Organizational Studies
Organizational Studies is an interdisciplinary course of study focusing on economic, political, psychological and sociological factors that affect cooperative human systems. A major in Organizational Studies emphasizes an understanding of how organizations operate, how they affect society and how they are created, maintained and change. Students complete a range of classes across allied disciplines and are encouraged to design a specific thematic depth to complete their major.
Students interested in business administration, education, public health, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, labor relations, or sociology of work may find this program an appropriate preparation for either career or graduate work in these areas.
Pitzer Advisers: B. Junisbai, J. Lewis. Affiliated faculty: M. Federman.
Major Requirements
A combined major with Organizational Studies normally includes nine courses of which three may overlap with another field.
Required Courses
The five required Organizational Studies core courses should be completed, although the methods class can be one of the shared classes. The combination of the remaining breadth and depth courses is to be worked out by the student and cooperating advisers.
Core (5)
The central focus of the major is comprised of five courses. The methods class can be one of the shared classes with the other combined major discipline.
- ORST 100 PZ -Organizational Theory
- ORST 135 PZ -Organizational Behavior or ORST 135A PZ -Organizational Behavior or equivalent (e.g. PSYC 037 CM -Organizational Psychology )
- MATH 052 PZ -Introduction to Statistics or ECON 091 PZ -Statistics or PSYC 091 PZ -Psychological Statistics and PSYC 091P PZ -Psychological Statistics Practicum , or SOC 101 PZ -Quantitative Research Methods or equivalent
- Two additional upper-level Organizational Studies classes. With advisor approval, students can use classes from the Critical Action & Social Advocacy (CASA) program and, in rare circumstances, other fields to complete these core requirements.
Breadth and Depth Courses (4)
Breadth
ORST 050 PZ -Organizational Life 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.
- Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 052 PZ -Principles of Microeconomics or equivalent)
- an introductory level Political Science course (e.g., POST 020 PZ -US Politics: Resistnce & Transfr , POST 020A PZ -US Politics: Resistnce & Transfr or POST 030 PZ -Intro to Comparative Politics )
- Social Psychology (PSYC 103 PZ -Social Psychology or its equivalent)
- SOC 001 PZ -Introduction to Sociology or SOC 001X PZ -SRX: Introduction to Sociology or another lower division Sociology class.
Depth
In consultation with their advisers, students select 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. See below for example themes. 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.
- public health
- nonprofit organizations
- arts management
- labor studies
- organizational communication
- finance and accounting
- information technology
- women and work
- organizations and economic development
- leadership
