Online

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Business woman presenting in meeting
Online

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership

Become a better leader.

Learn effective strategies to motivate and optimize dynamic teams—without putting your career on hold. This online master's in organizational leadership program equips professionals with the skills and knowledge to lead with responsibility, integrity, and trust.

Traditional management tactics not working? Try this instead.

Modern leadership is grounded in collaboration and interpersonal connections. Learn to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within a team by identifying your key strengths as a leader in the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) program at St. Catherine University.

With research-backed strategies, you will grow your voice and strengthen your capability for leadership. In addition, you will gain the ability to forecast trends and make bold, data-driven decisions that can propel the entire organization forward. In the online MAOL program you will:

  • Understand the application of multicultural workplace dynamics
  • Embrace ethical leadership practices
  • Devise effective strategies for problem-solving

Make connections and build relationships with partner organizations, St. Kate’s faculty, and our alumni network to advance your career and support lifelong learning. Students of all genders are welcome in this program.

Certificate Options

For students who want foundational knowledge to improve their leadership abilities but aren't interested in a full master's degree, a 3-course Foundations of Leadership certificate option is available.

St. Kate's also offers customized certificates in organizational leadership for employer partners. Custom certificates combine core leadership education with specialized coursework to meet the needs of our corporate partners. For information about starting a custom certificate experience at your organization in 2024, contact Greg Steenson.

 

Program at a Glance

Format: Online

Start: Fall or Spring

Time to completion: 20 months

Credits required: 36 

Tuition per credit: $715 (2024-25 rates)

Total tuition: $25,740

 

Rates are subject to change each June 1. Tuition and fee information

All applicants will be reviewed for MAOL scholarships

Apply for financial aid

Start Transforming Your Career

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Why choose
St. Kate's?

Hear what some of our students, faculty, and alumni think!

Plan of Study

Below are sample plans of study. For course descriptions and other details, consult the University catalog.

Year 1

  • Fall
    ORLD 6200: Foundations of Leadership & Ethics (3cr)
    ORLD 6300: Strategic Communication: Influence & Collaboration (3cr)
  • J-Term
    ORLD 6402: Organizational Strategies: Accounting & Finance (2cr)
  • Spring
    ORLD 7000: Personal & Team Leadership to Drive Results (3cr)
    ORLD 7700: Organizations as Cultural, Social and Political Structures (3cr)
  • Summer
    ORLD 6502: Organizational Strategies: People & Culture (2cr)
    ORLD 7500: Leading Organizational Change (3cr)
    ORLD 8202: Organizational Strategies: Operations & Management (2cr)

Year 2

  • Fall
    ORLD 8000: Advanced Leadership Principles & Practices (3cr)
    ORLD 8901/8902: Action Research or Thesis Design & Proposal (3cr)
  • J-Term
    ORLD 6700: Cultural Context of Leadership: Study Abroad* (3cr)
  • Spring
    ORLD 8400: Difference & Conflict Competence (3cr)
    ORLD 8980/8990: Action Research Project or Thesis (2-3cr)
    ORLD 8800: Leadership Seminar (1cr)

*MAOL students may choose either the study abroad experience or a 3-credit Colloquium series 

Year 1

  • Fall
    ORLD 6200: Foundations of Leadership & Ethics (3cr)
  • J-Term
    ORLD 6402: Organizational Strategies: Accounting & Finance (2cr)
  • Spring
    ORLD 6300: Strategic Communication: Influence & Collaboration (3cr)
  • Summer
    ORLD 6502: Organizational Strategies: People & Culture (2cr)

Year 2

  • Fall
    ORLD 7000: Personal & Team Leadership to Drive Results (3cr)
    ORLD 6900: Colloquium* (1cr)
  • Spring
    ORLD 7700: Organizations as Cultural, Social and Political Structures (3cr)
  • Summer
    ORLD 7500: Leading Organizational Change (3cr)

 

Year 3

  • Fall
    ORLD 8000: Advanced Leadership Principles & Practices (3cr)
  • J-Term
    ORLD 8202: Organizational Strategies: Operations & Management (2cr)
  • Spring
    ORLD 8400: Difference & Conflict Competence (3cr)
  • Summer
    ORLD 7800: Colloquium*  (1cr)

Year 4

  • Fall
    ORLD 8901/8902: Action Research or Thesis Design & Proposal (3cr)
    ORLD 8500: Colloquium*(1cr)
  • Spring
    ORLD 8980/8990: Action Research Project or Thesis  (2-3cr)
    ORLD 8800: Leadership Seminar (1cr)

*MAOL students may choose either the 3-credit Colloquium series or a study abroad experience

Career Outcomes

How to Apply

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Financial Aid

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Information Session

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Tuition Rates

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True Stories

Heather
<p>I worked for a company that had a partnership with St. Kate’s, so I signed up for the certificate program. I wasn’t going for an entire degree. But, later, the faculty suggested it. I’m glad they took time to help me figure that out. This program was a launching pad to me switching careers.</p> <p>My talents were affirmed by the faculty and my fellow students. Most important for me was that St. Kate’s has a very inclusive policy on who gets to attend. I don’t identify as female. All the professors I had first introduced themselves by name, then said their pronouns. I thought: Huh, that’s cool. That awareness is not present at most places. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, that stuff really matters. Not everyone gets that at college.</p> <blockquote> <p>There were a lot of group projects in the first year or so. Often in group projects, there are people on your team who don’t pull their weight. But it wasn’t that way at all. I was surprised how eager students were to help each other. I’d say most of the people I encountered were motivated, humble and compassionate.</p> </blockquote> <p>I would love to be Chief Diversity Officer of a major healthcare organization. I want to be the person who helps others get where they want to be. The most helpful course ever was Strategic Communications with Dr. Jermaine Davis. It was really a turning point in my program and self-realization. I knew it was time to go do what I feel called to do. After a recent job interview, I sent a note to Dr. Davis that said: Your class is one of the top reasons I got this job. I really like the way St. Kate’s engages the whole person and wants folks to get to know themselves and clarify their passions and goals. Asking, through introspection, what am I called to do?</p> <p>If you just want to read a bunch of books, don’t come here. If you want to experience transformation, St. Kate’s is the right place for that kind of work.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>
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