Behind every successful organization are people whose decisions shape how businesses operate and perform. Understanding the behavior that drives business performance is thus essential for leading organizations through the challenges of today’s workplace. In fall 2027, The Chicago School will launch a new M.A. Business Psychology program to prepare students for a broad range of careers in which they can improve organizations by better understanding the people inside them.
“Understanding the human factors behind the way individuals think, communicate, make decisions and work together is increasingly important to organizational success,” says Kristijan Civljak, Ph.D., business psychology division chair at The Chicago School. “The M.A. Business Psychology brings together the science of psychology with the practical application of business, giving students the opportunity to develop specialized expertise while preparing to navigate the evolving needs of today’s organizations.”
What Is a Master’s in Business Psychology?
A master’s in business psychology is a graduate degree that combines psychological science with business principles to help students understand how human behavior influences organizational performance, leadership, and decision-making. A traditional MBA program centers on management, operations, and finance. The M.A. Business Psychology program will center on the human side of performance: behavior, decision-making, leadership, culture, trust, motivation, and the workforce systems that shape how people work. Students will build business fundamentals and specialized expertise to diagnose organizational problems and speak the language of business.
The program is designed for students at a variety of career stages, including working professionals seeking advancement, early-career professionals, career pivoters, and students considering doctoral education. It also provides flexibility for students whose career interests may evolve during their graduate education, including offering a path to a doctorate, aligned with The Chicago School’s existing doctoral programs in Business Psychology and Organizational Leadership.
A Fast, Flexible, More Affordable Path to a Master’s Degree
Students who enroll in the 33-credit program can potentially complete their degree in less than two years, with courses delivered in eight-week terms. The accelerated format can help students reduce the overall time and cost of graduate education while allowing them to move into new careers or advance within their chosen profession more quickly.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Business Psychology?
A master’s in business psychology can provide a foundation for exploring career opportunities that combine an understanding of human behavior with business strategy and organizational effectiveness. The Chicago School’s M.A. Business Psychology program is designed for professionals at different career stages, whether they’re looking to advance in their current field, pursue a new professional direction, or develop specialized expertise.
The knowledge and skills developed through the program can be applied across several areas of business:
- Organizational consulting: Examining workplace challenges and identifying opportunities to improve organizational processes and business performance.
- Business analysis: Applying an understanding of human behavior and decision-making to evaluate organizational challenges and inform business decisions.
- Human resources: Exploring how employee development and performance assessment influence the employee experience.
- Market research: Understanding how consumer behavior and motivations can inform business and marketing strategies.
- Project management: Applying principles of leadership and communication to support better collaboration and more effective teamwork.
- Organizational development: Examining workplace culture, leadership practices, and workforce systems to support improvement and change.
Specific career opportunities and qualifications will depend on an individual’s professional experience, educational background, and any additional credentials required for a particular role.
5 Specializations, 5 Ways to Shape Your Career
Students in the program will take a shared core in business psychology, consulting, research methods, survey development, business principles, human factors in decision-making, and diversity. They then choose one of five specializations: Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Organizational Leadership, Human Resources Development, or Generalist.
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology uses psychological science and measurement to improve workplace outcomes, including assessment, selection, performance appraisal, and training.
- Behavioral Economics teaches students to understand how incentives, biases, defaults, and framing shape decisions by employees, consumers, and leaders, including neuromarketing and choice architecture.
- Organizational Leadership examines how leadership, communication, culture, and trust drive performance and change.
- Human Resource Development strengthens the compensation, benefits, career pathways, and employee-relations systems that shape the employee experience.
- Generalist is a broad, interdisciplinary track that draws courses from across the specializations.
Put Your Knowledge to Work With 3 Capstone Options
The program also offers three capstone pathways, each aligned with the student’s specialization and career goals:
- Internship includes supervised professional experience for early-career students or those entering a new field.
- Business Research Project is intended for working professionals who want to tackle a real challenge inside their own organization, with faculty guiding the project from scope to final deliverable.
- Thesis provides research preparation for students considering doctoral study.
Take the Next Step in Business Psychology
Whether you’re looking to advance in your current career, explore new professional opportunities, or deepen your understanding of the human side of business, The Chicago School’s new M.A. Business Psychology program offers a flexible path toward your goals.
The 33-credit program will be available in campus-based hybrid/high-flex formats at select locations, including Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The inaugural cohort is expected to begin in fall 2027, with applications opening Oct. 19, 2026.
Ready to explore what’s next? Discover how The Chicago School’s M.A. Business Psychology program can help you take the next step in your professional journey. Complete the brief form below to receive more information and connect with our admissions department.