Program and courses Organization Studies track

Block 1 (August - October)

• Multivariate Analysis including Multilevel Models
  You get an introduction into the classical multivariate methods, particularly regression models, starting with the linear regression model and (M)ANOVA. 
• Foundations of Social Psychology
  Learn how interpersonal situations influence social interaction, how structural aspects of mutual dependence influences cognitions, motivations, affect, and behavior. Address topics such as social identity, exclusion and the need to belong, conflict and cooperation, distributive and procedural justice, fairness and self0interest, negotiation, social exchange, and social influence.
• Foundations of Sociology
  Examine different topics related to culture, social relations and inequality from a theoretical sociological perspective. 

Block 2 (October- January)

• Multivariate Analysis including Multilevel Models
  You get an introduction into the classical multivariate methods, particularly regression models, starting with the linear regression model and (M)ANOVA. 
• Foundations of Organization Studies
  Answer two major organizational questions from a theoretical perspective: how to govern organizations and how people and organizations learn about themselves by comparing themselves with others.
• Organizational Networks
  Deepen your theoretical, methodological and empirical knowledge about the ways in which social actors create and maintain relationships, how networks form, and how social actors use their networks and relationships to foster the achievement of their goals.

Block 3 (January - April)

• Survey Research
  Learn how to conduct survey research.
• Experimental Research
  Discuss every stage of experimental research.
• Meta Analysis
  Get to know every stage of meta-analysis.
• Programming
  Learn how to work with the statistical program and language R and how to independently work with R in future courses and research projects.
• Research Integrity & Ethics
  Discuss and critically examine the important ethical issues that arise in the conduct of empirical research in the social and behavioral sciences.
• Inferring from Qualitative Data
• First year Paper Organization Studies

Block 4 (April - August)

• Academic Writing in Social Sciences
  Touch up your academic writing and learn to communicate your research in a structured, coherent, clear, concise and attractive way. 
• First year Paper Organization Studies
• Intern Traineeship Organization Studies I

Block 1 (September - October) 

• International Traineeship in Organization Studies
• Organizations and Groups
  Study organizations as a social system of interaction between individuals, teams, within and between organizations. 
• Intern Traineeship Organization Studies II
• Psychometrics

Block 2 (October - January)

• Structural Equation Modeling and Analysis
  You are introduced to a general statistical framework that brings together multiple statistical analysis tools.
• Intern Traineeship in Organization Studies III
• Institutions & Intra-organizational Teams
  Get an overview of institutional theory and the way in which social interaction, dissemination of norms and values, social capital, and practices can be explained in a coherent way.

Block 3 (January - April)

• Intern Traineeship in Organization Studies IV
• Master's Thesis Organization Studies

Block 4 (April - August)

• Academic Presenting in Social Sciences
  Touch up your academic presentation skills and learn how to present an academic paper in an engaging, clear, personal and appropriate way.
• Colloquia & Seminars in Organization Studies
• Master's Thesis Organization Studies

In your second year, you will write your Master’s thesis (24 ECTS), in English, under supervision of a knowledgeable staff member who will supervise you during both the research and thesis-writing processes. You write your thesis within your track. Your thesis should have a track related subject.

• You will choose your own research topic and supervisor.
• You will learn how to conduct all aspects of the research process: creating hypotheses, collecting data, analyzing data, and writing a scientific article.
• Prior to writing the thesis, you will write an individual research proposal (IRP) based on an original idea, which your supervisor must approve.
• You will conduct the research and work on your Master's thesis independently, for most of the time. However, you will be in constant and close contact with your supervisor.
• The Master’s thesis should be written as a manuscript that could be submitted for publication in an ISI journal.

Examples of thesis subjects:

• A meta-analysis of the influence of embeddedness and proximity in the formation of interorganizational relationships
• The role of top management team functional diversity and stability in organizational triple bottom line performance
• Relationship between organizational practices and organizational performance of Dutch amateur football clubs

During year 1 and 2 students participate in four in-house research traineeships and one international research traineeship. 

• Through the in-house traineeships students acquire, improve, and effectively use their knowledge and skills required for performing scientific research by working together with staff members.
• Through the international traineeship (summer in between year 1 and year 2), students get acquainted with scientific research and researchers abroad by attending summer school, participating and presenting at an international conference, or by temporarily joining an international research group.   
• Students acquire a thorough methodological and statistical education and write two scientific papers as part of the curriculum (first-year paper + Master’s Thesis).  
• Students need to attend 10 colloquia and/or seminars per year, to get more insights into the functioning of the academic world.