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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate Program (PSY)

Whitney HouseOffered through the Psychology Department
in the College of Social Sciences
102 Whitney House
Phone: 320-308-4157
Fax: 320-308-3098
Department Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/psychology
Program Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/psychology/io

Department Chairperson: Dr. Leslie Valdes
Department Secretary: Ms. Linda Williams

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Daren Protolipac
Graduate Faculty: Buswell, DeVoe, Godding, Illies, Jazwinski, Kling, Kulas, Melcher, Protolipac, Rockenstein, Valdes

The Profession

Having completed this degree, students will be prepared to obtain a job in a consulting, business, or government setting or to pursue a doctoral degree in industrial/organizational psychology.

The Program

The Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program provides students with the knowledge required to find solutions to workplace problems. It focuses on the use of psychological principles to understand behavior in the workplace and to improve the productivity and quality of work life of employees at all organizational levels. Students will learn the psychological theories and techniques underlying employee selection, training, and performance assessment. They will also study various organizational behavior topics such as leadership and employee motivation. Finally, students will be provided with a foundation in psychological statistics and methodology, which they will be able to draw from throughout their careers. Having completed this degree, students will be prepared to obtain a job in a consulting, business, or government setting or to pursue a doctoral degree in industrial/organizational psychology.

Employers

  • Master’s degree industrial-organizational psychologists work in many different settings, including consulting, business, and government. This flexibility increases their marketability and has resulted in a steady annual increase in the demand for individuals with this degree.
  • Master’s degree industrial-organizational psychologists also have the option of pursuing a doctoral degree in their field, opening up many other employment opportunities.

Admission Deadline Specific to the Program

  • Application deadline is March 1 to be given full consideration.
  • Students are admitted for a fall semester start only.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Program

  • The following undergraduate courses are helpful: introductory psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, statistics, research methods or experimental psychology, and social psychology.
  • Prospective students are encouraged to complete these courses prior to applying to the program.
  • It is also recommended that prospective students have a strong quantitative background.
  • Although the program encourages all interested individuals to apply, preference will be given to applicants who have completed the recommended undergraduate curriculum.

Graduate Assistantships

  • Two to three graduate assistantships are available for fall and spring semesters. 

Length of Program — Measured by Semesters

  • The 41-credit program is designed so that full-time students can finish in four semesters.

Curriculum

Plan A: Thesis, 41 credits
Students choosing Plan A are required to pass a preliminary oral examination where they will propose their thesis topic and a final oral examination where they will defend their completed study.

Plan C: Practicum, 41 credits
Students choosing Plan C are required to pass a preliminary oral examination where they will propose their practicum project and a final oral examination where they will defend their completed project

Master of Science — Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Research and professional courses
11 credits

  • PSY 505. Profession of Psychology, 2 credits
  • PSY 602. Psychometrics, 3 credits
  • PSY 603. Inferential Statistics I, 3 credits
  • PSY 604. Inferential Statistics II, 3 credits

Content courses
15 credits

  • PSY 560. Organizational Psychology, 3 credits
  • PSY 661. Criterion Development and Performance Assessment, 3 credits
  • PSY 662. Psychology of Training and Organizational Development, 3 credits
  • PSY 663. Psychology of Personnel Selection, 3 credits
  • PSY 664. Job Analysis, 3 credits

Programmatic courses
6 credits

  • PSY 696. Practicum, 6 credits (Plan C only)
  • PSY 699. Thesis, 6 credits (Plan A only)

Elective courses
9 credits
General psychology electives, select 3-6 credits

  • PSY 525. Psychology of Creativity, 3 credits
  • PSY 592. Health Psychology, 3 credits
  • PSY 630. Seminar in Psychology, 3-6 credits
  • PSY 640. Advanced Developmental Psychology, 3 credits
  • PSY 647. Psychology of Aging: Theory and Research, 3 credits
  • PSY 671. Advanced Social Psychology, 3 credits

Related fields electives
Select 3-6 credits

  • MBA 667. Organizational Behavior, 3 credits
  • MBA 673. Management of Human Resources, 3 credits
  • MGMT 551. Employee and Labor Relations, 3 credits
  • MGMT 552. Employee Compensation, 3 credits
  • MGMT 553. Employee Development, 3 credits
  • MGMT 567. Organization Theory, 3 credits
  • SOC 656. Seminar in the Sociological Study of Organizations, 3 credits