Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Program Description/Overview

Leadership for an inclusive world:

The master’s degree in organizational leadership provides a foundation to become an effective leader, develop other leaders, and provide strategic support for leaders in diverse organizations and communities. Students develop skills in strategic thinking and complex problem-solving, cultural competence and team dynamics, informed by foundational knowledge in psychology, leadership and other social sciences.  As organizations and communities become increasingly diverse and global,  students learn how to become strategic and inclusive leaders who have the capacity to transform  organizations and build an inclusive world.

The master’s program is designed to be completed in one year with two courses per term and is available in a hybrid format in San Diego and Los Angeles with one class taken each term online and the second course on-campus or hybrid, or in executive format (Friday-Sunday) once per month in Fresno, and asynchronously online.  These schedules allow working students to attend school while maintaining their work commitments. Students enrolled in programs with a synchronous component have the opportunity to interact, engage, and build their professional networks. The entirely online (asynchronous) program provides a structured format with built-in flexibility to engage in individual and group learning activities and to complete course assignments and submit by the established due dates.

This program is intended for students who wish to work in leadership positions across a variety of functions and sectors, to lead organizational change, or to support the development of leaders within their organizations and communities. The program is also appropriate for people who are in leadership positions and aim to deepen their skills for inclusive leadership and leading positive change. This degree can also lead to the post-master’s PhD degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology or the post-master’s PsyD degree in Organizational Development program, each of which help prepare students for consulting careers and more specialized or more diverse careers.

Applicants must choose to apply to either the master’s degree in organizational leadership or the master’s degree in organizational psychology. There is no option to apply for both. Either degree provides a doorway to the post-master’s degrees - the PhD degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology or the PsyD degree in Organizational Development, each of which help prepare students for consulting careers and more specialized or more diverse careers.

Program Learning Outcomes/Goals

1. Describe and apply leadership and organizational psychology principles, concepts, models, theories, and methods.
2. Describe and apply ethical and legal principles relevant to leadership in organizations.
3. Demonstrate a positive, pro-active, and inclusive attitude towards diverse cultures and identities.
4. Design culturally competent leadership approaches, interventions and programs for diverse populations.
5. Analyze data, evaluate results and communicate findings using applied research methods.
6. Describe and apply concepts and methods for leading and working effectively in teams.

Training Model

Students learn theories and analyze cases in the classroom and gain hands-on experience through class projects outside the classroom. Coursework provides progressive learning integrating advanced critical thinking, skill development, and experiential learning. The program includes an internship option.

Diversity and inclusion, ethical practices, as well as proficiency in business concepts are integrated across courses as cross-cutting competencies. Integrating competency development across courses prepares graduates to be leaders and professionals in organizations.

Professional Behavior Expectations/Ethical Guidelines

As professionals-in-training, students in the program are required, in addition to all university-wide conduct requirements, to comply with the ethics code of the American Psychological Association and be familiar with professional guidelines and standards appropriate for practitioners in a business setting.

Internship, Practicum, and/or Dissertation information

Internship Option

The Capstone Project course enables students to apply organizational leadership and organizational psychology competencies to prepare for practical experience in a practice area of their choosing and in a way that aligns with the stage in their career.

One option enables students to take on an internship. The availability of an internship outside of California is based on the state in which the student is located and requires prior approval.

The other options are virtual, practical projects or virtual, applied research projects. A virtual project in a company could include writing up a past project from the student’s experience as a case and conducting a reanalysis of the case based on theories, principles and methods from coursework and proposing a better solution than was previously implemented.

Credit Units

Total Credit Units: 33

Total Core Credit Units: 33

Total Elective Credit Units: N/A

Total Concentration Credit Units: N/A

Curriculum Plan