Student Guide

Master's Programme in People Management and Organizational Development

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Curriculum 2022–2024

MSc degree studies consist of programme studies and elective studies. In some programmes, there is also a compulsory minor. The scope of the modules varies between programmes.

In addition to the goals stated in Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) 7 § the aim of the Master of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration is to provide students with

deep overall knowledge of the area of the specialised master’s degree programme, and very good knowledge of the minor subject or corresponding study entities included in the degree;
the knowledge and skills required in challenging managerial positions or positions demanding a high level of expertise, or as entrepreneur;
the ability to independently produce and apply knowledge in the field of business administration and economics, and preparedness for demanding international postgraduate programmes;
the ability to address ethics, sustainability, and international context; and
excellent communication and team working skills.

Degree structure

Total

120

ECTS

Programme studies*

ECTS

Elective studies

ECTS

* Including Master's thesis 30 ECTS

Programme studies 90 cr

Code: BIZ233
Credits: 120 ECTS
Programme Directors: Saija Katila and Marjo-Riitta Diehl (1 June 2023 onwards)

Upon graduation, the students of the programme will understand the linkages between societal, technological and environmental changes, business activities, and responsible management. They demonstrate understanding of key concepts and theories to address people management and organizational development issues in diverse contexts. In addition, they are able to identify and diagnose complex and unfamiliar people management related organizational challenges and come up with solutions that are ethical and sustainable using theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and practical tools provided.

The graduates of the programme can critically assess earlier research and execute research with appropriate knowledge of methodology, methods, and research ethics. They can also identify and address sustainability and ethics related people management issues in global and local contexts and act ethically in organizational contexts as well as a private citizen. They can produce professional texts in different genres as well as design and deliver effective presentations for different purposes and audiences. In addition, they have the willingness and skills to work in teams virtually and in face-to-face situations in multicultural contexts. The graduates are reflective professionals who can support their team member, take initiative, and carry responsibility.

Compulsory studies 42 cr

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Teaching period
MNGT-E1003	Quantitative Methods	3	II, IV
MNGT-E1011	Qualitative Methods	3	II, IV
20E99904	Capstone: Business Development Project	6	I-II, IV-V
MNGT1.thes	Master's thesis	30	I-V

Specialisation studies 48 cr

Mandatory courses 42 cr

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Teaching period
MNGT-E2011	Global Political Economy	6	I
MNGT-E1009	Leading Yourself, Teams and Organizations	6	I
MNGT-E2008	Strategic People Management	6	II
MNGT-E2014	Data Analytics for Managers	3	II
MNGT-E1006	People Management Practices and Tools	6	III
MNGT-E1010	Managing Organizational Behavior	6	III
MNGT-E1012	Organizational Development	6	IV
MNGT-E1013	People and Organizational Analytics	3	IV

Electives 6 cr

Choose 6 cr from the following list.

Code	Course name	ECTS credits	Teaching period
21E16001	Sustainability in Business	6	I, V
ABL-E1377	Financial Management	6	I
MNGT-E1004	Managing Diversity and Inclusion	6	IV
MNGT-E1005	Strategy in Action	6	II
21E00029	Managing Mergers and Acquisitions	6	V
MEC-E3006	Design Thinking and Creativity for Innovation	1 - 3	I-V
77E18000	Organizational Communication	6	II
32C31000	Työsuhdejuridiikka	6	IV
BIZ-E0100	Customized Student Business Project

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

The programme study module includes a Master's thesis. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication.

In many programmes, the students also take part in a thesis seminar, which is designed to help the students to prepare their thesis work. The seminar commonly consists of meetings, completing thesis, presenting the research topic to the seminar group and acting as an opponent for a fellow student’s thesis. Seminar lasts usually the whole semester, and it is organised during both autumn and spring semesters.

Seminar practices vary depending on the degree programme: please see the instructions for each programme in Sisu or MyCourses. For instructions on writing and handing in the thesis please see the page Thesis under "During your studies".

Starting from 1 August 2024, the thesis seminar is offered as a separate course MNGT-E1016 Master's Thesis Seminar (2 ECTS). Register for the seminar normally in Sisu. Add the seminar to your study plan under Studies of the Programme / Ohjelman opinnot in the free edit mode.

Instructions for academic year 2023-24

In the People Management and Organizational Development programme, the thesis and the seminar together count for 30 ECTS. The thesis must demonstrate readiness for scientific thinking, command of research methods, conversance with the topic of the thesis, and ability for scientific communication. The credits will be registered after the thesis is evaluated.

The seminar starts three times per year (periods I, III, V). Please register to the seminar with the registration form two weeks before the period starts (deadlines 21 August 2023, 27 December 2023 and 8 April 2024). Registration is done in Webropol. If you see a page saying thank you for registration, your registration has been saved. After the registration period has closed, you will receive an email with the self-enrolment key to the MyCourses workspace.

There will be two mandatory seminar meeting and assignments after which the student is expected to know the topic area / research question of interest. Make sure that you start thinking about the thesis topic before coming to the seminar. Make use of the online seminar materials designed to help the students with the thesis process. Please check the course page also for available projects to work with or commissioned work available before the seminar starts.

Supervisors will be allocated after the mandatory meetings based on students’ topics and supervisor availability. After supervisors are allocated, students continue working on their thesis under the guidance of their supervisors. This enables the students to progress in the thesis in their own pace enabling fast progress as well as a slower one. As a rule of thumb, the thesis should be done within on academic year.

Seminar tutoring meetings online (link in MyCourses)

Period I – 11.9. and 25.9.2023 at 16-18

Period III – 15.1. and 29.1.2024 at 16-18

Period V – 22.4. and 6.5.2024 at 16-18

Electives

You can choose elective studies to your Master's degree so that the scope of the degree (120 credits) is fulfilled. You can exceed the scope of the degree by one course maximum.

Elective studies can include basic, intermediate or advanced level courses. You can use the module e.g.

To complete a minor
To broaden your skills and knowledge via multidisciplinary studies:
- select courses in the field of technology or art
- select courses in other universities via JOO study right
- Select gender studies via Hilma network or other Aalto networks
To gain entrepreneurial skills
To deepen your language and communication skills (see short informational video about the Language Center here)
To deepen or broaden your skills and knowledge in the field of business
- select additional courses in your degree programme or major
- select courses from other degree progarmmes or majors in the School of Business
- select additional courses in your minor
- complete the Customized Student Business project BIZ-E0100 (read more here)
To gain work experience and working life skills via an internship (read more at During your studies > Other studies)
To gain skills in self leadership and finding meaningfulness via Personal Impact courses

If you have mandatory language studies in your master's degree, they are included in the elective studies module. You have received information about these in the beginning of your studies, if this applies to you. If you are uncertain of whether you need to demonstrate language proficiency in the master's degree, please contact your programme's planning officer to get further information about the matter.

If you have completed your bachelor's degree in Finland (in Aalto or in another higher education institute), you have fulfilled the compulsory language requirements in the respective degree or received the exemption. You do not need to complete language studies in the master's degree.
If your language of education is Finnish or Swedish and you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you must demonstrate proficiency in national languages by writing the maturity test in your language of education (Finnish or Swedish) and complete the language proficiency tests in the other national language. Read more about the language of education here. You may also apply for an exemption of demonstrating proficiency in national languages. See also the following bullet.
If you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you must complete minimum of 3 ECTS in English. You can choose any course on B2 level or higher. Students, whose language of education is not Finnish or Swedish, may alternatively complete an elementary course in Finnish or in Swedish. The courses in national languages can be at any level on CEFR scale.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS). Language center offers the language studies.

The scope of the minor varies depending on the minor. Please check each minor's requirements. For a list of all the minors at Aalto University, see Aalto Minors hub.

Please also check your programme's curriculum to see if there are any requirements for the minor in your programme.

A minor included in the Master's degree can be one of the following:

a module confirmed in the curriculum (a minor study entity offered at the School of Business)
a module completed in an official exchange programme partner of the School of Business or in another programme meeting the requirements set in the official exchange programme policy of the School of Business
a module earned at another Aalto University school
a module earned at another Finnish university e.g. under the agreement on flexible study rights (JOO agreement).

Exchange studies is a very popular minor among the students of the School of Business. If you are interested in completing exchange studies as your minor, please check out this short informational video.

Below you can find our recommendations of suitable bachelor as well as master level minors on offer at Aalto University. You can include a minor from either level to your master’s degree from any of the Schools of Aalto University or even from another university. Note that completing a minor is not mandatory.

The Department of Management Studies offers great minors that support the work of people management professionals. The department offers the following minors:

We strongly recommend that students that do not have a bachelor’s degree in business studies would choose a bachelor level minor in the fields of accounting or finance in order to have sufficient understanding of financial statements and corporate finance to operate in management positions in the corporate world.

Improving data analytics skills will also be of great importance in the future for any of our degree students, see Minor in Business Analytics. Also coding skills may come handy, see Minor in Computer science.

For those wanting to study throughout the summer we recommend Information Technology Programme (ITP) as a minor. ITP is a full-time academic summer programme, which is interactive, hands-on, international, and organized in close cooperation with companies in the fields of information technology and digital design.

There is also a possibility to focus on gender studies through Hilma, the National Gender Studies Network. Hilma studies enable you to gain a deeper understanding on gender equality and other forms of non-discrimination in working life and society at large.

All the minors available at Aalto are listed in the Minors guide.

Published: 8.6.2022
Updated: 2.12.2024

Student Guide

Master's Programme in People Management and Organizational Development

Table of contents

Curriculum 2022–2024

Degree goals

Degree structure

Programme studies 90 cr

Learning outcomes

Core programme studies

Compulsory studies 42 cr

Specialisation studies 48 cr

Mandatory courses 42 cr

Electives 6 cr

Master’s thesis and thesis seminar

Master's thesis in the People Management and Organizational Development programme

Electives

Elective studies

Mandatory language studies

Minor

Minor recommendations for People Management and Organizational Development students

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