Frequently Asked Questions
We would be delighted for you to visit our campus and get a feel for Teachers College and the broader Columbia community in action. The Office of Admission offers regular campus tours to TC Applicants. Applicants can check the Admissions website for the tour schedule and information on how to register.
Drs. Sarah Brazaitis and Gina Buontempo offer informational sessions via Zoom regularly throughout the academic year, and you are encouraged to attend one of these as your schedule permits. Please view the event calendar for upcoming Open House dates. During these sessions, you will receive detailed information about the program, hear from current students and/or alumni, and have the opportunity to ask any additional questions you might have about the Social-Organizational Psychology program.
You are also welcome to email any additional questions directly to our program’s email address at info_sop_ma@tc.columbia.edu, where you will receive a prompt response. Drs. Brazaitis and Buontempo are deeply committed to providing plentiful advising support to our current students, and for this reason, are generally not available to meet individually with prospective students.
Yes. Prospective students can connect with current students by emailing the student-led organization, the Organization and Human Development Consulting Club (OHDCC), at contactohdcc@gmail.com. OHDCC’s student leaders take turns responding to all inquiries and can connect you with a current student whose interests match yours if requested (e.g., part-time student, international student, etc.)
Prospective students may request to sit in on a class by contacting the program directly via info_sop_ma@tc.columbia.edu. When possible, the program is happy to accommodate these requests.
Full-time students typically take four classes a semester. Approximately half of our students attend the program part-time and complete the program over three to five years. Part-time students typically take one to three courses per semester (and sometimes in the summer) while working full-time. TC classes are typically offered once per week and scheduled in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working students.
To see the schedule of Social-Organizational Psychology courses, please visit the course listing page (search for ORLJ). Please note that it is not possible to complete the M.A. program solely by attending classes after 5 pm. If you work full-time you need some flexibility with your employer to attend classes during the day on occasion.
Given that classes meet once weekly, working students are usually able to negotiate time off during the workweek to attend class.
Full-time students complete the degree within one to two years. In very particular circumstances, a small number of students have been able to complete their degree requirements in 1.5 years, though this option is not recommended.
Not a traditional I/O Psychology Program
Traditional Industrial/Organizational Psychology focuses more on the "I" than on the "O", that is, it focuses on understanding individual differences among workers and individual jobs. Traditional topics include training and development, performance management and selection to name a few.
In contrast, Social-Organizational Psychology places more emphasis on the “O”, that is, the organizational and situational context in which employees and groups operate, as well as how organizations function as a whole. Social-Organizational Psychology doesn't ignore the "I"; however, it ensures that individuals and individual differences are discussed in the larger context of teams, organizations, and the world.
Behavior is a function of the Person and the Environment
Kurt Lewin’s theory is the foundation on which the Social-Organizational Psychology program rests. We believe it’s as important to focus on the environment (groups and organizations) as the people who work in them. Social-Organizational Psychologists focus on such topics as motivation, rewards and recognition, leadership, group processes, diversity and inclusion, social networking, conflict resolution, organizational culture, organizational change, and organizational performance.
What makes our program unique
- Scientist-Practitioner approach. Our program is guided by a scientist-practitioner model that emphasizes both the systematic study of primary, foundational areas of theory and research and its application to organizational settings.
- Multi-level systems perspective. Our courses, faculty research and practice, emphasize the importance of taking a multi-level focus. In order to understand organizations, we believe you have to understand phenomena at the individual, group and organizational levels of analysis.
- An important part of TC’s mission lies in addressing social inequality. Many members of our community are engaged in teaching, practice and research that has implications for social justice and equity.
Dr. Brazaitis, Dr. Buontempo, and Dr Field are the primary advisers to all the MA program students. Students are assigned an advisor upon acceptance to the program, but they are welcome to contact any faculty advisor. Advising is plentiful and easily available, all you need to do is ask. Further, all Social-Organizational Psychology program faculty are available for advising and welcome inquiries from MA students to discuss academics, research, practice and the broader issues in the field at any time during the academic year.
Most core classes are about 20 students. Elective and seminar classes may be as small as 12 students. The rare, extraordinarily popular class might have as many as 50 students, but this is not typical.
Every course is different and during your time at TC you will be asked to take exams, write papers, make group presentations, deliver client projects, and sometimes a combination of all of those. Group work is frequent and students learn group skills in conjunction with the subject matter of the courses where they are asked to do group projects. There are numerous opportunities to demonstrate your learning in oral and written form throughout the course of the program.
Our Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) also works closely with students to ensure they can participate fully in the TC learning community.
Our students typically fund their studies via working (full- or part-time), student loans, and personal and family savings. Graduate study is costly, as is living in New York City. We regret that the program is not able to offer scholarships, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships at this time to our M.A. students. We are constantly striving to find more opportunities to help students defray the significant costs of their graduate education and we wish we had more to offer currently. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information on funding graduate studies at TC.
Teachers College is an affiliate of Columbia University. The College has its own Board of Trustees, administration and budget, while having access to resources of Columbia University, such as the library, health services, recreational center, and so forth.
All degrees are granted by Columbia University.
There are approximately 150 students in the MA program for Social-Organizational Psychology. Of those, typically 50% of the students are enrolled part-time.
Students commute from around the Tri-State area. Students who relocate to New York City usually live near the university on the Upper West Side of Manhattan or graduate housing on campus.
On average, students tend to be in their late-twenties and early thirties when starting the program. However the age range is wide, from early twenties to late fifties.
Social-Organizational Psychology students hail from all over the United States, and the world, resulting in a richly diverse, and globally-minded community. In 2025, students joined us from across the U.S. and 14 countries, including those in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Graduates of the M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology program find jobs in small boutique firms, education institutions, not-for-profits and large global organizations in internal/external organization development, training and development, change management, human resources, research, executive coaching, consulting, and conflict/mediation.
Alumni of the program have assumed roles as Change Management Associates, Research Associates, Human Resources Generalists, Employee Relations Specialists, Organizational Development Consultants, HR Leadership Program Associates, Training and Development Managers, Leadership Facilitators, Senior Consultants, and Certified Mediators.
Please see the Teachers College graduate career outcomes report for more information.
TC NEXT is the comprehensive career development and on-campus student employment office at 糖心视频. Their mission is to empower Teachers College students and alumni by providing them with the skills, resources, and opportunities to plan and navigate their chosen career pathways, from their first day at TC and throughout their professional lives. TC NEXT offers a wide range of services, including:
- Career Coaching
- Job and Internship Opportunities
- Workshops and Events
- Job Search and Professional Development Resources
- Alumni Career Services
While an internship is not required in the curriculum, it is strongly encouraged. Internship opportunities are listed at CEPD for the Fall, Spring, and Summer 鈥� both paid and unpaid. The following are examples of internships and related part-time work experiences of our MA students: OD consulting interns, HR Leadership Program interns, Research Associate interns, Metrics interns, Training and Development interns. Some of the organizations that have partnered with TCCS in the past are Pfizer, Bank of New York, Bank of America, Deloitte, Citigroup, IBM, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Visiting Nurse Service of New York, American Express, General Electric, Colgate-Palmolive, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Donna Karan, Christian Dior, MTV Networks, and NBC Universal.
Although we strongly espouse the scientist-practitioner model, our M.A. program attracts individuals most interested in a practice-based rather than research-based career. In addition, there are only very limited opportunities for our M.A. students to engage directly in assisting with faculty research or pursuing their own student research. Therefore, the majority of students in the program do not pursue doctoral studies after completing their master鈥檚 degree. However, approximately 5% of graduates annually pursue doctoral studies.
Some graduates of the Social-Organizational Psychology masters program do apply for admission to the doctoral program in Social-Organizational Psychology here at TC. However, successful performance in the M.A. program does not in and of itself guarantee admission. Students who apply become part of the applicant pool for that year and their qualifications are evaluated with equal standing along with the other applicants.
The M.A. program in Social-Organizational Psychology hosts a number of events for students to promote learning outside the classroom and to foster a sense of community within the program. Every semester, we offer networking opportunities, talks and panels to discuss current issues in the field.
Our student-run club, The is a rich and vibrant organization that sponsors numerous initiatives that help its members develop professionally as well as feel connected to the Social- Organizational Psychology community here at TC. OHDCC sponsors a student mentoring program where 1st year students are paired with more experienced students for advice, friendship, and networking. ODHCC also hosts professional development opportunities including talks and panels with leaders in the field, training opportunities including a “crack-the-case” workshop for help with case-based job interviews, social events both at TC and with other NYC universities, and social service projects within the larger Morningside Heights neighborhood. OHDCC also provides members with an opportunity to develop their own leadership skills via project management and governance within the organization.
Our students also join the 糖心视频 chapter of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. As indicated on the Psi Chi website (), Psi Chi is the largest student psychological organization and includes over 700,000 members in chapters across the world. In addition, Psi Chi was the first student organization to have a formal affiliation with the American Psychological Association. Our chapter of Psi Chi unites all of the psychology and psychology-related programs at TC. In order to be accepted into Psi Chi, students are required to have completed at least 12 credits in their program and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5. Several membership drives are held during the Fall and Spring semesters and an induction ceremony is held during the Spring semester. Our chapter of Psi Chi hosts both professional and social events related to psychology.
In addition, students are encouraged to join student chapters of professional associations as well as enroll under national memberships for organizations, such as the METRO Applied Psychology, Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and OD Network. Students are also encouraged to attend and participate in professional conferences as well as take advantage of opportunities within the Columbia University system and the New York City area.
The atmosphere within the Social-Organizational Psychology program can be described as collaborative, friendly, and relatively informal. Students frequently work in groups on assignments and there are many opportunities to get together. Program faculty are accessible to students, and are supportive and open to students鈥� ideas, questions, and concerns. Students share resources often and gladly with each other including advice and support on classes and coursework, tips on networking and possible internship and job opportunities, and best places to live, study, eat, drink, and play in New York City. Students typically form long lasting professional and personal relationships with their peers, alums, and faculty 鈥� relationships that continue to grow and sustain long after graduation. We love to welcome students back to campus for professional events, for social celebrations, and just to say hello. Our program prides itself on our learning community members being part of the Columbia University family for life.
There are about 25 student organizations at Teachers College, representing various aspects of the school’s diverse student body. In addition, Student Affairs organizes a range of activities on a regular basis, including workshops, social events, and networking opportunities. For more information, please visit the Office of Student Affairs.