What is organizational psychology?

Organizational psychology is an applied discipline of psychology that deals with human behavior in the workplace setting. Psychologists who work in this field study how people act, react, and interact in various occupational situations and analyze the causes and effects of such behavior. When you practice organizational psychology, you'll observe hiring and recruitment practices, employee motivation, disciplines and rewards, and decision making. Organizational psychologists help companies develop training methods, coach team members, and refine performance evaluations. You may also hear some people refer to organizational psychology as occupational psychology or industrial psychology, while some psychologists abbreviate it as I/O psychology.

Why is organizational psychology important?

It's important to study organizational psychology because the behavior of employees can affect the profitability and effectiveness of a company. The way employees act and interact has a direct effect on the bottom line, and helping your workplace optimize its culture can make your company more successful. You can use organizational psychology to coach leaders and employees to work together more effectively. Organizational psychology also gives you tools to help your employees become more mentally healthy and make your decision making processes smoother and easier.

What are typical careers that use organizational psychology?

When you've studied organizational psychology, you can put it to use in human resources or in a coaching or consulting role. In human resources, organizational psychology helps you to identify better employment prospects and allows you to mitigate conflict and motivate employees to perform better. You can work with a consulting firm or on your own assisting corporations in developing teams or optimizing their organizations. You may even be able to find work as a coach, working directly with executive teams to improve their companies.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn organizational psychology?

When you're ready to study organizational psychology, online courses on Coursera can help you understand how to manage diversity, handle conflict, and navigate change. You'll have the confidence to advance in your career or find a new one. A course in culture-driven team organization can help you recognize team culture aspects that maximize team performance, learn how to handle conflict effectively, and use the strengths of your team to create a culture of continuous learning. You can also learn how to communicate effectively through storytelling, understand the concepts of psychological first aid, and develop skills in coaching techniques.

What are the benefits of taking an online Organizational Psychology course?

Online Organizational Psychology courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Organizational Psychology skills. Choose from a wide range of Organizational Psychology courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Organizational Psychology courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Organizational Psychology, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Organizational Psychology Courses - Learn Organizational Psychology Online

Explore the Organizational Psychology Course Catalog

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Graduate Certificate in Taxation
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Management Accounting, Fund Accounting, Operations Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Statement Analysis, Marketing, Risk Management, Machine Learning Algorithms, Business Strategy, Financial Auditing, Descriptive Statistics, Variance Analysis, Process Improvement, Marketing Analytics, Generative AI, Financial Market, Strategic Decision-Making, Corporate Tax, Global Marketing
Credit offered
Graduate Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Visio for Professionals: Diagrams & Flowchart Design
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Visio, Process Flow Diagrams, Collaborative Software, Process Design, Data Visualization, Process Mapping, Workflow Management, Business Workflow Analysis, Organizational Structure, Real Time Data, Data Integration, Process Improvement
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
HEC Paris
Leading Innovation With Creativity University Certificate
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Design Thinking, Active Listening, Organizational Structure, Creativity, Organizational Strategy, Business Modeling, Talent Management, Creative Thinking, Business Strategy, Self-Awareness, Initiative and Leadership, Consumer Behaviour, Strategic Decision-Making, Creative Problem-Solving, User Research, Organizational Effectiveness, Organizational Leadership, Leadership, Ideation
University Certificate · 6 - 12 Months
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Exploratory Data Analysis, Mediation, Change Management, Business Writing, Compensation and Benefits, Integrated Marketing Communications, Apache Hadoop, Consumer Behaviour, Organizational Change, Stakeholder Management, Event Management, Grammar, Social Media Strategy, Business Ethics, Sales Process, Diversity Awareness, Conflict Management, Research, Nutrition and Diet
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Certificado en Toma de Decisiones Basadas en Datos
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Analytics, Business Analytics, Database Design, NoSQL, Statistical Reporting, SQL, Data Ethics, Digital Transformation, Query Languages, Data Mining, Databases, Data Analysis, R Programming, Big Data, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Predictive Analytics, Organizational Structure, Business Transformation, Business Strategy, Organizational Strategy
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
University of North Texas
Bachelor of Science in General Business
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Mediation, Compensation and Benefits, Integrated Marketing Communications, Organizational Change, Event Management, Grammar, Sales Process, Data Mining, Data Visualization, Design Thinking, Global Marketing, Probability & Statistics, Cultural Diversity, Digital Media Strategy, Organizational Leadership, Political Sciences, Social Justice, Music History, Sociology
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Skills you'll gain: Process Design, Global Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Change, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply Chain Management, Training and Development, Virtual Teams, Diversity and Inclusion, Databases, Cost Accounting, International Finance, Research, Branding, Economic Development, Cultural Diversity
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Universidad de Palermo
Administración de Empresas Certificado MasterTrack®
Skills you'll gain: Human Capital, Human Resource Strategy, Business Process Management, Strategic Marketing, Organizational Strategy, Marketing, Strategic Leadership, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Human Resources Management and Planning, Corporate Strategy, Talent Management, Technology Strategies, Leadership and Management, Branding, Marketing Management, Business Process Improvement, Consumer Behaviour, Marketing Planning, Technical Management, Brand Strategy
Credit offered
Mastertrack · 6 - 12 Months
Universidad de los Andes
Maestría en Gerencia de la Ingeniería
Skills you'll gain: Technology Strategies, Engineering Management, Organizational Strategy, Business Modeling, Project Management, Prototyping, Project Management Life Cycle, Project Management Institute (PMI) Methodology, Stakeholder Management, Feasibility Studies, Team Oriented, Value Propositions, Financial Statements, Product Management, Systems Thinking, Asset Management, Agile Methodology, Project Risk Management, Corporate Sustainability, Operations Research
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
Status: New
Coursera Instructor Network
Salesforce CLM & CPQ: Streamlining Contract Operations
Skills you'll gain: Salesforce, Contract Management, Business Reporting, Systems Integration, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software, Sales Management, Workflow Management, Process Optimization, Business Process Automation, Configuration Management, Automation, Compliance Management, Scalability
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research
Post Graduate Diploma in Management Online
Skills you'll gain: Mergers & Acquisitions, Search Engine Marketing, Working Capital, Design Thinking, Operations Management, Business Valuation, Competitive Analysis, Manufacturing Operations, Business Strategy, Supply Chain Management, Digital Transformation, Persuasive Communication, Consumer Behaviour, Organizational Leadership, Integrated Marketing Communications, Team Management, Organizational Change, Change Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Portfolio Management
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years
University of London
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Skills you'll gain: Process Design, Global Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Statistical Analysis, Organizational Change, Integrated Marketing Communications, Advertising, Innovation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply Chain Management, Training and Development, Virtual Teams, Diversity and Inclusion, Databases, Cost Accounting, International Finance, Research, Branding, Economic Development, Cultural Diversity
Earn a degree
Degree · 1 - 4 Years