Applied Psychology - Industrial-Organizational Psychology Concentration, MS

Program Description

The Master of Science in Applied Psychology program prepares students for careers in which they apply principles, techniques, and theories from scientific psychology to solve real world problems involving human behavior. The Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology specialization emphasizes the application of scientific psychology to address issues pertinent to contemporary workplaces. Examples include performance management, leadership development, employee engagement, team dynamics, and occupational health and safety. Graduates of this program work in positions in industry, government, or consulting that all involve using the knowledge and skills acquired in the program to help organizations to become more productive and to help employees lead safer and healthier work lives.

Summary of Degree Requirements

The program consists of 39 credits.

Coursework

Required Methods Coursework-6 Credits

• PSYC 8100 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods I 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8110 - Research Design and Quantitative Methods II 3 Credits  

Required IO Core Coursework-9 Credits

• PSYC 8610 - Personnel Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8620 - Organizational Psychology 3 Credits  
• PSYC 8710 - Psychological Tests and Measurement 3 Credits  

Required IO Experiential Coursework-6 Credits

• Option I: PSYC 8910 - Master’s Thesis Research  (6 credits, including completion of an empirical master’s thesis research project)
• Option II: Any six-credit combination of PSYC 8950 - Applied Psychology Internship  and PSYC 8970 - Special Problems in Applied Psychology  

Electives-18 Credits

• Three additional Industrial or Organizational Psychology content courses (3 credits each, 9 credits total)

• Nine credits of general electives

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average in all coursework with no more than one course earning a grade of C or below. Students completing the thesis option for experiential credits also must complete a thesis research project under the supervision of their thesis advisor and with the approval of at least two additional thesis committee members. For additional program policies, lists of typical elective courses, and descriptions of faculty research, please review the Department of Psychology Graduate Program Website, particularly the graduate program handbook.