[Editor's Note: Original story by RM Barton featured in Purdue News]
Through Purdue University’s new online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision (MSOLS), students will be able to build valuable skills in strategic leadership, organizational change and team development in a flexible, online format. The MSOLS degree, which was designed to fulfill the high market demand for professionals with leadership development expertise, focuses on giving students industry-ready skills that can be immediately applied in the workforce.
Through taking classes led by professors who have direct experience working in leadership development, students in the MSOLS program build their competence in leading teams, managing complex projects and challenges, and driving innovation in tech and other industries. The MSOLS is multidisciplinary and draws from fields like behavioral science, business, communication studies and management to give students a broad base of knowledge that is applicable across industries.
To help students tailor their degree to fit their specific career goals, the MSOLS offers three graduate certificates in human resource development, project management and technical communication. These certificates give students the opportunity to earn additional credentials in a high-demand area that can be completed on its own or stacked into the master’s degree.
“These certificates allow students to build their experience in high-demand areas like organizational change, project leadership, workforce development, knowledge management, and professional communication.” said Greg Strimel, interim department head in the Department of Technology Leadership & Innovation at Purdue University. “With these experiences, students will be equipped to take on critical roles in their current, or future, organizations and make an immediate impact while completing their master’s degree.”
Offered fully online, this program is a flexible upskilling opportunity for professionals in human resources, project management, communication, leadership and related fields. Through completing self-paced online courses, students develop in-demand skills like project management, leadership, interpersonal communication, strategic planning, marketing, technology innovation, human capital management, law and data analysis. These skills can be applied to a wide variety of career paths and goals.
“The Project Management graduate certificate is one of the most versatile pathways within the MSOLS program,” said Katrenia Reed Hughes, associate professor of organizational leadership at Purdue University. “The skills gained — planning, risk management, stakeholder engagement and execution — are directly transferable across industries. Whether our graduates pursue careers in business, healthcare, technology or the nonprofit sector, project management provides a universal toolkit for leading teams, driving innovation and achieving results.”
The online MSOLS is an updated rework of Purdue’s online master’s in technology, leadership and innovation. Offering new curriculum that reflects today’s complex organizational landscape, the MSOLS gives students the tools they need to succeed in modern organizations, and it offers them extra flexibility and convenience.
To learn more about Purdue’s online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, including how to apply, visit the program’s webpage.
