MS in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology

Advance your career and contribute to the success of your organization as you deepen your understanding of employee behavior and attitudes and discover techniques for improving individual and organizational performance with a master’s in I/O psychology.

As one of the first master’s degree programs in (I/O) psychology offered online, our MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program is designed to meet the growing demand for I/O practitioners within corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, and other types of organizations.¹

In this online I/O psychology master’s program, you can prepare to address the challenges of the 21st-century workplace and serve as a catalyst for change and improvement in business, industry, labor, public, academic, community, and health-related organizations. Explore the latest theories and research in I/O psychology and gain the skills to select the best people for specific job roles while understanding how individual behavior affects an organization overall.

Throughout your online I/O psychology master’s program, you will examine topics including assessment, selection, performance management, motivation, work attitudes, leadership, and organizational behavior and development so you can create work environments that maximize effectiveness and increase productivity.

You may be able to accelerate your educational path by applying up to 40 credits toward Walden’s PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this master’s in I/O psychology program will be prepared to:

1. Describe behavior using current theory and research in industrial and organizational psychology.
2. Articulate the uniqueness of the industrial/organizational psychology specialization including the history specific to this specialization.
3. Discuss how key industrial and organizational issues impact organizations (i.e., issues such as selection, performance management, performance measurement, job analysis, individual behavior, leadership, motivation, organizational culture, work teams, and/or job attitudes).
4. Explain the principles of basic research methods.
5. Appropriately summarize the role of research in the field of industrial and organizational psychology.
6. Apply ethical organizational intervention practices.
7. Appropriately select effective organizational interventions based on empirical evidence.
8. Summarize the influence of diverse populations on individual, group, and organizational behavior.
9. Apply principles of industrial and organizational psychology to scholarly and/or professional activities to promote lifelong learning.
10. Engage in practices that result in positive social change.

Career Impact

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, industrial and organizational psychology is projected to grow 8% between 2016 and 2026.²

As a graduate of Walden’s MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program, your career options may include:

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this program.

Find detailed information for the Evidence-Based Coaching, Human Resource Management, or all other specializations of this program, including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt.