Organizational Leadership M.S.

Lead with confidence, flexibility, and purpose on a schedule that works for you.

The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership at Manhattan University is a flexible, accelerated online graduate program designed for working professionals, emerging leaders, veterans, career changers, and students seeking to strengthen their leadership skills in today’s changing workplace.

Credit Hours
30
Time to Complete
12-24 Months
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This program is part of Social and Behavioral Sciences

What Set's Us Apart

The Manhattan University Difference

What Sets Us Apart

The M.S. in Organizational Leadership at Manhattan University prepares working professionals to lead with insight and integrity. The program is offered in flexible seven-week terms, with multiple entry points throughout the year. Courses are delivered through various online and blended/in-person modalities, including asynchronous and synchronous online, as well as selected blended/in-person options. This allows you to choose a 100% online format or a hybrid of online and in-person courses to best support your academic, professional, and personal needs.

Online and Flexible

The MSOL program is designed to support students who need flexibility. Most coursework can be completed through online learning options, allowing students to balance graduate study with work, family, military service, athletics, and other responsibilities.

Multiple Course Modalities

Courses may be offered in different formats depending on course design, student needs, and program scheduling. These may include asynchronous online courses, live synchronous online courses, and selected blended/in-person courses with an on-campus component.

Accelerated Seven-Week Terms

Students do not need to wait for only a traditional fall or spring start. The program offers multiple entry points throughout the year, allowing students to begin or continue their studies every seven weeks.

Connection and Engagement

The program is flexible and designed to help students connect with faculty and peers. Synchronous and blended/in-person course options may provide opportunities for live discussion, networking, collaboration, and professional relationship-building.

Industry-Experienced Faculty

Study with faculty who are practicing leaders across business, healthcare, law, and the nonprofit sector, not just academic theorists.

Support for Student Needs

The program’s flexible modalities help support different student populations. Students using VA education benefits, student-athletes, and certain international students may benefit from or require specific course formats, including selected blended/in-person options. Students should consult with the appropriate university office before registering to confirm the modality that best supports their individual situation.

30

Minimum Credit Hours

1

One Year Completion Possible

$140K+

Median HR Manager Salary*

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Why Study Organizational Leadership?
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The Manhattan Advantage

Why Study Organizational Leadership at Manhattan University?

Organizations need leaders who can communicate clearly, guide teams, manage change, and make ethical decisions. The MSOL program prepares students to lead people and projects across a variety of professional settings, including business, nonprofit, healthcare, education, public service, military-connected organizations, and community-based work.

Students develop practical skills in leadership communication, coaching, organizational change, project management, planning, governance, and strategic decision-making.

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Adult students at large conference hall listen to a speaker.
Curriculum & Courses

Curriculum & Courses

The 30-credit curriculum includes ten courses focused on applied leadership and organizational effectiveness. Students build skills in communication, teamwork, organizational learning, planning, change management, and ethical leadership.

Elective Focus Areas: Students select two electives from one of four focus areas: General Organizational Leadership, Human Resources, Public Service, and eLearning and Training.

Students should consult Manhattan University's academic catalog for the full curriculum and course requirements.

  • Organizational Leadership
  • Leadership Communication and Coaching
  • Leading Across Cultural and Global Boundaries
  • Metrics for Today’s Leader
  • Shaping the Learning Organization
  • Collaborative Project Management
  • Organizational Planning and Governance
  • Capstone Consulting Project
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Flexibility By Design

Built for Working Professionals

The M.S. in Organizational Leadership is designed around the realities of a working professional's schedule, with the flexibility to study fully online or in a low-residency format. 

Coursework runs in accelerated seven-week terms, requiring roughly 20 hours of work per week, so you can balance your degree against your job and personal commitments. Whichever path you choose, the program combines the convenience of flexible learning with focused, connected coursework. Motivated students taking courses across the fall, spring, and summer terms can complete the full 30-credit degree in as little as one year, making it an ideal route for established and emerging leaders who want to advance their careers without stepping away from them.

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Why Study in New York City

New York City is one of the world's great centers of business, finance, healthcare, media, and public service, home to the organizations and leaders who set the standard across every sector. A Manhattan University degree connects you to that environment. Our faculty are practicing leaders drawn from the industries that drive the city, bringing the strategies, challenges, and case studies of real New York organizations directly into your coursework. Whether you study fully online or in a low-residency format, you join a university with deep roots in the professional networks of the New York metropolitan region, gaining access to mentors, alumni, and connections that extend far beyond the classroom. It is leadership education shaped by one of the world's most demanding and dynamic markets.

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Organizational Leadership: Skills That Move Organizations Forward

Manhattan University's M.S. in Organizational Leadership builds the practical, transferable skills today's organizations rely on. Graduates leave prepared to lead complex initiatives, communicate with impact, and guide diverse teams through change with confidence and integrity.

Strategic Planning & Execution

Use essential leadership tools and techniques to plan, manage, and implement complex projects and organizational initiatives from start to finish.

Advanced Communication

Apply advanced communication skills to articulate complex ideas, persuade stakeholders, and lead through influence across diverse audiences.

Team & Culture Building

Build and support diverse teams while creating inclusive organizational cultures where people and performance thrive together.

Ethical Decision-Making

Identify and navigate ethical dilemmas across varied organizational settings, leading with the integrity that lasting leadership requires.

Data-Driven Leadership

Apply metrics and performance measures to drive process improvement, evaluate outcomes, and make informed leadership decisions.

A Personal Leadership Philosophy

Develop a personal leadership philosophy that integrates proven strategies with your own values, style, and professional priorities.

Learn From Experienced Leaders

The faculty in Manhattan University's Organizational Leadership program are accomplished professionals and scholars who have led across business, healthcare, law, government, and the nonprofit sector. They bring research and real-world experience in conflict management, communication, public service, and workforce development directly into your coursework, mentoring you as you develop your own leadership practice.

Meet our Faculty

Potential Careers

Graduates of the M.S. in Organizational Leadership program are prepared to lead teams, manage organizational change, support employee development, and guide projects with strategic and ethical judgment.

  • Human Resources Manager
  • Project Manager
  • Training and Development Manager
  • Nonprofit Program Manager
  • Program Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Organizational Development Specialist
  • Nonprofit or Community Program Leader
  • Public Service Leadership Roles
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About

Kakos School of Arts and Sciences

The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Manhattan University, where rigorous inquiry meets the Lasallian Catholic commitment to educating the whole person. The School brings together the humanities, natural and social sciences, and professional graduate programs, fostering critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and a sense of purpose. Its graduate offerings, including the M.S. in Organizational Leadership, are taught by accomplished faculty who combine scholarship with real-world experience and a dedication to student mentorship. Grounded in a mission of dignity, service, and respect, the School prepares graduates to lead and contribute meaningfully in their professions and communities.

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View of campus in the fall at Manhattan Univeristy
Program Costs & Aid

Program Costs & Financial Aid

Manhattan University is committed to making a high-quality, career-focused graduate education accessible and affordable. Graduate students may qualify for assistantships, scholarships, and federal aid that significantly reduce the overall cost of attendance.

A Manhattan University education is an investment in your future, and we are dedicated to helping you access the resources that make it possible.

Learn More About Graduate Costs and Financial Aid

Admission Information

Admissions Information for Manhattan University

Start Your Journey in Organizational Leadership

Applying to Manhattan University is simple and straightforward. Review the requirements below to take the next step toward advancing your career.

Students interested in the M.S. in Organizational Leadership should review the graduate admissions requirements and connect with the program director to discuss course options, modality, and the best entry point.

Students using VA education benefits or students with visa-related requirements should speak with the appropriate university office before registration to confirm the course format that supports their individual needs.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering from a program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (or recognized equivalent)
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • Undergraduate degree normally in the same discipline; applicants from other engineering disciplines may be required to complete prerequisite coursework
  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended

Learn More about Graduate Admissions

Learn More about International Graduate Admissions

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Prepare for the Real World

At Manhattan University, your education is built around who you are and where you want to go. Whether you’re ready to apply or just starting to explore, take the next step when you’re ready — we’re here to help.

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