Online and Distance Learning

People who choose organizational leadership online programs are often interested in pursuing leadership or management positions or in enhancing their careers in business, government, nonprofit, or military settings.

Choosing the right type of organizational leadership online program

Whatever your interest is, or whatever your current position is, a leadership qualification will probably be useful in your career prospects.

Many organizational leadership degree programs come under business administration or business management, but degree programs with an organizational leadership perspective also exist in psychology, education, health, and public administration.

Programs can be taken at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels, and people usually prefer to take them online so as to avoid interrupting their careers.  This page deals only with online programs - if you want to study on campus, click on On Campus Programs.

Where can you take organizational leadership online programs?

Many schools offer organizational leadership online degrees.  Here are a few selected ones (others can be found using the search box in the right hand column):

• Walden University
  • Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) - Public Management and Leadership
  • M.S. in Psychology - Leadership Development and Coaching
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) RN Track - Leadership and Management
  • Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) - Public Management and Leadership
  • Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Administrator Leadership for Teaching
  • Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
  • M.S. in Leadership - Project Management
  • M.S. in Leadership - Sustainable Futures
  • M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
  • Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences - Leadership and Organizational Change

• Grand Canyon University
  • MBA and MS in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems (dual degree)
  • MS in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems
  • MS in Leadership: Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Management
  • MED in Education Administration: Organizational Leadership (No IR, No Cert)
  • Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership
  • Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership in Effective Schools
  • Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership in Higher Education Leadership
  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D) - Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning

• Capella University
  • BS - Management and Leadership
  • MS - Leadership Coaching Psychology
  • PhD - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

• American InterContinental University Online
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) - Organizational Psychology and Development
  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Leadership of Educational Organizations
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Organizational Psychology and Development

• South University Online
  • Bachelor of Business Administration - Management and Leadership

• Kaplan University Online
  • MS in Management / Change Leadership
  • Criminal Justice/Leadership and Executive Management

• Jones International University
  • MA in Business Communication - Leadership and Influence
  • M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership and Administration

• Keiser University Online
  • MBA - Leadership for Managers

• Western International University
  • Master of Arts in Innovative Leadership

• Norwich University - Online
  • MBA - Organizational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

• New England College
  • Master of Science in Management / Non - Profit Leadership
  • Master of Science in Management / Strategic Leadership

• Ashford University
  • MA / Organizational Management - Organizational Leadership
  • MBA - Organizational Leadership

• Argosy University Online
  • Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership

Also check the following links: organizational psychology online, leadership psychology degrees, leadership educational degrees, and online leadership programs.

What do organizational leadership online programs cover?

Although many managers take leadership degrees, management skills and leadership skills are not the same.  A degree in organizational leadership focuses on the skills of transformational leadership, i.e., those skills needed to help an organization to undergo whatever changes are required in order to achieve its vision.  In order to develop the knowledge and skills required for leadership, students require a foundation in subjects such as: psychology, human relations, finance, and computer studies.   Specific leadership courses can then build on this foundation. These courses might include: communication and interpersonal skills, management decision making, building collaborative teams, change management, strategic planning, transformative leadership, leadership influences, diversity in organizations.

What jobs do graduates of online leadership programs get?

As organizations face increasing globalization, competition, changing economies, and changing demographics of clients and workforce, transformational leadership is required more than ever.  This is true in companies in all fields of work, so whatever your career interest or current employment is, an organizational leadership degree online is a sensible choice.  It will provide you with the leadership attitudes, knowledge and skills that you need to succeed in a management position at senior levels in an organization.  But it is also possible to work as a development specialist or as a consultant in organizational development.

Chief executive officers can earn a salary of $175,000, but competition is clearly very tough for these positions.  Most would require an MBA or even a doctorate in business.

For more information

Use this link to find programs and schools near you.

If you don't find what you want here, try using the search facility on this site with organizational leadership online as your search term.

Remember to compare the admission requirements and course content of several schools before you choose a program.

Campus Programs

For those students who feel that online learning and distance education is not for them, the web site also has a section on campus programs. 

You can also search for a program or a school near you.

For schools in Canada

Click here for a page that links to campus universities and campus colleges in Canada. It also provides some advice on choosing a suitable campus.

Click here and then enter your Canadian postal code to search for Canadian college or university campuses.