The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is an online, asynchronous degree program that prepares professionals in the field for dynamic leadership roles in either the public or private sector. The program’s coursework blends knowledge from the business and strategic communication disciplines to equip professionals in the field to build and manage teams, align colleagues around a shared mission, and develop leadership and communication skills. The Neil Griffin College of Business is accredited by the AACSP (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

The Master of Science in Organizational Leadership consists of 30-credit hours and includes a 21-credit hour core and 9-credit hours of electives. Approved elective courses consist of graduate courses in business and communications.

Admission Requirements

Unconditional Admission

An applicant will receive unconditional admission by meeting the following criteria:

1. Submitted a completed application for admission and a nonrefundable application fee at least 30 days in advance of registration.
2. Submitted official transcripts from each previously attended college or university. Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the registrar of other institutions.
3. Earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale; OR a 3.00 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework (undergraduate, graduate, or combination thereof).
4. Earned a graduate or post-baccalaureate professional degree from a regionally-accredited (U.S.) institution.

Conditional Admission

Applicants that do not meet the cumulative or last 60 hours GPA criterion may receive conditional admission. Consideration for conditional admission is given to applicants that:

1. Earned a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; OR a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of coursework (undergraduate, graduate, or combination thereof); OR submitted a statement of purpose that will be evaluated by the director of graduate programs and the graduate programs admissions committee.

The following course restrictions will pertain to conditionally admitted applicants:

• Conditionally admitted students can take no more than 3 graduate credit hours during each seven-week term.
• Conditionally admitted students will be moved to unconditional admission status upon completion of 6 hours with a grade of “B” or better in each course. While conditionally admitted, a grade of “C” or lower in any graduate-level course will result in suspension from the graduate program. 

Satisfactory Progress

The Griffin Graduate Program’s standards for satisfactory progress enhance those set forth by A-State’s Graduate School.

Students are suspended and unable to re-enroll in the program upon earning a:

• “F” in any graduate course.
• “C” in two graduate courses. Students earning a second “C” in their last semester of coursework may re-take the course―or a viable course substitute―in the following semester, pending approval of the program director.

The following criteria must be met to be eligible for graduation:

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in graduate coursework taken in the Griffin Graduate Program.