Executive Coaching Degree Information
To become an executive coach, you will be required to take courses in psychology, public speaking, group dynamics, organizational behavior, organizational development, leadership, ethics, employee training and development, and effecting organizational change. You may be required to complete a capstone project to achieve your master’s degree in this field.
There are both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in organizational development that will prepare you for a career as an executive coach. You will need a strong business background and an equally strong educational base in psychology.
Online Executive Coaching Curriculum
The best college curriculum relating to executive coaching includes courses that will help you guide leaders through their professional development, learn a coaching system and support executives in their time of need.
By using the convenience of distance learning you can improve your marketability with an online specialization, certification or degree in executive coaching. For example, you can become:
- A Masters of Arts in Psychology with an Executive Coaching Specialization
- A Certified Professional life and Business Coach
- A Master of Science in Leadership Coaching Psychology
The pay is good and the work is rewarding. Free information on executive coaching classes is available from accredited online colleges and programs on the Internet.
Earning a degree online
Online education is an effective choice if you need to complete your degree or add additional education. If you have already started your career and want to branch out, or if you live very far away from schools offering the program you need, distance learning may be your best choice.
Bachelor’s
The best Bachelor’s degree program for a career in executive coaching is business, followed by psychology. While you may be able to get hired by a large organization as part of the coaching team with just a Bachelor’s degree, to work with top executives or high potential employees, most companies will expect you to have a Master’s degree.
For freelance coaches or coaches at smaller companies, a Bachelor’s degree may be sufficient.
Master’s
There are many Master’s level programs that can prepare you for a career as an executive coach. Look for programs with names like “Organizational Psychology” if you can’t find one specifically for executive coaching in your area.
Further Education
Many schools offer Ph.D. programs in organizational psychology, which will help you to advance to the highest levels of career achievement in executive coaching.
Even if you decide not to pursue your doctorate, you should expect to continue adding to your education with additional courses to improve your skills and marketability. Specialized courses might include public speaking, writing or international business. These courses will help you keep abreast of your clients’ needs, provide a solid basis for the advice you give to mentees and improve your marketability.
Coursework
In addition to a solid grounding in business, you should also have a strong background in psychology. You will be required to take courses in ethics and legal issues, performance appraisal and feedback, statistics, organizational consulting, group and organizational dynamics, organizational culture, development and assessment and training techniques. You may also be required to complete group and individual projects as part of the curriculum.
Career Opportunities
Executive coaches work in many business organizations, usually large organizations that want to help key executives and high potential individuals reach their full potential. Smaller organizations may use executive coaches for the entire management team or just a few key leaders. Executive coaches that directly work for a company usually report into human resources, and they may have other duties besides coaching. You may be expected to travel occasionally to meetings and events.
Executive coaches may also freelance or join small companies of people with similar skills.
Earning Potential
Median pay for executive coaches is nearly $90,000 per year, according to US Government Bureau of Labor Statistics salary surveys. Top performers earn nearly $150,000 per year. The jobs forecast is expected to rise about 15 percent per year, which is about average for growth.
Many opportunities exist in hospitals, insurance, labs or scientific environments and other companies. Highest wages are in the technology and life sciences fields, and in New York and California, but there are excellent opportunities that offer good wages in every location.
FAQs About Executive Coaching Careers
How do I find clients if I am a freelance executive coach?
Coaches usually obtain their clients via referrals. Coaches often speak at conferences or write for periodicals and find clients through these avenues. Executives that are satisfied in the results they achieved will often refer you to others inside their organization.
Can I become an executive coach with a Bachelor’s degree, or will I need a Master’s degree too?
Some companies will hire an executive coach into their human resources group with a bachelor’s degree, but larger organizations will want a master’s degree to let you work with their top executives and highest potential employees.
Are there opportunities in scientific or technical fields?
These 2 industries employ the largest numbers of executive coaches and pay some of the highest salaries. If you are qualified and interested in working as an executive coach in a technology or science environment, you should be able to find a job easily.
Will I be able to earn a degree completely online to become an executive coach?
Many schools and colleges offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Organizational Development online. Any of these programs will prepare you well for a career as an executive coach.