Gain Practical Experience
Conduct a supervised, professional, and off-campus capstone project.
Application deadline
Credits and costs
Nationally Recognized
Transform Organizations One Person at a Time with a New Set of Skills
Help organizations develop and improve their practices, systems, and strategies in complex and rapidly changing environments.
Lead strategic small-group and large-group change initiatives.
Develop individuals, teams, and organizations capable of innovative and meaningful change.
Create, implement, evaluate, and market organization development programs and initiatives.
Use technology as a tool for change management.
Build a portfolio of work showcasing samples to share with prospective employers.
Online Courses in Organization Development and Change Management
Online Courses in Organization Development and Change Management
The organization development and change online master’s degree program can help you prepare to implement quality and continuous improvement initiatives in an organization. Course work is designed with an international focus, ensuring that students are exposed to global issues and the way change is occurring both within the U.S. and around the world.
The curriculum includes five required courses (15 credits), four elective courses (12 credits), and one required field-based project course (3 credits).
The Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change (MPS–OD&C) will be conferred upon students who earn a minimum of 30 credits while maintaining a grade-point average of 3.0 or better in all course work and complete a quality culminating field-based project in consultation with a graduate adviser.
Required Courses (15 credits)
- 3credits
Development of major concepts, skills, and techniques required by workplace learning professionals to support and facilitate organization change.
- 3credits
This course provides a foundation in process consultation. Process refers to how groups interact and how people get along.
- 3credits
This course familiarizes students with approaches to assessing and feeding back data in organization development (OD) and consulting services.
- 3credits
This course provides students with an understanding of group dynamics by assimilating contemporary concepts related to team development and group processes.
- 3credits
This course provides a foundation in the theories, principles, and techniques of Appreciative Inquiry (AI).
Concentration Areas and General Electives (select 12 credits)
Select 12 credits of additional courses from concentration areas that align with your career interests or from the list of general electives. The purpose is to develop skills tailored to your professional goals.
Four concentrations are currently available. The following lists of concentration areas and electives may expand or change over time in response to market demand.
Analytics
- 3credits
Explains the use of labor supply models to evaluate investments in workforce education and development.
- 3credits
Describes skills required to identify training and development needs, distinguish management issues versus training problems, develop and evaluate training solutions.
- 3credits
Describes approaches to evaluating organization development and consulting services.
Consulting
- 3credits
Describes approaches to evaluating organization development and consulting services.
- 3credits
Reviews standard approaches and then examines the processes associated with planning, developing, and implementing training and development programs in the whole organization.
- 3credits
This course familiarizes students with the unique issues in marketing organization development (OD) and OD consulting services.
Operational Excellence
- 3credits
Covers the essential concepts and skills needed to make effective contributions on projects, on time and within budget. This course has been reviewed and approved by the PMI® Authorized Training Partner Program.
- 3credits
The course focuses on essential lean- and six-sigma concepts to improve processes in any industry.
- 3credits
Describes skills required to identify training and development needs, distinguish management issues versus training problems, develop and evaluate training solutions.
Technology-Leveraged Organization Development
- 3credits
Reviews contemporary workplace technologies, tools, and platforms and how to make informed decisions for using them. Provides opportunities to share experiences.
- 3credits
Covers the essential concepts and skills needed to make effective contributions on projects, on time and within budget. This course has been reviewed and approved by the PMI® Authorized Training Partner Program.
- 3credits
Equips OD/HRD professionals with the technological acumen necessary for consulting and working efficiently.
General Electives
- 3credits
Discusses leadership competencies for workforce professionals who do not currently have supervisory responsibilities.
- 3credits
Describes how to develop and maintain workplaces and educational environments free of occupational health hazards.
- 3credits
Examines advanced learning laboratory organization and management processes to facilitate learning and skill development in a safe environment.
- 3credits
Reviews standard approaches and then examines the processes associated with planning, developing, and implementing training and development programs in the whole organization.
Culminating Experience (3 credits)
- 3credits
Provides students with the opportunity to conduct a supervised, professional, and off-campus capstone project.
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.
Advance Your Organization Development Career
Advance Your Organization Development Career
The knowledge you acquire in this degree program can qualify you to work within corporate and talent development, process management, performance improvement, and consulting. You'll also have the support of Penn State Career Services.
Job Titles Related to This Degree
The following roles are often held by people with this type of degree:
- Management Development Specialist
- Staff Development Director
- Talent Development Manager
- Training and Development Director
- Workforce Development Program Director
Employment Outlook for Occupational Fields Related to This Degree
Estimates of employment growth and total employment are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are subject to change. While these occupations are often pursued by graduates with this degree, individual outcomes may vary depending on a variety of factors. Penn State World Campus cannot guarantee employment in a given occupation.
Training and Development Managers
Career Services to Set You Up for Success
From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.
- Opportunities to connect with employers
- Career counselor/coach support
- Occupation and salary information
- Internships
- Graduate school resources
Ready to Learn More?
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State master's degree?
Costs and Financial Aid
Costs and Financial Aid
Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
2024–25 Academic Year Rates
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,027 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,325 per semester |
2025–26 Academic Year Rates
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,037 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,448 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Federal financial aid may only be used to pay for credits used to satisfy program requirements.
Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Additional Cost of Attendance Details
To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:
- visit the Tuition Information site
- click the plus sign to expand the table
- select a semester from the World Campus row
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this program.
Earn a Valuable Credential along the Way
Earn a Valuable Credential along the Way
Show mastery of specific subjects before your degree is complete. Thanks to shared courses across programs, students can often earn a certificate along with their degree in less time than if they earned them separately.
Certificate Programs Related to This Degree
Credit toward the following certificates can be earned while completing this degree program:
Build your expertise in project management, team facilitation, and Lean Sigma processes while reinforcing basic organization development concepts. This certificate program may provide a pathway toward the MPS in OD&C.
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Organization Development and Change Operational ExcellenceLearn to lead change initiatives and evaluate group dynamics to facilitate positive organizational change. This program can help you build a strong foundation in organization development and change, and the credits earned in the certificate may be applied toward the MPS in OD&C.
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Organization Development and Change EssentialsGain the specific skills and knowledge you need to lead organizations through small- and large-scale change initiatives. This certificate focuses on marketing and organization consulting services and can serve as a stand-alone credential or a path toward the master’s degree.
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Organization Development and Change Consulting SkillsConcentrations That Align with Your Goals
Promote your career choices and increase your overall marketability by selecting concentration areas or electives that meet your goals. Select course work from one or more of the concentration areas or from the list of general electives:
Prepare yourself as a strategic consultant and practitioner of organizational change, talent development, workforce development, performance improvement, and training.
Prepare yourself to work as a practitioner and facilitator for organizational change, process improvement, business analytics, and project management initiatives.
Learn about critical thinking, analytical tools, and approaches as they apply to organization development and change initiatives.
Learn to select and apply technologies that can help organizations effectively manage change as well as assist your work as an OD professional.
Organization Development and Change at Penn State
The Penn State Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change online program can offer you a new beginning and new opportunities.
Earn HRCI®, SHRM, or PMI® Recertification Credits
The Penn State Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change online program is an Approved Provider of the HR Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management.
Penn State is also a Project Management Institute (PMI) Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), and each course in the Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change program is approved toward your application or recertification.
Set Your Own Pace
Set Your Own Pace
Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.
Our online courses typically follow a 12- to 15-week semester cycle, and there are three semesters per year (spring, summer, and fall). If you plan to take a heavy course load, you should expect your course work to be your primary focus and discuss your schedule with your academic adviser.
To Finish Your Degree in One to Two Years
- Take 3–4 courses each semester
To Finish Your Degree in Two to Three Years
- Take 2–3 courses each semester
To Finish Your Degree in Three to Four Years
- Take 1 course each semester
Timelines may vary based on course availability.
Convenient Online Format
This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.
A Trusted Leader in Online Education
Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.
How to Apply to Penn State
How to Apply to Penn State
Apply by July 15 to start August 25
Application Instructions
Deadlines and Important Dates
Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.
Fall Deadline
Apply by July 15 to start August 25Spring Deadline
Apply by November 15Summer Deadline
Apply by April 15, 2026, to start May 18, 2026
Steps to Apply
For admission to the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
Admission to the program requires a minimum of one (1) year of post-undergraduate, full-time work experience, which does not include undergraduate internships. Applicants who do not meet this requirement are encouraged to apply to one of the OD&C graduate certificate programs first. The Penn State Graduate School will allow up to 15 nondegree or certificate credits (successfully completed courses with a B or better and taken within the last 5 years) to be transferred to count toward a degree program at a later date.
GPA — Program faculty will consider applications from those who maintained an undergraduate junior/senior GPA of 2.50 or higher.
You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. If you are a Penn State alum, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history.
Test Scores — GRE or GMAT scores are NOT required for admission.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Fox Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Reference (1) — You will need to initiate the process through the online application by entering the name, email address, and mailing address of one (1) professional reference. Upon submission of your application, an email will be sent to your reference requesting they complete a brief online recommendation regarding your commitment to success in an online program. Please inform your reference they must submit the form in order for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Résumé — Upload your résumé to the online application.
Statement of Purpose — Submit a personal statement of your career and educational goals. This statement should be an essay (2–3 pages in length) that demonstrates the applicant's written communication skills.
To begin the online application, you will need a Penn State account.
Create a New Penn State Account
If you have any problems during this process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].
Please note: Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application or create a new Penn State account. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions.
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Degree Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.5. Complete the application.
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].
Contact Us
Contact Us
Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.
To learn more about the Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
[email protected]
Whitney DeShong
OD&C Program Office
The Pennsylvania State University
303 Keller Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-9768
[email protected]
Learn from the Best
Learn from the Best
Delivered online through Penn State World Campus, this program provides close and consistent interaction with nationally recognized and caring faculty from the Department of Learning and Performance Systems within the Penn State College of Education. To further support your growth, the program also introduces you to a network of experienced professionals. In addition, faculty will regularly draw from relevant work-related situations to ensure that the knowledge you are gaining is grounded in the reality of how organizations develop and change.
Faculty
Eric J. Bergstrom
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
- DegreeM.Ed., Training and Development, Penn State
- DegreeB.S., Human Resources Management, Penn State
Dr. Eric J. Bergstrom has taught undergraduate credit and noncredit business management courses as well as graduate training and development and organizational development courses. He has facilitated leadership development programs for organizations across a variety of industries focused on strategic planning processes, continuous improvement processes, human resource development, and organization development. His practical and research interests include individual career development, leadership competency modeling and development, human resource development, and organizational process improvement.
Matthew Bornak
- DegreeM.Ed., Educational Leadership, California University of Pennsylvania
- DegreeInstructional II, Career and Technical Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- DegreeB.S., English Language Arts Education, Clarion University
Matthew Bornak is a doctoral student in workforce education at Penn State with more than 25 years of experience in education and industry. Matthew's work bridges theory and practice, equipping learners and educators to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving workforce. A recipient of the Boeing Innovation Award, Matthew has published and presented on Digital Apprenticeships (DA) and Online Experiential Learning (OEL). His teaching portfolio includes English language arts, mechanical systems engineering, and workforce education. Prior to his time at Penn State, he was a career and technical education instructor and an aerospace defense maintenance engineer at The Boeing Company.
Candace Claar
- DegreeEd.D., Educational Leadership, Shippensburg University/Millersville University
- DegreeM.Ed., Business Administration and Education, Frostburg State University
- DegreeB.S., Business Education, Frostburg State University
Dr. Candace Claar is an assistant teaching professor in the workforce education and development program, part of the Department of Learning and Performance Systems, on the Penn State University Park campus. She is a seasoned educator and leader with extensive experience in educational leadership, curriculum development, and instruction. With more than three decades of expertise in technology training, she has worked with businesses and schools to enhance digital literacy and instructional technology integration. Before joining Penn State, Dr. Claar held key leadership roles, including director of partnerships, professional experiences, and outreach; director of curriculum; middle school principal; and business, information, and computer technology educator. Her professional interests focus on teacher leadership, advancing technology competence, and designing impactful professional development programs that foster innovation in education.
Wesley E. Donahue, PE, PMP
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
- DegreeMBA, Clarion University
- DegreeB.S., Civil Engineering, Penn State
Dr. Wesley E. Donahue is the coordinator of the online Master of Professional Studies in Organization Development and Change and an instructor of related courses and programs. An experienced researcher, developer, and leadership consultant, he has an extensive manufacturing, engineering, sales, and management background, having started and operated businesses for more than 30 years. Dr. Donahue is a registered professional engineer, six-sigma black belt, and author of a host of education and training materials.
I-Pang Fu
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
- DegreeM.Ed., Human Resource Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- DegreeMBA, Human Resource Management, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan
- DegreeB.A., Sport Management, National Taiwan Sport University, Taiwan
Dr. I-Pang Fu brings more than 10 years of experience as a learning design and technology consultant, leading multiple learning design efforts and online programs at WIDA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Penn State, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Fu is the lead learning designer in online programs at Penn State Law. He has implemented learning design in more than 100 virtual learning solutions and has supported more than 15,000 adult learners around the globe since 2011. Before joining Penn State Law, he was the senior information process consultant at WIDA, a faculty associate and program manager at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the instructional designer at Penn State Smeal College of Business, and a web specialist at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Tonya R. Hartman
- DegreeMBA, Smeal College of Business, Penn State
- DegreeB.S., Materials Science Engineering, Penn State
Tonya Hartman is an enterprise change and transformation team member in Penn State's Office of the President. She has more than 15 years of experience working for global advanced materials manufacturers in roles ranging from engineering to strategic marketing to product management. Tonya began her academic career seven years ago as an instructor for the Penn State Online MBA program and World Campus Online Faculty Development. She is a Six Sigma Black Belt and teaches Six Sigma methodology to both undergraduate and graduate students at Penn State, and she supports the University's continuous improvement efforts.
Seong Ji Jeong
Assistant Professor of Workforce Education and Development, Penn State College of Education
- DegreePh.D., Vocational Education and Workforce Development, Seoul National University
- DegreeM.Ed., Vocational Education and Workforce Development, Seoul National University
- DegreeB.A., English, Sungkonghoe University
Dr. Seong Ji Jeong is an assistant professor in the workforce education and development program at the Penn State College of Education. Her research interests center around workforce development program evaluations, career transitions and trajectories, and the aging workforce, with an emphasis on labor market outcomes. Prior to joining the Penn State College of Education faculty, she was a postdoctoral scholar in the Ohio Education Research Center, which conducts research utilizing statewide administrative data for state agencies through the Ohio Analytics partnership at The Ohio State University. She participated in a variety of state-funded projects, including the evaluation of workforce development programs for individuals with disabilities, the unemployed, etc. Using her expertise in quantitative methods, she served as a lecturer in the Quantitative Research, Evaluation and Measurement Program at the College of Education and Human Ecology at OSU during her postdoctoral career.
Patricia Macko
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
- DegreeMSIT, Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University
- DegreeB.S., Business Administration, Bloomsburg University
Dr. Patricia Macko is an adjunct faculty member for Penn State World Campus as well as Workforce Education and Development programs. She is also president of the Macko Consulting Group, a consulting practice specializing in leadership and organization development. Dr. Macko is an experienced health care and financial industry practitioner. She has worked as an organization consultant for the past 10 years. Her research interests include organization development, leadership development, competency modeling, and talent development.
Gerald Post
- DegreeEd.D., Training and Development, Adult Ed., Organizational Development, Northern Illinois University
- DegreeM.A., Communications, University of Illinois
- DegreeB.A., Communications, Elmhurst College
Dr. Gerald Post specializes in adult learning, organizational development, and accelerated learning, and leadership programs for many organizations. He has published articles and a book, and has built several corporate universities. He has held positions of vice president, director of training, or project manager, as well as taught for various northern Illinois secondary education schools. Currently, Dr. Post consults and serves as a visiting professor for various colleges and universities, and has received the Top 125 Training national recognition.
Matthew Raup
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education, Penn State
- DegreeM.S., Instructional Technology, Bloomsburg University
- DegreeB.S., Information Technology, Juniata College
Dr. Matthew Raup has extensive experience as an IT leader and specializes in organizational change management and employee engagement. He works for the Department of Defense (DoD) as the chief of the business intelligence division at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Having worked as a leader in the IT industry for more than 18 years, he has had first-hand experience leading large organizational changes and implementing new technologies. He has also managed IT at both the K–12 and higher education levels and was a member of the U.S. Army National Guard 2nd 112th Army Infantry Division.
William Rothwell
- DegreePh.D., Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- DegreeM.A.B.A., Business, Sangamon State University, Springfield, IL (now the University of Illinois at Springfield)
- DegreeM.A., English, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- DegreeB.A., English, Illinois State University, Bloomington
Dr. William J. Rothwell, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CPLP Fellow, is professor of workplace learning and performance in the Workforce Education and Development Program, part of the Department of Learning and Performance Systems, on the Penn State University Park campus. As one of the founders of the MPS in ODC program, he had many years of experience in OD before becoming a faculty member in 1993. His research interests center around organization development, talent management, and succession planning. He is the author of 110 books and more than 200 articles.
Mark Threeton
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
- DegreeM.S., Higher Education, Kansas State University
- DegreeB.S., Technical Education, Pittsburg State University
Dr. Mark Threeton is an associate professor of learning and performance systems and coordinator of career and technical teacher education within the workforce education and development program at Penn State. He consults, teaches, and conducts research in the areas of training and development, facilities management, occupational safety, and experiential learning to promote enhanced learning and skill development. His research has been published widely in scholarly research journals and books. He holds extensive credentials across education and training. Prior to joining the Penn State faculty, he was a technical educator and professional in the field of automotive technology.
Hyung Joon Yoon
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Development, Penn State
- DegreeM.A., Adult Continuing Education, Korea University
- DegreeB.Ec., Food and Resource Economics, Korea University
Hyung Joon Yoon, SPHR, CCSP, has gained multinational experience in such countries as the United States, South Korea, and Morocco as a researcher-practitioner. His specialties include facilitating OD through career development, assessing individual and organizational strengths, and facilitating a participatory strategic planning process. He has presented his research findings more than 50 times in more than six countries, and he received the Individual Greatness Award (Franklin Covey Greatness Award) in recognition for the creation of measurable change in an organization in 2006.
Aileen G. Zaballero
- DegreePh.D., Workforce Education and Comparative Int’l Education, Penn State
- DegreeM.S., Educational Leadership, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- DegreeB.S., Workforce Education, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dr. Aileen G. Zaballero has been a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) since 2009. Her career, before graduating from Penn State, focused on experiential events such as high/low ropes, scavenger hunts, outdoor adventure races, and other team-building events. These programs focused on enhancing skills in communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. She then focused on more scholarly work, including developing competence models, researching instructional design skills, collaborating on the development of ATD's Talent Development Framework, and currently co-creating a series of simulations to develop OD skills. Some of her main research interests revolve around the future of work, the role of supervisory leadership in modern workplaces, succession planning strategies across regions, and innovative methods for engaging and supporting online learners.
News
