Penn State's 33-credit online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change can help you prepare to implement quality and continuous improvement initiatives in an organization. Throughout the program's curriculum, you will have the opportunity to learn how to:
- obtain a critical knowledge base in organization development, appreciative inquiry, and change
- strategically lead both small group and large group change initiatives
- use various resources for developing, implementing, evaluating, and marketing organization development programs
- address ethical issues in practicing organization development activities
- become an effective organizational development practitioner through hands-on experience
- observe group dynamics and facilitate change efforts
The curriculum includes nine prescribed courses (27 credits), one elective course (3 credits), and one required field-based project course (3 credits).
Course List - Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change
The Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change (MPS–OD&C) will be conferred upon students who earn a minimum of 33 credits of course work while maintaining a grade-point average of 3.0 or better in all course work, and who complete a quality culminating field-based project course in consultation with a graduate adviser.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations in Organization Development and Change | WF ED 572 | Development of major concepts, skills and techniques required by workplace learning professionals to support and facilitate organization change. | 3 credits |
| Appreciative Inquiry | WF ED 884 | This course provides a foundation in the theories, principles, and techniques of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). | 3 credits |
| Marketing Organization Development | WF ED 881 | This course familiarizes students with the unique issues in marketing organization development (OD) and OD consulting services. | 3 credits |
| Assessing Data: Organizational Diagnosis | WF ED 582 | This course familiarizes students with approaches to assessing and feeding back data in organization development (OD) and consulting services. | 3 credits |
| Process Consultation in Organization Development | WF ED 578 | This course provides a foundation in process consultation. Process refers to how groups interact and how people get along. | 3 credits |
| Appraising Organization Change and Development and Consulting | WF ED 585 | This course familiarizes students with approaches to evaluating organization development (OD) and consulting services. | 3 credits |
| Facilitating Groups and Teams | WF ED 880 | This course provides students with necessary skills to facilitate small groups and teams. | 3 credits |
| Project Management for Professionals | WF ED 405 | Covers the essential concepts and skills needed to make effective contributions on projects, on time and within budget. | 3 credits |
| Implementing Training and Development Programs | TRDEV 565 | The critical analysis of theories, strategies, and techniques for planning and implementing TRDEV programs to enhance employee learning and performance. The prerequisites TRDEV 460 and TRDEV 465 will be waived for World Campus students. |
3 credits |
*This is a recommended course sequence, but not all courses are offered every term; therefore, you may choose to plan your course sequence differently.
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Safety and Health for Workforce Education and Development Professionals | WF ED 411 | This course assists participants in creating and supporting workplaces and educational environments free of occupational safety and health hazards. | 3 credits |
| Lean-Sigma for Professionals | WF ED 451 | The course focuses on essential lean and six sigma concepts to improve processes in any industry. | 3 credits |
| Evaluation of Investments in Workforce Education and Development | WF ED 543 | Use of labor supply models to evaluate investments in workforce education and development. | 3 credits |
| Needs Assessment for Workforce Development Professionals | WF ED 573 | Acquire skills to identify training and development needs, distinguish problems with management versus training solutions, develop and evaluate training solutions. | 3 credits |
| Leadership Competencies for Professionals | WF ED 410 | Designed to teach contemporary professional leadership competencies for workforce professionals who do not currently have supervisory responsibilities. Prerequisite: two years of work experience or fourth-semester standing or prior approval of instructor |
3 credits |
| Program and Facilities Management for Workforce Development Professionals | WF ED 806 | This course examines advanced learning laboratory organization and management processes to facilitate learning and skill development in a safe environment. | 3 credits |
| Title | Abbreviation | Description | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Based Project for Workforce Development Professionals | WF ED 595A | Students identify a training and/or organization development problem in industry and/or business and carry out contract problem analysis and resolutions. | 3 credits |
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.