Industrial/Organizational Psychology, M.A., Workplace-Human Resources Psychology Concentration

M.A. Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The study and practice of industrial and organizational psychology are directed toward enhancing the effectiveness and functioning of organizations by applying psychological principles to human work behavior.

The primary goal of the program leading to the master of arts degree in industrial/organizational psychology is to provide students with the knowledge and experience necessary to improve the satisfaction and productivity of people at work.

Graduates typically perform activities in a number of areas that focus on individual, group, and organizational processes, including the following:

• Organizational change and development
• Consultation
• Motivation and morale
• Leadership and managerial development
• Conflict management
• Team/group dynamics
• Recruiting, selection, and placement
• Performance management
• Attitude and opinion measurement
• Training design and implementation
• Strategic human resource planning
• Employment law
• Job analysis and evaluation
• Job design and enrichment
• Employee assistance programs
• Compensation and benefits
• Program evaluation.

Building on a strong foundation of theory, the program emphasizes application of principles in a wide variety of work settings. The curriculum is strengthened by ongoing, active relationships with local and regional human resource and applied psychological associations. Furthermore, the I/O Psychology program at the University of New Haven conforms to the curriculum guidelines of the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Division 14 of APA).

This master's degree prepares students for careers in private and public corporations, consulting firms, healthcare systems, educational institutions, government agencies, non profit organizations, and applied research institutions. Those aspiring to enter the field, practicing professionals, and those planning for graduate training beyond the master's level will find their educational needs accommodated by the flexible nature of the program.

A total of 42 credits is required of candidates for the master of arts degree in industrial/organizational psychology. Candidates for this degree must complete 24 credits of basic program requirements. Another 18 credits (including concentrations, program options, and electives) are chosen after consultation with the program coordinator in light of the student's academic and professional goals. Students may not complete more than nine credits of electives until they have satisfied the basic requirements. Up to nine credits of electives may be taken in other departments, such as industrial engineering, economics, management, marketing, business analytics and public administration.

Transfer Credit

The transfer of credit from other institutions is permitted subject to the graduate policy on transfer of credit detailed elsewhere in this catalog.

Thesis

Students may elect to write a thesis as part of the program of study. The thesis must show ability to organize materials in a clear and original manner and to present well-reasoned conclusions. Thesis preparation and submission must comply with the graduate policy on theses as well as specific departmental requirements.

Program Options

Students have the opportunity to develop a program that meets their particular needs and interests by choosing from many elective courses and various program options. These options include a thesis, for those interested in future pursuit of a doctoral degree; an internship, for those interested in a practical introduction to an organizational environment; or a practicum, for those already employed.

Option 1 (Thesis) is intended primarily for those who are interested in continuing their education in doctoral-level programs. This option gives students the research experience necessary to be successful in pursuit of admission to and completion of a Ph.D. program.

Option 2 (Internship/Practicum) allows the student to acquire special skills by coordinating formal course work with an internship or practicum in an organizational setting. The internship gives the student with limited work experience opportunity to work in cooperating organizations or consulting firms. The practicum experience is for the student who is currently employed.

The content of the practicum or internship is established jointly by the cooperating organization, the program coordinator, and the student. A comprehensive project report is required in which the student analyzes and integrates internship/practicum experiences with relevant research and coursework.

Option 3 (Approved Electives) consists of elective courses selected under faculty advisement. The choice of electives is intended to provide the student with a broad interdisciplinary background, complementing the student's own academic training and interests. A comprehensive examination covering material from the required psychology courses is required under this option.

Program Concentrations

Within each program option described above, students may concentrate in workplace-human resources, organizational development, conflict management, or talent analytics. A concentration requires 12 credits of electives, which are counted as part of the 18 credits required in the elective option (Thesis, Internship/Practicum, or Approved Electives) selected by the student. If a concentration is selected, the student must notify the program coordinator as well as the Registrar. A concentration is not required if the student's educational or career goals can best be met without this specialization.

Program Outcomes

By the end of this program, students will be able to:

1. Apply industrial-organizational psychology theory and techniques to real-world situations that include topics such as talent identification, assessment and development, work motivation, training, human capital practices, organization and group behavior. 

2. Employ the knowledge gained through their coursework to the workplace through supervised experiential learning opportunities such as internships, practicum projects, case studies, and applied research projects. 

3. Accurately interpret industrial-organizational psychology research used to make people-related decisions. 

4. Build competencies for collaborative problem solving through active listening skills, effective communication strategies, and constructive feedback within a team environment. 

Workplace-Human Resources Psychology Concentration:

  5. Apply psychological principles to enhance human resources and organizational functions covering key areas in training and development and performance management.

Concentration in Workplace-Human Resources Psychology

These 12 required concentration credits count toward the program option selected:

• PSYC 6641 - Training and Development in Organizations
• PSYC 6644 - Performance Management Processes