25 Best Master’s in Organizational Psychology

We always choose our top pick carefully for these lists, but it didn’t take too long to choose Texas A&M University’s Master of Science in psychology with a concentration in I/O psychology. This program is affordable, flexible, and one of the highest quality programs around. If you don’t believe us, do some research: There’s nothing not to love about this program.

Some notable courses in this program are Advanced Selection, Psychometrics and Survey Design in I/O Psychology, Personnel Psychology, and Organizational Psychology. Students must also complete the professional internship segment of the curriculum in this 33-credit program. Most students take 16 months to graduate with their degree; Texas A&M University expects that students will take no more than two years to graduate.

Are you interested in joining the esteemed ranks of Texas A&M University’s IO psychology program? Applying students must submit GRE scores, a professional resume, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate or graduate institution, a GRS document, and a statement of purpose. International students must also submit proof of English proficiency.

The University of North Carolina-Charlotte is a fantastic state school. Its students benefit from small class sizes, widely respected faculty members, and some of the most cutting-edge courses around. So if you’re looking for a Master of Arts in I/O psychology that will take you far, you’ll do yourself no wrong by choosing the University of North Carolina-Charlotte’s fantastic program.

Some of the excellent courses that students here take are Talent Acquisition, Quantitative Methods, Organizational Development and Change, Organizational Research Methods, and Diversity and Inclusion.

Are you a working professional, and as much as you’d love to attend a graduate program, you can’t see how it would fit into your schedule? Thankfully, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte had people like you in mind when it was designing its program. Students here take weekend and evening classes; thus, you don’t have to worry about disrupting your 9-5 work schedule as a student.

Are you torn between organizational psychology and other workplace human-centered professions? We understand your indecision: Psychology is a rewarding road, but it’s long, too. If you want to play it safe, though, and have a fallback option that doesn’t seem like a fallback at all, consider Appalachian State University’s Master of Arts in industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management.

Some classes in this program are Research Methods in Psychology, Employment Law, Organizational Development, Staffing, and Performance Management. Some of these courses cater to aspiring organizational psychologists; others are more focused on the human resource aspects of business. Either way, these two fields are adjacent; there is no useless information taught here.

Ready to become an Appalachian State University student? Applying students must submit GRE scores that are five or fewer years old, three letters of reference, a two-page personal statement, a professional resume, a 3.0 or higher GPA or a 2.5 or higher GPA with GRE scores in the 25th percentile, and official transcripts.

San Jose State University offers an excellent Master of Science program in industrial/organizational psychology. This program focuses on imparting the scientific, business, and ethical knowledge required to understand and prosper in the field. Students here choose to write a thesis or complete an internship. The former focuses on research, while the latter focuses more on practice.

Some required courses in this program are Organizational Development, Survey Design, Personnel Selection, and Job Satisfaction and Productivity. These courses prepare students for postgraduate schools in the field. And if you’re not ready to go straight to obtaining a doctorate, these classes and the graduate degree will make you more than qualified for human resource positions.

Applying students must submit an application cover sheet, resume, statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, transcripts from an accredited undergraduate or graduate program, and GRE scores. Note that GRE scores are optional—only submit them if you think they’d help your applicant profile.

What makes the University of Nebraska-Omaha unique is its availability of three programs. Students can earn a Master of Arts, a Master of Science, or a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology. What you choose is up to you. The Master of Arts program is recommended for students who want to earn a Ph.D.; this program requires students to complete a thesis based on original research.

The Master of Science program suits people who want to work in human resources, consulting, and training departments, but who don’t necessarily want to continue onto a Ph.D. in organizational psychology. Students pursuing a Master of Science complete a 150-hour practicum and write a technical report on it.

Finally, the Ph.D. program is for students who are set on becoming organizational psychologists, and who have completed a Master of Arts from the University of Nebraska-Omaha or another university. The doctoral program takes three to four years to complete.

Are you ready to help organizations flourish by playing a vital role in improving performance metrics, work culture, and training strategies? If so, consider Montclair State University’s fantastic Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology. This two-year program requires students to complete applied projects and take rigorous but rewarding classes.

Students here take fascinating courses like Interventions for Effective Organizations, Research Methods in Psychology, Consultation in Organizational Development, Seminar in Organizational Communication, and Dynamics of Group Process. Students may complete an internship or a thesis. The internship is best for people who want to work in human resources or a related field; the thesis is best for those who want to complete a Ph.D. in organizational psychology.

Students must have an undergraduate degree in psychology or twelve or more psychology credits to apply to this program. Additionally, students must submit a transcript from each college they attended, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and GRE scores.

California Baptist University offers an excellent Master of Science in industrial-organizational psychology. As the name of the university suggests, California Baptist University is a Christian school. Your courses don’t have a Christian focus exactly, but Christian thinking informs the programs and faculty at this school. If you’re looking for a Christian-leaning program that is equally informed by science and business strategy, this school is for you.

Some courses in this program are Work Motivation, Social Psychology, Teams in Organizations, Cross-Cultural Communication, and Program Evaluation and Organizational Consulting. Students also choose three electives from a pool of seven: Some options are Biblical Perspectives on Social Change, Global Business Management, and Foundations of Management.

Whether you want to become a behavioral scientist or IO psychologist, this program will help you make your professional dreams come true. Students at Christian Baptist University often take advantage of the opportunities to research alongside faculty members.

Students at the University of Florida’s Master of Science in IO psychology program can enroll full-time or part-time, but most enroll full-time. The program requires four semesters of full-time study, which takes students two years to complete. Students here can choose between a thesis and non-thesis option, depending on their professional and academic goals. As you can see, students at the University of Central Florida have options.

Some notable courses that University of Central Florida students take are Advanced Social Psychology, Psychological Testing, Assessment Centers and Leadership, Industrial Psychology Practicum, and Work Motivation and Job Attitudes. Students’ curricula will vary depending on their choice to pursue a thesis or internship in the field.

The University of Central Florida is a selective program, but students who have excellent grades and worthy resumes are likely to be accepted. Admission requirements include one official transcript from each attended undergraduate and graduate institution, GRE scores, a bachelor’s degree with at least some psychology experience, a resume, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation.

The University of Georgia is a large and highly acclaimed state school with more excellent programs, alumni, and faculty members than we could name. It’s not surprising, given the integrity and effort of the school to design outstanding programs, that the school’s master’s program in industrial-organizational psychology is among the best in the nation.

Students here take six semesters that total two years of coursework. Students only take two courses per semester, but the classes are demanding. Some courses students at the University of Georgia take are Organizational Research Methods, Motivation and Engagement, Testing and Measurements, Talent Acquisition, and Leadership Development. Students in this program complete an immersive practicum rather than a thesis. If you’d like to write a thesis, consider another option.

Students must have a 3.0 or higher GPA in a relevant field to gain admission to this program. Students must also submit the standard application materials: official transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, resume, personal statements, and the application fee.

Closing out the top ten, the University of Hartford offers one of the best Master of Science in organizational psychology in the country. Students here learn about research, research design, analysis, communication, facilitation, psychology, and more. The University of Hartford offers one of the most well-balanced programs available, and graduating students are almost always satisfied with their education.

Some notable courses in this program are Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Introduction to Workplace Training Program Design and Effectiveness, Experimental Design, Personnel Psychology, and Advanced Research Methods. Students choose a capstone or internship track. The latter is suggested for working students who wish to apply their learnings in the classroom. Internships suit those who want to gain practical experience in the field.

The University of Hartford’s program is also notably flexible. Students can complete this program on-campus or online in a full or part-time format. No matter your commitments, the University of Hartford will fit into your busy schedule.

Minnesota State University offers an excellent Master of Arts in industrial-organizational psychology. This program promotes real world applications to organizational psychology courses perhaps more than any other program on this list. Throughout the two-year program, students apply what they’ve learned to real-life situations through the school’s in-house Organizational Effectiveness Research Group. 

Students in this program piece together a portfolio, take a comprehensive exam, and complete a three-month internship or thesis. They also take fascinating courses, such as Psychometric Theory, Research Design and Statistics, Job Analysis, Performance Appraisal, and Personnel Training. Each student devotes more time to research and applications in the second year of the program.

Ready to join this esteemed program? Applying students must submit GRE scores, transcripts from each attended school, a personal statement, your resume, three letters of recommendation, and the application fee. Applying students must have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA in psychology or a related field to gain admittance to MNSU.

Some students want to become organizational psychologists; others simply want to learn the psychology behind business to help them obtain fruitful careers in human resources, organizational change, and leadership development. If you fit into the second group, consider Salem State University’s Master of Science in industrial/organizational psychology program. While students here can technically matriculate to a doctoral program, it better suits those who want to go straight into the field.

Students at Salem State University take classes like Research in Organizations, Ethical Issues in Business, Theory of Personality, Environmental Psychology, Statistics and Data Analysis for I/O Psychology, and Psychometrics. Students also complete an internship in this program; there is no thesis option. Salem State University has excellent partner organizations that offer students some of the best internship opportunities around. 

This 42-credit program takes students two years to complete. Upon graduation, students can become leaders and supporters in businesses of all kinds.

There’s little not to like about Seattle Pacific University. A gorgeous campus, an even better location, excellent student organizations, and more opportunities than we could name. Did we mention the school’s fantastic Master of Arts in industrial-organizational psychology? Students in the program become scholars in the field. Upon graduation, alumni have become researchers, professors, psychologists, and business leaders.

Some notable courses in this program are Social Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics, History and Systems of Psychology, Organizational Development and Consultation, and Leadership and Team Development. This program places an emphasis on research, which is an essential prerequisite to doctoral programs in the field.

Students usually complete this program in two or three years. Application requirements are as follows: an undergraduate degree in a related field from an accredited university with a 3.0 or higher GPA; GRE scores; a personal statement; three letters of recommendation; and application fees. International students must submit proof of English proficiency.

Do you want to stand out as a leader, problem solver, and supportive team member in your organization? And do you want to help your organization recover from slumps, maintain positivity, and choose fantastic team members? If so, consider St. Cloud State University’s Master of Science in industrial/organizational psychology program. This program is perhaps more suited to business practitioners than aspiring psychologists, but its dynamic nature allows both types of students to flourish.

Students at St. Cloud State University take fascinating courses like Ethical Issues in I/O Psychology, Psychology of Creativity, Psychology of Personnel Selection, Criterion Development and Performance Assessment, and more. This program highly values field experience and offers its students a chance to be a graduate assistant during their studies.

Graduates from this program have become research associates, talent managers, human resource managers, recruiting coordinators, and more. Others have gone onto postgraduate school to become psychologists, researchers, and professors.

The University at Albany is a standout for its academic excellence. Countless accomplished students have graduated from this school, and dozens of internationally acclaimed professors work here. Thus, you can expect a first-rate education at the University at Albany’s Master of Arts program in industrial organizational psychology. And for $471-per-credit tuition, this program is quite affordable.

This program allows students to complete a thesis or opt for a track that emphasizes practice in the field. The thesis option is ideal for aspiring psychologists, researchers, and professors. The non-thesis option is ideal for students who would rather apply their skills to the workplace as human resource managers, organizational change managers, and company recruiters.

Most students take two years to complete this 36-credit program, which is average for IO psychology programs. The average graduate from the University at Albany’s industrial organizational psychology program earns $83,580 a year, which is extremely promising. 

The University of Minnesota is one of the foremost research-focused schools in America. Its prize-winning alumni and faculty list would fill up this entire document. And these esteemed people aren’t concentrated in a single department; their presence reaches every program that the University of Minnesota offers. Hence, you can rest assured that the University of Minnesota’s industrial/organizational psychology program is fantastic.

Some courses that students in this program take are Personnel Psychology, Psychometrics, Analysis of Psychological Data, Research Methods in I/O Psychology, and Organizational Psychology. These courses are demanding, but students get out what they put in. If you focus, study, and dedicate your time to your courses, your career outcome will be more than satisfactory.

Because this program is so highly esteemed, it’s also very competitive. To get an edge, make sure that your applicant profile is as strong as possible, with excellent letters of recommendation, high GRE scores, and plenty of extracurricular activities. 

New York University probably needs no introduction, but we’ll give it one to be sure. Per Wikipedia, NYU has graduated “multiple heads of state, royalty, a US Supreme Court justice, 5 State Governors, 17 billionaires, 37 Nobel Laureates, 8 Turing Award winners, 5 Fields Medalists, 31 MacArthur Fellows, 167 Guggenheim Fellows, 3 astronauts, 7 Abel Prize winners, 7 Lasker Award winners, a Crafoord Prize winner, 26 Pulitzer Prize winners,” and more. Needless to say, you’re in pretty good hands here.

New York University’s Master of Arts in I/O psychology program is one of the best around. Were it more affordable, this program might be at the very top of our list. Students here take courses like Master’s Statistics, Applied Research Methods, Training in Organizations, Performance Measurement and Rewards, and Organizational Development. Students must also pass five electives with a B or better. 

Students can choose to take a comprehensive exam or write a thesis. New York University allows students to enroll full or part-time, but all students must graduate within five years to maintain their credits.

The U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Bowling Green State University’s industrial-organizational psychology program as the second best in the nation. So you can be sure that each component that makes up the department is almost as good as it gets. The school offers an excellent master’s in IO psychology that promotes participation, applied learning, and research.

Bowling Green State University had one of the nation’s first organizational psychology programs. That means two things: First, the people here know what they’re doing. The program has researched the foundations of the field, and they’re open to the latest research. Second, the alumni network is extensive. Graduates from this program have access to thousands of other alumni that lead the field.

Faculty in this program believe in the collaborative nature of learning, and they expect students to research and work with one another. Industrial-organizational psychology is a collaborative field, after all, so why not work with one another from the get go?

Hofstra University is one of the best private universities in New York. The school has graduated governors, professional sports players, prize-winning authors, and more. Hofstra University also offers an excellent Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology program. Students here learn the intricacies of survey research, employee selection, training, organizational development, and other skills pertinent to the field.

Students typically complete the 44-semester hour curriculum in two years. Throughout the two-year program, students complete a supervised internship where they apply classroom knowledge to the real world. Courses focus on the statistics, business foundations, psychology, and research design of the field.

Graduates from this program have become human resource managers, training managers, CEOs, consultants, training and evaluations specialists, and more. This program is dynamic, and its graduates are, too. If you want to get ahead in the world, and play an ethical part in business growth, look no further than Hofstra University.

Do you want to be a business leader, but you want to make sure that your business grows ethically and sustainably? Or perhaps you’re more focused on industrial psychology, but you’d like to leave the door open for becoming a business executive or founder? If either applies to you, consider Roosevelt University’s dual MBA and Master of Arts in IO psychology program.

Some sample courses in this program are Organizational Psychology, Intermediate Statistics, Training and Development, Employee Testing, Social Networks, and Occupational Health Psychology. These are just the IO psychology courses; MBA courses teach students the foundations and practices of business management. Students here can join the Roosevelt Industrial/Organizational Psychology Association if they wish to further advance their craft.

Roosevelt University boasts real world practice. Students here complete applied projects, collaborate with faculty on research, and work with one another to become business and psychology leaders. 

Western Michigan University is a state school with many renowned programs, a great campus life, and many extracurricular activities and organizations. The school offers a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in industrial/organizational psychology. Its programs are excellent; they’re also demanding and quite competitive. But as long as you’re committed to your studies, you’ll flourish here.

Some notable courses in this program are Behavior-Based Instructional Design, Computer-Based Instruction, Research Methods in Behavior Analysis, Personnel Training and Development, and Psychology of Work. Students here can choose a thesis or practicum track. The former is recommended for aspiring doctoral program students; the latter is best for students who want to go into the field upon graduation.

Admissions requirements are as follows: a 3.0 GPA in psychology from an accredited undergraduate program, GRE scores in the 50th percentile or above, research activity, three letters of recommendation, relevant work experience, and a purpose statement. 

Central Michigan University is another state school in Michigan. It is a large school, with hundreds of programs that are equally well supported by experienced faculty and well-organized departments. Central Michigan University offers a Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology. Upon graduation, students can join a business as an organizational psychology professional or apply to CMU’s Ph.D. program in the field.

Courses in this program focus on teamwork, psychological testing, job performance, job analysis, work motivation, and more. Students learn the foundations, techniques, and practices of psychology. Additionally, they learn the essential practices of business. Finally, students must complete a practicum and thesis to meet the graduation requirements.

Central Michigan University’s Master of Arts in industrial/organizational psychology program is quite competitive. Admitted students have an average GPA of 3.73, Verbal GRE of 157, and Quantitative GRE of 151. You may gain acceptance with worse scores, but you’ll have to make up for it with professional experience.

Whether you want to join the workplace as a human resource leader or matriculate into one of the best postgraduate programs in the country, Elmhurst College’s Master of Arts program in industrial/organizational psychology will prepare you for anything. Students here learn to design and execute workplace interventions, complete business projects, and develop the soft skills required to prosper in the real world.

Some courses that Elmhurst College students take are Research Methods in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Job Analysis and Performance Management, Employee Selection Procedures, and Organizational Development. Students choose one option from a list that includes a thesis, capstone, or internship. 

Elmhurst College is one of the few programs on this list that offers a dual MBA option. If you want to leave the door open for becoming an executive or business founder, we suggest you choose a program with an MBA option. Whether or not you choose the MBA track, though, Elmhurst College’s IO psychology program will surpass your standards.

Students enrolled in Northern Kentucky University’s Master of Science program in industrial-organizational psychology benefit from excellent student services, including available graduate assistantships and the opportunity to use research laboratories. With these resources, students can advance in the field and subsidize their tuition while gaining meaningful experience that employers will love.

Some core courses of Northern Kentucky University’s program are Cognition in the Workplace, Work Environments, Univariate Statistics and Research Design, Training and Development, and Job Analysis and Staffing. Some electives that students can choose to take are Public Health, Motivation, Organizational Leadership, and Organizational Health Psychology.

Northern Kentucky University allows admitted to transfer up to nine credits of coursework as long as students finished each of those courses with a B or higher and the courses meet the program’s requirements. Students must also maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA to remain in the program. Students can count two C grades toward the degree; any more and they’ll have to repeat the class.

Last but not least, the University of New Haven offers a fantastic Master of Arts program in industrial/organizational psychology. Students here can participate in internships, complete thesis research, enroll in a schedule that would support a full-time job, hold a graduate assistantship, and more. If you’re looking for a flexible program, you can’t do much better than the University of New Haven.

This program takes full-time enrollees two years to complete; part-time enrollees finish this program in three years. Some courses in this program are Worker Well Being, Organizational Behavior, Psychology of Conflict Management, Workplace Motivation and Attitudes in Organization, and Organizational Consultation. These courses require students to read extensively and research the field.

Graduates from this program have become human resource managers, CEOs, training managers, organizational change consultants, team leaders, and more. As long as you want to prosper in the human side of the business world, the University of New Haven is an excellent choice for you.