Organizational development is a process that combines strategy, structure, people, rewards, metrics and management techniques to improve a company’s capability.
A science-backed interdisciplinary field rooted in human resource management, social sciences and psychology, organizational development includes five phases:
- Entry: Exploration of a problem, opportunity or situation.
- Diagnosis: Collection of data to gather, analyze and review.
- Feedback: Understanding of information and development of an action plan.
- Solution: Correction of a problem or seizing of opportunity.
- Evaluation: Collection of data to determine the effectiveness of an initiative.
Boise State University’s online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) can prepare you for a successful career in the organizational development field.
The growth-centered program includes professional faculty and staff members committed to delivering a high-quality education through valuable learning experiences, support and student performance outcomes.
As a student in the OPWL program, you will collaborate with classmates through trust, empathy and partnership to achieve shared goals.
The OPWL program is also dedicated to providing a learning and working environment where everyone acknowledges and demonstrates sensitivity toward the norms, values, backgrounds and perspectives of others.
Customize your learning
The OPWL program includes four certificates that can be added to your master’s degree or completed as stand-alone programs. They include:
- Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development: Learn to enhance organizational learning and performance, understand the impact of leadership on workplace culture and systems and facilitate effective change management.
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace E-Learning Design and Development: Prepare to design, develop and manage e-learning in the workplace environment.
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace Instructional Design: Gain the knowledge and skills to design, develop and deliver learning programs for business and industry, government agencies, the military and nonprofit organizations.
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace Performance Improvement: Develop skills to diagnose and solve performance problems in the workplace through practical application of process models, tools and techniques.
Whether you pursue the OPWL program for a master’s degree or a certificate, you will be equipped with research and development experience, a broad professional network and on-the-job experience from internships.
Throughout the program, you have the opportunity to complete portfolio-worthy assignments, which you can use to develop your portfolio website as a culminating activity.
Solid foundation
Each semester, OPWL students incorporate what they are learning to enhance their careers in organizational performance and workplace learning.
“In every single class, I was able to take my learning and directly apply it to my career in organizational performance,” May 2024 OPWL graduate Megan Renaldo said. “We worked with real clients and applied what we were learning to produce deliverables for our clients. This level of real-world experience was invaluable.
“You get the most out of it by digging into the fact it is so application-based. You come out of there with things you can use in an actual portfolio to start your own business or apply for a job. It’s so cool.”
Alexis Bolick, another May 2024 OPWL graduate, is seeing an immediate return on her investment in the program.
“OPWL has opened my eyes!,” she said. “I’m actively applying the skills and knowledge I’ve learned, which in turn is impacting the incredible caregivers at my company, which directly impact most citizens within Central Massachusetts, so there is a kind of cascading effect.
“I work in a huge health system, where some of my curriculum design decisions can affect thousands of people. However, I know they trust me to do this work because of the OPWL program and the evidence-based practices I employ. Every class has been relevant to my job.”
Want to learn more about Boise State’s Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning?
Join us for an online information session or connect with a student success coach.