Online Psychology Master’s: Industrial Organizational Psychology Emphasis
Online Psychology Master’s: Industrial Organizational Psychology Emphasis
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The success of any organization is reliant upon the knowledge and skills of its employees, as well as their job performance and productivity. To further the long-term objectives of the company, it’s necessary to ensure that employees have everything they need to be successful. With advanced knowledge of human behavior and motivations, industrial and organizational (I/O) psychologists can work to improve organizational efficiency and operations through various human resources development activities — from applicant testing to employee training to leadership development.
The Master of Science in Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology degree program at Grand Canyon University intends to prepare the next generation of I/O psychology specialists. Offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the curriculum is aligned with the standards and recommendations of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Through comprehensive coursework and engaging discussions with peers and instructors, you will have the opportunity to acquire foundational knowledge in the advanced principles of I/O psychology.
Courses in this online master’s degree: industrial organizational psychology emphasis are designed to develop your knowledge in these core competencies:
All types of organizations can work with an industrial organizational psychology specialist. An I/O specialist can apply psychological principles in a range of industries to help organizations achieve their long-term objectives.
With these competencies, you may be prepared to pursue work in:1
Healthcare facilities
Manufacturing companies
Labor unions
Independent consulting
Estimated job growth rate for all types of psychologists from 2023 to 20332
This I/O psychology master’s program teaches a thorough framework of competencies in scientific principles, research methods and consulting techniques. Throughout this emphasis program, you will be taught to produce usable data and apply your findings to enhance the workplace environment, and optimize productivity and efficiency.
When you enroll at GCU, you’ll be immersed in a Christian learning environment. Our faith-integrated courses encourage students to examine issues from the Christian perspective. There is a focus on professional ethics within the psychology field; you will explore contemporary ethical issues while considering how to integrate best practices into your own work.
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
In addition to the industrial organizational emphasis, there are many other emphases available for you to pursue at GCU, including:
GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university — a designation that reflects our commitment to delivering quality education that aims to prepare our graduates to tackle modern challenges in their fields. GCU has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
All students in the MS: industrial organizational psychology emphasis are required to complete a professional capstone course. This hands-on learning experience can enable you to develop original research ideas and explore occupational opportunities within the industrial and organizational psychology specialization.
Median annual wage for industrial-organizational psychologists as of May 20233
I/O psychology professionals are also valuable to those who recognize the importance of effective management systems and interpersonal skills for long-term profitability.
Other employers who may utilize the expertise of an I/O psychologist include:1,4
The coursework for this emphasis program offers insights into why people behave the way they do in the workplace and how employee behavior can be optimized. You will be expected to apply research-based methods to produce data that leads to actionable recommendations for management.
In addition, you’ll explore the following concepts in your master’s degree coursework:
Social, group and multicultural factors that affect group behavior
Application of I/O psychology principles to HR functions
Influences of mass communications
Leadership roles and development
Empower employees and drive organizational success as an I/O specialist.
This I/O psychology master’s program emphasis is offered via online classes. Designed with the needs of working professionals in mind, these online classes can fit around your busy schedule. As an online student, you will be taught by experienced professionals in the psychology, business and research fields. The online learning platform allows you to stay connected with faculty and peers throughout the program.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in I/O psychology, read through our answers to these common questions and begin planning your career pathway with a psychology master’s: industrial organizational psychology emphasis.
An I/O psychology specialist may be responsible for a wide range of activities, all designed to meet their overarching goal: Helping organizations achieve success through employee empowerment and organizational optimization. These professionals may work to improve organizational communication, the work environment and culture, job satisfaction, professional competence and leadership.1 Using quantitative research, they may handle activities such as:4
When you earn a psychology master’s: industrial organizational psychology emphasis, you are expected to have developed valuable skills in the areas of psychology, business, leadership and research. These competencies may be applied to a range of professional roles. Job possibilities for industrial-organizational psychologists can include:
If you are just getting started on your career path, you should begin by examining the foundational competencies taught in a bachelor’s in psychology program. I/O psychologists typically need a master’s degree, such as one that offers an industrial organizational psychology emphasis.5 This graduate degree will teach you the advanced skills in organizational behavior, ethics, research methods and human resource management to help individuals, teams and businesses succeed. Earning a doctoral degree is ideal for those who want to qualify for a broader range of advanced career positions.1
A career in I/O psychology can be a great choice for you if you’re passionate about applying scientific principles to the workplace. As a specialist, you could work to empower employees while helping organizations thrive. In addition, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report job growth for industrial-organizational psychologists specifically, it does report an estimated 7% employment increase for psychologists in general from 2023 to 2033, faster than average.2
Earning a psychology MS: industrial organizational psychology emphasis is worth consideration as it offers a range of opportunities. As an I/O psychologist, you can benefit from helping people and organizations work smarter and more productively. Industrial organizational psychologists have an annual median salary of $147,420 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.3
1 American Psychological Association. (2013). Pursuing a Career in I/O Psychology. APA. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2024.
2 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists, retrieved on Oct. 25, 2024.
3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Industrial-Organizational Psychologists as of May 2023, retrieved on Oct. 25, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as industrial-organizational psychologists, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
4 American Psychological Association. (2022, May). Industrial and Organizational Psychology. APA. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2024.
5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How To Become a Psychologist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2024.
