Business

Master of Science in Management and Organizational Development

The Master of Science in Management and Organizational Development provides advanced training in management, organisational behaviour, change management, and organisational development. Students learn organisational development, change management, strategic management, human resource management, and transformational leadership. The programme is designed for experienced managers seeking advanced management and organisational development qualifications.

Students develop advanced competencies in organisational behaviour, change management, strategic management, human resource management, transformational leadership, and organisational development interventions. The curriculum covers management, organisational development, research methods, and a research project. Practical skills are developed through case studies and organisational projects.

Management and organisational development expertise is critical for Kenya's business and public sectors. Companies, NGOs, government agencies, and consulting firms require trained organisational development professionals. Kenya's organisational transformation needs and change management challenges create demand for organisational development expertise. The programme addresses the demand for advanced management and organisational development training.

The programme combines classroom lectures with case studies, organisational projects, and research. Students study management concepts, analyse organisational behaviour, design development interventions, and conduct research. Teaching methods include lectures, case discussions, project work, and research supervision. The programme is offered in evening and modular modes for working professionals.

Graduates find employment as organisational development consultants, change managers, human resource managers, or management consultants in companies, NGOs, government, and consulting firms. The master's degree supports careers in organisational development, change management, and management consulting.

This programme is ideal for experienced managers seeking advanced management and organisational development qualifications. The programme provides advanced skills for organisational development, change management, and transformational leadership.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 256,200
Private, up to: Ksh 319,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Evening, Modular
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Master

What you study

10 subjects

Organisational Behaviour and Development
Change Management
Strategic Management
Human Resource Management
Transformational Leadership
Management Accounting and Financial Analysis
Corporate Social Responsibility
Research Methods
Project Management and Fundraising
Thesis Research

Modules

8 in the programme

Organisational Behaviour and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Organisational behaviour and development covering individual, group, and organisational behaviour, organisational culture, and development interventions.
Management Accounting and Financial Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Management accounting covering financial statement analysis, cost analysis, budgeting, and financial data interpretation for managerial decisions.
Strategic Management and Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategic management covering strategy formulation, competitive analysis, strategic planning, and strategy implementation and evaluation.
Research Methods and Statistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methods covering research design, statistical analysis, management research, and research ethics.
Change Management and Transformational Leadership
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Change management covering change models, resistance management, transformational leadership, and leading organisational change.
Human Resource Management and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Human resource management covering HR strategy, performance management, talent management, and HR development in organisations.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Project Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Corporate social responsibility covering CSR strategy, stakeholder engagement, and project management covering project planning, fundraising, and resource management.
Thesis Research and Defence
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
A research project on a management or organisational development topic, demonstrating research competence and contributing to management practice.

Specialisations

Change Management
Focus on leading and managing organisational change, including change models, resistance management, and transformational leadership.
Human Resource Development
Focus on human resource management, talent development, and HR strategy in organisational contexts.
Strategic Management
Focus on strategy formulation, competitive analysis, and strategic planning for organisational development.

A day as a student

A typical day combines evening lectures on organisational behaviour or change management with case study discussions and project work. Students study management concepts, analyse organisational behaviour, design development interventions, and conduct research. Case discussions develop analytical and intervention planning skills. Organisational projects connect students with real management challenges. Research projects involve organisational development and change management. The programme emphasises management competence, organisational development skills, and transformational leadership.

The trade offs

In its favour

Dual accredited by CUE (Kenya) and WASC (USA), providing international recognition.
Designed for working professionals with evening and modular study modes.
Combines management with organisational development, addressing critical organisational transformation needs.

Against it

Requires minimum 3 years work experience in middle or executive management, limiting accessibility for recent graduates.
Tuition is relatively expensive at KES 319,500/year for a private university.
The programme is offered at only one university, limiting choice.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public171k to 256k

171k at Maseno University256k at University of Nairobi

Private238k to 320k

238k at KCA University320k at United States International University Africa

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

USIU 319.5K/yr (USIU fee schedule). Maseno, UoN, KCA unverified

HELB loans are available for eligible Kenyan students. USIU-Africa may offer institutional scholarships for qualifying students. International organisations may offer management and leadership development grants.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in master's programmes at chartered universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

Alternative entry: Undergraduate degree from an accredited university plus minimum 3 years working experience in middle or executive-level management.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Examinations
Written examination40% of the mark
Coursework assessments, written examinations, and assignments evaluating understanding of management and organisational development concepts.
Case Studies and Projects
Project30% of the mark
Case study assessments, organisational project evaluations, and practical assignments evaluating management and OD skills.
Thesis Defence
Project30% of the mark
A research project demonstrating research competence in management or organisational development, defended before an examination panel.

Accreditation

USIU-Africa is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The MSc programme is dual accredited by CUE and the WASC Senior College and University Commission (USA).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
USIU-Africa is chartered by CUE. MSc programme is dual accredited by CUE and WASC Senior College and University Commission (USA).
WASC Senior College and University Commission
AcademicRequired
Dual accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission ensures US standards are met.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Organisational Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides consulting on organisational development, change management, and organisational transformation for companies, NGOs, or consulting firms.
Change Manager
Moderate demand
Leads organisational change initiatives in companies or government, managing change processes, stakeholder engagement, and transformation projects.
Human Resource Manager
High demand
Manages human resource functions with focus on organisational development, talent management, and employee engagement in companies or NGOs.
Management Consultant
Moderate demand
Provides management consulting services on strategy, organisational development, and performance improvement for consulting firms or independent practice.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as organisational development consultants, change managers, and human resource managers in companies, NGOs, government, and consulting firms, with opportunities for organisational transformation and management consulting.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Organisational development is just human resources with a different name.
Organisational development covers change management, organisational transformation, culture change, and strategic alignment, going beyond traditional HR functions.
You need a business degree to study management and organisational development.
The programme accepts graduates from any discipline with relevant work experience in management.
Organisational development is only for large corporations.
Organisational development principles apply to organisations of all sizes including NGOs, government agencies, and small enterprises.
Change management is common sense.
Effective change management requires systematic approaches, stakeholder engagement, communication strategies, and resistance management, not just common sense.