Program name

Work and Organizational Psychology

Program authors

Professor Ia Kutaladze

Qualification awarded

Master of Arts  in Work and Organizational Psychology

Language of instruction

Georgian

Organizational psychology is the branch having huge scientific and simultaneously practical importance. Accordingly, the purpose of the program is to train researchers and practicing psychologists in industrial and organizational psychology who, based on scientific knowledge, will be able to carry out systemic analysis of the factors determining human behaviors, interaction between an individual and an organization, as well as to design the efficiency of human resources.

The purpose of the MA program is to ensure that students deepen their knowledge in the following directions: methodological principles of personnel selection and assessment; assessment of the work done; work analysis; organizational culture and values; personnel socialization; professional stress; decision making processes at an organization; planning of compensation system and motivation policy; organizational and marketing research; teamwork principles; psychometric analysis; psychology of advertising, etc.

The program will equip students with competences to independently plan and implement research work in industrial and organizational psychology, as well as to improve their professional skills.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Passing Master’s exam
• Passing entrance exams
• Industrial and organizational psychology. The MA program manager shall define the format of examination and create an examination program;
• English language knowledge at B2 level
• English language exam (B2 level)

General description of the program

The aim of the program is to prepare researchers and practitioner psychologists in the field of the work and organizational psychology, who would be able to apply their scientific knowledge in order to:

provide systematic analysis of the diverse factors affecting human behavior in an organizational setting and explore employee– organization interaction.

analyze organizational effectiveness on three conceptual levels: (1) organizational structure and functioning; (2) professional team composition and interaction; (3) personality and organizational behavior.

The program provides the students with the essential competencies needed to independently plan and conduct research projects in the field of work and organizational psychology as well as supports them to improve professional skills.

Educational Outcomes

The program will provide students with the following skills and competencies:

Knowledge of the most recent theoretical models and best practices in the field of work and organizational psychology;

Knowledge of the research strategies/methods, underpinning principles and skills needed to apply the knowledge into practice.

Ability to analyze the interrelation of new and existing knowledge clearly and meaningfully as well as ability to comprehensively communicate complicated scientific concepts and models in an international academic setting;

Ability /readiness to learn and develop professionally and apply innovative methods in work.

The Structure of the Program

The curricula of the MA program in Work and Organizational Psychology is designed in a way to provide students with both - theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the subject area. It is planned with the  consideration of the significance of interdisciplinary knowledge for highly qualified professionals in work and organizational psychology. Thus, the students are encouraged to deeply explore and learn the  subjects and areas closely linked to the fields (human resource management, psychometrics, marketing  researches, etc), making them capable of performing high quality, complex professional activities.   

Furthermore, the program especially emphasizes the importance of learning organizational research methodology, organizational psychology, organizational structure, modern methods of personnel  selection, trainings and other opportunities of professional development. 

In order to be awarded with a master’s degree students are expected to earn in total 120 credits. Out of  Which 30 credits in each term through attending a number of elective courses, work on final master   thesis  (research project, corresponding to 30 credits;). In addition the program provides students with  internship opportunities at several partner organizations (internship – 5 credits).

Master of Industrial and Organizational Psychology will enjoy broad employment opportunities at various organizations:

• Private companies, government agencies whose interests involve studying and planning of organizational development, human resource management, projecting group efficiency, staffing and evaluation systems;
• A consultancy oriented to the issues of human resource management as well as industrial and organizational psychology;
• A consultancy oriented to applied research;
• Research institutes; specialized research organizations and training centers;
• Non-governmental organizations;

A graduate will be able to work on the following positions: organization’s psychologist, human resource manager, personnel selection manager, personnel assessment manager, training and development manager, organizational development specialist, etc.

The program is oriented to training practicing specialists as well as forming scientific staff in the sphere of industrial and organizational psychology. The program is built in a way that its graduates will be able to continue studies on the next level. In case of willingness to continue scientific and pedagogical activities, TSU offers masters the doctoral program in industrial and organizational psychology.