Complete MGMT-537
Explore Organization Development & Human Relations with Positive Organization Development (MS)
Champlain College Online’s master’s degree in organization development & human relations (ODHR) specialized in positive organization development is designed to prepare students to nimbly address organizational challenges and influence change at individual and group levels in today’s global organizations. Combining the expertise and value of a master’s degree in human resources (HR) with a foundation in organizational strategy and a concentration in positive organization development, this master's in organizational development program empowers professionals to identify and leverage an organization’s unique strengths to form resilient and adaptable organizational cultures that withstand the constant disruption today’s workforces face.
Interdisciplinary by nature, the enriching curriculum of the master’s in organizational development program will teach you how to successfully lead, inspire, and cultivate diverse talent and help you become a more effective champion of positive change within your organization. With an emphasis on applied learning, ODHR and human resources classes online will help you bring theory to life in authentic and relevant ways that will give you a competitive advantage in today’s increasingly complex business world.
Build Your Career Future
Designed for both mid-career professionals and those seeking to join the field, this positive human organization development program will help facilitate professional development and opportunities for real-world application of knowledge in areas from inclusion practices, talent management, and more. You'll gain expertise in managing organizational change, learn the appropriate strength-based assessment tools to sustain positive organizational change, develop practical creative problem-solving skills, and apply effective questions that facilitate positive change within organizational contexts.
A concentration in positive organization development is a great way to highlight these in-demand skills and showcase subject matter expertise, as well as gain knowledge that can be applied to your workplace from day one.
Take the next step
Academic Excellence and Recognition
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community
Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science
Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
Prepare For What's Next
Take the next step in your work life by creating new perspectives and methodologies for identifying and leveraging opportunities masked as challenges, and the cultural context within which they occur. By gaining expertise in organization development, human relations, and positive organization development, as well as the critical soft skills needed in advanced roles, graduates of Champlain's online ODHR master’s of positive organizational development will be prepared to pursue leadership roles in the vast and varied field of business.
Master's degrees are in high demand and employment in master’s-level occupations is projected to grow by 15% from 2019 to 2029. A master's degree also pays off: the median salary for professionals with a master's degree is $78,210.*
*Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020; job titles: Payscale, 2020
Top Jobs for Master's in Organization Development & Positive Organization Development Graduates
- Change Management Specialist
- Compensation and Benefits Manager
- Director of Human Resources
- HR Analytics Specialist
- Training and Development Manager
Program Details
Learn more about Champlain's 100% online Master's in organization development & human relations with a graduate certificate in positive organization development, designed for working professionals.
Champlain's online organization development and human relations courses encompass the top skills needed by today's human resources professionals.
Required Courses
Also choose one, 3-credit elective. Talk with your advisor about what course would be most appropriate.
Be introduced to the foundational ideas of organization development (OD) theory, informed by historical roots and current strategies. Attend to the nature of organizational complexity in today's world and recognize the need for an evolved approach to organizational change. The emerging dialogic mindset is contrasted to the diagnostic mindset that historically pervaded OD practice. Learning is both theoretical and applied; students will form the basis for a change in their own context to integrate theory into practice.
The most powerful tool an OD practitioner has when influencing change is themselves. In this course, students explore how to be an effective change agent and develop a self-awareness of how our thoughts, beliefs and experiences affect what we see and how we behave.? Students will also have opportunities to enhance this self-knowledge as leaders of change.
Prerequisites
A significant part of organizational life is experienced through groups and teams. This course will explore theories of team processes and group dynamics with an emphasis on how to influence team development and effectiveness in decision making and collaboration. Students will have an opportunity to integrate class learning through applied team projects both within the class and beyond.
Prerequisites
Complete MGMT-537
This course explores the concepts and theories related to strategic and large system change. Special attention is given to the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders in change efforts and creating momentum for change at the system level to prevent typical resistance to change. Students will explore a variety of cases as well as their own organizational system as a context for putting course concepts into practice.
Prerequisites
Complete MGMT-537
In a world of continuous change, organizations strive to create cultures that blend and leverage the unique strengths of the organization and its people to meet challenges presented by such an environment.? This course explores the theory and practices that allow organizations to develop resilient cultures and mindsets to successfully meet dynamic environments.? Students will explore a variety of cases as well as their own organizational system as a context for putting course concepts into practice.
Prerequisites
Complete MGMT-537
In this capstone course, students complete an applied project to support the translation and application of core concepts and program competencies, including those in the embedded certificate. Students will learn about and use action research principles, as appropriate for their individual research topic, and reflect on research practices and results.
Prerequisites
Complete certificate requirements prior to begining capstone.
Positive Organization Development (POD) is the intentional approach to change that emphasizes what elevates and inspires individuals and organizations. Whereas traditional approaches to change have focused on identifying and improving breakdowns and deficits within organizations, POD seeks to uncover positive deviance and assets and accelerate successes within a system. While not ignoring problems, students will explore how to create optimal organizational states by drawing upon the theory and science of Appreciative Inquiry, positive organizational scholarship, positive psychology, and sustainable enterprises.
Students will explore the theory and practice of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as a specific philosophy and specific action-research framework for creating positive organizational change. Case studies will examine how AI has been applied in different sectors to create positive whole-system change. Students will be introduced to the practical tools and resources for engaging groups and organizations in AI, as well as applying the principles of AI to their own life.
Prerequisites
Take POD-500 or permission by program director
Employee wellbeing in organizations has been shown to impact not only individuals' mental health, but also their collaboration, engagement, productivity. Creating and sustaining a culture that supports the wellbeing of employees in today's continually disrupted and distributed workplace takes intentional design and commitment. This course is designed to provide students with not only the science behind wellbeing, but also practical tools and approaches for empowering organizations to cultivate an enduring culture of wellbeing.
Prerequisites
Take POD-500 or permission of Program Director.
- Culture Builder. Advocates for the health and vitality of an organization to embody its mission, vision, and values.
- Innovative Change Leader. Using a strengths-based approach, fosters a learning environment which capitalizes on successes and failures.
- Inclusive Process Advisor. Orients groups and group work toward the achievement of shared goals by facilitating inclusive group processes that ensure all voices are heard.
- Self-Aware Change Leader. Makes well grounded, intentional choices about the use of self as an instrument to effect change.
- Strategic Systems Change Leader. Comfortably works within a whole system and advises on inclusive strategies for organizational change, transformation and alignment.
In addition to the above learning outcomes, with the positive organization development graduate certificate students will also demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- Apply theories and methodologies of strength-based organization change including Appreciative Inquiry, positive psychology and positive organizational behavior to generate value within organizational systems.
- Develop strategic initiatives designed to create and sustain cultures of wellbeing within organizations.
- Design and implement Appreciative Inquiry-based interventions to create generative change from interpersonal to whole-system level within organizations.
Champlain College Online's organizational development and human relations faculty, led by department chair Albert Orbinati, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s human resources professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the field and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Alumni of the Champlain College Online human relations and organization development program work in corporations, small businesses, government organizations, and non-profits nationwide. These include:
- Bayada Home Healthcare
- Burlington Police Department
- BPSI
- Comcast Communications
- Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- IBM Corporation
- Keurig Dr. Pepper
- Massachusetts State Police
- PWC
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Postal Service
- VELCO
Titles our alumni hold include:
- Analyst
- Assistant Director
- Contracting Officer
- Client Services Manager
- HR Advisor
- HR Specialist
- Legal Assistant
- IT Consultant
- Operations Program Specialist
- Outreach Specialist
- Program Integrity Clinical Manager
- Regional Operations Manager
- Revenue Agent
- Safety Systems Analyst
- Sr. HR Specialist
- Social Insurance Specialist
- Technical Expert
Increasing your career mobility is at the center of everything we do. As an online master's degree student, you get free access to the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle for getting noticed and getting hired, taught by Jen Morris, a leading executive career coach that partners with us to support our students in their job search journeys.
Tuition & Costs
Graduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25
$595
per credit
$1,785*
per course
$450**
PER CREDIT FOR ALUMNI WHO EARNED A DEGREE FROM CHAMPLAIN, ON-CAMPUS or online
$450
per credit military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150
One-time graduation fee
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Starting Summer 2024, not retroactive
See the graduate cost of attendance and fees here
Meet the Department Chair
Albert Orbinati, PhD
Department Chair and Assistant Professor, CCO Business Programs
Oversees
- Business (A.S., B.S., M.S., Certificates)
- Human Resource Management (B.S., Certificates)
- Leadership (M.S.)
- Management Information Systems (B.S.)
- Organization Development & Human Relations (M.S.)
About
Albert Orbinati, PhD, is Assistant Professor and Department Chair for the undergraduate and graduate business programs at Champlain College Online.
Prior to Champlain, Dr. Orbinati's roles have included Assistant Vice President of Online Learning and Continuing Education at Medaille University in Buffalo, NY; Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at Russell Sage College in Albany, NY; and Director of Online and Non-Traditional Programs at Utica University in Utica, NY. In addition to his career in higher education, Albert is a member of the U.S. military, and currently holds the rank of Major in the Vermont Air National Guard.
Dr. Orbinati holds a B.A. in Urban Planning from Binghamton University, an M.A. in Adult Education from Central Michigan University, an M.B.A from Champlain College, and a Ph.D. in Adult Education from Capella University.
From the Blog
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Learn what you can expect from our online master's in organization development & human relations with the positive organization development graduate certificate.
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