Majoring in Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Industrial-Organizational Psychology is one of the fifteen specialties in psychology that is officially recognized by the American Psychological Association. What exactly do I-O Psychologists do? They work in a variety of settings in a variety of roles, but essentially their job is to apply psychological principles and research methods to increase efficiency, solve problems, and improve the quality of life for employees and their employers in the workplace. They conduct research to develop ways to increase productivity, improve recruiting, hiring and retention rates, and often consult on issues regarding employee training. This is a great career choice for someone who is interested in improving the morale and productivity of employees within their companies and organizations.

Work settings vary in this field; some graduates work independently as consultants, while others hold jobs in corporations, small businesses, government agencies, schools, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, non-profits, and community organizations.

I-O Psychologists are responsible for many different tasks. They are hired to identify, formulate, and implement employee-training programs. They act as employee coaches, in order to evaluate and improve job performance, motivation, occupational safety, and employee wellbeing. Those who work as Human Resources Specialists help to determine current and future staffing needs. Workforce Insights Analysts collect and study data to improve hiring, training, and performance evaluation. Independent consultants are brought in to solve a particular problem in a company’s workplace regarding employee training, teamwork issues, or management challenges. Research analysts are involved with analyzing consumer preferences, customer satisfaction, and market strategies. I-O Psychologists are qualified to work as trainers, facilitators, coaches, and assessors.

Industries that emphasize research and data analysis, such as scientific development companies and management consulting firms frequently employ I-O Psychologists. Since they are experts in research design, statistical methods, and testing and interpretation of results, I-O Psychologists are valuable assets to workplaces that rely on data collection and research.

Since few colleges currently offer a bachelor’s degree specifically in I-O Psychology, most students begin by obtaining a BA or a BS in Psychology. In addition to taking basic introductory courses in psychology, they focus on research methods, social psychology and cognitive psychology. While there are jobs available to those with a bachelor’s degree, students are strongly encouraged to earn graduate degrees to increase their job prospects and future salaries. A master’s in Psychology takes approximately two additional years of study. The highest paid I-O Psychologists hold a PhD in Psychology. This represents an additional four to five year commitment, but assures even higher incomes and more job opportunities.

The demand for I-O Psychologists is increasing, as businesses strive to improve their efficiency, minimize costs, and comply with complex government regulations. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary in this field is currently (2016/17) $76,950, so students planning on majoring in Psychology may want to investigate the Industrial-Organizational specialty as a potentially successful and rewarding path.