Program Overview

Choose Excellence with an MA in Organizational Psychology

Organizational psychologists use the principles of psychology and behavior to influence long-lasting, positive change in businesses, organizations, and teams. Now more than ever, businesses are turning to organizational psychologists to improve employee satisfaction, performance, communication, and more. The Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology at William James College combines classroom instruction and fieldwork experiences to prepare you to make a difference in this field.

The MA in Organizational Psychology program is an an accelerated 11 months (full time) or 23 months (part time), 31-credit program. You will have the option to take the program fully online or in a blended format, which adds monthly weekends-in-residence to the online courses. This in-person component is a great opportunity to further connect with your cohort and faculty members while diving deeper into the course material.

With in-depth skill-building and problem based learning experiences, you will be equipped to effectively develop and steward organizational systems, teams, and individuals in the context of uncertainty and change. You will learn evidence-based best practices to apply directly to the workplace, including the following:

Accurately diagnose human and systemic causes of underperformance in organizations
Intervene constructively with teams-both as an insider and an outsider
Foster self-motivation for positive change in workers and leaders at all levels
Anticipate and meet the needs of diverse stakeholders within an organization
Drive change consistent with an organization's culture, values, beliefs, and structures
Manage your own strengths and biases to see organizational and human resource challenges and solutions more clearly

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What is Organizational Psychology?

Organizational Psychology is a field that combines the psychology of human behavior, organizational development, sociology, and education to work with individuals, teams, and systems to improve performance, support employees, and ultimately to create and foster a culture where people are highly engaged and the organization is achieving its goals. This work spans across small businesses, large corporations, as well as all industries, including for-profit, non-profit, and the government sector. Organizational Psychologists can function as internal practitioners within human resources or talent management or as external consultants to an organization.

Choose Real-World Learning with Experiential Education

At William James College, we believe that fieldwork is a transformational part of your educational experience. As an Organizational Psychology MA student, you will participate in 80 hours of field placement work where you can apply what you're learning in the classroom directly to your role. You can choose to complete your fieldwork at your your current job, at a self-selected organization, or at a William James partner site. You will work with our Field Education Office to design a project and find a placement opportunity tailored to suit your career interests and goals.

Choose Impact with a Commitment to Social Responsibility

Our Organizational Psychology MA program is rooted in social justice, respect for diversity, and a multicultural perspective. This approach is woven through our entire curriculum and training model to prepare you to be a culturally responsive professional ready to apply your skills to any organization or industry.

Choose Community Connectivity, Support and Student Life

The William James College community is supportive and connected. Our Dean of Students Office offers regular programming, in person and online, for all students, and oversees our Academic Resource Center. Student leadership and student groups create more opportunities for engagement, and we are proud to be home to the William James College Black Mental Health Graduate Academy, a community for Black students enrolled in our doctoral and master’s degree programs, that provides mentorship and networking opportunities.

Choose Mentorship and Personal Growth

As a student, you will engage with faculty through education, research, mentorship, and training. All students work closely with an advisor on course planning, personal and professional development, and career goals.

Our students come from diverse backgrounds and range from new graduates in their twenties to career changers in their sixties. The average student has 5-7 years of work experience, but this is not required. The Organizational Psychology MA program is intentionally designed to accommodate working professionals. Ninety percent of our students work full time, and many are also raising or supporting families while they go through the program. We have students from all corners of the globe who participate virtually and asynchronously. Our faculty pride themselves on a high-touch model and are here to support you through your journey, regardless of your location, program delivery, or career background.

Organizational and Leadership Psychology faculty members represent expertise across many psychology and business domains including non-profit leadership, organizational culture, neuroscience of leadership, strategic talent management, program evaluation, group dynamics, diversity and leadership, and more.

William James College faculty are practicing professionals who bring their organizational expertise and real-world examples into the classroom. They pair this experience with empirically based research, teaching you nuances, protocols, and interventions, that prepare you for your fieldwork as a student and for your future career as an organizational psychologist.

12:1

Student:Faculty Ratio