What is Organizational Leadership?
A popular business sub-field, organizational leadership can lead to a wide variety of engaging career opportunities in Missouri. Graduates tend to become highly versatile professionals capable of working for companies in almost any industry.
Organizational leaders may have many different responsibilities depending on the type of company or organization that employs them. Businesses in numerous industries hire these professionals. This can result in vast dissimilarities between positions, even when the jobs share the same or similar titles. This makes it essential for applicants to review job postings carefully to ensure they fully understand potential employer expectations.
Generally, these professionals are hired to help improve overall operations. They take various steps to help companies meet established goals, such as determining how certain decisions might impact efficiency, productivity, and staff morale. In some situations, managers may also be tasked with supervising employees, promoting productive workspaces, and verifying assigned work is completed satisfactorily. Another common responsibility is ensuring staffs feel supported by their employers.
Online Organizational Leadership Education in Missouri
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for management occupations is projected to grow 8% from 2021 to 2031. This is faster than the average for all professions and will result in an increase of about 883,900 new jobs over the decade. Including the replacement of workers who retire or change career fields, approximately 1.1 million management openings are expected each year. Some related professions are projected to grow more than others. Computer and information systems managers, for example, can expect to see employment increase by 28% during the same time period.
Notably, however, those who complete an organizational leadership program may also qualify for employment in many business and finance professions. Growth for these occupations is comparable, with an expected 8% increase from 2021 to 2031. This will result in an additional 980,200 applicable job openings each year.
Professional and business services is the largest industry in Missouri, accounting for $42.3 billion in revenue each year. This should result in plenty of jobs for organizational leadership professionals. Additional opportunities may also be available in other top sectors in the state such as education, healthcare, finance, retail, entertainment, and information.
Based on data provided by the BLS, 160,530 management professionals were employed in Missouri as of May 2022. The annual mean wage for these jobs was $111,290, which is significantly above the state’s annual mean wage of $54,520 for all occupations in the state. Missouri also employed 175,770 business and financial operations professionals with an annual mean wage of $78,130.
Missouri has many colleges and universities that offer an organizational leadership program and degrees in other related business subjects. Those who intend to seek employment in the state should give preference to these institutions, as they offer the most geographically relevant curriculums.
Most organizational leadership professionals in Missouri require some amount of higher education. Colleges and universities throughout the state and nation offer relevant programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Degree holders will have improved job opportunities, but those with advanced degrees tend to possess the best job prospects.
While expectations vary by employer, most companies expect job candidates to possess relevant degrees in the field. This usually means that a bachelor’s is necessary, as this is the academic standard for most management, business, and finance occupations. If you plan to seek supervisory roles, however, earning a master’s or doctoral degree may be required.
Online Associate (AS)
Associate degrees in organizational leadership generally consist of 60 credit hours of coursework that take full-time students approximately two years to complete. The majority of undergraduate programs like these are comprised of both general liberal arts core courses and major-specific classes. Students typically study basic communication, mathematics, and science subjects in conjunction with content specific to their major. This provides those enrolled with a strong academic foundation for future learning, as well as a basic introduction to the field and critical thinking skills. While curriculums vary by institution, organizational leadership programs at this level often cover topics in human resource management, employment law, organizational development, and business or corporate communication.
Graduates with associate degrees of this kind can generally pursue employment as account managers, community relations managers, training directors, diversity specialists, and executive assistant positions. They are ready to lead teams but may need more experience for higher level positions. This may be a particularly appealing option for those seeking to save money while pursuing higher education. Typically offered by community colleges, these programs often cost less than attending traditional four-year institutions. For many, this means graduating with fewer or no student loans.
It’s important to realize, however, that most companies prefer to hire organizational leadership professionals who possess more education and/or experience. As a result, graduates do not always choose to seek employment right away. Instead, they often enroll in bachelor’s programs, which can greatly improve their job prospects in the future. Previously earned undergraduate credits are also transferrable. Most colleges and universities accept up to 60 or 90 undergraduate credit hours from other accredited institutions. In most cases, those with associate degrees generally only require two additional years of education before they can graduate with more advanced degrees.
Online Bachelors (BS)
Bachelor’s in organizational leadership degrees generally consist of 120 credit hours of coursework that take full-time students approximately four years to complete. As undergraduate programs, most are still comprised of both general liberal arts core courses, general education requirements, and major-specific classes. In addition to basic communication, mathematics, and science subjects, organizational leadership programs of this kind often cover topics in organizational development, organizational behavior, business writing and communication strategies for leaders, business ethics, assessment in organizations, social conflict, and negotiation, as well as teaching problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
Organizational leadership majors pursuing bachelor’s degrees may also be given opportunities to select concentrations. Choosing a sub-field specialty area like this can help direct instruction and prepare students for work in certain jobs.
Some options for emphasis areas that are commonly available include:
- Human Resource Management
- Finance
- Project Management
- Marketing
- Operations Management and Supervision
- International Business
Additionally, those enrolled should anticipate completing capstone projects and/or participating in internships with nearby businesses and organizations.
According to the BLS, bachelor’s degrees are typically the minimum education requirement for management, business, and financial occupations. Graduates often qualify for employment opportunities as training and development managers, management analysts, sales managers, human resource managers, and industrial production managers. Notably, however, those with skills in this field may be able to pursue jobs in many other industries, as well.
Notably, not all graduates seek employment right away. Those interested in pursuing advanced employment opportunities and higher pay potential often choose to continue their education by enrolling in master-level programs. Prospective graduate school students should be prepared to meet established minimum grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score requirements set by their chosen institution.
Online Masters (MS)
Master’s degrees in organizational leadership generally range from 30 to 36 credit hours of coursework that take full-time students approximately two to three years to complete. Graduate programs no longer incorporate general liberal arts classes. Some colleges and universities do require that incoming students have taken certain undergraduate prerequisite courses and you'll need to have a bachelor's in organizational leadership or a related field to gain entrance. This ensures those enrolled possess the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive at a more advanced academic level.
Every academic institution is different, but curriculums at this level are typically designed to help students prepare for advanced positions in the field. Coursework requirements vary, but often include topics in leadership theory, organizational behavior, business ethics, business analytics, human resource management, public relations, and marketing. Those enrolled are also likely to study organizational sustainability, corporate communication, digital media and marketing, and diversity and conflict in the workplace. Additionally, capstone projects and/or internships are frequently required.
As with bachelor’s degree programs, students are often provided opportunities to select a concentration.
Some of the most common specializations offered include:
- Global Business
- Human Resources Management
- Healthcare Management
- Nonprofit Management
- Leadership Coaching
- Social Entrepreneurship
Graduates are typically considered to have superior knowledge and skills in the field. As a result, they usually qualify for lucrative careers as business executives, management consultants, school principals, human resources managers, training and development managers, and administrative services managers.
Online Doctorate (PhD)
A PhD or doctorate in organizational leadership generally consists of between 60 and 120 credit hours that take full-time students four to seven years to complete. These are terminal degrees and, as such, are quite academically intensive. While every program is different, most curriculums are designed to prepare students for the most prestigious careers in leadership and business. These include jobs such as training and development manager, postsecondary educator, top executive, organizational development consultant, and organizational developmental director.
In order to ensure graduates possess the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in these careers, those enrolled typically study various topics related to organizational design, education law, finance, strategic management of non-profit organizations, collaborative leadership and partnership, and leadership theory and practice. While students can expect to spend the first couple years receiving traditional classroom instruction, independent study and research typically take priority as the programs progress. These degrees often culminate with the defense of a written dissertation before a board of professors.