Managerial Psychology Fundamentals
Course Overview & Teaching Approach
This course introduces international students (with non-psychology BAs) to Managerial Psychology – the application of psychological principles to management and organizational behavior. The curriculum covers core theories and research on individual, group, and organizational behavior (e.g. personality, motivation, leadership, team dynamics, culture). Each session balances 50% theory (concepts, models, fun facts) and 50% practice (exercises, discussions, case studies) for active learning. We apply an experiential learning approach tailored to adult learners: students learn best by actively engaging in real-world simulations, reflective activities, and problem-solving tasks. This approach leverages their prior experience and fosters higher-order thinking – from understanding concepts to applying and analyzing them in management contexts. Sessions include interactive lectures, group activities, and multimedia (videos/talks) to maximize engagement. By course end, students should grasp fundamental theories of human behavior in workplaces and be able to apply psychology-based techniques to manage people effectively. Speaker notes and timing breakdowns are provided for each 4-hour session, along with external video links, practical exercise guidance, and a short quiz to reinforce learning.
Teaching strategy: We emphasize experiential and participatory learning. Students will experience key concepts through activities, reflect on those experiences, conceptualize with theory, and apply insights to new situations. This cycle (Kolb’s experiential learning) and the use of Bloom’s Taxonomy ensure the course moves from basic knowledge to higher-level skills (analysis, evaluation). For example, after learning a concept, students immediately practice it via a case or simulation, then discuss outcomes. This approach is well-suited to adult international learners, who bring diverse perspectives and learn best when content is relevant, collaborative, and applicable to real life. We also integrate “fun facts” and interesting research findings (e.g. famous studies, surprising psychology facts) to spark curiosity and show the lighter side of managerial psychology.
- Tanár: János Ács