Industrial / Organizational Psychology Degrees

What is Industrial/Organizational Psychology? In the cult classic Office Space, consultants Bob and Bob interview Initech’s employees in order to understand their jobs and improve workplace efficiency. "The Bobs" fill the role of industrial/organizational psychologists. Although these characters are most concerned with downsizing, industrial/organizational psychologists also assist with hiring, leadership development, and employee incentive programs. Broadly speaking, industrial/organizational psychology (or i-o psychology) involves applying psychology to work environments. Its goals are to improve the well-being and job performance of employees. Some synonyms for the discipline include occupational psychology, personnel psychology, and work psychology. What work is done by industrial/organizational psychologists? As researchers and practitioners, industrial/organizational psychologists are concerned with these and other workplace topics:

• Compensation
• Diversity
• Group performance
• Job satisfaction
• Leadership training
• Motivation
• Organizational culture
• Personnel recruitment
• Performance assessment
• Training

A practitioner may work for one large company, several small companies, or as an independent consultant. Industrial/organizational psychologists also work as professors and researchers at universities. What training is needed to become an industrial/ organizational psychologist? A bachelor’s degree in psychology is sufficient training for a position within human resources. However, to secure a significantly larger salary, more independence, and opportunities in management, one should earn a master’s or doctoral degree. A Ph.D. also makes an industrial psychologist eligible to teach at universities, and a master of i-o psychology may find employment at a community college. Which schools offer training in industrial/organizational psychology? Training may be obtained through traditional on-campus learning or via distance learning. The list below shows several i-o training opportunities at the master’s and doctoral levels, and additional programs are listed by SIOP, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc. Prospective students are advised to research the internship opportunities offered by each program of interest. Additional criteria for selecting a graduate program are provided by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc.

• Kansas State University offers a master’s degree in organizational psychology through distance learning plus a two-week on-campus summer workshop. Students can maintain full-time employment while gaining skills that can immediately be applied in the workplace.

• The City University of New York provides graduate training for the M.B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology.

• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers several options through its Chicago and Los Angeles campuses. The Chicago School awards the Psy.D. in organizational psychology through a five-year program and the master’s through a flexible program for working professionals. Five-month certificate programs are also available.

• Michigan State University offers doctoral degrees in organizational psychology through its psychology department and its school of management. The management program is heavily research-oriented and prepares students for academic careers in particular.

• Rice University awards the Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology. The program prepares students for work in teaching, research, and application.

• San Diego State University awards the M.S. in applied psychology with a concentration in industrial/organizational psychology. Students choose one of two emphases: Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.

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