Study programme

Psychology: Coaching & Vitality in Organisations

Join this one-year programme (60 ECT) to learn coaching theories and practical skills, such as coaching methods and work & health counselling. Learn to enhance workplace well-being through interventions for individuals, employers, and groups (including e.g. mindfulness and job crafting). To top it off, you will develop methodological skills in analysis, presentation, and scientific writing.

Semester 1
During the first semester, you follow these mandatory courses:

Coaching

Interventions in occupational health psychology

Methodology: Analysing, presenting, and scientific writing

And one of the following elective courses:

Career management

Conflict and cooperation

HRM and psychological assessment

Organisational change and consultancy
Semester 2
Internship

During your internship, you'll spend at least 504 working hours as a Work and Organisational psychologist. A key part of the internship is completing a specific assignment related to Work and Organisational Psychology. Enjoy the flexibility to fulfil the internship in The Netherlands or anywhere else in the world

The entry requirements for the Master’s internship include having passed two specialist courses of the master’s track (i.e., Interventions in Occupational Health Psychology, Coaching and/or the elective course).
Thesis
Starting in January, you'll dive into crafting your Master's thesis. Choose a topic from a list provided in the second part of the first semester. A teacher from the Work & Organisational Psychology team will guide you, following a step-by-step thesis planning guide. Previous topics cover areas like:

finding balance between working from home or the office

team mindfulness

coaching for better physician well-being

employee experiences of working with chronic illnesses

the impact of leader support and PsyCap on work engagement

unveiling the keys of effective coaching approaches

leader compassion and employee mental health

the effects of self-compassion on employee health and performance

telepressure and its negative impact on employee well-being.

The entry requirements for the Master’s thesis include having passed the methodological course (i.e., Methodology: Analysing, Presenting, and Scientific Writing) and at least two of the other courses of the track.

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC

Interventions in Occupational Health Psychology

Period 1

6

This course covers the topic of Positive Occupational Health Psychology (POHP) which pertains to the study and application of optimal functioning in the workplace. The aim of the field of Positive Occupational Health Psychology is to promote health and well-being at work, and to examine how positive contexts and personal resources can be used to protect against occupational stressors and risks. Besides the theoretical foundations and applications of positive psychology in the workplace, a key part of this course is to apply interventions to your own life and thus proactively work on your own well-being.
Master's Internship Work & Organisational Psychology

Period 1

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

18

You can start the Master’s internship when the entry requirements are fulfilled (i.e., in period 3 of Semester 1). The entry requirements for the Master’s internship include (among others, see Syllabus Work and Organisational Psychology Master’s Internship) having passed two specialist courses of the master’s track (i.e., Interventions in Occupational Health Psychology, Coaching and/or the elective course).
Coaching

Period 2

6

This course offers a theoretical and practical introduction to coaching as a human resource development intervention. What is coaching? Does coaching work? What are the underlying psychological principles underlying effective coaching? Which coaching approaches are based on psychological research and theory, and can therefore be classified as evidence-informed/evidence-based? How can we measure coaching effectiveness and shed light on the psychological principles underlying effective coaching?
Methodology: Analysing, Presenting, and Scientific Writing (MAPS)

Period 2

6

This course deals with all aspects of the research cycle: writing a research proposal, designing a study, analysing data, and interpreting the results. The course prepares students for the empirical master thesis.
Master's Thesis Work & Organisational Psychology

Period 3

Period 4

Period 5

Period 6

18

As of January, you will work on writing your Master’s thesis. You can choose a topic from a list that you will receive in the second period of the first semester. You will be supervised by one of the teachers of the Work & Organisational Psychology team based on a step-by-step thesis planning guide.
Restricted-choice electives: Coaching & Vitality in Organisations

Period 1

6

Elective courses: - Career management - Conflict and cooperation - Organisational change and consultancy - HRM and psychological assessment (choose this one if you want to obtain the certification in psychodiagnostics BAPD: Basisaantekening Psychodiagnostiek)

See more information in the course catalogue

Additional information

Student-activating teaching methods

All courses employ student-activating teaching methods. In addition to lectures or problem-based learning meetings and self-study, the courses include assignments, tutorials, and practical training, engaging students actively with the course content.

Developing professional skills (e.g., coaching methods, interventions, work & health counselling) and applying theory to practical problems are central to this track. This way, you will be trained as a scientist-practitioner, working in a critical, evidence-based manner in the field of coaching and vitality.

I was mainly interested in coaching because I believe in the helping ability of conversations Read more about Patrick's experience

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between the UvA’s Master’s tracks in Work and Organisational Psychology?
The main difference between the WOP Master’s tracks is the focus of each track. The main focus of each track is reflected in the 2 or 3 mandatory specialist courses.

The Master’s track Coaching & Vitality in Organisations focuses on (positive) occupational health psychology. The two core courses are Interventions in Occupational Health Psychology and Coaching.

The Master’s track Human Resource & Career Management focuses on personnel psychology. The two core courses are Human Resource Management & Psychological Assessment and Career Management.

The Master’s track Consultancy & Organisational Development focuses on organisational psychology. The two core courses of this track are Organisational Change and Consultancy and Conflict and Cooperation.

Finally, the Master’s track Sport and Performance Psychology focuses on improving performance at work or in sport. The 3 mandatory specialist courses of this track are Essentials in SPP, New Horizons in SPP and Interventions in SPP.

Study programme

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