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OSR Master’s program

Frequently asked questions

What will the OSR Master’s program do for me?

Completion of the OSR Master’s program would:

• indicate that you have completed a rigorous program of study that is focused on developing competence in leading significant change in social systems, with a focus on organizations, and
• demonstrate that you have blended both theory and practice to apply those competencies in a real-world setting.

I'm at a transition point in my life. What would this process do for me?

Different people take different paths to effect a personal transformation and/or growth in their life. Some ingredients most likely to foster positive change include:

• exposure to new knowledge and theories,
• meaningful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds,
• participation in a true learning community, and
• the discipline of having to synthesize new knowledge and integrate it into one's practical experience.

The OSR Master’s program contains all these elements and brings them to bear in students' lives in an orderly, structured way. Of course, it is by no means the only approach that might spur change in your life.

What have past grads from the program done?

From a career development perspective, participation in OSR has led some students to advance in their career beyond the point they were when they began the program. For others, it has meant changing careers, perhaps beginning on a career ladder either somewhat related to or not related at all to the one they were on at the start of the OSR Master’s program. Whether graduates advance, stay where they have been or change careers, they do it with intentionality, enhanced choices, and a desire to contribute more.

How long has the OSR Master’s program been around?

The first OSR students began their program in Seattle in 1979 as a certificated program of study, and through Antioch Seattle from 1984-2005 as a Master's degree program. The program moved to Seattle University in 2005. OSR 16, starting in 2009 will be the fourth cohort at Seattle University.

What difference has the program made in people's lives?

Program participants often come from work environments where they face numerous challenges:

• getting results without having positional authority,
• leading cross-functional and/or globally diverse teams,
• collaborating with others to create a vision, and
• leading organizational change in an environment fraught with complexity and ambiguity.

Through the OSR Master’s program, students increase their competence in consulting and contracting skills, resulting in greater flexibility in the work place and their ability to be effective in a variety of difficult contexts.

Program participants also gain a clearer understanding of their work goals and of themselves, and they acquire the theory base and skills useful in managing their own personal and/or career transformation. In the process, they gain a sense of personal mastery both within their chosen work place and in their personal lives. They experience collaborative work and have numerous opportunities to reflect on their learnings.

Is this program based on a particular philosophy?

The intention of the OSR Master’s program is to provide opportunities for adult learners to:

• Design processes and structures for leading and managing change
• Develop holistic perspectives about individuals, groups, organizations and the world communities
• Recognize the synergistic qualities and opportunities inherent in living systems
• Develop the heart (courage, love and compassion), skills and integrity to move theory to practical action
• Develop congruence of mind, body, spirit and professional practice in order to help individuals, groups, organizations and communities manage their own transformation and renewal.