The Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics (MPhil) is an advanced graduate degree designed for individuals who want to demonstrate applied scholarship beyond a master’s degree but who are not ready to, or may not wish to, apply for a doctoral program. The Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics can serve as an important step in future PhD study preparation or simply to deepen engagement with the topics studied in a previous master’s degree.
Students work closely with an academic advisor to design a Master of Philosophy degree curriculum suited precisely to their interests and goals.
Master of Philosophy degree requirements
If an applicant already holds a Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics degree from the University of Pennsylvania, the Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics requires completion of six course units and a capstone paper or project. For all other advanced-degree holders, the MPhil requires the completion of eight courses and a capstone project.
MPhil students may select any Organizational Dynamics Programs courses to fulfill their course requirements.
Master of Philosophy capstone
Students choose a member of the Organizational Dynamics Programs faculty to work with as their capstone advisor. This advisor provides mentoring, helps students define the scope and content of their research, and reads and evaluates your final work.
The format for the capstone may vary. It may be an applied project with an organization or among a select group of people; a multimedia project; an evaluation or synthesis of a topic of interest; or another approach selected with your advisor.
Examples of Organizational Dynamics Programs capstone projects completed by program alumni are available on the Scholarly Commons website within the Penn Online Digital Library.
We encourage applicants to contact Program Director Dr. Amy Ware at amyware@upenn.edu to schedule an appointment to review their current research interests and their options for pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics.
Eligibility
Admission to the Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics degree is available only to individuals who have previously completed a Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics degree at Penn or an equivalent master's degree program. The rigorous Master of Philosophy thesis demonstrates a further degree of dedication to and expertise in your chosen field and serves as an ideal tool for demonstrating the quality of your research and writing skills to potential PhD programs.
The Organizational Dynamics Programs Admissions Committee considers each candidate's application materials holistically as part of a selective admissions process. The Admissions Committee thoroughly examines all aspects of each candidate's academic background and work experiences as evidence of their academic potential, intellectual strength, and ability to contribute to classroom discussions and applied learning.
Students who have been denied admission to an Organizational Dynamics Program must wait one calendar year before reapplying. This policy does not impact a student’s ability to apply to other programs at the University of Pennsylvania at any time.
Interested candidates may apply to begin the MPHIL during the fall, spring, or summer terms. See Admissions for specific requirements to apply to the MPhil program.
