Organizational Leadership
The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is dedicated to developing thoughtful, strategic leaders. You’ll be ready to face today’s ever-changing global workplace while making a lasting, positive impact on your organization.
Part-Time
Our Master of Science in Organizational Leadership prepares you to meet the evolving challenges of today's world by helping you cultivate a personal leadership philosophy.
As the workforce continues to diversify, leadership tasks and responsibilities have become more complex. Leveraging students' interdisciplinary backgrounds, this program combines real-world lessons with an experience-driven learning approach to build and strengthen your leadership capabilities to cultivate, lead, manage, and inspire teams.
You can focus your studies through one of six concentrations, including our new coaching concentration. In your classrooms, you’ll learn from faculty experts who bring a wide array of experiences from careers in business consulting, executive coaching, the U.S. military, and more. And you’ll join an alumni network of more than 1,900 leadership professionals who work at renowned organizations such as Massachusetts General Hospital, Bank of America, the Mayo Clinic, and national universities.
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Unique Features
- Strengthen your skills in our learning laboratory model through role playing, interactive simulations, and consulting for a real-world organization.
- Available 100% online.
- Specialize your focus by choosing from six different concentrations.
- Participate in a Capstone project.
Career Outlook
Our graduates work in a wide array of industries, including:
- Healthcare
- Construction/utilities
- Information technology
- Financial services
- Engineering
- Government
They serve in prominent leadership roles, such as
- Executive coaching
- Human resources management
- Project management
- Nonprofit campaign management
- Strategic operations
- Startup CEO
Program Objectives
- Develop and bolster your leadership competencies.
- Explore key leadership areas such as management, ethics, strategic thinking, team building, and organizational culture.
- Prepare for the challenges and opportunities associated with leading globally.
- Exercise leadership skills through action-learning and research projects.
- Understand what it means to drive change and be a force multiplier within your organization.
- Learn to navigate complex business structures, nurture organizational creativity, and instill action to achieve real results.
Unique Transfer Credit Opportunities
Start with your Certification. Leave with your Graduate Credential.
HR Professionals with SHRM or HRCI certifications can be awarded advanced standing transfer credit toward a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management, the MS in Human Resources Management, or the MS in Corporate and Organizational Communication and the MS in Leadership – both of which have concentrations in Human Resources Management.
About the SHRM and HRCI Certification Transfer Credit Opportunities:
Why consider a graduate degree from Northeastern University? We recognize the knowledge and HR competencies demonstrated by those who have earned their SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certifications. As a result, credential-holders have the unique opportunity to accelerate through a Northeastern University Graduate Program by applying this credential in exchange for transfer credit.
Successful applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management:
Will receive 3 quarter hours of transfer credit - a 17% savings in tuition - for HRM 6015 Introduction to Human Resources Management.
Successful applicants for a master's degree program with their SHRM-CP or PHR:
- Will receive 3 quarter hours of transfer credit - a 6% savings in tuition.
- Will be able to earn a master’s degree by completing 14 courses, rather than 15.
- Transfer credit is awarded for the following courses: HRM 6015 Introduction to Human Resources Management.
Successful applicants for a master's degree program with their SHRM-SCP or SPHR:
- Will receive 6 quarter hours of transfer credit - a 13% savings in tuition.
- Will be able to earn a master’s degree by completing 13 courses, rather than 15.
- Transfer credit is awarded for the following courses: HRM 6015 Introduction to Human Resources Management and HRM 6005 Creating a High-Performance Organization.
Contact us today for more information by completing the form on our page.
Accreditation Description
In October of 2016, the Master of Science in Leadership with a concentration in Project Management accreditation was re-affirmed for the maximum five-year accreditation cycle (originally accredited in 2009) by the PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC), the world's leading association for project management professionals. Accreditation is achieved by meeting the GAC’s rigorous standards, which include an assessment of program objectives and outcomes, a review of onsite and online resources, evaluations of faculty and students, and proof of continuous improvements in the area of project management.
Graduates of our GAC-accredited program are granted a substantial 12-month reduction credit toward the experience requirement when they complete an application for any PMI certification. This means that those applying for the PMI certification will only need 24 months of project management experience, instead of 36 months as outlined by GAC. This new benefit applies retroactively to our program’s initial accreditation date of 2009.
| Enrollment Data | |||||
| Annual Enrollments | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| MS in Leadership. Project Management Concentration | 134 | 124 | 90 | 67 | 64 |
| Degrees Conferred | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| MS in Leadership. Project Management Concentration | 51 | 46 | 43 | 20 | 20 |
Testimonials
Vanessa Allen, CPS, MS'18
Les Stein, PhD, Faculty Lead, Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
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Program Costs
Requirements
- Online application
- Statement of purpose (500–1000 words): Identify your educational goals and expectations of the program. Please be aware that Northeastern University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purpose.
- Professional resumé
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts; official transcripts required at the time of admission
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities such as a faculty member, colleague, or mentor, preferably one from your current employer
- English language proficiency proof. Students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:
- Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date
- TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or NU Global Exam scores
Admissions Dates
| Recommended Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Domestic application complete (first half start: September 20, 2021) | September 7, 2021 |
| Domestic application complete (second half start: November 1, 2021) | October 18, 2021 |
| Recommended Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Domestic application complete (first half start: January 10, 2022) | December 20, 2021 |
| Domestic application complete (second half start: February 22, 2022) | February 8, 2022 |
| Recommended Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Domestic application complete (first half start: April 11, 2022) | March 28, 2022 |
| Domestic application complete (second half start: May 23, 2022) | May 9, 2022 |
| Recommended Admissions Deadline | |
|---|---|
| Domestic application complete (first half start: July 11, 2022) | June 27, 2022 |
| Domestic application complete (second half start: August 8, 2022) | July 25, 2022 |
General Requirements
The remaining 26 of 45 quarter hours may be completed by a combination of completing a concentration and additional electives or selecting any courses listed in the concentrations and electives list.
Electives
Complete courses from the 6000 level. Below is a list of courses regularly offered as electives within the Organizational Leadership program.
LDR 6190 Leadership: Coaching for Purpose and Performance 3 c.h.
Concentrations
Choose one from the following:
LDR 6190 Leadership: Coaching for Purpose and Performance 3 c.h.
Required Courses
Complete three of the following (students waived out of HRM 6015, complete four of the following):
Required Courses
Note: Students with project management experience are not required to take PJM 5900:
Complete one of the following (note: students who are not required to take PJM 5900, complete two of the following):
Please note: This curriculum is for marketing purposes only and is subject to change. Official curriculum can be found within the course catalog.
Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace. This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.
Our Faculty
Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.
By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 255,000 alumni and 3,350+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global nongovernmental organizations. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional locations further foster a lifelong, global community of learning and mentoring.
Below is a look at where our Leadership alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.
-
Where They Work
- Boston Public Schools
- State Street
- Raytheon
- United States Air Force
- Massachusetts General Hospital
-
What They Do
- Education
- Business Development
- Community and Social Services
- Operations
- Human Resources
-
What They're Skilled At
- Leadership
- Public Speaking
- Management
- Teaching
- Strategic Planning
Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.