Academic Requirements
Students must complete 12 graduate course units in order to earn the MSOD. A graduate course in the Organizational Dynamics program is valued at 1 course unit (CU). Upon completion of all coursework, a student must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 ("B"), and good standing in the academic community.
Of the 12 CUs required, nine must be selected from the core categories described below; one must be the Capstone Course; and the remaining two are electives available from Organizational Dynamics, another graduate degree program at Penn, or from outside the University.
Core Categories
Foundations
Any four CUs from this category are required. Foundations (F) courses are subdivided into two clusters: Organizational Structure and Function and Organizations in Historical and Cultural Contexts.
Methods of Diagnosis and Evaluation
One CU from this category is required. Methods of Diagnosis and Evaluation (DE) courses concern measuring, diagnosing, analyzing, and/or evaluating organizational activities.
Applications
Any four CUs from this category are required. Applications (A) courses are subdivided into three clusters: Organizations and Communications, Organizational Development and Change, and Organizational Leadership and Management.
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Concentrations
Each Organizational Dynamics student may declare a program concentration from one of the following:
Students may select a program concentration to structure their courses and to help direct their Capstone (final paper) topic. While there is no required or minimum number of courses associated with a particular concentration, completed at least six courses in the same concentrations leads to one or more Graduate Certificates in addition to the Master's degree.NOTE: A student who does not choose a concentration is considered a "generalist." There is no certificate for "generalists."
. Return to Academic RequirementsGraduate Certificates
Completion of at least six courses within a concentration earns a University of Pennsylvania Graduate Certificate in addition to the Master's Degree. A student may earn several Graduate Certificates, if requirements for each are met. Certificates are issued when all requirements for the Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics degree are met (except P3 as noted below).
A Graduate Certificate may be valued for personal accomplishment, as a credential denoting professional development, and/or to show a corporate sponsor (employer) that the Organizational Dynamics course work offers a defined academic focus. The following are the concentrations and their corresponding Graduate Certificates:
| Concentrations | Graduate Certificates Awarded |
| Global Studies [GL] | Certificate in Global Organizational Studies |
| Leadership/Management Studies [LM] | Certificate in Organizational Leadership Studies |
| Organizational Coaching [OC] | Certificate in Organizational Coaching Studies |
| Practitioner Studies [PR] | Certificate in Organization Development Studies |
| Projects, Programs, and Portfolios [P3] | Certificate in Organizational Project Management Studies |
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