New Program for 2018: Master of Professional Studies Degree in Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The field of applied industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology uses evidence-based psychological principles and interventions and applies them in professional and organizational settings. In response to evidence of increasing demand for professionals with these skills, the Department of Psychology is expanding its offerings of graduate degrees to include a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program in applied industrial/organizational psychology along with the already popular I/O concentration in the psychology MA program.

The two programs are complementary, says psychology department chair Keith Renshaw, in the program’s proposal to add the MPS degree. While the current MA focuses on training in both basic and applied research, its emphasis is primarily on training students in the generation of new knowledge. The new program will train professionals primarily in the consumption and application of research-based information in various settings.

Moreover, the format of the new program will be fully online, to meet the needs of working professionals and adult learners, whose work schedule may not allow for the face-to-face coursework and mentorship of the traditional MA program. It is anticipated that the students’ ability to complete coursework on their own schedules and move through courses in up to six 7.5-week modules per year will allow students to complete the program in a two-year period.