Master of Arts in Psychology,
Evaluation, Research, and Measurement Specialization

ORG 6300 Human Development (3 credits)

This course explores the major theories of adult development related to emotions, personality, cognitive functioning, social and family influences, and physical functioning. Current theoretical approaches and research related to adult development are emphasized as well as practical applications in the therapy setting.

ORG 5270 Mental Health & Psychopathology in the Workplace (3 credits)

This course acquaints the student with both normal and abnormal behavior evident in the workplace. The focus of the course is creating a healthy culture in the workplace, maintaining a healthy work/life balance, and managing stress. In addition, students learn the common mental disorders and personality disorders manifested in an organizational setting and how to exercise leadership to bring about positive change.

ORG 6530 Theories & Techniques of Counseling & Psychotherapy (3 credits)

This course is an overview of the psychodynamic, cognitive/behavioral, and existential/humanistic schools of psychology, as well as corresponding models of counseling and frequently used assessment and therapeutic techniques. The primary focus in the course is on the development of both skills and rationale in the application of intervention strategies to treatment and case management.

ORG 6499 Cultural Diversity and Individual Differences (3 credits)

This course provides a systematic review of the wide range of cultures and individual differences and the ways in which cultural mores, ethnocentrism, and factors such as matters of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, customs and cultures impact behavior of the individual themselves and of those around them. Through this course, students better understand themselves and others, in terms of perceptions and behaviors.

ORG 5400 Statistics & Psychometrics (3 credits)

This course emphasizes statistical concepts related to distributions and methods most appropriate to data and theories in psychology. The focus is on a quantitative approach to the concepts and methods of statistical inference. Topics include sampling, frequency distributions, estimation, and testing. Statistical techniques in analysis and interpretation of experimental data include estimation and testing, analysis of variance, experimental designs, linear regression, and correlation. Various statistical models are discussed including analyses of variance, covariance, and multiple regression; non-parametric statistics; components of variance; and designs and analyses for multi-factor experiments. Emphasis is placed on the role quantitative methodologies play in the quest to discover what the world is like.

ORG 6405 Applied Research in Organizational Leadership (3 credits)

This course is designed to give the student hands-on knowledge of the practices employed in analyzing organization and program data sets. Whether the data is provided as quantitative in nature, primarily though the use of surveys, questionnaires, or outcome data, or qualitative, through interviews or focus groups, students will be able to critically analyze the information in order to provide the appropriate feedback to the requesting entity. Students will be prepared to communicate the research and analysis processes to others and execute an appropriate article on the matter.

ORG 6520 Professional Ethics, Standards of Practice & Law (3 credits)**

This course is a study of the ethical and legal issues confronting the practicing psychologist. Topics related to clinical methodology, standards of practice, and inter-professional relations are explored. Students learn principles of ethical decision making, standards for human and animal use in research, and standards of care specified by state and federal laws. Emphasis is placed on exploration of the emotional impact that major ethical and legal dilemmas have on decision making. Students also master the current code of ethics of the American Psychological Association and other professional codes of ethics, such as the code of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy or the code of the American Counseling Association. This course must be taken at University of the Rockies and may not be transferred from another institution.

ORG 5100 Assessment - Tests & Measurements (3 credits)

This course involves the study of the theory and practice of psychological measurement. The focus is on the process of measuring and differentiating variables of psychological interest. Students explore basic concepts of measurement and the principles of test construction. The course familiarizes the prospective professional psychologist with the common tests used in psychological and educational practice. These include intellectual, aptitude, and achievement tests; interest inventories; personality tests; and social measures.

ORG 6505 Diagnosing Organizations (3 credits)

This course explores qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis that leaders and consultants use in organizations with particular attention to interview and observation. An understanding of organizational structure and organizational life-cycle development is provided. The course also examines how leaders in organizations can mediate high performance and learning through project team development, communication, collaboration, and individual and group conversation-based assessment.

ORG 6408 Program & Project Evaluation (3 credits)

This course explores principles, challenges, and models for evaluating programs of various types. The course emphasizes the use of organizational and business metrics as key macro-level outcomes measures, and multiple-method, multiple-source measurement approaches for predicting and explaining program outcomes. Emphasis is placed on avoiding rival explanations for evaluation results, and on maintaining credibility of evaluation results and conclusions.

ORG 6510 Fundamentals of Human Performance Technology (3 credits)

This course explores factors that impact individuals' performance in organizations, with an emphasis on front-end analysis and job evaluation to determine the causes of and solutions to gaps in performance. This course includes the study of performance gaps, their common classes of causes, and solutions appropriate to specific performance gaps. Students also learn the basics of conducting job studies and performance gap analyses, as well as how to recommend solutions to organizational leaders in business terms.

ORG 6409 Current Issues in Program & Project Evaluation (3 credits)

This advanced course examines current issues related to program and project evaluation by drawing on the current literature as well as ethical and policy issues. Emphasis for the individual student may focus on program evaluation or project evaluation, or on a balance of the two. Topics include longitudinal research and experimental and quasi-experimental research designs applied to evaluation problems. Prerequisite: ORG 6408.

ORG 6501 Foundations of Organizational Consulting (3 credits)

This course focuses on the application of psychological principles to the workplace and how psychologists can facilitate the improvement of work environments, conditions, employee performance, and inter-personal/team functioning. In addition, the course provides a review of the basic theory, research, and practice in organizational training, development, and behavior. Topics covered include job performance and attitudes, work motivation, personnel selection and classification, group influence, and training and development. There is an emphasis on the contribution of specific psychological skills in organizational consultation.

Comprehensive Exam