The Top Organizational Behavior MBA Online Programs

An online Master of Business Administration in Organizational Behavior combines business and management skills with the knowledge of how individual and group behavior affects an organization from within.  Graduates working toward an online MBA in organizational behavior will also learn how the values and goals of an organization affect the quality of work life for employees.  Organizational behavior is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses sociology, psychology, management and communication. These different learning areas prepare students to help build strong relationships among individual employees, teams, managers and owners.  The primary goal of organizational behavior is to use these concepts to build a healthy and stable work environment.

Students attending a top organizational behavior MBA online program will complete case studies in important areas such as human resources, management, business analysis and recruiting in order to gain hands-on experience in understanding employee-organization relationships.  Top online MBA programs equip students with the tools to resolve conflicts, manage a diverse workplace, hire the best employees and to interpret and evaluate the effectiveness of the work environment.

How can I tell if an online MBA organizational behavior degree is right for me?

Anyone considering an organizational behavior MBA online degree should have an interest in management, human resources, employee relations, or workforce diversity.

Many online MBA organizational behavior students also have the following traits:

• A skill for provide consultation and advice to others
• An ability for resolving conflicts and negotiating with others
• A skill for training and teaching others
• A knack for communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• An inclination for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships

How long does it take to earn an MBA online organizational behavior degree?

The time it takes to earn an organizational behavior MBA degree online is comparable to the time it takes to earn other MBAs online. It generally takes two years of full-time study to complete. However, students are able to complete the program at their own pace at some business schools that have part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA organizational behavior schools online?

A bachelor’s degree is normally required before students can gain admission to online MBA organizational behavior programs. While having an undergraduate degree in subjects like human resource management, business administration, human resources, and organizational management may be ideal for those wanting to enroll in a good MBA organizational behavior online program, it is generally not required.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in organizational behavior programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Essays
• Personal interviews
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)
• Work experience

What courses will I take in organizational behavior MBA programs online?

Standard first-year coursework in online organizational behavior MBA schools consists of statistics, accounting, research methodology, business strategy, finance, business ethics and law. Most students spend their first year developing a comprehensive grasp on the fundamental business skills that help organizations operate effectively.

By the second year, coursework is directed towards topics in organizational behavior.  Accredited organizational behavior MBA schools online provide classes in coaching and mentoring, conflict management and negotiation, business dynamics, organizational growth, human resources management and leadership research. Graduate students often pursue more specialized courses depending on their career interests. Students can check online organizational behavior MBA rankings to see which programs best suit their academic needs.

Students enrolled in online organizational behavior MBA programs often do internships in order to supplement their education. Such an internship can prove useful in that it not only gives students an opportunity to practically apply the business and organizational behavior skills they are learning in an actual business setting, but it can also serve as an introduction into a particular business or company.

What are the best online MBA in organizational behavior books I should consider reading?

Books that might be insightful for students wanting to pursue organizational behavior MBA careers include:

1. Leading Change (John P. Kotter) – In this book, the author describes an eight-stage process designed to help organizations identify their weakest areas and improve them.

2. Principle-Centered Leadership (Stephen Covey) – Covey focuses on ways to build successful relationships by preventing employee conflict through communication.

3. Organizational Culture and Leadership (Edgar Schein) – This informative book provides detailed case studies so that readers can better understand how businesses function, an excellent read for anyone pursuing an MBA organizational behavior online degree.

4. Leading Quietly: An Unorthodox Guide to Do the Right Thing (Joseph Badarcco) – This text examines how decision making among even the lowest positions can significantly impact an entire organization.

5. Games at Work: How to Recognize and Reduce Office Politics (Goldstein, Phil Read) – The author gives MBA graduates numerous strategies to resolve conflicts in the workplace and improve employee-organization relationships.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue organizational behavior MBA jobs?

Online Master of Business Administration in Organizational Behavior students can expect better than average job opportunities in the coming years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2010 there were 442,000 people employed as human resource managers and 718,100 employed as management analysts, both common occupations for organizational behavior graduates. Organizational behavior MBA salary expectations for students who attend the best online MBA organizational behavior programs are as follows:

• Management Analyst – $78,160
• Training or Development Manager – $89,160
• Human Resources Specialist – $52,690
• Top Executive – $101,250

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for managers in human resources, employee development and management analysis are expected to grow by about 20% over the next decade. The expected growth is a result of organizations seeking out ways to become more efficient and productive, especially by improving relationships among employees, teams and managers. Students earning their MBA online organizational behavior degrees are typically well-qualified for this work.

Employers frequently prefer students who have graduated from AACSB accredited organizational behavior MBA programs because accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business can serve as a sign that a business school gives students a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Organizational Behavior MBA degree?

• Ashford University
• Norwich University
• Brandman University
• California Intercontinental University