Field Education

Experience Matters. 

The MA in Organizational Psychology program requires that each student complete an organizational development project that includes approximately 80 hours of supervised fieldwork.  A Field Placement is comprised of a combination of face time with the Field Site Supervisor and clients, individual preparation and/or research depending upon the needs of the organization, and class instruction (online and in-person).  Field Placement projects vary depending on the needs of the field site. Some examples include organizational assessment and feedback, change management, team development, facilitation and training, research and benchmarking, facilitation of focus groups, and strategic human resources projects (such as the development of on-boarding programs or succession management). 

The field placement experience provides students with a real-world opportunity to apply the concepts and theories they learn while at the same time assisting field sites in improving some performance aspect of their organization. Great care is exercised to match students with field experiences that will enrich and enhance their classroom learning and promote their professional and personal development.

Here is a sampling of past Field Placements:

  • Disparities Interventions with Cultural lnsight/Harvard Pilgrim
  • Team Development at YMCA
  • Alumni Relations Assessment at William James College
  • Organizational Development Assessment at Laboure College
  • Team Development Assessment and Interventions at Brigham and Women's Primary Care
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Beth Israel Deaconess
  • Comcast

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Field Placement for Online Students

Given the various locations for many of our online students across the United States and the globe, we understand that it might be difficult or prohibitive for you to find your own field site. Therefore, online students have the option of working on an applied field project  supervised by the field placement instructor that can demonstrate your ability to practice. Examples of past field projects include:

  • Creation of an online training
  • Writing of an talent management onboarding process

Evaluations

Students are coached by their Field Project instructor to learn applied elements of OD work. They keep track of their hours in a journal and get developmental feedback at the midpoint and at the end of their project.