Study programme: Work, Organisation and Health
The study programme includes a coherent and balanced curriculum. The design of the programme is based on the scientist-practitioner model. You learn to base your own professional practice on current theoretical insights and you will develop a critical scientific attitude that will be of great value in actual practice. You will master the most important advisory skills and learn to apply acquired knowledge to a practical situation. The study load of this programme is 60 EC. After completing the programme you will be Master of Science in Psychology.
Courses
Introduction to Work, Organisation and Health
You will be introduced to theory development, practical applications and legislation in the field of work, organisation and health. There is focus on the three specific areas of occupational health psychology, personnel psychology and organisational psychology. You will discover how these three specific areas intertwine with each other. Within each subarea, a theory-based lecture is provided as well as a more practice-based lecture, the latter provided by a professional expert in the field. Students also actively participate in practical assignments and cases, learn how to successfully apply their theoretical knowledge to an actual case in the work field, and are able to obtain a realistic view of the job content and opportunities within the field of work and organizational psychology.
Specialisation courses
You will choose two out of three specialisation courses.
Work, Health and Performance
In this course, the factors that play a role in health and performance in the work context will be explored. Topics that will be examined include burnout, work-life balance, The New Way of Working, and attention will be paid to interventions in the area of stress reduction, safety culture and error-management. The course also familiarizes you with relevant legislation and directives on occupational health, and occupational risk assessment & evaluation. As part of the course, you write an essay in which you propose a stress intervention with high societal relevance, accompanied by an intervention research design that is scientifically sound as well as feasible in practice.
Personnel Psychology
This course studies the psychological aspects of Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development (HRM and HRD) from a theoretical perspective. Topics that will be addressed include: recruitment and selection, introduction and socialisation of new employees, competencies, employability and sustainable employability, personnel development, assessment, remuneration and strategic HRM. The course also offers a range of contemporary topics, such as performance management, talent programmes and stereotyping in selection procedures. During the interactive lectures, you will reflect critically on practical issues, an effective approach to HR issues and on theoretical or practical research into HR issues.
Organisation Development and Behavioural Change
You explore the conditions that contribute to the development of a healthy and productive learning organisation. You analyse the desired goals of interventions and the effects that have been achieved through these interventions at individual, group and organisational levels. This includes coaching, training, intervision, communities of practice, structural interventions and cultural change. Using varied and interactive modes of instruction, the focus will lie on topics such as leadership, motivation, resistance to change, innovation and learning organisations. You will study specific organisational change techniques and investigate your own professional role as an advisor in organisational change processes.
Application courses
You will choose two out of three application courses:
Work, Sport, and Health
This course focuses on various work psychological aspects of exercise: the effect of exercise on health and cognitive functioning, the relationship between exercise and work participation, the impact of the working environment on health behavior, and the occupational risks of physical overload. This course is part of the 'Sports Psychology' track. When combined with other courses, participation in this course will enable students to obtain the Dutch Basisaantekening Sportpsychologie (BASP) [Basic Sports Psychology Certificate (BSPC)].
Human Resource Management
This course will introduce you to Human Resource Management practice and teach you the skills that are necessary for working in the field of Personnel Psychology and HRM. It will give you an impression of the various professions within the HRM field (recruiter, occupational psychologist, coach, HR manager, policy officer) and the HR activities, roles and practical situations that are involved. Through assignments, role-playing and case studies, you practice with real-life situations, such as selecting job applicants and coaching employees. In addition, you will work on interview techniques that are an important part of performance appraisal interviews, absenteeism interviews and dismissal interviews.
Organisational Change and Consultancy
The main focus of this course is the development of your own professional skills as an organisational consultant or occupational health consultant within a training environment. How do you maintain the relationship with your client and other parties during an organisational change trajectory? Which interview techniques are needed, which dilemmas and pitfalls exist within consultancy and how can you prevent them? You will learn all of this through role play, video recordings and peer feedback.
Internship and Master's Thesis
The Internship and Master's thesis are integrated in the Master’s Project. This Master’s Project begins with the so-called project search groups at the start of the academic year. Our programme’s staff will provide you with the comprehensive guidance and supervision that you need for finding an internship, for developing the content of your Master's Project, and for writing your thesis.
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