Industrial Organizational Psychology Masters Program @ Meredith College

What is industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology? 

• A powerful combination of psychological science and business application, I/O psychology is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative subspecialties within psychology. I/O psychology is the scientific study of behavior in organizational settings and the application of psychological science to understanding work behavior. While general psychology concerns itself with the behavior of individuals, I/O psychology focuses on understanding employee behavior in work settings. 

Why should I study I/O psychology at Meredith? 

• The I/O psychology program is a two-year master’s degree that culminates in a full-time internship, developing graduates as scientist-practitioners ready to enter the job market in a variety of industries and organizations. 
• Strong Collaborative Relationships: Meredith’s long- standing connections with the vibrant industries represented in the Research Triangle provide rich opportunities for internships and employment for our graduates. 
• Strong Reputation: Graduate students benefit from the outstanding reputation of Meredith’s undergraduate psychology program, particularly in the areas of research methods preparation, the on-site autism clinic, and our well- developed internship program. Local employers are familiar with Meredith’s strong track record of preparing students for both graduate study and employment. 
• Strong Faculty: Our psychology faculty have proven expertise in training students to become fluent in designing and implementing data-driven research through intentional, phased support. Instruction by faculty in Meredith’s AACSB-accredited School of Business provides additional rigor and guidance. 

APPROVED CURRICULUM: Meredith’s program meets or exceeds national standards set by the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology. TIME TO COMPLETION IS JUST TWO YEARS 

What do I/O psychology practitioners do? 

• Formulate and implement employee training and coaching programs, applying principles of learning and individual differences 
• Conduct research studies of physical work environments, organizational structures, communication systems, group interactions, morale, and motivation to assess organizational functioning 
• Assess job attitudes, safety programs, and other quality of work and life programs to help companies recruit and retain a qualified workforce 
• Develop criteria and tools for measuring worker performance and organizational effectiveness 
• Study consumers’ reactions to new products and package designs, and to advertising efforts, using surveys and tests 

What skills do IO/psychology practitioners bring to their employers? 

• Critical thinking skills 
• Advanced data analytic skills 
• Ability to develop written communication for varied audiences 
• Ability to contextualize analytic solutions to help clients solve real world problems

Where do I/O practitioners work? 

I/O psychology practitioners work both in independent consultancies and within larger organizations with titles such as 

• Director of Human Capital and Strategic Initiatives
• Director of Talent Management Consulting
• Organizational Research Consultant
• Human Resources Analytics Consultant 
• Organizational Leadership Consultant 

EMPLOYMENT BREAKDOWN 

• 77.2% of master’s level I/O professionals work in the private sector 8.3% in the nonprofit sector 7.7% in the government 
• “People who tend to be effective in I/O psychology have a practical, analytic mindset. They enjoy solving human puzzles. And they want to make peoples’ lives better in the workplace.” – CYNTHIA EDWARDS, PH.D. Professor of Psychology 
• $82,760 MEDIAN ANNUAL SALARY Across all categories of I/O practitioners 
• $64,748 STARTING SALARY For new master’s level graduates in I/O psychology 

Learn more about Meredith College’s graduate program in I/O psychology: meredith.edu/iopsychology