Welcome to the Social-Organizational Psychology Program
Two degree programs are offered: one leading to the M.A. and one leading to the Ph.D. A terminal M.A. degree in Psychology: Organizational is awarded upon successful completion of 45 points and passing the comprehensive examination. The Ph.D. degree is awarded upon completion of 86 points of planned and sequential study, qualifying papers, and a dissertation.
A certificate of attendance in conflict resolution is also offered to students in the M.A./Ph.D. programs (see non-credit program-certificate of attendance in conflict resolution, below). Students interested in receiving the certificate must complete a sequence of 5 courses and 1 semester of internship. Students who opt for the certificate of attendance must complete an application form with the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (ICCCR). Students in the M.A./Ph.D. program who wish to take a concentration of electives within the area of conflict resolution, but do not wish to receive a formal certificate of attendance may register for courses without completing an application form with ICCCR.
Master of Arts
The 45 point M.A. program is designed to provide proficiency and advanced knowledge in the psychology of organizations. Qualified students are given the opportunity to develop their program in a manner consistent with their career interests, capacities, and background.
The program provides courses at Teachers College and other areas of Columbia University, particularly the Graduate School
of Business. There is one major for the M.A. degree entitled Psychology: Organizational. Students may decide to pursue a broadly based program and therefore take a variety of courses, or they may concentrate their courses in a more specific area such as human resource management, organization change and consultation, or conflict resolution.
The program is designed to provide education leading to professional employment or to continuation of graduate work beyond the master's degree. Students are often employed in positions typically found within the personnel or human resource function of middle or large-size organizations. These include positions in global learning, career development and counseling, organizational effectiveness, personnel research, organization development and consultation, employee relations, and human resource planning and strategy.
Graduates of the master's program may apply for admission to the doctoral program in Social-Organizational Psychology. However, successful performance in the M.A. program does not in and of itself guarantee admission. Students who apply become part of the applicant pool for that year and their qualifications are evaluated with equal standing along with the other applicants.
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctoral program in social-organizational psychology follows a scientist-practitioner model. It is designed for full-time graduate students who desire fundamental education and skill development in the science and application of psychology to social and organizational situations and activities. Our goal is to provide an environment that is conducive to the development of scientist-practitioners who are prepared to assume the diverse responsibilities of positions at research universities, leading businesses, and professional service firms. Through coursework, field projects with organizations, and close working relationships with faculty members and fellow graduate students, doctoral students are provided with advanced training in the theoretical concepts, research methods, and applications of social-organizational psychology. Students gain critical knowledge and skills that encompass both research and practice.
Some unique aspects of the program include:
The integration of both social and organizational psychology;
A theoretical, research, and applied focus on understanding multiple levels of organizational functioning from individuals to groups to organizations as a whole, and the dynamic interaction among these levels;
A wide breadth of coverage including human resource management, organizational behavior, organizational change, leadership, conflict and negotiation, coaching, diversity, organizational demography, motivation, power and authority, group processes, and organizational dynamics;
An emphasis on both quantitative and qualitative research methods to address organizational issues;
Opportunities to engage in basic research, applied research, and organizational consulting and application activities; and
Faculty members trained in a broad array of disciplines including social psychology, counseling psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, organizational behavior, and business management-'"all of whom apply their respective disciplines to social organizational psychology issues.