This degree program offers studies in organizational psychology principles such as decision making, commitment, and behavioral risk management.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm (visited March 24, 2022).
In general, you should expect to complete approximately 120 credit hours—other schools may require an even higher number.
At one university, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology will require that you complete 120 credit hours. You will take general education classes, your core requirements (to include a three-credit capstone), electives, and several courses in the I-O Psychology concentration.
While completion of the entire program varies from student to student, you should expect that, if you take a minimum of 12 credit hours and take summer classes, you should be able to complete your degree in about four years.
If your university requires you to take a larger number of credits, try to take 15 credit hours per semester, plus at least one class in the summer session(s). If you are taking online classes, you will be able to structure your educational program in a way that suits your circumstances.
How much a bachelor’s degree costs depends on the school. A bachelor’s degree may range from approximately $40,000 over four years for in-state residents at a public university to $140,000 or more for students attending private colleges. Online tuition also varies, but students do not have to pay for housing, meals or transportation, and costs are generally lower because online classes cost less for a college or university to operate. Online courses often charge in-state rates to all students, while brick and mortar colleges charge higher rates to students from out-of-state. To determine the actual costs of your education, you should perform a simple budget analysis and investigate all the costs involved with earning a degree at a school you wish to attend.
Once you settle on a major in I-O Psychology, you need to make sure that the schools you’re interested in carry such a major. Most, though not all, schools include psychology as a major. Some of those schools will have a concentration in I-O Psychology.
Visit the websites of each school you’re interested in. Their ‘admissions’ or ‘courses offered’ listings should tell you if the major you’re looking for is available. If you have trouble navigating their online listings, feel free to call the school; either an admissions officer or someone at the psychology department should be able to tell you if the major is available.
Today’s students don’t tend to graduate in the four-year time frame anymore. Currently, fewer than 50% of freshmen will graduate within the four-year mark.
This gets expensive, because students are required to continue paying for the classes they are taking. If you are making plans to enter a university, you should develop a plan that allows you to graduate within four years. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
I-O Psychology programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). This professional organization is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Because of the APA, Commission on Accreditation’s (APA-CoA) focus on accreditation policies, guidelines, and procedures, this helps to ensure a more consistent national value for psychology degrees accredited by this group.
Career and Placement Services can assist you with much of the work involved in applying for a job, getting an interview, writing a resume and cover letter, and completing a job interview. If you aren’t sure about how to structure your resume and cover letter(s), the career office can help you with writing tips and services. Depending on the college you can even have access to interview preparation help and other helpful assistance.
The work you will be doing is vital to businesses and employees all around the country. Accreditation ensures that your education either meets or exceeds minimal quality standards. You’ll be able to choose a college based on accreditation or its lack.
Your college choice and its ranking will also affect your future salary. Employers rely on the rankings of schools and their educational programs to figure out how high your salary offer will be.
Accreditation is vital. It means the difference between getting financial aid or not, receiving a job offer or not, and getting a higher salary offer or not. Accreditation helps to reassure the college, federal financial aid sources, and future employers that the education is of the highest quality. It shows that the university meets established standards of quality, maintains eligibility for financial aid, and shows a commitment to best practices in education.
