M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

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Associate Professor Shahani-Denning, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-6343, Comila.Shahani-denning@Hofstra.edu

This program prepares students for careers in such areas as human resources, training, management, and organizational development, in which they can apply psychological principles to problems that arise in a wide variety of organizational settings. It is also designed to enhance the careers of professionals who work in these areas by teaching them to apply psychology to issues that develop in their organizations. Research design, statistics, and psychology provide the foundation for advanced study in selection, training, performance appraisal, worker motivation, and organization development. The curriculum is strengthened by an internship sequence which provides on-site supervised experience working on applied projects in business and public agencies. The 44-credit program can be completed in two years by full-time students, and in three years by part-time students. Courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate part-time students. Hofstra University’s master’s program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is the only such graduate program on Long Island.

The types of work that holders of applied master’s degrees in industrial/organizational psychology perform include employee selection, management development, survey research, training, organizational development, performance appraisal, career development and program evaluation. They are employed in industry, government, hospitals, social service and mental health agencies, advertising, and marketing research. Their titles include specialist, manager, director, and consultant, as in Training and Evaluation Specialist, Industrial Relations Manager, Director of Human Resources, and Organizational Development Consultant.

The program is designed to serve students and organizations in the geographic area centering on Long Island, New York. This region is endowed with many businesses, industries, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations which are undergoing complex change. Facilitating such change requires the services of professionals who are trained in the application of psychological principles to organizational problems. The M.A. program invites students from diverse backgrounds and those with work experience after graduation from college.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in psychology, business, or a related field with a GPA of B or better.
Completion of courses in introductory psychology and elementary statistics with a grade of B or better.
Scores of no less than 500 on the Verbal and 500 on the Quantitative sections of the GRE.
Written statement of professional goals.
All prospective candidates will be personally interviewed.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 44

The M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology comprises 15 courses totaling 44 semester hours. It is designed to be completed in four semesters by full-time students. Part-time students would be expected to complete the program in three years. No more than six transfer credits are accepted toward the degree.

Required Courses - Semester Hours: 17

PSY 201 - Graduate Statistics I Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 203 - Research Design I Credits: 4 s.h.
PSY 283A - Foundations of Industrial/Organizational Psychology I: Industrial Psychology Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 283B - Foundations of Industrial/Organizational Psychology II: Organizational Psychology Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 290, 291 - Internship in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Credits: 3 s.h. ea
PSY 341 - Ethics and Professional Practices in Psychology Credits: 1 s.h.

General Psychology Electives - Semester Hours: at least 6

At least six semester hours of general psychology electives must be chosen from the following:

PSY 207 - Cognition and Perception Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 208 - Learning Theory Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 249 - Current Theory and Research in Social Psychology Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 288 - Motivation Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 289 - Small Group Behavior Credits: 3 s.h.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Electives - Semester Hours: at least 6

At least six semester hours of industrial/organizational psychology electives must be chosen from the following:

PSY 217 - Organization Development Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 218 - Applied Behavior Analysis in Industry Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 219 - Organizational Psychology: Leadership Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 284 - Personnel Selection Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 286 - Measurement of Work Performance Credits: 3 s.h.
PSY 287 - Training and Development Credits: 3 s.h.

Additionally

Twelve additional semester hours of electives must be taken from the psychology courses listed above or from other graduate programs with written approval. The remaining three semester hours are earned either by completing an additional internship course, PSY 291, or by the completion of a Master’s Essay, PSY 301. All electives must be selected under advisement.

A qualifying examination must be taken and passed upon completion of 25 semester hours in the program. This examination is given in June and August of each year. Students may have two opportunities to pass the qualifying examination. In addition, students must maintain a B average with no more than one C per semester, or more than two C’s toward the M.A. Students who do not meet these requirements will be placed on probation.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of all program requirements.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work.

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