Description
The Masters of Arts program in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology prepares students to perform quality professional human resources services in a variety of work settings. The program provides career advancement opportunities for human resource professionals in private and public sector organizations. In addition, it offers course work for those in entry-level positions or those embarking upon human resource careers. As a "terminal master's" degree program, this highly specialized and competitive educational experience in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is distinct from business education and from doctoral training in I/O Psychology. Graduates are employed as external or internal consultants; a small number of graduates continue their education in I/O doctoral programs.
The Psychology Department faculty is dedicated to implementing a program that focuses intensively on psychological theories, principles, research, and their application to human behavior in the workplace. Areas of concentration include leadership and organizational development; multicultural, race, nationality, and gender issues in the workplace; human resource assessment and personnel selection; training and development; job design; performance evaluation; and workplace ethics.
The total 42 credit hours required for the degree can be earned either part time, i.e. two courses per term, or full time, i.e. four courses per term. Full-time students can complete the program in two years, including a summer term. Part-time students can complete the program in two and one-half years, including summer terms.
The program includes a comprehensive examination and a 250-hour practicum experience. The practicum consists of supervised practice of Industrial/ Organizational Psychology in a private or public-sector organization. Paralleling the practicum experience is a year-long capstone course. This course allows for the integration of courses taken throughout the program, as well as integration of theory and practice.
Students may decide between two options to complete the program: (1) a comprehensive examination-plus-additional coursework option, or (2) an examination-plus-thesis option. The additional coursework option requires two additional elective courses instead of a master's thesis. The thesis option requires the thesis (which comprises original research under faculty supervision) in lieu of the two additional elective courses. Either option requires 42 credit hours to complete the degree. Students oriented toward immediate professional practice upon graduation may choose the examination option, whereas those who anticipate pursuing doctoral education before they enter professional practice will likely choose the thesis option.
Admissions Requirements
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1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with a 3.0 grade point average in the last two years.
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2. Completion of an undergraduate major in psychology or related field and required undergraduate prerequisite courses.
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3. Scores from the Graduate Record Examination, General Aptitude Test (the subject tests are not acceptable).
Academic Standards
Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. A student who earns two grades of C+ or lower will not be eligible to continue in the program unless the student can demonstrate unusual or extraordinary circumstances as responsible for the deficient performance.
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