2024-2025

Organizational Leadership, Master

NAU Yuma

Provost Office

This plan is only available to students in China as part of NAU’s partnership with Beacon Education. This program is taught through NAU’s online, competency-based program, where students are enrolled in six-month subscriptions and complete their courses at their own pace. Visit the NAU-Beacon Education Partnership website to learn more.

This degree is designed for mid-career professionals who desire a comprehensive understanding of administration and seek to strengthen and update their administration skills.

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 30
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Some online/blended coursework Required
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

Purpose Statement

NAU’s Master of Organizational Leadership degree prepares experienced professionals from a variety of business, government, and nongovernmental organizations, for management and leadership responsibilities. 
 
NAU’s organizational leadership program equips students to solve real-world organizational challenges.  Students learn how to manage and strengthen the components of an organization by analyzing and applying leadership theory; by engaging diverse cultures through effective communication and conflict negotiation; by strategically planning, implementing and evaluating initiatives; and by effectively managing projects to accomplish broader goals.  Students learn how to understand organizational problems, develop effective solutions and lead their implementation.  The capstone course integrates program academic knowledge and leadership skills through an analysis of case studies and research papers that integrate graduate-level research, analysis and writing.
 
Our Master in Organizational Leadership will provide you with the opportunity to delve deeply into the knowledge and skills of organizational leadership, or specialize in your personal area of interest. Students interested in a deep development of organizational leadership principles will learn how to manage information systems and human capital, engage in effective decision-making, and lead change initiatives.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Understand and Apply Theory
    • Examine administration, leadership and organizational theories, and knowledge of ethical and effective management.
    • Apply theories to effectively and ethically manage diverse cultures emerging within organizations.
    • Appropriately integrate and apply administrative, leadership and organizational theories to scholarly knowledge 
  • Communication: Design, write and produce documents meeting professional standards 
  • Research & Program Evaluation
    • Conduct research studies and program evaluations in a manner that meets rigorous methodological standards.
    • Ensure research designs and program evaluations are conducted in a manner that they can produce useful, actionable results. 
    • Apply findings from research and program evaluations to improve organizational effectiveness. 
  • Problem Solving: Analyze problems and create solutions using a variety of qualitative and quantitative problem-solving processes, technologies, systems approaches, and innovative/creative thinking.
  • Professional Experience: Demonstrate professional skills applied to practical problems by consistently meeting deadlines, and working both independently and collaboratively in teams.

Organizational Leadership Outcomes:
  • Effectively apply the various roles of management information systems toward advancing strategic goals and the operational success of an organization.
  • Critically appraise the impact of managerial practices on human capital resourcing, and develop solutions to employment management issues.
  • Introduce, explore and overcome resistance to change.
  • Implement tools to make decisions in a variety of situations, engage human capital in achieving goals and evaluate the results of decisions.

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Please note: conditional admission of students with a 2.5-2.9 GPA will be considered, based on a personal statement that demonstrates skills acquired since undergraduate degree conferral, indicating a strong probability of success in graduate studies.
    • Resume demonstrating 3 years of professional work experience
    • Personal Statement or Essay
Master's Requirements
Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.