GRA 2231 Occupational Health Psychology
GRA 2231 Occupational Health Psychology
As organizations today are facing challenges in their efforts to perform effectively, there is increasing agreement that to be successful, they need to focus on employee health and well-being for a unique competitive advantage. The field of occupational health psychology aims to help organizations address this need.
Standing at the intersection of health psychology, work and organizational psychology, and social and environmental psychology, occupational health psychology is a field of psychology concerned with improving the quality of work life, and with protecting and promoting the health, well-being and safety of workers.
This course on occupational health psychology will help students understand the field of occupational health psychology, reflect on central theories, research, and practices associated with occupational health psychology, and identify how to best advise organizations and employees dealing with occupational health issues.
By the end of the course, the students:
- Have advanced knowledge of the depth and scope of the occupational health psychology field.
- Have advanced knowledge of central theories, research, and practices in the field of occupational health psychology.
- Have advanced knowledge about the most common research methods applied in occupational health psychology.
- Can apply in depth knowledge from the field of occupational health psychology to develop strategies to sustain, develop, and increase health, well-being and safety in the workplace.
By the end of the course, the students:
- Can analyze and critically evaluate theories and studies in the field of occupational health psychology.
- Can apply occupational health psychology theories to formulate scholarly arguments.
- Can analyze existing theories, methods, and interpretations in the occupational health psychology field and work independently to create practical solutions.
- Can use relevant empirical evidence to create strategies for dealing with work stressors and facilitating employee health and well-being.
- Can critically evaluate occupational health initiatives and programs.
- Convey advanced knowledge through presentation and discussion.
By the end of the course, the students:
- Can critically examine and use different theoretical approaches and perspectives from the field of occupational health psychology to understand and analyze various situations and issues relating to occupational health and well-being.
- Can critically reflect upon, communicate, and discuss a selection of theories and research findings from the occupational health psychology field.
- Can communicate about academic issues, analyses, and conclusions in the occupational health psychology field, both with specialists and the general public.
Topics covered in the course include:
- Theories of occupational stress, health, and well-being
- Positive occupational health psychology
- Sources, boundary conditions, and consequences of occupational stress, health, and well-being
- Coping and deviant workplace behaviors
- Preventive stress management strategies
- Psychological health and interventions
The course is structured as a combination of lectures, discussions, in-class activities, and mandatory student presentations (exam element). It requires a substantial amount of preparation by the students and active involvement during class. A course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of 160-180 hours.
Please note that while attendance is not mandatory, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.
All literature in the course is mandatory, also the articles used for student presentations. For the term paper, it is expected that the students use the course literature and show mastery and understanding of the material covered in the course.
The term paper accounts for 100 % of the final grade and is supposed to be written by up to two students (graded as a group). The presentation is graded pass/fail.
Both parts of the assessment must be passed in order to get a grade in the course.
All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.
Disclaimer
Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation and discussion Grouping: Group (2 - 4) Duration: 20 Minute(s) Comment: An oral presentation of a research paper, case or equivalent on a specific topic. Time allocated is about 20-25 minutes including class discussion led by the presenters based on questions prepared in advance. The presentation will be assessed on content, critical reflection, clarity, and rigor of the discussion. The students will be assessed as a group. Exam code: GRA 22317 Grading scale: Pass/fail Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 100 Grouping: Group/Individual (1 - 2) Duration: 2 Week(s) Comment: Term paper Exam code: GRA 22318 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 36 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 124 Hour(s) |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.