Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MA)

Summary

The Industrial-Organizational Psychology MA is a full-time, two-year course of study. Our focus is a scientist-practitioner model that prepares students for careers in human resources, organizational effectiveness, management and I-O psychology consulting or for doctoral level study in industrial-organizational psychology or related fields. Graduates typically pursue careers in applied professions.

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Master of Arts

Major Credits

44

Total Credits

44

Locations

Mankato

Career Cluster

People and Cultures

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Program Requirements

Common Core

* PSYC 643 must be taken 4 times (once each semester).

Major concepts of human motivation and emotion, presentation of learned cognitive and biological influences on sustained behavior.

Prerequisites: none

An overview of development, use, and validation of psychological tests and questionnaires. Topics include reliability, validity, test construction, test administration, and ethics. In addition, advanced topics and analytical methods for testing will be discussed including meta-analysis and item response theory. Finally, the course will cover in-depth discussion of statistical methods of assessing bias in testing. An emphasis will be placed on developing hands-on experience with test construction, data analysis and interpretation of test data.

Prerequisites: none

Topics in contemporary psychology. Each instructor selects topic. Forty-eight contact hours in seminar format. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

An overview of techniques used to measure employee performance. Topics include: Job analysis methods and use of results, criterion development, performance appraisal methods, rater training, bias and accuracy in performance appraisal, organizational and contextual issues.

Prerequisites: none

Exploring factors affecting leadership and effective group processes through lectures and discussion of theories and findings and through experiential activities.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar will cover professional topics in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Students will integrate scientific principles to practical applications in the workplace.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of issues and techniques used to make hiring and promotion decisions in organizations. Topic includes: introduction of the selection process, legal and affirmative action issues, validity issues in selection, validity generalization, utility and decision making, and use of selection methods.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine the changing demographics of the American workforce, including the role of globalization. Topics will include how various types of diversity impact workplace staffing, performance management, training, culture/climate, well-being, and teamwork. In particular, the course will focus on how organizations can better manage a diverse workforce and implement changes that move towards inclusivity.

Prerequisites: none

An overview of theories and techniques used to increase employee satisfaction, improve employee productivity, and increase organizational effectiveness. Topics include: diagnosing organizational problems, designing interventions, implementing interventions, and institutionalizing change.

Prerequisites: none

This course will provide an overview of common field methodologies in I-O psychology field work. Topics covered will include surveys, experiments, and quasi-experiments, as well as practical applications such as data cleaning and management.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

Research methodology and statistical procedures involving descriptive and inferential techniques for simple and multivariate situations involving parametric and non parametric variables using manual and computer methods.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of multivariate statistical analyses including: multiple regression, ANCOVA, MANOVA, discriminate function analysis, and factor analysis.

Prerequisites: none

Unrestricted Electives

Choose 3-4 credits. Other options can be used as electives with department approval.

Examination of the historical origins of the principal contemporary psychological theories.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides a broad overview and analysis of the major theories of human and animal learning.

Prerequisites: none

This course covers experimental and behavioral studies of human memory including long and short-term memory, memory for text, pictures, spatial information, and autobiographical events. Emphasis on real-world situations, including education, in which memory and learning play a role.

Prerequisites: none

This class covers the development of the individual from the age of 11 to 19 years of age. Discussion will include aspects of both normal and abnormal development.

Prerequisites: none

An in-depth examination of social psychological research in laboratory and field settings.

Prerequisites: none

Topics in contemporary psychology. Each instructor selects topic. Sixty-four contact hours in seminar format. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

Choose 3 - 6 Credit(s).

Enrollment limited to students in good standing in the industrial/organizational track.

Prerequisites: none

Individualized student research paper which involves a literature review and original research.

Prerequisites: none

Degree Plan

The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 12 Credits

Major concepts of human motivation and emotion, presentation of learned cognitive and biological influences on sustained behavior.

Prerequisites: none

Research methodology and statistical procedures involving descriptive and inferential techniques for simple and multivariate situations involving parametric and non parametric variables using manual and computer methods.

Prerequisites: none

An overview of development, use, and validation of psychological tests and questionnaires. Topics include reliability, validity, test construction, test administration, and ethics. In addition, advanced topics and analytical methods for testing will be discussed including meta-analysis and item response theory. Finally, the course will cover in-depth discussion of statistical methods of assessing bias in testing. An emphasis will be placed on developing hands-on experience with test construction, data analysis and interpretation of test data.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar will cover professional topics in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Students will integrate scientific principles to practical applications in the workplace.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 12 Credits

An overview of techniques used to measure employee performance. Topics include: Job analysis methods and use of results, criterion development, performance appraisal methods, rater training, bias and accuracy in performance appraisal, organizational and contextual issues.

Prerequisites: none

Exploring factors affecting leadership and effective group processes through lectures and discussion of theories and findings and through experiential activities.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar will cover professional topics in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Students will integrate scientific principles to practical applications in the workplace.

Prerequisites: none

An overview of theories and techniques used to increase employee satisfaction, improve employee productivity, and increase organizational effectiveness. Topics include: diagnosing organizational problems, designing interventions, implementing interventions, and institutionalizing change.

Prerequisites: none

This course will provide an overview of common field methodologies in I-O psychology field work. Topics covered will include surveys, experiments, and quasi-experiments, as well as practical applications such as data cleaning and management.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 10 Credits

Overview of multivariate statistical analyses including: multiple regression, ANCOVA, MANOVA, discriminate function analysis, and factor analysis.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar will cover professional topics in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Students will integrate scientific principles to practical applications in the workplace.

Prerequisites: none

Overview of issues and techniques used to make hiring and promotion decisions in organizations. Topic includes: introduction of the selection process, legal and affirmative action issues, validity issues in selection, validity generalization, utility and decision making, and use of selection methods.

Prerequisites: none

This course will examine the changing demographics of the American workforce, including the role of globalization. Topics will include how various types of diversity impact workplace staffing, performance management, training, culture/climate, well-being, and teamwork. In particular, the course will focus on how organizations can better manage a diverse workforce and implement changes that move towards inclusivity.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 10 Credits

Topics in contemporary psychology. Each instructor selects topic. Forty-eight contact hours in seminar format. May be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: none

This seminar will cover professional topics in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Students will integrate scientific principles to practical applications in the workplace.

Prerequisites: none

Enrollment limited to students in good standing in the industrial/organizational track.

Prerequisites: none

Individualized student research paper which involves a literature review and original research.

Prerequisites: none

Policies

Admissions

  • Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.00. If the degree is not in psychology, then applicants must have taken an introductory psychology course, a statistics course, and a research methods course from a social science field.
  • Applicants must submit a personal statement, a resume/CV, and 3 letters of recommendation. Applicants with GPAs over 3.50 do not need to submit GRE scores; applicants with GPAs below 3.50 are strongly encouraged (but not required) to submit GRE scores.

Program Capstones

This program has three major capstones all graduates must complete:

  • Internship/Thesis: Students may choose between taking an internship, or completing a thesis. For students who plan to enter the workforce after completing their degree, we recommend completing an internship. For students who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree, we recommend a thesis. Students may opt to do both options.
  • Portfolio: In their second year, students are asked to provide a portfolio that provides an overview of their work in the program, along with a summary of strengths and weaknesses, and what they plan to do to prepare for graduation and entry into the job market.
  • Comprehensive Exams: In their second year, students must successfully pass a comprehensive exam that assesses their I-O content knowledge, statistical analysis skills, and technical writing skills. Students who fail any portion of the comprehensive exam will be offered an additional opportunity to retake that section of the exam.