Online Master's Degree in Work and Organizational Psychology
Prepare to thrive in the workplaces and organizations of tomorrow.
In today's world, success demands more than book smarts - it requires practical skills, adaptability, and a forward-thinking mindset. Our program is designed to empower you with the tools, techniques, and insights needed to excel in the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
We understand the unique needs of adult learners, and that's why we offer five-week courses that fit seamlessly into your busy lives. Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, portfolio building projects, and learning from top experts in the field. You will hone your skills in talent assessment, survey design, data analysis, organizational management, and more, making you valuable to any organization.
Join us in a journey of discovery and transformation. With our Master's Degree in Work and Organizational Psychology, you'll graduate not with just a diploma but with the confidence and competence needed to drive positive change in the ever-evolving world of work.
Receive cutting-edge training critical for your success.
We conducted interviews with leading experts working in the areas of people analytics, talent management, and organizational and team effectiveness to identify critical competencies for a successful specialist in work and organizational psychology. Our curriculum is designed to build and strengthen your competencies in these areas.
Hands on learning for real world readiness.
Our master's program offers a unique advantage to you in the job market by providing practical, hands-on experience that develops skills relevant to solving real-world problems. One key aspect of our program is the emphasis on building valued quantitative and data analytic skills. Through practical coursework and projects, you will apply these skills to real-world scenarios, gaining invaluable experience that sets you apart from other job candidates. By creating a professional portfolio of your work throughout the program, you will demonstrate a readiness to tackle complex workplace challenges.
Learn from top experts in the field.
Our program instructors include leading experts in the field of work and organizational psychology who have been recognized for their work by numerous awards from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Instructors consist of highly respected faculty members from Michigan State University's top-ranked doctoral program in organizational psychology. Alumni of the doctoral program, who are actively engaged in the field of work and organizational psychology, also serve as instructors. Thus, students will be informed by the rigorous scientific findings and evidence-based best practices.
Explore below to learn more:
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Program Outcomes
In our Work and Organizational 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 ability to thrive in diverse environments.
We achieve these two goals through coursework and the completion of four capstone skill-building projects. The projects 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 areas.
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Our Model and Values
The MS program is structured around two innovative components. First, rather than the typical academic model of semester long courses, each of our courses is five weeks in duration. You will take only one course at a time so you can concentrate on the course materials and assignments. This innovative approach will allow you to take three 5-week classes within the traditional academic semester.
Secondly, learning and application of knowledge and skills gained requires a team effort among the faculty and the students in the program. Therefore, a foundation for our program is the creation of a cohort model where students enter and complete the program together as a learning team. The cohort model also allows the program directors to coordinate the courses and monitor the progress of the cohort to aid in accelerating learning and development. A new cohort starts the third week of August each year. For each cohort the time to completion is less than two years (22 months).
In addition, be assured that embedded into every aspect of our program are the values of collaboration, truth, integrity, and diversity. In this program, you can expect an education that goes beyond traditional academic boundaries. We aim to not only equip you with practical skills but also nurture your intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and creativity. By embracing discovery and staying ahead of industry trends, we will prepare you for the challenges of tomorrow.
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Career Impact
Based on the most recent employment and salary survey of the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology, those who recently received their master’s degree had a median salary of $65,000, which increased significantly as they accumulated more work experiences (e.g., $87,500 for those 2-4 years after degree completion, and $99,174 for those 5-9 years after degree completion). Clearly, individuals 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 of those with a master’s degree 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.
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Admission Requirements
For admissions into the Work and Organizational Psychology Master of Science degree program, an applicant must: (1) have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized educational institution; (2) have an academic record equivalent to at least a 3.00 in the last two years of undergraduate or post undergraduate work; and (3) possess attributes such as intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, and perseverance so as to have a high degree of potential for completion of the program and advancement to the roles and duties of individuals in a Work and Organizational Psychology position.
Stay tuned for when we will begin receiving applications for the August 2025 start date!
When applications are open, please submit three letters of recommendation and a personal statement (2 to 3 pages) regarding your academic and professional goals and experience that have led you to desiring an advanced degree in work and organizational psychology. Also, please provide a resume. International students are also required to submit TOEFL scores.
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Application Deadlines
A new cohort starts the third week of August each year, with our first cohort starting August 2025. Stay tuned for when we will begin receiving applications for the August 2025 start date!
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Course List
All students must complete 30 credits with a 3.0 minimum cumulative grade-point average.
Required Courses. All students must complete the following nine courses (18 credits total):
PSY 804 Current Topics in Work and Organizational Psychology (2 credits)
PSY 806 Consulting Roles and Professional Development (2 credits)
PSY 807 Quantitative Analysis I (2 credits)
PSY 808 Quantitative Analysis II (2 credits)
PSY 819 Test and Measurement Development (2 credits)
PSY 821 Staffing Organizations (2 credits)
PSY 822 Performance Management (2 credits)
PSY 823 Workplace Learning and Development (2 credits)
PSY 824 Employee Attitudes and Engagement (2 credits)
Required Practicum Experiences: All students must complete four practicum courses (8 credits total)
PSY 856 Practicum I: Making the Business Case (2 credits)
PSY 857 Practicum 2: Applied Skills in Data Analysis and Interpretation (2 credits)
PSY 858 Practicum 3: Developing a Training and Onboarding Program (2 credits)
PSY 859 Practicum 4: Attitude Survey Development and Analysis (2 credits)
Special Students complete 2 Special Topics seminars to meet the minimum requirement of 30 credits (4 credits total)
PSY 830 Special Topics (2 courses – two credits each)
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Meet the Directors
Meet Dr. Kevin Ford.
I am a professor of Psychology at Michigan State University whose major focus is on workplace learning and development and organizational change. My consulting work includes working with various private and public sectors on training, leadership, strategic planning and organizational development issues.
As a researcher, I have published over 100 articles and chapters and six books including my recent textbook on “Learning in Organization: An Evidence-Based Approach”. My contribution to the field has been recognized by my election as Fellow of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and I recently received the Scientist-Practitioner Award from SIOP.
My BS in psychology is from the University of Maryland and my MA and Ph.D. in psychology is from The Ohio State University.
Learn more about Dr. Ford here.
Meet Dr. Daisy Chang.
In my research, I strive to improve employee health, well-being, and safety by enhancing our understanding of the socio-cognitive and motivational processes that influence behaviors in organizational settings. I am particularly interested in identifying psychological processes that not only account for behavioral criteria that have been the traditional focus of industrial and organizational psychology, but also criteria related to occupational health and safety.