Welcome to the Work and Organizational Psychology master’s program. In a world that is rapidly evolving and leaving traditional industrial practices behind, we believe it is crucial to embrace the transformational nature of work – hence we have intentionally chosen “work” over “industrial” in the naming of our program. Our program recognizes this shift to equip students with the practical knowledge and skills needed to navigate the ever-changing landscape of work as an Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychologist.
The program is geared to working professionals who are looking to enhance their skill set for career development and advancement. Embedded into every aspect of our program are the values of collaboration, integrity, and diversity. The focus of the program is to nurture your intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and creativity. By embracing innovation and industry trends, we will prepare you for the challenges of today and tomorrow.Our program is unique for 3 key reasons:
In our Work and Organizational Psychology master’s program, our educational goals are clear. One objective is to ensure you have a deep understanding of people issues at work, strategies for problem solving, and industry best practices. This knowledge is essential for anyone looking to excel in the dynamic field of organizational psychology.
Our second objective is to prepare you for success in a range of master's-level positions across various professional settings. Our program is about skill-building for real-world readiness and the ability to thrive in diverse work environments.
We achieve these two goals through coursework and the completion of four capstone skill-building projects. The project's focus on talent assessment and validation, employee learning and development, benchmarking organizational practices, and survey design, implementation and analysis. These projects are directly relevant to duties performed as an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and provide you with a portfolio to demonstrate your expertise in these key areas.
Based on the most recent employment and salary survey of the Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, the median salary for individuals with a master's level degree and work experience in the field was $100,000. For those who are new to the field, the median salary is $65,000, which increases significantly as one accumulates work experience (e.g., $87,500 for those 2-4 years after degree completion, and $99,174 for those 5-9 years after degree completion). This data highlight that those with a master's degree in Work and Organizational Psychology have skillsets that are highly desirable in the labor market.
Job titles for recent graduates may include specialist, consultant, and senior consultant. As individuals accumulate experience in this field, they may move into positions with titles such as Human Resources Manager, Director, Vice President in Human Resources, and Senior Vice President in Human Resources.
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will since 1855.
MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
MSU has been offering online degree programs since 1998. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.
All students must complete 30 credits with a 3.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average.
All students must complete the following nine courses (18 credits total):
All students must complete four practicum courses (8 credits total)
Students complete 2 Special Topics seminars to meet the minimum requirement of 30 credits (4 credits total)