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Curriculum

OS Program and Requirements

Before joining the OS Program, students must complete prerequisites that prepare them for the program in several vital disciplines (Economics, Psychology, and Sociology - see "Prospective Students" section for details).

Following the prerequisites, the OS major requires a minimum of 34 credits distributed across several broad areas:

  • Core Requirements provide the foundational knowledge for the major. Both core courses, OS 305 Inside Organizations and OS 310 Formal Organizations and Environments, must be taken in the student's first Fall term in the program.

  • Cluster Requirements (A, B, and C) are designed to provide disciplinary variety in the study of organizations, drawing on courses in a number of fields, and ranging across multiple levels of organizational analysis.

  • Quantitative Skills and Senior Research Capstone requirements give students the tools necessary to engage in various types of research in organizations, and provide the opportunity for real-world experience in organizational research. The Senior Research Capstone requirement (OS 410) must be taken in the student's second Fall semester in the program. An approved OS Honors Project may also be used to fulfill the Senior Research Capstone requirement (requires approval, followed by enrollment OS 497 in fall term and OS 498 in winter term).
     

Potential Course Conflicts: Please note that OS 305, OS 310, and OS 410 are required courses that are offered at only one time each fall semester. Because they are so central to the curriculum, there are no substitutions allowed for OS 305, 310 or 410 (other than the honors sequence of OS 497+498 fall and winter terms of your senior year, which may substitute for OS 410).
If you are pursuing a dual degree, double-major, less-commonly-taught language, or you have some other circumstance in which a conflict arises with OS 305, OS 310, or OS 410, OS is unfortunately not able to provide flexibility, and you may have to choose between programs or remain for extra terms.

Study Abroad is possible and encouraged for OS majors in the winter, spring, or summer terms. See the Current Student/FAQs section and the OS Student Portal Study Abroad section for more details. Off-campus domestic programs are also encouraged in winter, spring or summer terms (MIW, etc.).

Transfer credit
is accepted to fulfill certain OS requirements (with limits). Please see the Transfer Credit section of this website (left-hand menu) and make an appointment to speak with an OS advisor to discuss transfer credits issues if applicable.

 

Details and course lists for each requirement area are below, and a full curriculum list is also available (pdf).  An OS Curriculum Worksheet is also available for your reference.