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Delivering change Diagnosing organisational problems Planning and managing interventions

dublin city university business school

M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour

M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour at Dublin City University Business School

Irelands Longest Established Organisational Psychology Programme


The M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology at DCU Business School is the longest running specialised programme delivering organisational psychology education in Ireland. Graduates of the programme have gone on to further the field of organisational psychology in the workplace, and thereby facilitate a broad range of organisations to reach optimal effectiveness. The programme provides qualified psychologists with academic training and development which contributes significantly to the process of seeking registered organisational psychologist status, if desired. The parallel M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour programme is designed for graduates who do not have the required psychology qualification for entry to the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology. Students on this stream are taught alongside and receive almost all of the same modules as the Organisational Psychology students. Participants on both streams are equipped with the knowledge, experience and professional expertise necessary to make a distinctive and valuable contribution to organisational planning, development and change. Among the main areas covered in the programme are:
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I was attracted to this Masters programme for its unique amalgamation of psychology and business know-how. The sense of professional identity among the group is very strong and the collaborative nature of the programme has made it a great learning experience. Indeed the professionalism of the academic staff on the programme made it feel more like working in an organisation than an academic institution. Diane Dignam, Independent Consultant, DHR Consulting.

Aims and Objectives


The M.Sc. in Organisational Psychology/Behaviour (MWOP/MWOB) programme aims to produce professionally qualified organisational psychologists and organisational behaviour specialists who shall:
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The psychology of work and organisational life Employee selection, motivation and development Contrasting approaches to performance and well-being Leadership Managing organisational change and development Organisational diagnosis and consulting Applied organisational research methods.

develop the ability to objectively analyse specific and related aspects of the structure of an organisation and associated dynamics; have a complete understanding of both the measurement and influence of individual differences such as personality, motivation, leadership style and attitudes on organisational performance and efficiency; be capable of analysing organisational staffing needs and prescribing job analysis, recruitment and selection techniques for that organisation; be cognisant of the available methods of employee testing, appraisal and development, to support organisational functioning and development; develop the skills and insights central to evidence-based organisational research and analysis; develop distinctive psychological skills for the diagnosis of specific aspects of organisational behaviour and functioning such as training and development, decisionmaking, restructuring, problem-solving and job design; develop the ability to aid organisations embrace positive psychology, teamworking, multi-cultural workplace integration and innovative management techniques.

A key feature of this Masters programme is the educational philosophy, which is built firmly on the Adult Learning Module. This emphasises collaborative and participative team learning, and draws heavily on the experiences and insights of participants rather than on the lecturer as expert. The programme model reflects the European model of work and Organisational Psychology education. The programme has formal links with several European universities and supports student exchange and visits.

M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour at Dublin City University Business School

M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour


Semester 1 Year 1 Organisations and Work Motivation and Satisfaction Selection and Assessment Year 2 Organisation Training and Development Leadership and Decision-Making Organisational Diagnosis Semester 2 Work and Well Being Organisational Theory and Structuring Organisational Research Methodology Professional Development Workshops* Organisational Change and Development Organisational Consultancy Skills and Approaches Research Project * Candidates following the Organisational Behaviour stream will take two 5 credit modules in Cross Cultural Behaviour and Strategic HRM instead of Professional Development Workshops.

Programme Candidates
Candidates for the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology should have an honours degree in psychology (at Upper Second Class Honours level, or above). Candidates for the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour should have an honours degree in a business-, social sciences- or organisation-related discipline (at Upper Second Class Honours level, or above). Graduates are likely to be involved in the following work fields:
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Assessment of the programme is by semester papers, group work, performance assessment, and by research project with formal examinations being the exception rather than the rule. There is an intake onto this programme every two years (i.e. 2009, 2011, etc.).

Expert Faculty
The programme is delivered by leading experts in the fields of Work & Organisational Psychology and Organisational Behaviour. They reflect leading thinking and latest practices through their teaching, drawing on continuing research and insights gained from their work with leading organisations in Ireland and overseas. Among the faculty of the programme are:
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Change management in larger organisations; Management of training and development; Policy studies in research centres; Organisational advice and management consulting; Personnel selection and development; Academic research and training.

Dr. Janine Bosak, Diploma, Ph.D. (Lecturer in Organisational Psychology) Dr. Finian Buckley, BA, H.Dip. Ed., Ph.D. (Senior Lecturer in Organisational Psychology and Chair of the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology) Dr. Edel Conway, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Lecturer in HRM) Mr. Gerry Conyngham, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Lecturer in Quantitative Methods) Prof. Patrick Flood, B.Comm., M.B.S., Ph.D. (Professor of Organisational Behaviour) Dr. Melrona Kirrane, B.A., Ph.D. (Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Chair of the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour)

The class usually comprises professionals from a variety of sectoral backgrounds as well as recent graduates, which adds to the dynamic of the group.

Programme Delivery
The programmes part-time delivery mode is designed to suit the time commitments of working professionals. Students attend the programme on a weekly basis (one day per week, usually Thursday) when classes are delivered from 2pm to 8pm. Each semester runs for 12 weeks. Semester One each year is from September to December, while Semester Two is from February to April.

M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour at Dublin City University Business School

Leading Guest Lecturers


A series of guest lecturers from the field of work psychology participate in the programme, imparting their knowledge and experience to students and making a valuable contribution to the learning process. Recent participants have included:
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them in developing the personal attributes critical to leadership success. To this end, we believe that the classroom and wider learning experience must be inculcated by a spirit of inquiry, group learning, and active engagement and participation by all participants. We seek to maximise peer-to-peer learning. To achieve this learning, we believe that classes must comprise small numbers of students. We therefore limit classes to 25 students. We recognise that the DCU alumni community of business leaders is a valuable network for our MWOP/ MWOB students and we facilitate interaction between current and past students.

Prof. Janet Barnes-Farrell, University of Connecticut, USA Prof. Charles Lance, University of Georgia, USA Prof. Jose-Maria Peiro, University of Valencia, Spain Prof. Rob Roe, University of Maastricht, Netherlands

The programme also draws on a list of adjunct lecturers, who are expert practitioners with vast organisational experience in Ireland and internationally. They bring up-to-the-moment organisational and context issues to the classroom, adding cutting-edge value to the learning experience.

Career Prospects
Graduates of this programme are equipped for employment in a wide range of Irish and international organisations, in both the public and private sectors. Graduates typically take positions managing change, diagnosing organisational problems, and planning and managing interventions. The variety of positions undertaken reflects the diverse strengths of the programme.

The Classroom Learning Experience


DCU Business School is committed to an active, interactive and participative learning experience that is facilitated by our faculty. The MWOP/MWOB programme seeks to engage participants in high level strategic analysis and to assist

M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour at Dublin City University Business School

The DCU Environment


The DCU MWOP/MWOB programme is delivered in the new purpose-built executive education facility housed in DCU Business School. This facility has been customised to meet the needs of post experience students. It is bright and spacious, with classrooms that facilitate maximum participation and class interaction. Within DCU Business School, students have access to small study rooms for group assignments and for collaborative study; computer rooms; a coffee shop and restaurant; a large open space with a balcony that facilitates networking and social interaction; and full wireless Internet access. The award-winning John and Aileen OReilly Library is a modern study facility with private study space, collaborative study rooms, and an extensive collection of business books and journals. MWOP/MWOB students have access to our extensive online library resources. These resources can be accessed off campus and allow for downloading of full text academic material and company information. This facility is very useful for executive part-time students and assists them to complete assignments and to study while off campus. DCUs modern campus offers excellent student facilities, which include four restaurants, The Hub student centre, The Helix performing arts centre, a world-class sports complex, retail outlets and banking facilities. The entire DCU campus is wireless enabled.

Support Services
The M.Sc. in Organisational Psychology/Behaviour is an intensive learning experience and a significant commitment for part-time students. During the two-year programme, students are supported by the Administrative Team in The Centre for Executive Programmes. This team is very experienced in dealing with the needs of managers who are working full-time and attending our programme on a part-time basis. They deliver a very high quality customer service. The team is led by the Head of Operations for the Centre and is specially trained in customer care. Academic direction is the responsibility of the academic teaching staff and the programme director.

This programme presented a great opportunity to formalise my experience in organisational change and development. I was attracted by the strength of its academic foundations coupled with its relevance to industry practice. The quality of the lectures was superb and the wide mix of experience and backgrounds of the students enabled a significant amount of class discussion which greatly added to the course. DCU offers a fantastic learning environment for part-time students at all stages of their career. Overall it was a very rewarding experience which I would strongly recommend to anyone interested in any aspect of people at work. Colette Real, Organisational Change Manager, Bank of Ireland.

Getting to DCU
By car
DCUs location in Glasnevin, north Dublin, makes it very convenient to the M50 and the M1 motorways and to Dublin City Centre. There is a multi-storey car park on campus.

Applications
To apply for the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology/ Behaviour visit the Postgraduate applications Centre (PAC) at www.pac.ie to complete an online application.
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By bus

The PAC Code for the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology programme is DC508. See www.dcu.ie/dc508 for closing dates for application. The PAC Code for the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour programme is DC957. See www.dcu.ie/dc957 for closing dates for application.

Buses that stop close to the campus include 3, 4, 11, 13, 16, 17A, 19, 33 and 41.

By rail

Drumcondra Railway Station is close to DCU. The 17A bus links DCU with Howth Junction DART Station, while the 103 and 104 bus routes operate via Clontarf DART Station.

Fees
See www.dcu.ie/dcubs for current fees. The programme offers a fee scholarship, details of which are available on our website.

The quality of teaching on the Masters was excellent. Each lecturer brought their extensive level of knowledge and experience to the areas, and engaged all the class with their expertise and passion for their chosen subjects. Every week we left the class on a high and every week I felt I had learnt something new that I could instantly bring back to my job, and did. I moved roles during the course and am now working as a training director for a global company, a move I wouldnt have had the confidence to take prior to the course. Orla Nolan, Training Director, State Street Alternative Investment Solutions IFS, A State Street Company.

Enquiries
We encourage you to contact us for further information or to visit us at DCU. If you would like an informal discussion on how the DCU MWOP/MWOB programme might fit with your career, or if you need any further information about the programme, please contact:

Bernadette McCulloch

Head of Operations DCUBS Centre for Executive Programmes Telephone: +353 (0) 1 700 8915 Email: bernadette.mcculloch@dcu.ie

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