Curriculum

The I/O related coursework covers topics such as job analysis, selection, performance management/appraisal, training, employment law, organizational socialization, attitudes, motivation, team-building, leadership, culture, organization development techniques and a variety of productive and counterproductive work behaviors across 6 courses (plus two electives).

The methodological core of our program requires coursework in statistics, methodology and psychometrics. The emphasis in this area is on both basic and fundamental knowledge, as well as application of statistics to organization problem-solving using advanced data science. Basic statistics, test design & evaluation, data visualization, programming in R, and basic and advanced data science applications are covered throughout 3 courses.

We also offer several elective classes each year for our second-year students on a rotating series of topics. The thesis option is available as an alternative for those who wish to pursue advanced graduate study. Directed study options with faculty are also available to independently learn on a topic of interest.

Finally, theses, directed studies, and research undertaken through coursework have led to student presentations and publications at the local, regional, and national levels. Students interested in this should reach out to faculty to assess mutual fit. Research of this nature is not a requirement of the program.

**Please note: The specific topics listed here are subject to change based on the changing needs of industry & faculty expertise. The course descriptions linked here to the graduate catalog do not necessarily reflect the most updated topics covered.

Course Sequence

Fall Year One

PSYC 650. Organizational Psychology

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Organizational culture, socialization, person-environment fit, job attitudes & beliefs, motivation, work-life balance, organizational health psychology.

PSYC 651. Job Analysis & Employment Law

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Methods of job analysis, legal issues & EEOC guidelines, job evaluation.

PSYC 610. Analysis of Behavioral Data

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, probability, inferential statistics (i.e., t-tests, ANOVA, regression).

Spring Year One

PSYC 656. Personnel Selection

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Decision-making in employee selection, in-depth of various assessments used in selection (i.e., interviews, biodata, intelligence tests, personality, etc), integration of data-driven decision making into the selection process.

PSYC 611. Methodology and Program Evaluation in Psychology

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Experimental & quasi-experimental research designs. Reliability & validity in the research context. 

PSYC 655. Change Management & Organization Development

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Consulting in modern organizations. Organizational development. Organizational theory. 

Summer Year One

PSYC 798. Practicum in I/O Psychology

    Students are required to find and participate in an I/O-related internship between their first and second years. The minimum requirement is 150 hours, though many students work more. Many of these internships are paid and allow students to 1) apply classroom knowledge and experience gained from in-class projects to a different employer and 2) further develop marketable skills and gain experience to bring back to the classroom and following graduation.

Fall Year Two

PSYC 612. Psychometric Theory

    Key Skills & Topics Covered: Reliability, validity, item & test development, measure evaluation, exploratory statistical techniques (i.e., factor analysis) to develop & evaluate measures.

PSYC 654. Performance Management Systems

     Key Skills & Topics Covered: Performance management planning, defining performance, measuring performance, performance evaluation forms, ratings, and sources, 360 feedback, modern issues in performance management.

1 Elective:

PSYC 690. Seminar in Psychology

    Seminars in psychology are elective classes taught by a full-time I/O faculty member. Topics vary from semester to semester. Recent examples include topics in well-being at work and leadership.


PSYC 698. Directed Study

    Directed studies are available on an ad-hoc basis for students who have a strong desire to explore a topic not covered in our curriculum. Students are asked to come in with a project idea or plan for the semester and will be guided by a faculty member to establish content & goals. Directed studies are subject to faculty availability and fit.


Thesis Option: PSYC 699. Thesis Research

Spring Year Two


PSYC 652. Training and Development

 Key Skills & Topics Covered: Needs assessment, instructional/educational design, contextual factors, transfer of training, team & cross-cultural training issues.

PSYC 777. Multivariate Analysis of Behavioral Data

     Key Skills & Topics Covered: Multivariate statistic techniques (i.e., multiple regression, mediation, moderation), Data visualization, modern "big" data techniques, variable importance & selection, 'R' statistics package. 

**Note: This course is currently offered twice a year. The spring section is geared for I/O students emphasizes the 'R' package and applying data science to organizations. 

1 Elective:

PSYC 690. Seminar in Psychology

    See above.

PSYC 698. Directed Study

    See above.


Thesis Option: PSYC 699. Thesis Research