Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Concentration, M.A.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Industrial-Organizational Psychology graduate program is made on a competitive basis. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Students are selected from a pool of qualified applicants.

In order to be considered for admission, candidates must meet the following standards: an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher and a minimum score of 141 on the quantitative measure of the Graduate Record Examination is expected for admission. Additionally, all applicants should have successfully completed an undergraduate course in statistics.

Applications for Summer/Fall admission must be completed by February 15 and applications for Spring admission must be completed by October 1. Late applicants who meet the admission criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants to the Industrial-Organizational Psychology program must provide a letter of intent stating goals and objectives.

It is recommended but not required that applicants have completed an introductory course in I-O Psychology before applying. Most applicants have completed 12 semester hours in the core areas of psychology prior to admission to the graduate program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Those applicants without 12 semester hours in core areas of psychology may be admitted to the program but must complete those credits at the undergraduate or graduate level. See additional requirements listed below.

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). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
2. submit official transcripts of previous college work;
3. submit letter of interest/intent also known as a personal statement; This should address (in any order): Why student is interested in the field of I-O psychology; why student is interested specifically in the MTSU I-O program; summary of research, employment, and/or leadership highlights; and anything else students would like us to know.
4. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
5. submit three letters of recommendation;
6. submit a resume or curriculum vitae.

For more information about application materials, please see www.mtsu.edu/programs/psychology-ma-io/.

NOTE 1: Admission to graduate study in Industrial-Organizational Psychology is not guaranteed for students meeting minimal admission requirements. Each year the number of students admitted depends on the availability of adequate faculty supervision.

NOTE 2: To be considered for graduate assistantships, student must submit additional material. Information is available at www.mtsu.edu/psychology/grad/assistantship.php.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts with an Industrial-Organizational concentration is designed as a 43-hour program for students who have demonstrated knowledge of the core areas of psychology prior to entering the Industrial-Organizational program.

Students must complete 43 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. successfully write and orally present a written thesis evaluated by a committee of psychology faculty in conjunction with PSY 6640;
2. pass a written comprehensive examination prepared by the Industrial-Organizational faculty (may be taken no more than twice).

Curriculum: Psychology, Industrial-Organizational

The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements.

Additional Requirements (0-12 hours)

Applicants who have not yet completed one or more of these requirements are fully eligible to apply and be considered for admission to the program. Admitted students who lack one or more of the core areas of psychology will be required to complete additional coursework, which may be done during their enrollment in our program. Relevant courses offered at MTSU are listed in parentheses.

1. introductory course in I-O psychology (PSY 3320);
2. group measurement/testing (PSY 4260/PSY 5260 );
3. learning or cognition or behavioral neuroscience or sensation/perception (PSY 2190, PSY 4030/PSY 5030 , PSY 4040, PSY 4240/PSY 5240 , PSY 4480/PSY 5480 , PSY 4780/PSY 5780 , or PSY 6190 );
4. social or developmental or personality (PSY 2210, PSY 2300, PSY 3590, PSY 4190, PSY 4210, PSY 4610/PSY 5610 , PSY 6020 , or PSY 6380 ).

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.