Industrial / Organizational Psychology M.S. (IU degree)

The goal of this program is to develop scientists and scientist-practitioners through rigorous mentored research and coursework in statistics, measurement, and research methods. The program requires a full-time commitment for two years of study, including completion of required coursework and a master's thesis.

Note: this is a terminal master's degree program. For students interested in pursuing a Ph.D., please visit our Applied Social and Organizational Psychology program website.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge of the historical foundations of I/O psychology and its core content areas: personnel psychology (e.g., selection, training, and performance management) and organizational psychology (e.g., motivation, leadership, job attitudes, and group/team performance).
2. Apply the theory, methodologies, and data analytic procedures to conduct research in organizational settings or on topics relevant to organizations.
3. Synthesize and critically evaluate psychological theory and research as they relate to human cognition, emotion, and behavior in organizations.
4. Apply skills related to the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of scientifically based interventions intended to improve organizational functioning.
5. Communicate effectively to members of the field and to the general public.
6. Demonstrate awareness of, and appreciation for, the many aspects of human diversity in the workplace.
7. Behave ethically and professionally in accordance with the American Psychological Association's code of ethics in the conduct of research and in personal and professional settings.

Core Faculty

• Coming in Fall 2019, Stephanie Andel, Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, 2017, University of South Florida. Interests: occupational health psychology, employee health and safety.

• Leslie Ashburn-Nardo, Associate Professor and Program Head, Applied Social and Organizational Psychology Program. Ph.D., Experimental (Social) Psychology, 2003, University of Kentucky. Interests: diversity and intergroup relations, prejudice reduction.

• Evava Pietri, Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Social Psychology, 2013, Ohio State University. Postdoc at Yale University 2013-2015. Interests: attitudes and social condition, gender bias, and bias reduction interventions.

• Peggy S. Stockdale, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology. Ph.D., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, 1990, Kansas State University. Interests: Gender and EEO issues in the workplace.

• Jane R. Williams, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, School of Science. Ph.D., Industrial/Organizational Psychology, 1995, University of Akron. Interests: performance feedback, employee development.

Affiliated Faculty

• Alan Colquitt, Adjunct Professor of Psychology. Manager, Workforce Research, Eli Lilly & Company.

• Christopher O. L. H. Porter, Adjunct Professor of Psychology. Professor of Management, Kelley School of Business.

• Meghan Lowery, Adjunct Professor of Psychology. Consultant, Global Assessment/Workforce Research, Eli Lilly & Company.

The degrees are conferred through the Purdue University system, and entering students must meet the minimum admission requirements of the Graduate School of Purdue University as well as departmental requirements. Admission to the program is competitive. In the last five years, we have averaged 82 applications per year. We currently are able to support approximately 3 or 4 students per cohort.

All applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (bachelor's degree must be conferred prior to Fall registration).

Degree: Applicants preferably have a bachelor's degree in Psychology, but we will consider applicants with bachelor's degrees in similar areas with coursework in social science statistics and research methods).

GPA: Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Over the past 5 years, admitted students have had an average GPA of 3.64.

GRE: Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination General Test, but the psychology subtest is not required. Only valid GRE scores are accepted; test scores are valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested (July 1-June 30). To be considered, minimum scores are Verbal: 151 (49% rank); Quantitative: 149 (39% rank). Over the past 5 years, admitted students have averaged in the 75th percentile for verbal, 60th percentile for quantitative, and 65th percentile for analytic writing.

Prerequisites: Our program has a strong quantitative emphasis. It is highly unlikely that a student would be admitted without a course in statistics. In the rare circumstance that a student is admitted without meeting this prerequisite, the student must pass an approved statistics course prior to Fall enrollment in the program.

International Students English Proficiency Requirements: International applicants must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless student has a Bachelor's degree from a predominantly English-speaking country (check here for the official list). International applicants must have a minimum total score of 86 on the internet-based test (the following iBT subscore minimums must also be met: Writing-18, Listening-14, Speaking-18, Reading-19). Additionally, applicants must meet Purdue eligibility standards for admission detailed here. For more information, visit the International Admissions Website.

Application Deadline: February 1st
To be considered for admission, all application materials must be received by the deadline. Please see the Application Instructions. Note: this is a full-time program and students are admitted for Fall enrollment only.

Students must complete at least 30 hours of coursework including 3 hours of research credit. Students are expected to maintain a B average or above in all coursework.

Statistics and Research Methods (4 courses, 12 credit hours)

• PSY 60000 Statistical Inference
• PSY 60100 Correlation and Experimental Design
• PSY 60800 Measurement Theory and the Interpretation of Data
• PSY 68100 Seminar in Research Methodologies of Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Core courses in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 courses, 9 credit hours)

• PSY 57000 Staffing
• PSY 57200 Organizational Psychology
• PSY 57600 Human Resource Development

Other required courses

• PSY 69800 Thesis Research (3-6 credit hours)

Electives (2 courses, 6 credit hours)

• PSYI 64700 Attitudes and Social Cognition
• PSY 68400 Practicum in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Other courses as offered

Other Program Requirements

• End of semester Student Assessment and Faculty Feedback (SAFF, pronounced "safe") meetings
• Thesis
• Ongoing research engagement with faculty

Optional Summer Internship

Hands-on practitioner opportunities occur during an optional internship in the summer between the first and second years and/or a semester-long practicum elective. These opportunities are coordinated through program faculty and our numerous area partners. Below is a list of some of the local organizations with whom we have established relationships.

• Clarian Health Partners                      
• Indiana Health Physicians
• St. Vincent Hospital              
• IU School of Medicine
• Eli Lilly                                              
• Public Safety Medical
• Indiana Historical Society                 
• British Airport Authority
• Interactive Intelligence                      
• Wishard Hospital
• NCAA Headquarters             
• Flashpoint Consulting
• WellPoint                                           
• Rolls Royce
• Exact Target                                       
• Direct Defender         
• Emmis Communications        
• Ivy Tech
• Premiere Consulting Services
• Performance Assessment Network

Tuition Remission and Health Insurance

• In exchange for 5-6 hours of work per week within the Department under the supervision of one or more Department faculty, the I/O program is often able to remit a portion of students' annual tuition, as well as providing student health insurance. The number of credit hours remitted per student depends on a number of factors and is often not determined until shortly before the beginning of each academic year. In the past, the number of credit hours remitted during a single academic year has ranged from 6-12 of the typical 18 required.
• The IUPUI Tuition & Fee Estimator can help calculate annual costs. Select 'Science' from the Program dropdown menu for Psychology Department rates.
• If you are from a qualifying Midwest state, you may be eligible for the Midwest Exchange Program.

Stipend

• I/O students in good standing should typically expect to receive competitive stipend support for two years.
• Sources of stipend support typically involve work positions for 15 hours/week, 10 months of the year, such as:
  • teaching or research assistantships
  • fellowships (e.g., Kabat Fellowships, University Fellowships)
  • applied placements in related academic units (e.g., IUPUI Human Resources)
• Students may supplement their income with an optional summer internship (see above Internships and Practica tab)

Other Support

• Professional development support for research and travel
• Free or reduced fee licenses for major research software, such as SPSS
• Library resources