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

Ireland’s 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 “I was attracted to this Masters programme for its unique
process of seeking registered organisational psychologist amalgamation of psychology and business know-how. The
status, if desired. sense of professional identity among the group is very
strong and the collaborative nature of the programme has
The parallel M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour
made it a great learning experience. Indeed the
programme is designed for graduates who do not have
professionalism of the academic staff on the programme
the required psychology qualification for entry to the M.Sc.
made it feel more like working in an organisation than an
in Work and Organisational Psychology. Students on this
academic institution.”
stream are taught alongside and receive almost all of the
same modules as the Organisational Psychology students. Diane Dignam, Independent Consultant, DHR Consulting.

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:
n The psychology of work and organisational life
n Employee selection, motivation and development
n Contrasting approaches to performance and well-being
n Leadership
n Managing organisational change and development
n Organisational diagnosis and consulting
n Applied organisational research methods.
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.
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:
n develop the ability to objectively analyse specific and
related aspects of the structure of an organisation and
associated dynamics;
n 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;
n be capable of analysing organisational staffing needs
and prescribing job analysis, recruitment and selection
techniques for that organisation;
n be cognisant of the available methods of employee
testing, appraisal and development, to support
organisational functioning and development;
n develop the skills and insights central to evidence-based
organisational research and analysis;
n develop distinctive psychological skills for the diagnosis
of specific aspects of organisational behaviour and
functioning such as training and development, decision-
making, restructuring, problem-solving and job design;
n develop the ability to aid organisations embrace positive
psychology, teamworking, multi-cultural workplace
integration and innovative management techniques.
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
* 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:
n Change management in larger organisations;
n Management of training and development;
n Policy studies in research centres;
n Organisational advice and management consulting;
n Personnel selection and development;
n Academic research and training.
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 programme’s 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.
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
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:
n Dr. Janine Bosak, Diploma, Ph.D.
(Lecturer in Organisational Psychology)
n 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)
n Dr. Edel Conway, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
(Lecturer in HRM)
n Mr. Gerry Conyngham, B.Sc., M.Sc.
(Lecturer in Quantitative Methods)
n Prof. Patrick Flood, B.Comm., M.B.S., Ph.D.
(Professor of Organisational Behaviour)
n Dr. Melrona Kirrane, B.A., Ph.D.
(Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Chair
of the M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Behaviour)
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:
n Prof. Janet Barnes-Farrell, University of Connecticut, USA
n Prof. Charles Lance, University of Georgia, USA
n Prof. Jose-Maria Peiro, University of Valencia, Spain
n 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.
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
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.
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.
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 O’Reilly 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 Support Services
is very useful for executive part-time students and assists
them to complete assignments and to study while off The M.Sc. in Organisational Psychology/Behaviour is an
campus. intensive learning experience and a significant commitment
for part-time students. During the two-year programme,
DCU’s modern campus offers excellent student facilities, students are supported by the Administrative Team in
which include four restaurants, The Hub student centre, The Centre for Executive Programmes. This team is very
The Helix performing arts centre, a world-class sports experienced in dealing with the needs of managers who
complex, retail outlets and banking facilities. The entire are working full-time and attending our programme on a
DCU campus is wireless enabled. 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
DCU’s 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.
By bus
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.
“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 wouldn’t have had the
confidence to take prior to the course.”
Orla Nolan, Training Director, State Street Alternative
Investment Solutions IFS, A State Street Company.
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.
n 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.
n 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.
Fees
See www.dcu.ie/dcubs for current fees.
The programme offers a fee scholarship, details of which
are available on our website.
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