Academics

Penn State launches online master’s degree in psychology of leadership at work

Applications being accepted for program offered through Penn State World Campus, College of the Liberal Arts

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Today’s complex businesses and organizations undergo constant change. As a result, leaders must understand the modern workplace dynamic and how it affects their employees and their performance with the organization.

A new Penn State online master’s degree will help current and aspiring business and organizational leaders learn leadership skills to enhance the motivation, attitudes and performance of their employees.

Applications for the Master of Professional Studies in psychology of leadership at work are now being accepted, and courses will begin in May.

The degree is offered by the Department of Psychology in the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts and delivered online by Penn State World Campus.

“Understanding the people you lead and the factors that affect them will help you become a better and more effective leader,” said Doug Lindsay, professor of practice and director of the new degree program. “The challenge is that leadership is a contact sport, and in order to be effective, a leader must not only understand the task that is to be accomplished, but also those that will be responsible for accomplishing the mission. It is at this intersection of the organization’s goals and the individual employee that the program is directed.”

The degree is aimed at working professionals in government, business and non-profits who want an advanced education to enhance their careers. It consists of 33 credits, or 11 courses, including three credits for a capstone project.

The degree is based on psychological research and theory that have been shown to increase leadership effectiveness, and courses focus on the relationship between leaders and their followers and application of the knowledge across all organizational settings.

Faculty consist of professors from the Department of Psychology as well as working professionals with experience in areas such as human resources, management, the military, higher education and consulting.

For more information about the Master of Professional Studies in psychology of leadership at work, visit the program’s website.

Last Updated January 21, 2015

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