Academic subjects and principles

Master Program

The WOP-P Master offers the courses shown in Program structure of the WOP-P Master.

The master program is based on the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (ENOP-EAWOP) Reference Model and the EuroPsy Specialist Certificate in WOP Psychology, which differentiates between the three fields of the discipline: Work, Organizational, and Personnel Psychology. The program features a combination of explanatory and intervention (or change-oriented) approaches to the discipline. The explanatory approach intends to understand and explain reality from a scientific perspective as a basis for professional practice. However, the reality at the workplace in organizations is usually created and modified by humans, and it is expected that WOP psychologists can contribute to changing and improving such a reality. In addition, the contextualized scientist-practitioner model is adopted, grounding the interventions on evidence-based practice, considering the context. Finally, the master offers two general, although interrelated, employability itineraries: as a practitioner and as a researcher.

These combine classical contents of the discipline (e.g., personnel selection) and new emergent topics and perspectives, such as sustainability, project management, humanitarian WOP psychology, etc. Sustainable Development Goals and Digitalization are also increasingly considered in the Master.

The student workload is divided into 4 terms (semesters) of 30 ECTS credits each.

FIRST YEAR

After the Orientation course (4 credits) dedicated to the socialization of the student in the different aspects of the master (competencies to be developed, ethics, scientist-practitioner, databases, electronic platform, etc.), the first year is completed with explanatory courses, free‑content courses, and Research training. From an explanatory perspective, students receive six courses on four blocks: Work Psychology (8 credits), Organizational Psychology (8 credits), Personnel Psychology (4 credits), and Methodology (4 credits). Students also receive two free-content courses (8 credits) that are selected by each university to complement the studies in WOP-P with other related disciplines in social sciences (work lav, economy, etc.) necessary for adequate professional activity.

There are 24 credits devoted to Research training. This is a three-step process: The Position Paper (or project), the Research Work (first version of the student scientific manuscript), and the Master Thesis (improved research manuscript). During the first year, students develop their Position Paper (6 credits) and Research Work (14 credits). There is also a specific Methodology course (4 credits) related to the specific research work of each student.

SECOND YEAR

The second year focuses on change-oriented courses and professional intervention in each of the four blocks: Work Psychology (4 credits); Organizational Psychology (4 credits); Personnel Psychology (8 credits); and Methodology (4 credits). Students must also develop the last step in the Research training, the Master Thesis (4 credits).

During this year, there are two special activities: the Joint Intensive Learning Unit (or Winter School) (12 credits) and the Practicum or Professional Internship (20 credits). Finally, students must write a Professional Report (integration of theory and practice) (4 credits).