MS in Industrial and Organizational 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 industrial and organizational psychology.

As one of the first master’s degree programs in industrial and organizational (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.*

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. Depending upon your goals and schedule, you may also choose to participate in hands-on learning experiences in two optional blended courses featuring an in-person component that allows for role-playing, teamwork, observed integration, and real-time feedback and coaching.

Accelerate your educational path by applying up to 40 credits toward Walden’s PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program.^†

Blended Course Format

Walden’s master’s in industrial and organizational psychology is offered with courses in both a fully online and a blended format.

When you select the blended course option, you may take up to two core courses that combine both online and in-person learning experiences. These courses provide:

• In-person immersion in scenarios that reflect the day-to-day situations you will face as an I-O practitioner in the field.
• Opportunities to apply course content through role-playing, reflection, teamwork, feedback, and coaching.
• In-person guidance from faculty members who are highly experienced I-O practitioners.

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 Statics, industrial and organizational psychology is projected to grow 19 percent will be the single fastest-growing occupation between 2014 and 2024.*

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

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

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

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016–17 Edition, Psychologists, on the internet at www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual job growth, and are subject to change.

†The number of credits for completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Note on Licensure:
The MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology or counseling professional.

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.