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Industrial-Organizational Psychology, B.S.

Impact people; impact businesses through an Industrial Organizational Psychology Degree

• Do you want to learn how to improve the lives of people at work?
• Do you want to combine your interest in business with your interest in psychology?
• Interested in making jobs more satisfying, workers more productive, and training leaders to treat employees fairly?

Industrial and Organizational Psychology (IO Psychology) is the psychology of the workplace and employee behaviors. Learn how to hire and train effectively by applying evidence-based practices to organizational challenges. MTSU is one of only a few universities across the nation to offer this degree. The curriculum aligns with both the Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) standards. Industrial-Organizational Psychology addresses a variety of human resources and organizational issues, such as:

• Employee recruitment and selection
• Training
• Compensation
• Employee stress, health, and well-being
• Retention and turnover
• Performance management
• Job analysis
• Employee engagement

The Industrial-Organizational Psychology degree is designed to (a) prepare students for entry-level positions in human resources departments and (b) provide a background for students wishing to pursue graduate work in industrial-organizational psychology or related fields. Students can get hands-on work experience through internships or the opportunity to work with our on-campus consulting firm, the Center for Organizational Human Resource Effectiveness (COHRE).

We encourage students to join the MTSU Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and attend breakfast networking events and workshops curated for their professional development. MTSU SHRM provides I-O Psychology majors with the opportunity to learn from area professionals, get matched with HR mentors, apply for scholarships, and attend I-O relevant conferences.

What our Industrial Organizational Psychology Degree alumni are saying:

"When I interviewed for my first job I felt so prepared to answer the questions because of what I learned in my classes."

"My education has given me a broad understanding of what goes on in human resources."

"My Bachelor's Degree in I-O Psychology from MTSU helped me land a dream job in HR. I started at MTSU as a general Psychology major. The class "Seminar on Careers in Psychology" introduced me to the HR field as a potential career choice. HR is the perfect intersection of business and psychology. I changed my major to I-O Psychology as quickly as possible. My passion grew in every class thanks to the professors who taught from their own real-world experience as HR professionals.

I landed an entry-level job with an outsourced HR company in Nashville and have worked my way into an HR Director position with the company after just 4 years. I have obtained certifications from HRCI and SHRM and am now serving on the MT|SHRM board of directors helping other HR peers with their professional development. I'm eternally grateful to the MTSU I-O Psych program for helping me get to where I am today!"

"I definitely feel that my education has set me up for future success."

"I-O psychology taught me the importance of taking care of employees and treating them right."

"I was truly shocked at how closely my degree tied into a real-world scenario of an HR department."

If you live in one of these states: GA; you may be able to attend MTSU at in-state rates under the Academic Common Market program.