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OSR Master’s program

Courses

OSR 501 Foundations of Organizational Systems, Design, and Renewal

As the first course in an integrated seven-quarter program, this course introduces the program design and its core competency domains of theory, skill, and personal development. Particular emphasis is given to systems theory, intercultural communication, and ethics as themes woven through the 22-month curriculum. Students will apply theory and specific skills through small group and individual work. This course is conducted off-site. Required.

OSR 502 Individual – Development of the Adult Learner

Students identify personal values and purpose and then integrate this foundation with their personal and professional goals. They learn strategies for applying theory to understanding the self as system and the self as learner. Students learn about themselves and the use of self-assessments by completing instruments relating to learning styles and strengths. Further, students are introduced to a personal learning contract as a core design element for their personalization of the OSR program. This course is conducted off-site. Required.

OSR 505 Skills - An Introduction to Writing and Research Literacy

This course spans the first year of the program and helps students develop their writing and research literacy skills. Students will learn the difference between academic and reflective writing and they will practice both forms of writing. From a practitioner’s perspective, students will also explore how theory and knowledge informs practice and how they might go about conducting research for their Design Teams, Theory Paper, Consulting Teams, and OSR Project.  Required.

OSR 506 Systems – An Overview of Theory and Perspectives

Students develop an overview of the development and principles of systems theory, understanding the shift from the mechanistic paradigm to one of holism and interrelatedness. Key principles such as context, boundaries, feedback, interdependence, complexity, emergence, and paradox are explored. Various branches of systems theory are introduced and examined as a way to familiarize students with the vastness of this theory base. Required.

OSR 507 Skills – Designing, Leading and Participating in Meetings

This hands-on application course develops the capacity to design and lead change actions through a participative process. From an application perspective, students will gain hands-on experience and real-time feedback in designing, leading, and participating in a variety of meetings. Students will also learn the theory base and ethics upon which the participative meeting process rests. Course concepts are connected to professional applications. Required.

OSR 508 Design – An Introduction to Principles and Practice

Students explore and experience design as an intentional co-creating process of being and acting in the world. The design approach invokes creative thinking and encourages innovative action. This is necessary for leading intentional change, where organizational shifts are in sync with the system’s larger context. The course provides students the theoretical framework and practical skills essential for helping clients imagine, conceptualize, and implement their preferred future. Creative change is explored in conjunction with the notion of “serving others” in a manner that can facilitate personal and organizational change and renewal. Required.

OSR 509 Organizations – Theory and Culture as a Foundation for Inquiry

Students explore the classical theories of organizations as a way to understand the historical roots of contemporary organizational practices. They become familiar with seminal organizational theorists whose philosophies, values, and practice surface in issues such as change, effectiveness, and participation. Special emphasis is given to organizational culture as a key concept within organizational theory.  Students learn how to use their understanding of theory and culture as a foundation for organizational inquiry, which focuses on obtaining valid data as the basis for effective and ethical interventions. Required.

OSR 510 Organizations – Effective Groups and Teams

This course lays a theoretical and practical foundation in group dynamics, teams, and collaboration. Students gain knowledge, awareness, and skills in working with task, relationship and process issues in groups. The exploration of group development models help to understand and inform work in small groups. Students also explore the structure and function of teams, including, defining characteristics, when and how to use teams, and characteristics of high performance teams. Successful teaming within or between groups requires an ability to go beyond mere coordination or cooperation to a level of collaboration. Students explore the qualities of this level of engagement and the conditions necessary to bring forth such a relationship. Required.

OSR 511 Change – Theory and Ethical Interventions

Students will explore contemporary organizational change models and theories to learn more about their strengths and limitations in creating real and sustainable change in organizations. Students will learn to distinguish between first and second order change and change that is planned and unplanned. Intervention is a “helping” process to intentionally “disturb” the system in order to improve the functioning and performance of the system. The principles of designing interventions will be explored, ranging from facilitation of, or participation in, a meeting to entering an organizational system with the intent of helping it effect systemic change. Ethical issues will be explored, particularly the importance of ascertaining and working at the appropriate depth of intervention. Required.

OSR 512 Change – The Theory and Practice of Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry is a participative and powerful method for creating change in social systems. Rooted in social constructionism and the power of image, it involves a systematic discovery and mobilizing of what gives a social system life in human, ecological, and economic terms. Students will learn the theory and practice of this approach as it represents a major shift in how organizational development practitioners work with organizations. This course is conducted off-site. Required.

OSR 515 Skills – The Consultative Approach

Students deepen their knowledge of the consultative process of entry, contracting, and intervention. Students also learn how to work with clients during the feedback and action-planning phase of the consultation. This includes principles for interpreting data, planning and conducting feedback sessions, and helping the client move into action. Additionally, students explore the role of the self as consultant/helper, learning how personal values, self-awareness, and ethical principles are essential to any consultative process. This course is conducted off-site. Required.

OSR 516 Leadership – Leadership for Systemic Organizational Change

This course focuses on the practice of adaptive leadership as developed by Ron Heifetz and explores the qualities of leadership and followership needed for a systemic and holistic approach to designing and leading change. Skills focus on discernment of the adaptive challenge facing an organizational system as opposed to technical problems, advancing the purpose of the organization, orchestrating tension in service of systemic change, listening to and communicating the “song beneath the words,” leveraging informal versus formal leadership, differentiating self from roles, being on the dance floor and in the balcony, thinking politically, and giving the work back to the group. Required.

OSR 517 Design - Creating the Future by Design

Students develop an understanding of “futuring” and how it differs from conventional planning. Exploration of theory, models, and methods associated with futuring helps students understand how to apply this perspective at an organizational and individual level. Emphasis is placed on methods featuring a participatory and whole systems approach. Intercultural considerations are explored. Students will have an opportunity to experience aspects of futuring models and methods as a way to strengthen their application skills. Required.

OSR 519 Systems – Applying Living Systems Theory

This course integrates living systems theory and systems thinking and their application to working with human social systems.  A leader, change agent, or intervener must develop new skills to see how a social system is trying to emerge into a new whole. Students explore how to design and create the conditions for a social system to self-organize to a new and higher level of functioning by “coming along side” the emerging system to midwife it into this higher state of complexity and functionality. Required.

OSR 520 Change - Social Innovation in the World

While cultural perspectives are integrated throughout the program, it is in this course that students immerse themselves in the theory, principles, models and implications of individuals and organizations working in a multi-cultural global system. The interdependence of our belief, political, economic and natural systems demands new consciousness and mental models. This course explores the global perspectives of this transformation and the challenges associated with embracing our differences and diversity. Students learn to develop a way of knowing and navigating within such broad perspectives. Core topics explored are demographic, climatic, environmental, political, cultural and economic trends. A central question of the course asks how we live, grow, and design for this future, sustaining those qualities that relate to what is most meaningful. Required.

OSR 523 Change – Transition, Renewal, and Life-long Learning

As the final course in an integrated seven-quarter program, focus is on group endings and managing transitions at the individual level. The learning is highly experiential and personal in that this course includes the adjournment of the learning community. Design considerations for group endings are examined. Engagement in renewal occurs with a continuance design for the cohort and individual next steps in life-long learning. Required.

OSR 524 Leadership – Theory and Personal Mastery

Leadership development is a core skill component and the instrument of systemic organizational change. Students are introduced to the evolution of leadership theory and styles, such as situational, shared, servant, steward, feminine and adaptive leadership through the lens of culture, gender, and systems. Leadership is distinguished from authority and recognized as an action that complements followership; both require courage - following the heart in the face of fear. Thus development of leadership and followership capability is rooted in personal learning, awareness, emotional intelligence, and mastery. Coaching is foundational to the development of leadership and followership. Required.

OSR 571 Individual – Learning Reflection and Synthesis I
OSR 572 Individual – Learning Reflection and Synthesis II
OSR 573 Individual – Learning Reflection and Synthesis III
OSR 574 Individual – Learning Reflection and Synthesis IV
OSR 575 Individual – Learning Reflection and Synthesis V
OSR 576 Individual – Learning Reflection and Synthesis VI

Oral and written communication skills are essential in relating with others in personal and professional settings. Students practice academic and reflective writing as a means of developing professional competence and increasing self-awareness. Reflective inquiry and critical thinking are developed through dialogue methods and writing assignments. Examples of writing assignments include an Entry Statement, monthly academic and reflective learning papers, and an Exit Statement. Students reflect on their courses, the dynamics of the learning community, progress on their Learning Contract, and their design and facilitation of Degree Committee meetings. Quarterly synthesis papers develop the ability to see themes from the quarter and integrate these themes with prior learning. Large and small group discussions develop dialogue skills. Students take these courses over six quarters building up their capacity for both reflective and critical thinking. Required. Graded CR/F.

OSR 581 Skills – Design Team: Design and Deliver a Learning Experience

Students deepen their learning about research, design, consultative skills, and team process within a learning atmosphere of training and development. This course provides an opportunity for 5 to 6 students to participate on a team assigned the task of designing and delivering a day of learning for an internal client, the OSR cohort.  Students research a specific body of knowledge vital to understanding and designing for change and renewal. It is a forum for deepening practice, leadership, and team membership skills, as well providing an opportunity to experience the paradoxes of group life. Design Team activities take place in two or three consecutive quarters. Required.

OSR 582 Skills – Consulting Team: Consult with an External Client

Students deepen their learning about research, design, consultative skills, and team process within a learning atmosphere of process consultation. This course provides an opportunity for 5 to 6 students to participate on a team assigned the task of consulting to an external client. Students study a specific body of knowledge vital to their understanding and practice of the consultation process.  It is a forum for deepening practice, leadership, and team membership skills, as well providing an opportunity to experience the paradoxes of group life.  Consulting Team activities take place in one or two consecutive quarters. Required.

OSR 562 Skills – Organization Systems Renewal Project

The Organization Systems Renewal (OSR) Project is the capstone project in which the students demonstrate proficiency of OSR program-related core competencies as well as fulfillment of the student’s goals in their Learning Commitment. The OSR Project is conducted under the supervision of the student’s faculty advisor and the review of their Mentoring Council. An OSR Project requires program advisor sign-off before the student begins work. Required.

OSR 561 Individual – Theory Paper

This course involves a thorough literature review of a theory base related to the student’s Learning Commitment and professional interests.  Students develop a theoretical foundation for their vocation or Area of Engagement, as stated in their Learning Commitment.  Understanding their theory base deepens the student’s knowledge foundation before moving into their capstone OSR Project.  

Page updated Mon, March 22, 2010