Organizational Studies Major

Requirements for the Major

Organizational Studies majors take twelve courses from three groups that complete the breadth, core and depth areas for the major. As a foundation, students would select four classes from social sciences that contribute to Organizational Studies and serve as an introduction to this interdisciplinary field. Students finish the major by completing the two main core courses, an appropriate methods class and two additional classes drawn from the Organizational Studies curriculum and as a capstone three courses that form a depth area centered on an organizational-related theme or topics. In most cases several breadth courses will have been completed by the time a student begins to take courses in the core, and the main core and methods courses are taken before other classes in the major.

1. Breadth
   Four courses are required, and students are encouraged to take one class from each of the main disciplines that formed the interdisciplinary roots of the major. Students are expected to complete Principles of Microeconomics (ECON052PZ or equivalent), an introductory level Political Science course (e.g., POST020PZ or POST030PZ), Social Psychology (PSYC103PZ or its equivalent), and SOC001PZ or another lower division Sociology class. ORST050PZ can be used in lieu of the Social Psychology or Sociology breadth selection, and other courses from fields such as Environmental Analysis and Media Studies could also be part of a student’s breadth area courses if approved by their advisor.
2. Core
   The central focus of the major is comprised of five courses. Students should complete ORST100PZ (Organizational Theory), ORST135PZ (Organizational Behavior) and ORST112PZ (Research in Organizations) prior to taking more advanced coursework in the major. Equivalent courses from other colleges can be substituted for ORST135PZ (e.g., PSYC037PZ), and students can use an appropriate statistics or methods course to replace ORST112PZ (i.e., MATH052PZ, ECON091PZ, PSYC091PZ, or SOC101PZ). The core area of the major is completed using two additional upper-level Organizational Studies classes. With advisor approval, students can use classes from the Ontario Program and, in rare circumstances, other fields to complete these core requirements.
3. Depth
   In consultation with their advisers, students select three courses for depth which together represent either a single theme or provide further work in one of the breadth fields. Students are encouraged to include a capstone experience or research work to complete their depth area. Sample themes have included public health, nonprofit organizations, arts management, labor studies, organizational communication, finance and accounting, information technology, women and work, organizations and economic development, leadership and others. A brief rationale describing how the choice of depth courses represents the student’s theme should be filed with the adviser at the same time as the major form. Students are urged to consider courses from the five colleges and at Pitzer College beyond those normally designated within Organizational Studies which integrate their topical interests. Topics can also frequently be pursued in coordination with study abroad.

Honors:

Students with exceptionally strong academic records may be invited by the field group to be considered for honors. Eligible students will be notified at the end of their junior year and invited to submit a proposed topic for their thesis work. Honors will be awarded based on excellence in overall academic work, work in the major, a senior thesis and an oral presentation.