Organization Systems Renewal (OSR)

Bill Koenig, MA, Program Administrator

Important Note: As of the 2012-13 academic year Seattle University is no longer accepting new students into the OSR program. Currently enrolled students will follow the program of study from the archived catalog, 2009-10, 2010-11, or 2011-12, depending on the year which they entered the program. These students will be able to complete their second year of study during the 2012-13 academic year.

Master of Arts in Organization Systems Renewal

The Organization Systems Renewal (OSR) program provides the opportunity for students to achieve excellence as designers and leaders of systemic change within their organizations and communities. The curriculum integrates academic knowledge, consultative skill development, practical application, reflective practice, and adaptive leadership. The program design operates on multiple levels, paying equal attention to theory and application. When combined, the curriculum and the program design provide adult learners with opportunities to:

Design processes and structures for leading and managing systemic change
Develop holistic and sustainable perspectives about individuals, groups, organizations, and global communities
Recognize the synergistic qualities and opportunities inherent in living systems
Develop the heart (courage, love, compassion), skills and integrity to move theory to practical action
Develop a congruence of personal development and professional practice to help others manage their own transformation and renewal

Core curriculum areas emphasized in the program include organizations, change, leadership, ethics, design, consultative skills, and intercultural perspectives. The curriculum is based on the work of classical and contemporary theorists and practitioners, including Malcolm Knowles, Kurt Lewin, Ron and Gordon Lippitt, Marvin Weisbord, William Bridges, Chris Argyris, Mary Parker Follett, Donald Schön, Peter Senge, Margaret Wheatley, Fritjof Capra, Ralph Stacey, Jay Forrester, Donella Meadows, Edward Hall, Edgar Schein, Gareth Morgan, William Isaacs, David Orr, Russell Ackoff, Peter Block, Ron Heifetz, and David Cooperrider.

Core faculty (lecturers) support the day-to-day operation of the program and provide student support. The student core faculty ratio is approximately 10:1, allowing for individualized coaching and mentoring. The program is designed within a 22-month cycle, with students typically in session every 6 weeks for three to five days. Session days are scheduled to include weekends and there is a 5-day residential session each year. In addition to the core faculty, OSR enjoys long-standing relationships with a host of distinguished visiting presenters who are leading thinkers and practitioners in their field. Consistent with adult learning theory, another portion of the OSR curriculum is designed and delivered by the students themselves. Core faculty members serve as mentors for these student-led teams.