Best Online Master’s in Organizational Management Programs

A master’s in organizational management is a specialized business degree that focuses on organizational change, strategic leadership, and management skills. Organizational management professionals help organizations achieve goals, become more efficient, and increase their profitability.

Graduates can qualify for high-paying management and administrative positions. Some of these roles include training and development manager, industrial production manager, top executive, and postsecondary education administrator. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that management occupations will grow by 1.1 million jobs per year, between 2022 and 2032.

PayScale reports graduates with a master of business administration (MBA) in organizational management earned an average annual salary of $92,000 as of April 2024. However, wages can vary depending on occupation, industry, level of experience, and location.

Many top online schools offer master’s in organizational management programs. Keep reading to learn what to expect from this degree program and what you can do after graduation.

Organizational management programs prepare students to pursue management careers as training and development managers, top executives, human resource managers, and more.

Schools offer in-person, hybrid, and online master’s programs in organizational management. Full-time learners usually take 12-24 months to complete a 30- to 36-credit online degree in organizational management. Part-time students typically take longer to graduate.

Organizational management master’s programs attract students with excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills. A typical curriculum explores organizational change and innovation, conflict resolution, ethics in leadership, and diversity and inclusion in organizations.

Some online master’s in organizational management programs offer concentrations that let learners adapt their program of study to focus on specific career goals. Potential concentrations include strategic leadership, organizational communication, and applied leadership.

Graduate programs in organizational management may confer MA, MS, or MBA degrees. Regardless, these programs typically feature similar curricula. However, programs that offer MA or MS degrees usually focus more on theory, whereas MBA programs may cover general business skills.

MA and MS students sometimes complete a research thesis project. MBA programs typically require a capstone, internship, or practicum in lieu of a thesis. Graduates usually qualify for the same types of jobs, although some business-focused industries may prefer an MBA over an MA or MS.

This core class explores the role of human resource managers in hiring, recruiting, and training. Students learn to follow human resource-related state and federal rules and regulations.

Taken during the last semester of a master’s in organizational management program, the organizational leadership capstone allows students to apply their classroom knowledge to a final project based on a real-world problem.

This class focuses on strategies that managers can use to encourage teamwork in the workplace. Topics may include socially conscious teamwork and potential obstacles.

Students in this course explore organizational change and leadership theories. Topics may include change agents, implementation, and changes that impact organizations. The class also looks at ways to deal with resistance to change.

This course covers effective communication in business settings. Learners explore conflict management techniques, oral and written communication, group presentations, and individual interactions.

Earning a master’s in organizational management gives students the skills to pursue careers in the growing management field. The BLS projects 1.1 million job growth rate for management occupations each year between 2022 and 2032.

PayScale reports that graduates with an MS in organizational management earned an average annual salary of $79,000 as of April 2024. Organizational management professionals can earn significantly more than this depending on occupation, industry, location, and level of experience.

Graduates with a master’s in organizational management can go into diverse fields like education, manufacturing, computers and information technology, and management. Other potential industries include healthcare, government, and retail.

See where an online master’s in organizational management degree can take you. Learn more about organizational management careers.

Training and development managers oversee training and educational development programs for employees of an organization. Typical duties include developing training budgets, creating training programs, assessing training needs, and analyzing training programs.

Training and development managers need at least a bachelor’s, but some employers require a master’s degree.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $125,040

Human resources (HR) managers recruit, hire, and interview prospective employees for an organization. They oversee the administrative aspects of an organization. Common tasks include planning employee benefit programs, advising managers on human resources issues, and managing support staff.

HR managers need at least a bachelor’s degree, but some positions require a master’s.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $136,350

Top executives help their organizations strategize and carry out goals. Types of top executives include chief executive officers, general and operations managers, and school superintendents. Typical duties vary by the size of the organization, but may include negotiating contracts, analyzing performance indicators, and carrying out day-to-day management activities.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $103,840

Postsecondary education administrators direct academics, student services, and faculty research at universities. Job duties vary by school size and department. Postsecondary education administrators work in admissions, registrar’s offices, and student affairs.

A bachelor’s is sufficient for some positions, but college administrators usually need a master’s degree.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $102,610

Industrial production managers oversee day-to-day work at manufacturing plants. They hire workers, keep production on budget and on schedule, enforce safety procedures, and write reports. They need leadership, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

Industrial production managers need at least a bachelor’s degree, but some employers require a master’s degree.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $116,970

Graduates of organizational management master’s programs can keep up with industry trends and changes by continuing their education. Some people pursue a Ph.D. or other doctoral degrees in organizational management or doctoral degrees in organizational leadership.

Another way to continue learning about the field is to pursue a professional certification relevant to your industry and occupation. For example, a human resources manager can earn certifications from professional groups like Human Resources Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management.

Google Scholar enables you use Google to search for scholarly literature in the fields of management, human resources, leadership, and more. Keep in mind that Google Scholar indexes articles and abstracts, rather than entire journals and periodicals.

In association with the Project Management Institute, this website brings together a community of practitioners covering topics related to all aspects of project management. Students can sign up for their basic membership for free.

The Harvard Business Review continues to represent the gold standard for scholarly articles related to business and management. You can register on the site and receive up to six free articles each month.

Award-winning author, speaker, and leadership expert Mark Sanborn maintains a blog offering insight and information for anyone aspiring to improve their leadership skills.

Students interested in a human resources management career should consider attending an annual conference from the Society of Human Resources Management. This is the largest conference of human resource managers, and provides strategic educational and networking opportunities.

Master’s in organizational management students and graduates have plenty of professional development support available to them from professional organizations. Some employers even seek out candidates who are involved in professional associations.