Get a Master's in Industrial Organizational Psychology

Industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists help organizations of all sizes and types better manage employees using evidence-based approaches and scientific research. Students delve into issues of critical relevance to today’s businesses, including talent management, assessment, training and organizational development and work-life balance to give employers a greater understanding of how to assess, select, develop, manage, and retain their most valuable assets. A master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology prepares students to work and complete research in the complex arena of multinational organizations.

For students seeking an industrial organizational psychology master’s program, Florida Tech is the perfect choice. The university’s unique team-based research approach, multiple consulting and research centers, and 300-hour practicum option bring students directly into the world of I/O psychology through applied learning experiences.

In a study published by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Florida Tech’s I/O program is ranked as having the best program culture. Plus, the master’s and doctoral programs are both currently ranked in the top ten I/O programs in the country in student satisfaction.

Diverse Career Options

Graduates with a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology from Florida Tech frequently pursue careers in business and consulting, while others enter research and academic organizations. Some of the many employers of Florida Tech alumni include:

• Bank of America
• Boeing
• Disney
• Google
• Marriott Hotels
• Walmart

Small Class Sizes—Dedicated Faculty

Florida Tech’s low student-to-faculty ratio encourages students and professors to work together in a challenging and cooperative environment that encourages mentorship as well as individual creativity and leadership.

The I/O psychology master’s programs at Florida Tech offer a balanced scientist-practitioner curriculum, small class sizes, and close mentoring from faculty members who provide one-on-one attention to students, working alongside them in research, client, and business interaction. I/O faculty are active researchers who work collaboratively with students as well as colleagues around the world.

In addition to leading research teams for students, Florida Tech faculty conduct research on varied topics with students earning a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology, including group trust, “computer-mediated” communication, employee engagement, self-regulation, and the effects of dishonesty in the hiring process.

Professional, Flexible Program

The I/O curriculum is based on the standards developed by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology to train scientists and practitioners. The goal of Florida Tech’s industrial/organizational psychology master’s program is to develop outstanding I/O psychologists who can apply their skills and knowledge to solve human problems in complex organizations.

The program also offers a concentration in international I/O psychology that prepares students to work and do research in the complex arena of multinational organizations. Florida Tech offers both master’s and doctoral degrees in I/O psychology as well as a concentration in international I/O, focusing on cross-cultural theory, research design, international business, and cultural competencies.

Research Opportunities

As noted above, faculty and students work together to undertake I/O psychology research. Not only do students study team dynamics, but they also work in teams to apply coursework and research findings. Students join one of many different research teams, are encouraged to publish and present their research at conferences, and are frequent authors and co-authors of manuscripts.

While working towards a master’s degree in I/O psychology, students develop their expertise through class discussions of case studies, as well as consulting projects with local businesses. The Institute for Culture, Collaboration and Management and the Center for Organizational Effectiveness provide students in the industrial organizational psychology master’s program with valuable real-world resources and the opportunity to expand their knowledge with hands-on activities. This could include development of training materials, research, and other solutions that corporations can use to create more effective organizations and better management of employees. (Read more about these programs below.)

Expert Career Preparation

Career opportunities as an industrial organizational psychology master’s program graduate can vary as widely as your interests. Businesses ranging from local organizations to multinational Fortune 500 companies, and from government organizations to nonprofit groups, employ Florida Tech graduates as consultants, high-level managers, and executives. Graduates of the Florida Tech I/O psychology master’s and doctoral programs frequently pursue careers in business and consulting, while others enter research and academic organizations.

Florida Tech’s foundation as a research university results in complex and well-rounded industrial organizational psychology programs that students can customize to their particular area of interest. The collaborative mindset among the faculty and peers allows students to work together in a challenging environment to delve deeply into their area of specialization.

Participate in Faculty-Led Research Teams

Students in the industrial organizational psychology programs at Florida Tech study in faculty-led research teams who focus on a variety of topics, including the feedback team, the emotions team, the motivation team, the culture team, the legal team, and more. Each team has its own philosophy and goal, ranging from the culture team’s “the world isn’t flat—culture matters” to the feedback team’s “practice what we preach by working hard and communicating well.” Students are encouraged to publish and present their research at conferences, and are frequent authors and co-authors of manuscripts.

Research space is housed in Florida Tech Commons, including a large student workroom for individual and group research, as well as facilities for global communication. A Mondo pad—used for global virtual work teams, research, meetings, and workshops—is available for students in any industrial/organizational psychology program.

The Center for Organizational Effectiveness

Affiliated with the Center for Organizational Effectiveness, this management consultant group facilitates student participation in real-world applied projects in the field, such as employee surveys, training programs, multi-rater feedback, and individual assessments. Graduate students in the industrial organizational psychology programs work with clients in small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, blending creativity with practical concepts learned in the classroom.

The Institute for Cross-Cultural Management

As businesses expand across both international and cultural borders, employees must learn to interact with consumers from around the world. Cultural miscommunication can lead to negative events in the workplace, so to prevent this kind of miscommunication, the Institute for Cross-Cultural Management provides training and resources to international businesses. To assist their efforts, students in the industrial/organizational psychology programs at Florida Tech research cultures from around the globe, creating informational content for clients from all industries.

A master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology prepares individuals to pursue careers in business consulting. Alumni with a master’s in I/O from Florida Tech reside around the world, working in industrial organizational psychology jobs as internal or external consultant for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities on a host of workplace topics from talent management, coaching, assessment, selection, training, performance, work-life balance, and efficiency.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides detailed information about hundreds of occupations, including, entry-level education, overall working environment, and employment prospects. According to the bureau, industrial/organizational psychologists are the fastest growing occupation (2012–2022) with a growth rate of 53%! Overall employment of psychologists projected to grow 12% during this same period, including industrial/organizational psychology jobs. Demand for clinical and counseling psychologists will increase as people and organizations continue to turn to psychologists for solutions to help manage problems.

Job options include:

• Consultant to businesses and government agencies
• Director of certification programs
• Director of leadership development and assessment
• Senior analyst
• Talent development
• Research assistant
• Organizational effectiveness specialist
• Analytics manager
• Global career development manager
• Merit systems manager

Doctoral Program

Graduates with a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology can dive into work, or pursue further study in the discipline by choosing to obtain a Ph.D. at Florida Tech. Florida Tech also offers a concentration in international I/O, focusing on cross-cultural theory, research design, international business, and cultural competencies.

On average, graduates with a Ph.D. have higher salaries and employment rates than those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many Florida Tech students receive significant assistantships from Florida Tech and can study and work at various local organizations including Harris, Intersil, DEOMI (the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, which is located at Patrick AFB) and Disney World.