"By going through the program, I was able to get significantly higher wages in my jobs, countless public speaking opportunities in large 50+/100+ groups in schools/ organizations, several job opportunities in consulting and HR, a massive amount of actionable skills and knowledge in business and psychology, and relationships that will last a lifetime. 

The program is for you if:

• You want to work AND go to school at the same time (both full-time) and not lose your mind
• You don’t want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a grad psych degree
• You want to help shape leaders and culture at work
• You want to stand up for others at work and help them succeed
• You want an applied program where you get practical skills and real work opportunities through the relationships you develop

The program may NOT be for you if:

• You are only chasing money and titles
• You have no work experience (I recommend having some experience first because it makes it 100x clearer and you can better understand all the concepts and how to use them at work)
• You have no intentions of working in a job where you can use this information (just getting a degree)
• You are not motivated to create and build relationships long-term with others and be proactive about your own future
•  You want a program that is heavily focused on research and theory alone

If you do happen to apply and go through the program at VU, your future self will thank you!"

- Jeff Tsacoumangos, Senior Associate - Talent Management and Organizational Development, Willis Towers Watson

The program is not only for people who want to go into consulting,  talent development, or any of the expected fields. I think it would be beneficial for virtually anyone (both inside and outside the corporate world) who wants to make impactful change. - Juliana Nalbandian, Program Specialist, Allegis Global Solutions

I decided to join VU 's Masters of Science Program because of the personalized attention I received when I visited the campus and met some of the faculty; you could tell they truly care about their students and their futures. I like the environment so much, I chose it over a full ride elsewhere. While in the program, I loved the camaraderie I developed with my cohort, the content of the curriculum, and the opportunity to work closely with experienced faculty. The networking opportunities I received through getting to know my cohort members accelerated my post-graduation career in the right direction, and I was able break into the world of consulting/organizational development. I definitely find myself referencing the material I learned in this program and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in developing a career to positively impact their organization and future place of work." - Noorain Moss, Human Capital Consultant, Deloitte

I would recommend this program to anyone, especially those who work full-time and are looking for flexibility. The community within the program is extremely supportive. Since graduating, I have had three promotions and several accolades. I attribute these to both earning my degree and the personal growth gained through completing this program." – Ashlee Barnette, Senior Associate, Employee Experience, Willis Towers Watson

I decided to join VU 's Masters of Science Program because of the personalized attention I received when I visited the campus and met some of the faculty; you could tell they truly care about their students and their futures. I like the environment so much, I chose it over a full ride elsewhere. While in the program, I loved the camaraderie I developed with my cohort, the content of the curriculum, and the opportunity to work closely with experienced faculty. The networking opportunities I received through getting to know my cohort members accelerated my post-graduation career in the right direction, and I was able break into the world of consulting/organizational development. I definitely find myself referencing the material I learned in this program and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in developing a career to positively impact their organization and future place of work."  - Noorain Chauhry, Organizational Development Consultant, County of Orange 

"From day one, the professors have created a culture of support that allows for transformational learning; it has been most beneficial not only academically but in my personal life. The way the classes in the program are structured provides students opportunities to discuss ideas learned from reading, daily obstacles at one's organization, and ideas that may be implemented to improve the function in those spaces. Doing this each week makes using the language and ideas specific to the field more natural, which in turn makes delivering professional presentations in the field natural as well. Professors encourage the students to step out and present, all the while inspiring us and giving us the tools to succeed along the way. What is so unique about this field is that one can take their passions and apply them to the field of I/O right away, and as you work on your thesis the learning can fuel your fire to help and bring about practical change in the area of your choice." - Katelyn Lee, Class of 2020

“Would you recommend this program to a friend? Why or why not? – I say YES, absolutely I’d recommend the program and have already recommended it several times over the last few years since graduation. I absolutely would not be in the position I am today without it, as the program format allowed me to continue to work full-time, get an internship with my now company (Vans), and get my Master’s simultaneously. Going to school once a week allowed for my independent study but also the gift of a small, close knit classroom where we were able to discuss our learnings, thoughts, challenges, projects, etc. in person. I am beyond thankful for the content as well – I still reference many of the books we read throughout the program, as well as my projects in my day to day at work ... whether it is a proposal for a new program, leadership development, or analytics. It all applies.  I have still kept in contact with many of my cohort peers, they even attended my wedding and we continue to support one another in career advancements/opportunities." – Caitlin Friedman, HR Manager, Vans 

Great instruction, school community is family oriented, professors engage with students on a personal and professional level, all courses offer significant application to real-life/work-life situations." – Arlene Sequa, Manager of Family Development, Tribal TANF 

Businesses around the world are constantly seeking people that have the ability to communicate, solve problems, look beyond what is obvious, and provide solutions to current and potential problems. The Organizational Psychology program provided me the ability to communicate in a way that I never would have been able to otherwise. You learn about yourself, but more importantly you learn about other people. People are what makes a business work. We often don't get to choose who we work with, but we can choose how we act in each situation we face." – Andrew Cowie, CEO, Counterforce Solutions, LLC

I absolutely recommend the program because of (1) The faith-based/inspired education and environment; (2) the high level of quality and credibility of faculty/instructors; (3) the balanced workload, pace and variety of the curriculum and requirements; (4) the opportunities and connections available in the OC area for relevant research and networking; (5) the ease of completing it as a working adult; and (6) the cohort format with lasting relationships and support by peers and faculty." – David Paltza, Registrar and Chair of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee, Rocky Vista University

I would absolutely recommend this program for those who are looking to expand their professional toolkit to address complex organizational challenges and to create evidence-based interventions that consider the unique needs of a team or company. As a student, I was challenged to connect and apply the learnings to my real work scenarios which created an immediate return on investment. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I've utilized the researcher's mindset and change management strategies developed in this program to pivot our plans effectively and to sustain key stakeholder engagement during an unprecedented time." – Charity Culp, Associate Specialist, Talent Acquisition Programs, Edwards Lifesciences

I could not be more appreciative of having the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge on bettering the workplace. Such a beneficial program that I will always recommend and support." – Kayla Stenhouse, Manager, Human Resources, Safran Electronics & Defense

 

I recommend the MSOP program to anyone really, but especially to anyone who is working in HR or desires to have a career in HR. What I loved most about Vanguard and the MSOP program is that the professors encouraged us to not only participate in self-reflection and processing, but also aided us in transformational ideas rooted in science-based decision making. I have found this to be invaluable to me both professionally and personally." - Ramina Swanson, Vice President / Senior Human Resource Business Partner, Pacific Premier Bank