Master's in Organizational Leadership and Learning

Master Your Leadership Potential, Inspire Organizational Growth, and Cultivate Lifelong Learning

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, effective leadership goes beyond traditional management; it requires the ability to adapt, inspire, and foster continuous learning within your team and organization. Through the Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Learning program, you’ll prepare to direct individuals, teams, and organizations to maximize their development and performance, while inspiring their success.

Organizational learning focuses on the interrelationships among people, organizations, and learning, while utilizing systematic change processes. With a curriculum that blends leadership theory, rigorous research skills, and cutting-edge strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to inform effective decision-making that impacts leadership innovation.

As you gain hands-on practice in diverse aspects of leadership—often through a multi-level lens that explores a myriad of individual, group, organizational, societal, and global issues—you’ll cultivate the practical expertise to better understand organizational problems, develop effective solutions that will result in effective change, and lead their implementation.

 

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Scholar-Practitioner Faculty
Learn from faculty members who are active and experienced working professionals with real-world insights into leading organizations. All faculty members have a doctoral degree and are members of reputable industry associations.

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Diverse Student Body
Engage in a collective learning environment shared by classmates with a broad range of professional backgrounds. Gain exposure to unique viewpoints and refine your critical analysis and communication skills with discussion forums and small group projects.

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Accessible + Flexible
With courses available fully online or on the Foggy Bottom campus, you have access to all of the resources of our tier 1 research institution, wherever you are in the world.

 

 

 

The GW Advantage

Take advantage of our unique location in the heart of our nation’s capital, with access to research, internship, and employment opportunities with prestigious private and government organizations. The program offers hands-on practice in diverse aspects of leadership, expanding your understanding of how to lead in the midst of change and complexity.

GSEHD offers a multidisciplinary approach to learning. We challenge you to expand your understanding of leadership by examining it from the vantage point of several disciplines. This approach often facilitates creative, results-oriented breakthroughs.

 

 

 

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 Program at a Glance

Degree Awarded:

Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of Organizational Leadership and Learning

Department:

Human and Organizational Learning

Course Delivery:

-Online
(Synchronous/Asynchronous)

-Main Campus

Program Entry:

-Spring, Summer, Fall (Online)

-Fall (Main Campus)

Our Mission

The goal of the program is to develop ethical, responsible, and humanistic leaders with strong ‘learning’ orientation, capability to effectively lead change, and capacity to continuously develop themselves and others in their organizations and environments.

Curriculum
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 30 credits, including 21 credits in required courses and 9 credits in elective courses.
Required
HOL 6700 Human Behavior and Learning in Organizations
HOL 6701 Adult Learning
HOL 6702 Organizational Change
HOL 6704 Leadership in Organizations
HOL 6709 Leadership Development
HOL 6721 Assessing the Impact of Organizational Change Using Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
HOL 6746 Work Groups and Teams in Organizations
Electives
9 credits in elective courses, selected in consultation with advisor


Download the 2024 Course Plan  >

 

 

Program Outcomes
Students will learn topics such as the foundations of human behavior, adult learning principles, group dynamics, research methods, diversity within organizations, organizational change, strategic change, leadership development, impact of globalization on societies and organizations, and assessing the impact of change efforts.

Graduates of this organizational leadership and learning degree benefit from its unique focus on leadership, as well as a strong understanding of how to lead in a competitive marketplace. This interdisciplinary program also allows you to tailor learning to deliver specific skills, including:
  • An understanding of organizational problems and innovative strategies to solve them
  • Practical methods for leading effective group processes, adult learning, organizational diagnosis and change
  • Effective use of critical thinking and reflection in problem solving
  • Enabling social responsibility and authenticity in your leadership strategy and your organization
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 Apply Now

GSEHD’s Office of Admissions invites you to apply for a spot in our program. Please review the following admission and financial information.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Review our step-by-step guide to applying to GSEHD >

To learn more about the program, admission process, and upcoming events, please connect with the GSEHD Admissions Team at education@gwu.edu or 202-994-9283.

Apply Now  Schedule Consultation with Admissions Counselor 

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.

  • Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree

  • Resume

  • Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities

  • Statement of Purpose

  • Two Letters of Recommendation

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants.

View more details about requirements  

Applications are now being accepted for Summer and Fall 2024. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Application Timeline Spring (Online) Summer (Online) Fall (Online/On-Campus)
Priority Deadline Aug 1 Nov 1 Nov 1
Round 1 Deadline Sept 15 Dec 15 Dec 15
Round 2 Deadline Nov 1 Jan 16 Jan 16
Round 3 Deadline Dec 15 March 1 March 1
Round 4 Deadline N/A May 1 May 1
Round 5 Deadline N/A N/A June 15
Round 6 Deadline N/A N/A Aug 1

 

For more information or to inquire about the next admissions cycle, contact the GSEHD Admissions Team at education@gwu.edu or 202-994-9283.

 

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 Tuition & Financial Aid

We know embarking upon graduate school is a big decision - due in part to the costs of attending. At GW, we understand the time and thought behind making graduate school work for you. Please take a moment to learn more about the options and opportunities available to help fund your graduate education.

Learn more about scholarships, grants & financial aid 

Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.

The tuition rate* for the on-campus Master's in OLL program is $1,870 per credit hour.

This program requires 30 credits.

Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.

*Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

View the current fee chart  

Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >

Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.

The tuition rate* for the online Master's in OLL program is $1,205 per credit hour.

This program requires 30 credits.

Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.

*Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

View the current fee chart    

Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >

 

 

Kevin Jelani headshot
quotation mark

I come from the law enforcement and military communities, but after entering the GSEHD program I have been exposed to other leadership styles from not only different communities, but different walks of life and corners of the world. I've learned from the faculty and the student community that there's a lot more to leadership.

Kevin Jelani
Master’s in Organizational Leadership & Learning

 

 

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 Career Outlook


Our degree in Organizational Leadership and Learning builds your skills in leadership, group processes, adult learning, organizational diagnosis, and consulting strategies to help you enter or advance your career in organizations in different sectors and become a leading practitioner who is highly sought after in organizations all around the world.

These roles include some of the most dynamic positions in business today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Services reports that training and development managers earned a median annual salary of $111,340 in 2018, with jobs in the field expected to grow 8% by 20281. Management analysts had a 2012 median pay of $83,610 per year, with job opportunities expected by grow 14% by 20282. Lastly, general and operation managers earn a median salary of 104,980, with job opportunities expected to grow 6%3.

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018-19 Edition, on the Internet at bls.gov/ooh/management/training-and-development-managers.htm
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018-19 Edition, on the Internet at bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018-19 Edition, on the Internet at bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm

OLL Career Opportunities
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While the skills acquired in the program are applicable across many professions, our graduates serve in various roles including:

  • Corporate recruiting and Human Resources
  • Internal and external management consulting and analysis
  • Knowledge management
  • Leadership coaching and development
  • Learning or training departments
  • Organizational development
  • Performance improvement
  • Strategic change and strategic planning
  • Talent management
  • Consulting
Potential Employment Settings
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While employment settings are as numerous as the number of organizations in the world, our alumni currently hold positions at the following:

  • Amazon
  • American Institute of Architecture Students
  • AstraZeneca
  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Deloitte
  • Google
  • Jacobsen Daniels
  • KIPP Foundation
  • Land Trust Alliance
  • Logic 20/20 Inc.
  • PWC
  • Science Systems and Applications
  • Sustainable Capital Advisors
  • Starbucks
  • The Intern Group
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
  • University of Texas A&M
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Coast Guard

 

 

Organizational Leadership and Learning Faculty

Dr. Maria Cseh

Associate Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

(202) 994-8649
Dr. Ellen F. Goldman

Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

(202) 994-4004
Dr. Shaista E. Khilji

Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

(202) 994-1146
Dr. Russell Korte

Department Chair and Associate Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

Dr. Yoshie Tomozumi Nakamura

Assistant Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

Dr. Sarah M. Ray

Assistant Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

Dr. Ellen Scully-Russ

Associate Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

(571) 553-3786
Dr. Julia Storberg-Walker

Associate Professor, Human and Organizational Learning

(571) 553-3787

 

 

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 Upcoming Events

 

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Take the Next Step in Your Career

Complete the form below to learn more about degree requirements, course descriptions, tuition, and more.

 

 

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