Department Name

Master of Arts

The program curriculum is comprised of major courses consisting of four required core courses, five required advanced core courses, other elective ORLJ courses, and three Teachers College non-ORLJ courses taken for at least 2 points each in related fields. 

 

Courses available at the Graduate School of Business, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of International and Public Affairs, Social Work, and in other graduate programs Columbia University may be taken. Students must consult with an advisor to select courses outside of Teachers College that may satisfy the elective/concentration requirements. An effort is made to assist students in developing a program of study that will best meet their personal career interests and objectives. 

 

In addition, within the program, students may elect to concentrate in any one of three areas:

 

• Human resource management;

 

• Organization change and consultation; or

 

• Conflict resolution.

 

However, students are not required to choose a concentration. Thus, if a student desires a broadly based and general degree in organizational psychology, courses may then be selected, with the assistance of an advisor, across all three areas of concentration.

 

Core Required Courses: Level 1

 

Regardless of concentration, the following four courses are required for all candidates.

 

• ORLJ 4002               Functions of organizations (3)

 

• ORLJ 4005               Organizational psychology (3)

 

• ORLJ 4009               Understanding behavioral research (3)

 

• ORLJ 5003               Human resource management (3)

 

Advanced Core Required Courses:

 

Level 2

 

Regardless of concentration, the following three courses are required for all candidates, plus one of the application courses and one of the advanced theory courses, for a total of five courses

 

• ORL 5362                 Group dynamics: A systems perspective (3)

 

• ORLJ 5045               Organizational dynamics and theory (3) (prerequisite ORLJ 4005)

 

• ORLJ 5148               Managing conflict in organizations (3)

 

Plus one of the following application courses:

 

• ORLJ 5012               Organizational internship  (1-3) (prerequisite ORLJ 4005)

 

• ORLJ 5340               Basic practicum in conflict resolution (3)

 

• ORLJ 6343               Practicum in change and consultation in organizations (4) (prerequisite ORL  5362, ORLJ 4005)

 

Plus one of the following advanced theory courses:

 

• ORLJ 5005               Leadership and supervision (3)

 

• ORLJ 5046               Intercultural communications in organizational contexts: Theory, issues, and practices (3)

 

• ORLJ 6040               Fundamentals of cooperation, conflict resolution, and mediation in different institutional contexts (3)

 

Breadth Courses:

 

Three non-ORLJ courses of at least 2 points each taken at Teachers College. Please consult an advisor.

 

Suggested Organizational Psychology Elective/Concentration Courses:

 

The following courses are suggested electives within ORLJ. Students may choose from among these electives and other relevant electives that are not listed here (including courses at the Graduate School of Business, SIPA, etc.) upon consultation with an academic advisor.

 

• ORLJ 4010               Executive coaching (3)

 

• ORLJ 5005               Leadership and supervision (3)

 

• ORLJ 5012               Organizational internship (1-3)

 

• ORLJ 5017               Small group interventions: Theory and method (3)

 

• ORLJ 5018               Using survey research in organizational consulting (3)

 

• ORLJ 5019               Data-based consulting   in organizations (3)

 

• ORLJ 5020               Special topics in organizational psychology (1-3)

 

• ORLJ 5046               Intercultural communications in organizational contexts: Theories, issues, and practices (3)

 

• ORLJ 5047               Development of the multi-cultural self (3)

 

• ORLJ 5310               Preparation for coaching (3)

 

• ORLJ 5311               Management and leadership practices (3)

 

• ORLJ 6048               Teaching to cultural and cognitive complexities  (2-3)

 

• ORLJ 6343               Practicum in change and consultation in organizations (4)

 

• ORLJ 6350               Advanced practicum in conflict resolution (3) (two terms)

 

Internship

 

While not a prerequisite for graduation, an internship may be helpful for proper job placement. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with an opportunity to gain practical experience relevant to their interests and to apply the principles of organizational psychology theories to real-world situations. Students who are interested in doing an internship should consult with an academic advisor.

 

Comprehensive Examination

 

The Comprehensive Examination may be taken after a student has completed the core level 1 courses receiving the grade of a C+ or above. Students are encouraged to take the exam in their penultimate semester of the M.A. program.

 

A student must score 80% or above to pass the comprehensive examination. Should a student fail the examination twice, he/she will not be allowed to continue in the M.A. program.