Rider’s M.A. in Organizational Leadership is a practical, flexible, and affordable program that helps you grow into the kind of leader organizations need. You’ll sharpen your strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication skills while learning how to manage people, build inclusive practices, navigate finances, and lead change with confidence. Designed for working professionals, the 30-credit program lets you apply new ideas directly to your career, stack credentials along the way, and graduate prepared to move into advanced roles with a clear advantage.
Gain practical leadership skills in a flexible program built for working professionals.
Dr. McKinney empowered my classmates and me through her knowledge, flexibility and kindness… Rider offers a large support system of faculty and students ready and willing to help you work towards your goals.”
The move into strategic leadership is one of the biggest shifts in any career and it takes more than instinct to succeed. Rider’s graduate organizational leadership program gives you the framework, skills, and confidence to lead with purpose. You’ll study organizational dynamics, change management, communication, team development, and data-informed decision-making, applying what you learn directly to your workplace. The program culminates in a capstone project that tackles a real leadership challenge, preparing you to guide people and organizations with clarity and impact.
Develop expertise in organizational design, group dynamics, and leadership strategy to drive growth and change across business, nonprofit, and public sectors. May also be pursued as a standalone certificate.
Build skills in student affairs, assessment, and institutional strategy to lead colleges and universities effectively. Ideal for roles in administration, advancement, or student services. Also offered as a standalone certificate.
Learn evidence-based coaching techniques for career planning, transitions, and work-life balance. Meets educational requirements for Board Certified Coach (BCC) credentialing. May also be completed as a certificate.
Lead in mental health and wellness organizations through study of counseling foundations, ethics, and multicultural approaches. Includes courses in counseling skills and legal/ethical practice.
Not sure about starting a full master’s program? Rider’s stackable certificates let you begin with a smaller commitment, earn a valuable credential for your résumé, and keep the door open to a graduate degree. Start with a certificate in higher education leadership, talent and organizational development, or life and career coaching. Later, you can stack certificates together and apply all credits toward the M.A. in Organizational Leadership so you earn multiple credentials on your way to a master’s.
In Rider’s M.A. in Organizational Leadership, your coursework and your career feed into each other. You’ll apply theories directly to your workplace, experiment with new strategies, and grow into a leader who drives lasting, positive change. Through this blend of theory and real-world practice, you’ll graduate not just with knowledge, but with the habits and confidence to lead change wherever your career takes you.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to:
Your degree equips you for strategic leadership roles in a variety of environments. You’ll graduate with strong critical thinking, inclusive decision‑making, data-informed research skills, and the ability to lead teams and organizations effectively.
Assistant Professor, Director, M.A. Organizational Leadership
Graduate Education, Leadership and Counseling
Bierenbaum Fisher Hall 202 E
kmckinney [at] rider.edu
609-895-5636
Academic Focus: Organizational Leadership
