success.

Robust Student Support

OU Online provides comprehensive student support services, including academic assistance, online tutoring, mental health counseling, and access to a virtual career development center. The program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals, allowing you to grow your leadership skills while maintaining full-time employment.

Global Alumni Network

With a global network of more than 250,000 alumni, becoming a Sooner connects you to a powerful community of leaders. As part of this network, you’ll gain lifelong access to valuable connections that can accelerate your career and expand your professional reach.

Flexible Format

The online MA in Organizational Leadership is built for working professionals who need flexibility without compromising quality. This affordable, high-impact program delivers a supportive and engaging learning experience through a 100% online, asynchronous format—so you can advance your education on your schedule, from anywhere.

Tailored Experience

The online Organizational Leadership program takes an applied, real-world approach to leadership development. By choosing one of three specialized concentrations—Organizational Leadership, Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership, or Government and Military Leadership—you can tailor your degree to match your career goals and personal interests, graduating with the expertise that sets you apart.

The flexibility of an asynchronous program is amazing; the curriculum and instruction are top notch too. I am actively job searching and this degree has helped me better understand myself as a leader, organizational culture of prospective employees, and has complemented my on the job experience and education wonderfully.

Lucy Hale,

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Cost & Financial Aid

Earning your MA in Organizational Leadership is a powerful investment in your career—and OU Online is committed to making that investment clear, affordable, and accessible.

Students pay $845 per credit hour, bringing the total program cost to $27,885. This does not include books or additional course materials.

Financial aid, scholarships, and employer tuition assistance may be available to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. For questions about financial aid for your online program, contact the Online Aid office at onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.

Take the Next Step

To apply to the online MA in Organizational Leadership program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent).

Application Timeline

The admissions committee operates under a rolling admissions process, and admissions may continue until two weeks before the start of classes.

Step 1

Contact an Enrollment Coach to discuss your qualifications and interest in the program.

Step 2

Complete the online application.

Step 3

Provide supplemental materials, including a resume, transcripts, and personal statement.