MA Psychology - Work and Organisational Psychology Behaviour

at University College Cork

The MA in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour is designed to advance your knowledge of the discipline of psychology applied in work settings. To achieve this the course content emphasises the application of high-quality psychological research to real-world concerns and issues in the workplace.  
 

PART 1 (60 credits in total)
 

Core Modules (50 credits)
 

• AP6016 Research Methods and Data Analysis (10 credits)

• AP6169 Learning, Well-Being and Participation at Work (10 credits)

• AP6166 Personnel Selection and Assessment (10 credits)

• AP6170 Professional Skills (5 credits)

• MG6020 Changing, Leading and Developing Organisations (5 credits)

• AP6168 Designing in Work and Workplaces (10 credits)
   

Elective Modules (choice of modules below to the value of 10 credits)

• AP6159 Positive Organisational Psychology (5 credits) - subject to approval

• AP6160 Private Practice (5 credits)

• AP6161 Coaching Skills (5 credits)

• AP6176 Cognitive Enhancement (5 credits)
   

PART 2 (30 credits)

• AP6171 Research Dissertation in Applied Psychology (Work and Organisational Psychology) 
   

Part-time (90 credits in total)
 

The part-time MA in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour runs over two calendar years (24 months).  Students take taught modules to the value of 60 credits in Part One (running across Semesters One and Two of Year One and Semester One of Year Two).  In Part Two students also undertake a research dissertation (30 credits), which is submitted at the end of the summer in Year Two.

• A primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in Psychology.

• Satisfy the eligibility requirements for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland or the British Psychological Society.  This can be demonstrated by:

  • Evidence that your undergraduate degree is accredited by the PSI or BPS (see bps.org.uk) or

  • Evidence from the BPS that they consider your undergraduate degree to be equivalent to a PSI/BPS accredited degree, in terms of granting you eligibility for graduate membership of the society.

• A second class honours grade one degree is required. Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be given to second class honours grade two (level 8 degree) candidates, where for example an applicant has relevant work experience or has performed impressively in another Master’s degree acceptable to the School selection committee.  In such cases, the applicant should set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the supplementary statement and/or interview.
   

MA in Work and Organisational Behaviour 
 

• An undergraduate degree that includes subjects related to the area (e.g. business, psychology, human resource management, organisational behaviour, sociology of work).  Applicants with a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8)in any discipline and a minimum of three years’ relevant work experience will also be considered.

• A Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) degree is required.  Consideration will be given to Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) candidates, where for example an applicant has relevant work experience or has performed impressively in another Master’s degree acceptable to the School selection committee.  In such cases, the applicant should set out the grounds upon which they wish to be considered in the supplementary statement and/or interview.
   

Eligible candidates may be interviewed.
 

Entry criteria

The criteria for selection will include:
 

• Academic performance.

• Demonstrated interest in, or work experience relevant to, work psychology.
   

Application process

Application must be made online at the UCC application portal and includes a 500-word personal statement, giving reasons for applying to the course including a statement about career objectives.
 

Statements will be evaluated on the basis of:
 

• Demonstrating some awareness of work and organisational psychology.

• Showing evidence of how this master fits with careers interests and objectives.
   

Shortlisted candidates may also be interviewed.
 

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations

The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.
 

There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.

IELTS*    

• 6.5 Overall

• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)

TOEFL iBT    
 

• 90 Overall

• Listening 20

• Reading 19

• Speaking 21

• Writing 20

The EU fee for this course is €8,130; €4,130(Year 1 Part-time); €4,130 (Year 2 Part-time).
 

The Non-EU fee for this course is €18,400.

Graduates of this programme can look forward to a wide range of career options across both the public and private sectors applying psychology at work.  Graduates may enter careers as work and organisational psychologists, or may consider careers in human resource management, human resource development, consultancy, organizational research or academic/research careers.
 

To date, a number of our alumni have been recruited nationally and internationally as an outcome of completing this MA in Work and Organisational Psychology/Behaviour. For alumni who were already in employment, a number of our former students were subsequently promoted to new roles. Examples of areas where alumni ended up working include: Human Resources positions, organisers/facilitators of Organisational Development and Change / Community Development initiatives, occupational psychologists in training, consultants (e.g., recruitment and selection).