Develop your skills in organizational leadership
Leadership is all about seeing people as they are and helping them become the best version of themselves.
Our Master of Science: Organizational Leadership is a perfect fit for you if you’re interested in moving into or advancing in leadership, particularly within the nonprofit or public sectors. Through this program, you’ll develop your leadership skills and acquire the tools you need to make a difference while you serve the common good within your career.
Shenandoah University’s MS: Organizational Leadership program is not just for students newly graduating with their bachelor’s degree – it’s meant for everyone. The program taught me more than just how to be a leader in the workforce. It taught me how to critically think and examine issues from a lens I wouldn’t of thought of before my studies. It gave me the confidence and skills I did not realize I needed until I completed my degree.
– Christina Haag ’20
With a focus on ethical leadership, policy and program development and assessment, you are widely prepared to contribute to success in institutions of public trust. Our program prepares you to develop specific approaches to achieving the missions of your workplace, and enabling thoughtful responses to social change in innovative ways.
We focus on being responsive to social change and innovation, and offer advising tailored to your prior experiences and particular interests.
Our cohort approach leverages learning through the experiences and perspectives of others, not simply from the instructor to the student. Most of our students come from human service, and public sector agencies, government organizations, higher education institutions, and public safety/security services. The goal is to allow you to develop unique and specific approaches programming consistent with the mission of your organization.
Shenandoah’s Master of Science: Organizational Leadership is special because it brings together working professionals and empowers them to use their knowledge and experience to solve real-world problems. As the program was very hands-on and discussion-based, we learned to lead together and to apply what we learned to various situations we may encounter in leadership. To this day, my colleagues and I are closely connected and reach out to each other to discuss information and insights related to our fields.”
Kelli Williams ’17
We use an active learning model with our student-centered, inquiry-driven, problem-oriented approach and gain an understanding of the human and social factors influencing action in organizational settings, emphasizing a “servant-leadership model” for institutions of public trust.
Student-Centered
Learners bring a general area of interest in which to ground their studies. We work with you to shape and examine that interest as it relates to organizational leadership.
Inquiry-Driven
You will use a learning model that emphasizes question-asking and synthesis rather than knowledge acquisition and the mere accumulation of facts. Your interest is explored systematically, thoughtfully, and deeply under the guidance of faculty members who share a vision of graduate education.
Problem-Oriented
We do not ask the learner to apply theory to cases alone, but to the lived experience as well. This approach to learning is rooted in the idea that problems are opportunities where learning can occur.
The Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership was helpful for me and how I implement the things I learned EVERY day.”
Maitland Rutledge ’19
Learn More About This Program
Shenandoah University’s Division of Education & Leadership prepares practitioner-leaders by offering programs of study that conform to the following principles: practicing in a spirit of collaboration; thoughtful examination of the foundations, current contexts and future possibilities of the fields of study; encouraging proactive, problem-centered philosophies of educational and professional practice; producing graduates who will be knowledge-driven, competent decision-makers whose thinking is informed by reflective practice; and preparing caring, capable and reflective teachers, administrators, human services and public sectors practitioners.
Classes
Courses
Our ability to draw from a range of courses both within the School of Education and Leadership and across the university allows you to design a program that is inter- and trans-disciplinary.
| Course | Title | Hrs. |
| LST 625 | Foundations of Organizational Leadership | 3 |
| LST 624 | Financial Planning in Public & Nonprofit Orgs. | 3 |
| LST 623 | Policy & Ethics in the Public Sector | 3 |
| LST 621 | Strategic Planning & Evaluation | 3 |
| LST 693/LST 694 | Directed Study I/Directed Study II | |
| RST 684 | Introduction to Research Literacy | 3 |
| RST 672 | Outcomes Assessment & Statistical Applications in Orgs. | 3 |
| RST 678 | Practitioner Research I | 3 |
| RST 679 | Practitioner Research II (optional) |
Your capstone experience may consist of a Practitioner Research Project, or a Directed Study, a course which allows you to concentrate on a very specific question important to your field and profession.
I took over as the Timbrook Achievement Center Program Coordinator as of March 2020 — we are trying to make a state model for Virginia. While the pandemic largely shut us down from March-October, I was able to utilize strategic planning, budgeting, re-writing mission and vision statements, and overall best practices for how to effectively and appropriately run an organization during a global pandemic. Upon re-opening in October 2021, the ethical dilemmas faced on a daily basis with truant and delinquent teens fell under several of the course discussions we had in class, I feel very prepared to handle this along with balancing the more administrative side of the organization.”
Maitland Rutledge ’19
Concentrations
Your capstone experience may consist of a Practitioner Research Project, or a Directed Study, a course which allows you to concentrate on a very specific question important to your field and profession.
If you’re a professional working in any of the fields listed here, you could use one of SU’s professional certificate programs to serve as your concentration in the Master’s program, thereby earning two credentials at the same time. (If you already have one, that credential may be transferred into the program.)
Faculty
Our accomplished and caring faculty serve as mentors beyond the classroom. They prepare you to serve as a compassionate educator, critical thinker and ethical leader. You’ll benefit from small class sizes that enable faculty members to provide individualized attention and nurture your academic and professional development.
Application Information
Shenandoah University’s Division of Education & Leadership provides student-centered, inquiry-driven, problem-oriented opportunities to explore issues related to public, education and nonprofit organizations.
View application deadlines and submit your Shenandoah Application.
