Why study organization development and change at BGSU?
- Fast path to a degree. Working professionals can finish in as few as 20 months.
- Stellar national reputation. Benefit from a program with a long history of leadership in organization development and change. BGSU was one of the first universities in the country to offer a Master of Organization Development and Change degree.
- Flexible, hybrid schedule. Convenient online courses with two in-person residency weekends per semester are augmented by virtual individual and group work – a format designed for working professionals.
- Cohort-based executive learning. BGSU follows a cohort-based learning model. Form strong bonds with other professionals through lively class discussions, collaborative group projects and in-person connections.
- AACSB accredited. Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB).
- The “Head, Heart, Hands” curriculum. Cultivate the human-centered skills that matter most: understanding human behavior, leading with emotional intelligence and developing practical change leadership skills.
- Human-centered leadership in an AI-powered world. Lead with empathy, ethics and change management principles that keep people at the center of every decision as AI becomes more prominent in strategic decision-making.
BGSU’s business graduate programs have been on The Princeton Review’s list of Best Business Schools for the last 10 consecutive years.
#1 public university in Ohio for career prep
The Wall Street Journal
Career opportunities
The Master of Organization Development and Change prepares graduates to lead where it matters most – at the intersection of people, strategy and change. Graduates strengthen teams and improve performance across various sectors, including business, healthcare, education, government and nonprofit settings. MODC graduates apply their skills across a wide range of roles:
- Managers and directors ready to move into senior or executive leadership
- Leaders who want to deepen their ability to work with people in their current roles
- Consultants and coaches building expertise in organizational strategy and human-centered change
- Healthcare professionals navigating complex organizational environments
- Nonprofit leaders looking to create lasting impact in their communities
- Tech and business professionals preparing to lead through AI and other changes with a human-centered approach
- Teachers and administrators looking to move into academic leadership
Career paths
- CEOs and executive roles
- Human resource specialists
- Risk management directors
- Organizational leadership specialists
- Change managers
- Service directors
- National sales directors
- Learning and development/Training and development professionals
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The MODC program uses an evidence-based, practical approach to focus on the human capabilities that technology cannot replicate. You will master skills such as:
- Organization development and change. Develop the frameworks and methodologies to lead through meaningful, sustainable change. Learn how to align strategy, culture and people to ensure new technologies and ideas are implemented successfully.
- Data-informed, human-centered decision-making. Use data and organizational insights to solve complex problems. Learn how to critically evaluate and apply emerging technologies so they support people, not replace them.
- Leading across differences. Develop the cultural awareness and collaboration skills to lead diverse teams, build trust and foster innovation in a global, connected workplace.
- Applied change leadership practice. Build the confidence and competence to guide teams through meaningful change while maintaining focus, trust and momentum.
Capstone project
The MODC program culminates in a capstone class on mastering change. You’ll work with nonprofit, community and civic organizations as part of an executive student consulting team. You’ll tackle real-world issues in consultation with organizational members, from identifying organizational opportunities and challenges to creating talent development strategies to designing organizational systems and structures.
Sample courses
- Introducing Organizational Change
- Enhancing Individual and Group Effectiveness
- Organizational Inquiry
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Collaborative Technologies for Change
- Engaging Whole Systems for Change
- Mastering Change
#1 university in Ohio – big or small, public or private – students would choose again
The Wall Street Journal
The Master of Organization Development and Change (MODC) program is part of the BGSU Graduate College and Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business.
Updated: 07/16/2026 03:36AM