Organizational Behavior: MA, Fresno

Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes for All Organizational Psychology Programs:

• Knowledge of research design, measurement, and statistical tools appropriate for basic research as well as for applied research in such areas as selection testing, surveys, and program evaluations.
• Understand and critically evaluate the literature in a given area.
• Integrate knowledge of ethical behavior in organizational studies.
• A positive, pro-active and non-judgmental attitude towards diverse cultural and international identities and in interpersonal and professional interactions.
• Conceptualize and deliver culturally competent professional services in their respective areas to diverse populations.

Additional Program Outcomes for the MAOB degree:

• Assess performance and functioning at the individual, group/team, and organizational system-wide level and design/conduct interventions at each of those levels to improve functioning, performance, and overall health that take into account diversity and other cross-cultural issues.
• Self-understanding regarding personal values, biases, preferences, and style in working with others and organizational systems.
• Facilitate transition and adoption to create positive change.

Training Model: A Practitioner-Scholar Program

Students acquire knowledge and skills applicable to management practices, theory and systems, ethics, organizational social responsibility, leadership, conflict management, employee engagement, and interventions for assisting in organizational change and development. Issues related to globalization, multiculturalism, and diversity are integrated throughout the program, including an international work study trip.

The curriculum is reflective of the issues and problems that business leaders face on a daily basis, acquainting students with the current literature and research on management and organizational behavior. Advanced Seminars are provided by Distinguished Guest Faculty from the field of organization psychology.

Specialized Admissions Requirements

Admission to the master’s program requires the completion of a Bachelor Degree from an accredited university and at least 2 years of professional work experience.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The Fresno campus offers an MA degree in Organization Behavior (MAOB) emphasizing the psychological principles of behavior that focus on individual and group performance within an organizational setting. The blend of practitioner and scholar focus provides a relevant approach to managerial skill development emphasizing the human side of enterprise and the behavioral aspects of managing change. The program has been developed with the needs of the professional adult learner in mind and is accessible to adults with multiple responsibilities. The intensive weekend format makes it possible for students to attend from locations other than California and the greater San Joaquin Valley.

The graduate program in Organizational Behavior is a 17-month program. Most students begin the program in the Spring; however, students who wish to enroll in the Fall do so in consultation with the Program Director. Courses are offered once a month in a weekend format on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday. Course work includes pre work, interim assignments, and post course work assignments. Students are expected to have basic knowledge of the course content upon entering the first weekend of a designated course.

MAOB students are not required to take statistics courses or write a research thesis. A competency exam is administered at the completion of the MAOB degree for entry into the PsyD program.

The program provides students with the opportunity for:

• Developing competencies needed to successfully manage in organizations
• Interacting with peers in shared learning, dialogue, and experiential activities
• Attending seminars with distinguished guest faculty from the field
• Building multicultural/international awareness

Joint Master’s Degree

The joint MAOB degree provides students in the doctoral Clinical Psychology programs or Clinical Forensic Psychology programs an opportunity to gain knowledge of organizations if they are interested in pursuing administrative positions or doing organizational work as part of their career goals.

For these students, the MAOB 30-unit program consists of 24 units of core Organizational Psychology curriculum. Research Methods and Ethno-cultural/Multi-cultural courses (6 units) are required in the students’ primary program and are not required to be repeated in the MAOB. Course units are spread over the timeframe allotted in the primary program. The international trip is also available to all students in the program; however, it is optional for joint students.

Curriculum Plan

Degree Requirements 34 units

A description of each course is listed by course number in the Course Description section of the catalog.  Curriculum requirements are subject to change.

Organizational Psychology Program Faculty

Core faculty for the Organizational Psychology programs are listed below:

Nicholas Aramovich, PhD, Assistant Professor, San Diego

Sherry Camden-Anders, PhD, Associate Professor and Program Director for MA Organizational Behavior and Organization Development PsyD, Fresno

Nurcan Ensari, PhD, Professor, Interim Systemwide Program Director, Program Director, Los Angeles and Director, I/O Psychology Certificate Program - Istanbul Bilgi University

Mary J. Fambrough, PhD, Associate Professor, San Francisco

Bernardo Ferdman, PhD, Distinguished Professor, San Diego

Dary Fiorentino, PhD, Assistant Professor, Los Angeles

Dale Glaser, PhD, Principal Lecturer, San Diego

Kathryn Goldman-Schuyler, PhD, Professor, San Francisco

Margaret (Peggy) Grant, PhD, Visiting Assistant Professor, Fresno

Calvin Hoffman, PhD, Associate Professor, Los Angeles

John Kantor, PhD, Associate Professor, San Diego

Toni A. Knott, PhD, Associate Professor and Director, Field Placement, Fresno

Patricia Denise Lopez, PhD, Associate Professor, Los Angeles,

Rodney Lowman, PhD, Distinguished Professor, San Diego

John Renner, PhD, Assistant Professor, Interim Program Director, San Diego and Director, Organizational Consulting Center (OCC-SD), San Diego

Jyotsna Sanzgiri, PhD, Professor and Program Director, San Francisco

Jonathan Troper, PhD, Assistant Professor and Director, Center for Innovation and Change (CIC), Los Angeles

Lynne Valek, PhD, Visiting Associate Professor, Fresno

For a detailed description of program faculty background and research interests, please see the alphabetical listing of faculty  in the California School of Professional Psychology.

Accreditation Information

The MAOB program, in 2001, passed a review and assessment by a Blue Ribbon Committee and in 2003, received accreditation by the Organization Development Institute (currently the International Society for Organization Development). Current Member of the Organization Development Education Association (ODEA) a sub group of the National Organization Development Network.