Industrial-organizational psychology

Master of science

Think about all the ways you can improve the workplace. Based on your observations, you know that effective communication can drive collaboration and that data has the potential to refine hiring efforts and better define performance metrics. At the same time, organizational culture remains in a continuous state of upheaval, whether for embracing technological progress or motivating teams. Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologists are integral to this process, including in human resources, training and development or as an organizational behavior consultant.

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s (Missouri S&T) online master of science in industrial-organizational psychology gives you this edge. For those looking to apply their psychology knowledge or individuals interested in transforming workplace culture, recruitment, training and performance management through social science, this program examines the interplay between human behavior and the work environment through research, statistics, data analysis and psychological theories. You’ll understand how psychological principles can encourage workers to meet key objectives and create a more welcoming, supportive culture for all.

Students may apply directly to the program or get introduced to the field through Missouri S&T’s online graduate certificate in applied workplace psychology.

Why earn a master’s degree in I-O psychology?

I-O psychology is both a rapidly rising career path and psychology subfield for one prominent reason. Organizations strive to make more innovative decisions, remain more competitive, attract the right talent and shape attitudes to meet specific benchmarks. Resources, on the other hand, are limited, leaving minimal room for experimentation.

I-O psychologists ultimately architect a smarter, more streamlined workplace from the top down and across multiple departments and divisions. Their involvement helps establish and track more targeted measurements, make science-backed decisions and create more engaged, inclusive teams. Focused on technology-centered workplaces, Missouri S&T’s online master’s in industrial-organizational psychology trains you to tackle these challenges and direct these initiatives:

• Learn to more effectively manage human resources, hiring, training and retention efforts in a STEM organization.
• Understand the role of human factors in attracting, motivating, training and retaining employees and implementing technology in the workplace.
• See how research and the scientific method can influence organizational decision-making, from who to hire to adapting workflows to developing a long-term growth strategy. 
• Translate your psychology knowledge to optimize an organization’s performance, from management, hiring and engagement to changing company culture.
• Get a stronger grasp on the intersection between humans, the workplace and their communities and how these relationships can shape management, hiring, training and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies. 
• Prepare to help organizations address high turnover, conflicts, safety concerns, culture and stagnant or declining productivity.