• What is OD?
• What is the purpose of the MSOD program at Friends University?
• Who should attend the MSOD program?
• What are the benefits of attending the MSOD program?
• How can an MSOD degree help me as a manager?
• What can I do with an OD degree? 
• What is the Applied Practicum Project? 
• How long has the program been in existence? 
• What is the international short-term study abroad experience?
• What are the admissions requirements?
• What is a cohort and why is the cohort experience important?
• Where is the program offered?

What is OD?
OD stands for Organization Development. The following definition is widely considered the most applicable to what OD is and what OD practitioners do:

"Organization development is a system-wide application of behavioral science knowledge to the planned development and reinforcement of organizational strategies, structures, and processes for improving an organization's effectiveness."

-- Cummings and Worley, "Organization Development and Change", Sixth Edition, South-Western Publishing, 1997, p.2.

The field of Organization Development offers the knowledge and skills to address the challenges we face.  Such topics as managing change, training and developing employees and understanding group dynamics and human behavior in organizations are addressed in the MSOD program. 

What is the purpose of the MSOD program at Friends University?
The MSOD program prepares individuals to lead and facilitate strategic organization change. The program emphasizes relational skills, use of self, action research, managing strategic change, understanding organizational culture and having a systems perspective.

Who should attend the MSOD program?

• Internal OD consultants
• External consultants
• Leaders and those aspiring to be in a leadership role
• Executives and line managers
• Human resource professionals
• Training and development professionals
• Quality and process improvement professionals
• Directors and managers from government and developmental organizations

What are the benefits of attending the MSOD program?

• Interpersonal mastery with increased self awareness and emotional intelligence
• Ability to implement and guide successful organization change
• Improved facilitation skills
• Coaching skills
• Ability to think strategically
• Opportunities to network with other professionals

How can an MSOD degree help me as a manager?

• Manage and guide change efforts
• Gain a better understanding of group dynamics
• Think strategically, with a systems, process perspective
• Improve your emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills
• Understand motivational concepts and coach employees
• Understand the impact of organizational design and structure on organizational performance
• Utilize action research concepts to make decisions and improve your organization
• The MSOD Program fosters an overall business organization orientation which applies to both profit and non-profit organizations within a variety of industries

What can I do with an OD degree? 
The possibilities are limited only by the person possessing the degree. The MSOD degree, while specific to the field of Organization Development has broad application to the world of business and organizations. There are generally two groups of people with MSOD degrees. The first group would include those  in jobs that are specific to the field of OD. This would include such areas as organization development, training and development, change management, consulting, human resources, and performance improvement. The second group would include persons in a wide variety of organizational roles, from business owner, managers, supervisors, technical fields, non-profit service and health care related fields and general functional business roles such as marketing, finance, and manufacturing.  In this broader context, the program offers someone in a general managerial or leadership role the tools to understand and guide organizational success. What one can do with a Master’s degree in Organization Development is really shaped by the individual’s interests, passions and core competencies.

What is the Applied Practicum Project? 
An important aspect of the curriculum is the applied practicum project where students gain the experience of applying the knowledge and skills gained from the core program courses. The project is designed to give students hands-on experience in the broad field of OD. Students design, implement and evaluate an applied research project in the field of OD related to his/her occupation or community.

How long has the program been in existence? 
Our graduate program in Organization Development is in its 15th year and currently has more than 30 full time graduate students in the program. 

What is the international short-term study abroad experience?
Near the end of program, students travel as a cohort on an international short term study abroad (7-10 days) where they will serve in teams of OD consultants and work with and learn from, an international organization. The short-term study abroad is part of the ORGD 655: International Organization Development. Program costs cover airfare, lodging and some meals. Students should plan for some out-of- pocket expenses such as Passport and Visa Fees, checked baggage fees, meals, and other miscellaneous fees and/or taxes. Detailed information pertaining to international travel can be found in the Friends University International Travel Manual. Students should plan on a minimum of $350 for out-of-pocket expenses.

What are the admissions requirements?
In addition to the requirements stated under the Graduate Admissions Policy, the requirements for admission to MSOD are as follows:

• A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Two letters of recommendation from professional and/or academic references.
• Completion of international travel acknowledgement form.
• Completion of program interview process and written approval of admission by the program director after review of the admission requirements.

What is a cohort and why is the cohort experience important?
A cohort is an “intact” class that takes all courses together through the curriculum sequence. Cohorts are typically diverse in composition and 15-20 in size. Cohort members come from all around the area, from a variety of professional fields, and demographics. This diversity of experience and range of backgrounds and expertise is essential to the richness of the classroom experience. The cohort approach offers students a way to experience and learn about groups and organization dynamics by being a part of an intact learning community over the two years. Through the program, cohort members become learning partners, friends, and professional colleagues.

Where is the program offered? 
Currently we have cohort groups at our Wichita, Kansas campus. We are planning to offer the degree at our Kansas City area education center in Lenexa, Kansas.

Need more information? Contact the Admissions Office at 316-295-5300 or learn@friends.edu.