According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Industrial and Organizational Psychology is the fastest growing vocational field in the United States. Many companies rely on Industrial and Organizational (I/O)  psychology professionals to gain a competitive edge. Professionals who can identify what motivates individuals and teams to meet organizational goals continue to be in high demand in the world of business. Students in the M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program at GSC study a variety of topics including personnel selection, performance appraisal, training, leadership, and motivation.

 

Graduates are prepared to apply principles of psychology and business to effectively guide organizations and individuals to success. Students benefit from exceptional theoretical classroom training coupled with valuable real-world learning experiences.

 

Students in I/O Psychology master’s program choose from two specialized tracks.

 

Internship Track

The Internship Track combines intensive coursework that balances theory and practice with two supervised internships, providing students with real-world experience to develop relevant and transferable skills. Students may choose one of the Business Psychology Department’s approved internship sites or get approval to fulfill this requirement at their current workplace. Students benefit from exceptional theoretical classroom training coupled with a broad range of real-world learning opportunities, including two supervised internships.

 

Thesis Track

Students may complete a thesis in place of an internship and one elective. This option also requires completion of two courses, Thesis I and II and selection of one of our outstanding faculty members to serve as thesis advisor.

 

Guided by practitioner faculty, students will cover a wide range of topics, including:

 

Personnel selection

Performance appraisal

Training

Leadership

Motivation

 

Graduates from the M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology,  program are prepared to apply their highly sought-after skills to a wide range of fields and professions, including:

 

Consultation

Marketing

Human resources

Leadership

Government

Business

Nonprofit

Combining principles of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and consulting, students will complete an Applied Research Project, providing them the opportunity to apply the approaches they are learning to an authentic workplace situation.

 

Course

​

Organizational Culture and Design

​

This course explores organizations at the organizational level, examining the relationship between culture and organization design, structure, and environment. It examines the impact of change in strategy and technology, environmental turbulence, and organizational maturity, and reviews organization development as a means to advance the changing nature of organization. Supporting topics include corporate ethics, life cycle and control, organizational climate, and globalization. Students create an organizational change strategy for a company in turmoil.

 

Performance Management

​

This course builds the skills of measuring and improving business performance at the individual and team level. It focuses on developing a culture of performance and rewarding that performance. Supporting topics include legal issues of performance appraisal, multi-source methods of appraisal, and models for multi-year performance management. Students analyze their organization’s performance system and revise it based on theory and best practices.

 

Organizational Team Dynamics

​

This course explores organizations at the team level, examining the relationship between employees and teams and organizations and teams. Students practice assessing and facilitating team processes to maximize productivity and results for members and stakeholders. It addresses how to get things done when teams lack leadership or authority. Supporting topics include how to build teams, how to manage meetings, how to build relationships beyond the team, and how to keep teams effective over their life span. The course uses real time teams—both virtual and face-to-face.

​

Application

 

Application to the M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology program is open to any person who has a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. Students applying to the M.A Industrial and Organizational Psychology program must submit the following:

 

     Application

 

     Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Applicants to this track should also have three or more years of full-time, related, post-baccalaureate relevant work experience or five (5) years or more of full-time unrelated work experience.

 

     Essay – Please answer the following question within three double spaced typed pages (approximately 500-750 words). Essay must specifically address the program/specialization for which you are applying.

Psychology is a vast discipline with many career options. In an essay format, please describe:

Why you chose this particular program/specialization. Cite specific experiences and examples.

Why it is important to you to study this discipline at a school that emphasizes cultural awareness, competence, and understanding of diversity (see our Commitment to Diversity statement).

Your professional career goals as they relate to this specialization.

Why you believe this program will assist you in reaching these goals.

 

      Official College/University Transcripts

Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where degrees have been earned. GSC requires that all schools be regionally accredited higher education institutions. Official transcripts may be sent directly from the institution or with your application for admission as long as they are official, sealed, and signed across the envelope flap when they arrive.

 

      Three letters of recommendation

 

Preparatory Coursework

​

Admission into requires an applicant to have successfully completed (with a grade earned of “C” or better) three (3) specific undergraduate courses:

    One course in psychology,

    One course in statistics or quantitative psychology, and

    One course in research methods or experimental psychology.

Applicants  who have not previously successfully completed an undergraduate course in psychology, statistics or quantitative psychology, and in research methods or experimental psychology must complete any remaining required courses in accordance with the policies outlined  Progression Requirements section of the catalog.

 

International Application Requirements

 

In addition to meeting all general admission requirements indicated on our program-specific requirement pages, all international students must submit additional documentation to be considered for admission.