Online Master’s in Human and Organization Performance Effectiveness (HOPE)
Advance Your Career in Human and Organization Performance Effectiveness
The online master’s in Human and Organization Performance Effectiveness at the University of Kansas prepares professionals to improve people, processes, and performance across today’s organizations.
Through this master’s in human and organization performance effectiveness, you will learn to lead organizational change, strengthen organizational culture, and align talent with strategy. You will analyze performance challenges, design effective solutions, and drive measurable impact across industries.
Designed for working professionals, KU’s fully online human and organization performance effectiveness master’s program allows you to continue advancing your career while earning your degree.
What careers are possible with a master's in human and organization performance effectiveness?
A master’s in human and organization performance effectiveness prepares you for roles focused on improving how organizations operate, develop talent, and drive measurable results.
Graduates of the online HOPE program pursue leadership and people-focused roles across a wide range of industries, including business, healthcare, education, government and nonprofit organizations. These roles offer strong earning potential and long-term stability.
According to Lightcast*, professionals in this field often earn between $75,000 and $90,000 annually, depending on experience, role, and industry.
Titles vary by organization and industry; graduates may pursue roles such as:
- Organizational Development Manager
- Program Manager
- Human Resources Director
- Human Resources Business Partner
- Training and Development Manager
This degree is well suited for professionals seeking to move into leadership roles or expand their influence within their organization.
*Source: Lightcast. The career information provided is not specific to the KU program or its graduates. There is no guarantee of obtaining these positions.
Why choose KU’s online master’s in Human and Organization Performance Effectiveness? (HOPE)
The University of Kansas is an AAU member and Carnegie R1 research university, placing this program within a nationally recognized academic and research environment.
The online HOPE program blends leadership development, human resources strategy and performance improvement into a flexible graduate experience. Courses are grounded in real-world application, helping you translate theory into action immediately in your current role.
You will graduate prepared to support organizations through growth, change and complexity while advancing your own leadership trajectory.
Looking for a more flexible, self-paced option?
If you bring relevant professional experience to your work, you may not need a traditional course schedule to move forward.
Jayhawk Flex offers a competency-based option for the HOPE degree, where you progress by demonstrating what you know instead of following a fixed sequence of courses. It’s designed for professionals who want more control over how—and how quickly—they complete their degree.
You’ll earn the same University of Kansas degree, with the same faculty and academic standards, in a format built around your experience.
What you’ll learn
In the online Human and Organization Performance Effectiveness master’s program, you will develop skills to::
- Translate organizational strategy into action across teams and functions
- Align organizational systems to ensure planned change is implemented and sustained
- Leverage resistance as an asset to strengthen the change process
- Gather, analyze and apply data to complex organizational decision-making
- Lead organization-wide planning efforts beyond a single division view
Coursework emphasizes practical application through projects and case-based learning that connect directly to your professional experience.
Career Outlook
Skills you’ll build
Through this online master’s program, you will strengthen in-demand skills such as:
- Leadership and management
- Performance management and improvement
- Change management
- Data analysis and evaluation
- Communication and collaboration
- Strategic planning and operations
These skills are widely applicable and valued across industries and organizational settings.
Learning designed for working professionals
Built for working professionals, the fully online format allows you to balance graduate study with your professional and personal commitments. Courses are delivered online, giving you the flexibility to engage with coursework on your schedule while staying connected to KU faculty and peers.
You will benefit from:
- 100% online coursework
- Structured courses with consistent deadlines
- Faculty with academic and professional expertise
- Opportunities to apply learning directly to your current role
Why earn your online master’s at KU?
As a Jayhawk, you join a nationally recognized public research university with a long-standing commitment to academic excellence. KU’s online master’s programs combine the strength of a KU degree with the flexibility today’s professionals need.
You will graduate with:
- A respected KU credential
- Practical experience you can apply immediately
- A strong connection to the KU alumni network
Take the next step
Request information to learn more about KU’s online Master’s in Human and Organization Performance Effectiveness, including curriculum details, admissions requirements, and upcoming start dates.
Complete the form to connect with the KU Online team and receive program information to help you determine if this degree aligns with your career goals.
Program Details
Costs
Admissions
Degree Requirements
FAQ: Online Degree
Yes. This program is delivered 100 percent online, allowing you to complete coursework from anywhere while staying engaged with KU faculty and classmates.
The online HOPE program is designed for working professionals who want to advance into leadership, human resources, training and development or organizational effectiveness roles.
Graduates pursue roles such as organizational development manager, human resources director, training and development manager, and program manager across a wide range of industries.
No specific undergraduate major is required. Applicants from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Courses are structured with consistent deadlines while offering flexibility for working professionals. Students can engage with coursework alongside their professional and personal commitments.
Yes. Coursework emphasizes real-world application, allowing students to connect assignments and projects directly to their professional experience.
You can request more information to learn about admissions requirements, application deadlines and upcoming start dates.