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Industrial/Organizational Psychology specialization

Degree Type
  • Master of Arts, Master of Science
Location
  • Main Campus in Radford, VA
Format
  • In-Person
Industrial Organizational Psychology students take a photo on Hemphill Hall steps

The Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology specialization leading to the M.A. or M.S. in Psychology is designed for students who want to apply psychological principles directly to the study of work behavior. You will learn how to conduct a job analysis, construct and validate selection tests and evaluate job performance. 

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Highlights of the specialization

  • 87.5% career placement withing 6 months over the last 5 years

  • Real-world client work built into courses 

  • Extensive alumni network for internships and job prospects 

  • Collaborative learning environment  

  • First job offers after graduation typically over $70k

Why Study the I/O Psychology specialization

As one of the oldest continuously operating I/O options in the U.S. we have an extensive alumni network and our exclusive focus is on training highly competent master’s level scientist-practitioners in I/O Psychology. 

We use an Educational Consulting Firm Model. In this model, working with off-campus clients as part of the course work is common. We treat out faculty as partners and expect our students to conduct themselves as consultants. Our junior consultants (first year students) typically work on projects involving job analysis, employee selection, employee satisfaction, and organizational change. Our senior consultants (second year students) typically work on performance appraisal or other higher level project as they become available. These opportunities turn into line items on our students’ resumes and make for compelling stories when they interview for jobs after graduation.

Our graduates have many options open to them after they graduate. About 20% go into Human Resources, about 5% go on to study for their Ph.D., about 10-15% work for the federal government, and about 60-70% go on to work at one of the many management, knowledge, and operations consulting firms. Several of our graduates have also had success in starting their own consulting firms. Our graduates report very high career satisfaction.  They tackle problems such as employee engagement, employee sentiment surveys, DEI training and related initiatives, worker stress reduction, designing performance appraisal systems, and creating employee selection systems.

Careers and Outcomes

Graduate outcomes over the last decade:

  • 87.5% of graduates have found employment within I/O psychology or related fields within 6 months over the last 5 years

  • Most graduates remain employed within the I/O psychology field or related fields for the duration of their careers

  • Employers of our graduates over the last decade include the Department of Defense, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Corning Inc.. McKinsey and Co., HumRRO, DCI Consulting, DDI World, Northrop Grumman, Dish Network, Wells Fargo, and many more

Admissions Requirements

  • No GRE requirement 

  • Median GPA of accepted applicants over the last 5 years is 3.3

  • 2 letters of recommendation 
  • Letter of purpose 

Due to the rigorous methods and statistics curriculum in our program we do have a preference for applicants with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. However, applicants without a psychology degree are welcome to apply. Such applicants have a better chance of admission when they can demonstrate the ability to be successful in statistics courses. Additionally, successful completion of the Psychology GRE is viewed favorably by the admissions committee for applicants that do not have a psychology degree.

M.A. in Psychology Program Curriculum

M.S. in Psychology Program Curriculum

About Our Students

Radford University is one of Virginia’s many public universities, however our students come to us from all over the nation and even globally. Over the last decade we have had students from Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Hawaii, California, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington state.

Many students report that out-of-state tuition, fees, and costs at Radford University are less expensive than in-state educational opportunities in their home state.

Application and Assistantships

Apply now to the I/O Psychology specialization at Radford University.

Any questions about the program can be directed to Jay Caughron, Ph.D., at jcaughron@radford.edu or any of the other faculty listed below. Additionally, Jay Caughron, Ph.D. hosts regular information sessions on Zoom. You may email him for an invitation to the next one.

Assistantships for graduate students are available, over 90% of students over the last decade have had assistantships through the university.

View more information regarding assistantship opportunities.

Regular applications are due on February 15 for the following Fall semester.

Late applications are due on May 31 for the following Fall semester. Note: Late applicants may not be eligible for graduate student funding.

Pro Bono Consulting Services

The Radford University I/O Psychology specialization partners with employers for pro bono services in the following ways:

  1. Internships. Students are required to complete a summer internship between their first and second year. Students regularly take on consulting or human resources roles related to survey development, employee recruitment and retention, leadership training, employee relations, job descriptions/job analysis, performance appraisal, and employee training.
  2. Pro bono consulting services. Program faculty take on clients seeking help with specific, short-term projects. These projects have included job descriptions/job analysis, leadership training, performance management, employee onboarding and selection, and workplace culture/climate reviews. Our clients have included not-for-profit organizations like local governments as well as fortune 500 companies.
  3. Fellowships. Organizations can sponsor our students as they complete their educational experience at Radford University. This benefits the organization by giving them access to cutting edge technology, methods, and knowledge in the field of I/O Psychology. Including, but not limited to topics such as: survey development, artificial intelligence, data driven decision-making processes, and employee relations.  

If you are interested in speaking with a faculty member about one of these opportunities, please reach out to Dr. Jay Caughron at jcaughron@radford.edu. 

Meet the Faculty