Master of Science in Positive Organization Development (MPOD)Master of Science in Positive Organization Development

Are you passionate about helping organizations to develop and change for the well-being of people, society and the globe? Do you possess a curiosity and thirst for learning to help bring out the best in yourself and others? You鈥檙e exactly what we鈥檙e looking for in the Master of Science in Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD) program at 星空传媒 Weatherhead School of Management.

In our 17-month program, you鈥檒l be challenged through core courses in areas such as interpersonal skills building, group dynamics, inclusive leadership, flourishing enterprise, managing positive organizational change, coaching with compassion, appreciative inquiry, and more. 

In addition, you will be able to choose your own area of demonstrated 鈥渕astery鈥 to pursue with an assigned coach or advisor. This will culminate in a foundational, professional or distinguished mastery badge to accompany your master鈥檚 degree.

You鈥檒l learn from our renowned faculty in classes and gain real-world insights through experiential learning programs and personalized coaching sessions鈥攐pportunities that will arm you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress in the career path you want.

Hear from MPOD student, Melanie Myers, as she talks about her experience in the program: 

The 50th Anniversary of MOD/MPOD

 Join us on September 25-28, 2025 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this incredible program. It will be a time to honor the past while engaging in an effort to look towards the future.

MPOD at a Glance

17
month program starting each fall semester
10
learning modules鈥5 on campus and 5 virtual鈥攐ver 5 semesters
87%
MPOD graduates reported advances in their professional careers within 1-2 years following graduation

The Weatherhead Way

At 星空传媒, you鈥檒l study at one of the nation鈥檚 leading research universities鈥攊n one of the country鈥檚 most culturally robust neighborhoods. You鈥檒l live and learn in a city known for industry and healthcare innovation, where nearly 40% of Fortune 500 companies are represented. You鈥檒l learn breakthrough business concepts from the people who literally wrote the book on them.

Plus, in the MPOD program, you will:

  • Learn with a diverse cohort of full-time working professionals with an average of 10+ years of experience.
  • Continue the legacy of the first master's degree program in organizational development, which began in 1975 and is still housed in the world-renowned Department of Organizational Behavior at 星空传媒.
  • Align organizational strengths and make weaknesses irrelevant.
  • Develop yourself and others as emotionally intelligent and resonant leaders.
  • Help people change personally and professionally through compassionate coaching.
  • Create flourishing enterprises that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible.
  • Maximize organizational gains by leveraging the diversity and complexity that characterize today鈥檚 organizations. 
  • Strategically intervene in ways that produce tangible outcomes in today鈥檚 complex, volatile and uncertain environments.
  • Build high-performance teams.
  • Demonstrate twice the current ratio of success in performing change-management projects and interventions.

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Your Degree, Your Way 聽

Student shares a presentation with a row of seated classmates and her professor

Standout Curriculum

Our course content is driven and continuously renewed by our faculty members who are established thought leaders in their respective areas and actively engaged in applied research in the field. They put an emphasis on bringing direct and current experiences with clients and organizations into the classroom.

Professor Melvin Smith lectures before a class of students while pointing toward the front of the room

Expert Faculty

MPOD faculty will teach you management concepts that make real-world differences, and they鈥檒l help you develop the skill set to develop yourself and others to thrive in these volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous times.

Build Your Mastery Experience Portfolio

MPOD provides students mastery-level, hands-on expertise through faculty-directed, real-world projects, and the opportunity to earn credentialing badges and build your experience portfolio. Students will partner with faculty and their organization leaders to design and implement self-initiated, self-paced projects. We currently offer a choice of five thematic areas:

  1. Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
  2. Coaching with Compassion
  3. Inclusive Leadership (Diversity, Equity and & Inclusion)
  4. Team Effectiveness (Building and Managing High Performing Teams)
  5. Organization Development and Systemic Change (Appreciative Inquiry, Business as an Agent of World Benefit, Positive Impact Interventions)

Explore the Student Experience

Experiencing the MPOD program was an indelible opportunity for me both as a career professional and, more importantly, a human being. It broadened my understanding of leadership, coaching, motivating teams and individuals, and how to make an impact in the world and the workplace. The experience is something that I will carry with me, and reap its benefits for the rest of my life. It's worth the investment.鈥

Sydney Stone, MPOD 鈥19, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Your Next Step Starts Now

Ready to become an emotionally intelligent leader who coaches with compassion? That鈥檚 the Weatherhead way. Get started today: