There are many benefits to pursuing a graduate business degree, and one of those benefits is an increase in knowledge and skills. At Neumann University, we want to help propel you into a leadership role.

Neumann’s Business and Organizational Leadership graduate program is an advanced business degree, designed to prepare students with the skills needed to efficiently solve business problems through strategic planning and critical thinking.

The M.S. in Business and Organizational Leadership also provides the coursework necessary to master the skills and behaviors of competent leaders to help you become an effective leader in your industry and create a cooperative team that focuses on healthy business practices.

Read on to find out more about NU’s program, student and faculty testimonials, and career outlook.

Understanding Neumann’s Organizational Leadership Program

"Strategic leaders take a broad, long-range approach to problem-solving and decision-making through objective analysis, thinking ahead, and planning."

- The Wall Street Journal, September 19, 2009

Business and Organizational Leadership involves the art and practice of strategic thinking - aligning an organization’s vision and strategy so that people can accomplish extraordinary things.

Students in this program learn how effective leadership can be used to tackle challenges faced by businesses and the community. You can master key leadership competencies that will be useful in growing strong organizations and inciting more positive leadership in those working alongside you.

Courses in Business and Organizational Leadership

Classes offered in this program are taught using eight-week intensive modules, and the instructors are industry professionals and experts with years of experience. All courses, which are three credit hours each, are offered both online and on campus. Students have the opportunity to work in small, collaborative groups of their peers.

The 18-month accelerated program prepares individuals to become great leaders in the work environment and in society through collaborative learning.

There are three integrated areas of study in the program:

• The first educates students on personal and professional competencies leaders must understand to succeed.
• The second area teaches students about applying leadership competencies to organization development.
• The final area of study focuses on the importance of social responsibility, ethics, and civic engagement when used to solve global leadership challenges.

Here are a few of the Business and Organizational Leadership courses required for graduate students:

• The Challenges of Leadership — Introduces theories of leadership through literature and research; guides students through best practices and innovative solutions for organizations
• Group Leadership — Focuses on helping students design their own careers, as well as recognize their strengths and weaknesses through leading a group
• Strategic Planning and Systems Thinking — Teaches the basics of the strategic alignment of people, resources, and processes of business methods
• Knowledge Management — Enables students to utilize research gathered on employees to implement critical functions; enforces the impact of decision-making to secure an organization’s competence
• Social and Ethical Responsibility of Leadership — Students will analyze how social responsibility and ethical practices can be used to solve business dilemmas

A Capstone project is also required of graduate students and provides them the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the key competencies of strategic leadership.

NU Faculty Offer Their Thoughts

Dr. Sam Lemon, the Director of Neumann’s Business and Organizational Leadership graduate program, has been with NU since 2007. And with him, he brought an extensive work history in social services, communications, and community education. He calls the accelerated master’s curriculum unique and portable since it applies to a wide variety of professional pursuits.

Those enrolled in the program have diverse career backgrounds, but they’re all taking the classes to gain the leadership skills necessary to help grow any organization in which they are hired. They also come into the program with experiences that may differ from each person depending on their career history, which Dr. Lemon believes “enriches the experience for everyone, including the instructor.” He says that NU strives to make sure employers appreciate the value of the quality of education NU students receive.

A Promising Career Outlook

Earning your master’s in Business and Organizational Leadership commonly leads to careers in areas like Sales, Human Resources, Entrepreneurship, Retail, and General Management. However, the opportunities stretch beyond these areas because all organizations need strong leadership in order to be successful and also make any clients they may work with successful. 

Here are some positions you might find when you start looking for job openings:

• Organizational Change Management Consultant - Lead and support change management initiatives, including assessment, proposal introduction, and stakeholder engagement

• Training & Development Manager - Plan, direct, and coordinate training programs for organization employees; oversee training and development staff

• Strategic Planning Analyst - Support senior leadership through management initiatives, build premium proposals for clients, and conduct competitor/industry research for leadership team

• Contract Administrator - Maintain strong relationships with vendors, monitor and render completion of contracts, oversee communications with stakeholders, resolve contract-related issues

If you want to leave an impact on your company or even switch careers and become a strategic leader in a business setting, Neumann’s M.S. in Business and Organizational Leadership will prepare you for those success in those careers. You can become a master in your workplace by learning the competencies necessary for strategic and ethical leaders.

Whether by studying in-person or through distance-learning, the knowledge and skills you gain in this program will make you an effective decision-maker in both your workplace and your community.

Explore our digital resource: Types of graduate business degrees — which one is right for you?