Master of Science in Organization Development Program
Lead Strategic Organizational Development Globally
Pepperdine Graziadio's Master of Science in Organization Development (MSOD) is an internationally recognized hybrid program known for its innovative approach to experiential learning and career preparation for both private and public organization development. Designed for experienced professionals, this program offers a global perspective on strategic change and its impact on organizational effectiveness, while building multicultural competencies critical to business today.
Start your career as a thriving organizational leader who understands the humanity of business in this two-year immersive program. Travel to three continents (Japan; Costa Rica; France; and three U.S.-based locations) for intensive face-to-face courses and gain invaluable field experience from leading-edge businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
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Quick FactsFormat: Hybrid |
Program Highlights
Top-Ranked
One of the Highest-Ranked Business Schools in the US
Flexible, Hybrid
Students build foundational knowledge online and apply it during 8-10 day immersive in-person intensives.
Experiential, Global Learning
Throughout the program, you will consult in teams on real organization development issues, with three of the four projects based outside the United States.
OD Leading Faculty
Courses are led by world-class faculty who are leading OD practitioners, researchers, and scholars.
Social Innovation Focus
The integrated curriculum emphasizes social innovation, including DE&I, environmental sustainability, and community service shaping today's organizations.
Streamlined Admission Process
No GMAT and GRE test scores required. Bachelor’s degree is required
Is the MSOD Program Right for You?
Find Your Path at Pepperdine
Whether you're an experienced professional navigating change, a people leader seeking to deepen your impact, or someone passionate about transformational growth in organizations, the Pepperdine MSOD program offers a unique blend of academic rigor, experiential learning, and global perspective. Designed for working professionals, this hybrid program helps you evolve as a systems thinker and strategic change agent—without pausing your career.
Explore how our program aligns with your goals and empowers you to lead meaningful, values-driven transformation in organizations and communities.
The Business Leader
You’re an experienced professional in HR, consulting, or organizational leadership seeking to sharpen your systems thinking and lead change at scale. The MSOD program expands your strategic capabilities and deepens your impact across complex organizational environments.
The HR Professional
You manage people, culture, or talent development and want to take your leadership to the next level. The MSOD equips you with the tools to navigate transformation, enhance organizational effectiveness, and drive meaningful employee engagement.
The Career Transitioner
Looking to pivot into a purpose-driven field? Whether coming from tech, education, finance, or another sector, the MSOD provides the foundational theory and applied practice to pivot into the field of organization development.
The Non-Profit Change-Maker
You’re passionate about mission-based work and want to strengthen your ability to lead sustainable change in communities and cause-driven organizations. The MSOD helps you integrate personal growth, systems awareness, and inclusive leadership to amplify your organization’s impact.
Take the Next Step
Reach out to us to learn more about the Graziadio Business School.
Get in Touch
Fill out the Request Information form to learn about the opportunities that await you as a student at Pepperdine Graziadio.
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Learn more about your program by signing up for a class visit, information session, webinar or graduate fair.
Start Your Application
Ready to start your journey to Pepperdine Graziadio? Begin your application today to take the next step towards your future.
MS in Organization Development Admission
Program Deadlines
Fall 2025: Final Deadline (Domestic Students Only)
Fall 2025: Classes Start
The Company You'll Keep
When you join the Graziadio community, you'll join a global network of over 50,000 alumni actively shaping the world of business at top organizations, including:
"A graduate degree like the MSOD grows in value over time through practical experience. If you commit fully, it can deliver returns for decades."
- Patrick Hehir | MSOD '05
CEO, Business Value Group International
Fall 2024 Student Profile
Bar graph shows the percentage breakdown of current industries our students were employed
upon time of application submission. 11.11% Consulting/Business Services, 7.417% Education/Nonprofit,
7.41% Entertainment/Media, 7.41% Financial Services/Insurance, and 7.41% Government
Agencies. This information reflects the data collected from MSOD applications for
the Fall 2024 cohort.
Average Age
Avg. Work Experience
Female
Male
Legacies of the Long Grey Line
In 1975, founder of the MSOD program, Patrick Williams, PhD, set out with the vision to educate future change leaders on a global scale. The program now consists of over 1,300 organizational development professionals working in Fortune 500 companies, governments, and nonprofits around the world. The Legacies of the Long Grey Line project tells the stories of 36 MSOD alumni and faculty representing a cross-section of this global community.
What Our Alumni Are Saying
"MSOD has changed the trajectory of my life. What I appreciate most about the program is this balance of art and science, as well as heart and mind."
VP of Human Resources for Edwards Lifesciences
"MSOD, the community, the learning, and the experiences that we had really encouraged me to live big in my own life. "
CEO, Dream Catcher Consulting
"The international aspects of the MSOD program are what really drew me in, as well as the practical application. "
Venture Partner, Qubits Ventures
"The MSOD program allowed me to channel my energies towards helping people grow and, by extension, develop teams that are capable of doing good work."
Albert Yo
Strategic Communications Consultant and Professional Coach
Student Experience
Values-Based, Personalized Learning
The Master of Science in Organization Development at Pepperdine Graziadio comes with small, collaborative classes led by our renowned faculty who are personally committed to your academic and professional success. With ethical, sustainable business woven into the core of our teachings and an emphasis on experiential learning, you'll experience a truly unique, transformational graduate degree within a global community of Purpose-Driven Leaders.
Learning Together and from One Another
The MSOD program offers a diversified cohort experience that is unmatched to any other OD program in the nation. With a range of work history from 5-20 years and varied industry representation, students will benefit from the myriad of backgrounds their peers bring to the table. This balance contributes to the hands-on applied learning that helps develop the skills to be a global OD practitioner.
Gaining Experience on an International Level
Receiving much acclaim and recognition as the only Organization Development program in the world that offers students a micro and macro learning approach on an international level, the curriculum provides students with client-facing applied learning experiences in America, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. This uniquely designed program allows students to learn Organization Development domestically and internationally while simultaneously enhancing their resume with consultative work across the globe.
Multicultural, International Client Experience
The MSOD program offers an immersive, hands-on, experiential learning experience with client facing consultative projects in America, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. Developing our students on a multi-cultural basis and the readiness to be a global practitioner.
An Alumni Council Dedicated to Your Success
One of the most active and dedicated alumni groups within Graziadio, the MSOD alumni council regularly offers support and opportunities to connect and collaborate with current students. The group hosts a conference every other year to uphold their mission and initiative to "Pay it Forward" to the entire MSOD community. Additionally, dedicated members serve as an Learning Group Consultant to each current student, mentoring from the beginning and throughout the program and beyond.
Top-Ranked and Top Choice
Choosing a top-ranked business school like Pepperdine Graziadio ensures you receive a high-quality education recognized by leading publications. By enrolling in our esteemed programs, you will benefit from our rigorous academic standards, comprehensive support, and enhanced career opportunities.
- One of the Most Chosen Business Schools in the U.S. (National Center for Education Statistics)
- One of the Largest Graduate Business Alumni Networks with Over 50,000 Graduates (National Center for Education Statistics)
- #1 Highest-Ranked Protestant Christian Institution Among National Universities (USNWR)
- #2 Best MBA for Nonprofit (Princeton Review)
- #4 Greatest Resources for Minority Students (Princeton Review)
- #5 Gender Diversity (LinkedIn)
- #7 Best Online MS in Business Analytics (Fortune Magazine)
- #14 Part-Time MBA (Fortune Magazine)
- #16 Online MBA (Princeton Review)
- #18 Best Career Outcomes (Poets&Quants)
- Tier One Global MBA (CEO Magazine)
- Tier One Premier Global DBA (CEO Magazine)
Contact Us
Morgan Towner
Executive Advisor
Take the Next Step
Learn more about Pepperdine's Master of Science in Organization Development