Admission Requirements

Admission to graduate study in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is competitive and not automatic for students meeting minimal admission requirements. Students are selected from a pool of qualified applicants. Each year the number of students admitted to the program depends on the availability of adequate faculty supervision.

In order to be considered for unconditional admission, candidates must meet two standards: an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher and a minimum score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). A minimum score of 141 (current scale) or 450 (former scale) on the quantitative measure of the Graduate Record Examination is expected for admission to the I/O concentration within the Master of Arts in Psychology.

Applications for Summer/Fall admission must be complete by March 1 and applications for Spring admission must be complete by October 1. Late applicants who meet the admission criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis. (See admission standards under Admission to the College of Graduate Studies .) Applicants to the Industrial/Organizational Psychology program must provide a letter of intent stating goals and objectives.

Conditional Admission: Students who do not meet admission requirements may be admitted conditionally to the Industrial/Organizational concentration. Students admitted conditionally must maintain a 3.25 GPA in their first semester (9 hours minimum) of required graduate courses in their concentration areas.

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the core areas of psychology by completing the following courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level prior to entering the I/O program or during enrollment in the program (relevant courses offered at MTSU are listed in parentheses):

1. group measurement/testing (PSY 4260/PSY 5260  or PSY 6050 );
2. abnormal psychology (PSY 3230/PSY 5230 );
3. learning or cognition (PSY 4040, PSY 4480/PSY 5480 *, or PSY 6190 *);
4. social or developmental (PSY 2210, PSY 2300, PSY 4190, PSY 4210/PSY 5210 , PSY 4610/PSY 5610 , PSY 6410 );
5. brain and behavior, sensation and perception, or research methods (PSY 3070/PSY 5070 , PSY 4240/PSY 5240 , or PSY 4030/PSY 5030 );
6. introductory course in I/O psychology.

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be counted as approved graduate electives depending upon specialization.

Most applicants have completed 15 semester hours of psychology classes prior to admission to the graduate program in Industrial/Organization psychology. Those applicants without 15 semester hours of undergraduate psychology may be admitted to the program but must complete those credits in addition to their graduate program requirements.

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Applicant must

1. submit an application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php); 
2. submit official transcripts of previous college work;
3. submit letter of interest/intent;
4. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts with an Industrial/Organizational concentration requires completion of 46 semester hours including at least 38 hours in psychology courses. Only 30 percent of the total number of hours may be dually listed (5000-level meeting in conjunction with 4000- or 3000-level) courses.

Candidate must

1. demonstrate knowledge of the core areas of psychology by completing the following courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level prior to entering the Industrial/Organizational program or during enrollment in the program (relevant courses offered at MTSU are listed in parentheses):
   1. group measurement/testing (PSY 4260/PSY 5260  or PSY 6050 );
   2. abnormal psychology or personality (PSY 3230/PSY 5230 , PSY 3590, or PSY 6020 );
   3. learning or cognition (PSY 4040, PSY 4480/PSY 5480 , or PSY 6190 );
   4. social or developmental (PSY 2210, PSY 2300, PSY 4190, PSY 4210, PSY 4610/PSY 5610 , or PSY 6410 );
   5. brain and behavior, sensation and perception, or research methods (PSY 3070/PSY 5070 , PSY 4240/PSY 5240 , or PSY 4030/PSY 5030 );
   6. introductory course in I/O psychology (PSY 3320).
2. complete PSY 6280 , PSY 6290 , and PSY 6640  (3 hours);
3. successfully write and orally present a written thesis evaluated by a committee of psychology faculty in conjunction with PSY 6640;
4. pass a written comprehensive examination prepared by the Industrial/Organizational faculty (may be taken no more than twice).

Curriculum: Psychology, Industrial/Organizational

 Candidate must complete 46 hours in the following course of study:

Program Notes

Students must be able to meet the demands required for professional work in psychology. Therefore, students may be subject to dismissal from the Psychology Department if they (a) commit a serious breach of ethics or gross professional negligence or (b) present evidence of impaired psychological functioning that would present a danger to themselves or others in a professional role. Students who are dismissed may reapply and will be considered for readmission on a competitive basis. Students who reapply may be asked to provide evidence of improved ability to meet performance requirements.

Candidate must

1. file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to the completion of 21 credit hours;
2. file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which the student intends to graduate.