Program Description/Overview
This program prepares students with a foundation for a variety of careers on the human side of organizations by combining organizational psychology and organization development theories, concepts and methods with a practical focus. Careers include jobs in organizational leadership, talent management, organization development, training and development, human resources, diversity and inclusion, and related practice areas. This degree prepares students for work in all kinds of organizations including corporations, government, and not-for-profits. The program provides a pathway to the Psy.D. in Organization Development in Fresno and the Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology in Los Angeles and Online, each of which prepares students for consulting careers and more specialized or more diverse careers.
The master’s program is to be completed full-time in one year. Two courses are normally taken each term for full-time. The program may be taken with one course per term, which extends the duration of the program. Courses are offered on weekday evenings and some weekends in Los Angeles and in executive format (Friday - Sunday) once per month in Fresno.
The Hybrid M.A. in Organizational Psychology program offers one class on-campus and one class online each week during an 8-week term. Students enrolled in both on-campus and online programs will have the opportunity to interact, engage, and build their professional networks.
Students choosing the Online (asynchronous) M.A. in Organizational Psychology program have the flexibility to engage in learning at their own pace.
All of these allow working students to attend school while maintaining their work commitments.
Program Learning Outcomes/Goals
PLO1: Describe and apply organizational psychology principles, concepts, models, theories, and/or methods.
PLO2: Describe and apply ethical and legal principles to situations in organizational psychology.
PLO3: Demonstrate a positive, pro-active, and non-judgmental attitude towards diverse cultures and identities.
PLO4: Design culturally competent professional services in respective areas for diverse populations.
PLO5: Analyze data, evaluate results and communicate findings using applied research methods.
PLO6: Work effectively in teams and apply teambuilding concepts.
Training Model
Students learn theories and cases in the classroom and gain hands-on experience through class projects. Coursework prepares students to critically evaluate evidence-based principles of the discipline and integrate these principles into the management and development of human talent in work environments. Coursework provides progressive learning integrating advanced critical thinking, evaluation of research-based models, technical skill development, and applied learning techniques.
Multicultural and diversity issues, ethical practices, as well as proficiency in business concepts are integrated across courses as cross-cutting competencies. Integrating competency development across courses prepares graduates to provide professional-level services in organizations.
Professional Behavior Expectations/Ethical Guidelines
As professionals-in-training, students in the program are required, in addition to all university-wide conduct requirements, to comply with the ethics code of the American Psychological Association and be familiar with professional guidelines and standards appropriate for practitioners in a business setting.
Internship, Practicum, and/or Dissertation Information
The Capstone Project course enables students to apply organizational psychology competencies to prepare for practical experience in a practice area of their choosing and in a way that aligns with the stage in their career.
One option enables students to take on an internship. The availability of an internship outside of California is based on the state in which the student is located and requires prior approval. The other options are virtual, practical projects or virtual, applied research projects. A virtual project in a company could include writing up a past project from the student’s experience as a case and conducting a reanalysis of the case based on theories, principles and methods from coursework and proposing a better solution than was previously implemented.
Credit Units
Total Credit Units: 33
Total Core Credit Units: 33
Total Elective Credit Units: N/A
Total Concentration Credit Units: N/A
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