Your interest in psychology and its applications in business means a career in industrial-organizational psychology would be a great fit. However, before you begin your career, you must get the appropriate education. Depending on your current goals, that might mean getting a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Fortunately, many schools in Louisiana offer online degree options in IO psychology. But the beauty of online learning is that you aren’t limited to what in-state schools offer. You can also pursue an online IO degree from an out-of-state school as a Louisiana resident. That’s the beauty of online learning!
This guide explores some of the popular programs – both bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. Get familiar with each one and decide what program from which school is right for you!
Industrial Organizational Psychology Programs in Louisiana
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering industrial-organizational psychology programs in Louisiana:
- Louisiana State University-Alexandria
- Loyola University New Orleans
- Louisiana Tech University
- Auburn University
- Purdue University Global
- National University
- American Public University
- Southern New Hampshire University
Louisiana State University-Alexandria
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The online Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University-Alexandria offers a specialization in Industrial Organizational psychology that readies you for entry-level work. Moreover, this degree is a perfect stepping stone to more advanced studies in a graduate program.
This is a typical undergraduate program in that you need 120 semester credit hours to graduate. However, all classes are entirely online, including the general education courses you must complete before starting your major studies. General education courses examine primary topics like English composition, math, natural sciences, and history. You’ll also take courses in fine arts, humanities, communications, and social science. A total of 39 general education courses are required.
You must also complete 32 additional credits in the following areas to satisfy the general education requirements:
- English Literature or Technical Writing
- Six credits of humanities electives
- Two credits of natural science lab
- 21 elective credits or an optional minor
The next phase of the program is core major courses. These classes cover broad, general topics in psychology, including the following:
- Statistics for Behavioral and Social Sciences
- Research Methodology
- Cultural Diversity
- Abnormal Psychology
- Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Psychology
All told, you must complete 31 credits of foundational psychology coursework. Think of these classes as being an introduction to a broad spectrum of psychology topics. Then, you’ll build on that foundation with the 18-credit specialization in industrial-organizational psychology.
The IO track includes studies on the psychology of work. For example, you’ll learn about the role of psychology in helping workers become more motivated and productive. You’ll also analyze how psychological tools and techniques can be used by businesses and organizations to enhance productivity, employee morale, and communication.
Your studies of the psychology of work are augmented by a course in the Principles of Management. This upper-division class examines how to manage employees, how managers lead effectively, and how to set short-term and long-term organizational goals. Furthermore, you’ll explore topics like motivation, time management, and adaptation and their role in managing an organization.
The remaining courses in the IO psychology specialization continue this focus on psychology and management. You’ll take Personality Psychology to gain insights into the unique features of personality, how personality develops, and major personality types and their influence on the workplace. You’ll also take Human Resource Management to gain some skills regarding how to manage many different personalities within an organization.
Other required IO psychology courses include the following:
- Tests and Measurements
- Psychology of Judgment and Decision-Making
- Human Behavior in Organizations
- Employee Selection and Placement
This program requires four years of full-time studies to complete. However, you can shorten your timeline to graduation by taking an extra class each semester and/or taking classes during the summer session. Doing so can cut a semester to a year off of the time needed to graduate.
You can apply to LSU-Alexandria online at any time. You must meet the following requirements to be considered for admission:
- Have a high school diploma indicating you completed a college preparatory curriculum.
- Have a high school GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Have an ACT composite score of 20 or higher or have a 2.0 GPA or higher in your high school core coursework.
Additionally, you mustn’t be required to take more than one developmental course in college.
Loyola University New Orleans
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Loyola University New Orleans’ Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is another popular online option for completing your degree. This program doesn’t specifically have an industrial-organizational specialization. However, through the required psychology coursework and the availability of business-related electives, you can create an emphasis that focuses on these two fields.
At 120 credits, this program requires you to complete the standard number of classes to graduate. Those credits are broken down as follows:
- 39 credits of Loyola Core courses
- 18 credits of Major courses
- 18 credits of Psychology electives
- 45 credits of General electives
The Loyola Core sequence of courses is a set of general classes every undergraduate student must take. This includes studies in math, English, social science, and natural science, to name a few. The purpose of these and other Core courses is to help you develop a broad set of skills that enable you to be a successful student and a productive worker after you graduate.
The Major portion of the curriculum focuses on foundational psychology classes. For example, you’ll take basic courses like Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology. You’re also required to take social psychology, which is an excellent class to learn how social norms and pressures affect human behavior. Social psychology is an important part of learning how to use psychology to better understand the inner workings of businesses and organizations.
The final two Major courses are Research Methods and Statistics and Methods. These classes focus on the science of psychology. You’ll learn about common psychological research approaches and how to collect, analyze, and report the data you collect during your research.
You’ll supplement your psychology coursework with additional classes of your choosing. The university offers a wide range of options. For example, you might take any of the following:
- Educational Psychology
- Psychology of Trauma and Disaster
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology of Human Aging
- Theories of Personality
Lastly, the General elective sequence of courses is where you can tailor your studies to include business, management, marketing, and other areas that are pertinent to industrial-organizational psychology. In fact, the university lists courses in Business and Management as being a prime target for you to complete the elective component.
However, you can mix and match classes from any undergraduate department. For example, you might take some sociology classes to explore the study of human behavior at the societal level. You might also take philosophy courses to examine traditional thoughts on the human experience.
However you proceed with your online coursework, you’ll benefit from a robust online classroom where you learn from experts in the field. You’ll have opportunities to interact with your professors and classmates, ask questions, participate in research activities, and much more, all from the comfort of your own home!
You must meet the following criteria to apply:
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Submit high school transcripts of equivalency scores.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
Louisiana Tech University
Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech focuses on behavioral theory and its application in the workplace. By completing this degree, you’ll have a solid understanding of human behavior, how to conduct psychological research, and how to use your knowledge and skills to make workplaces more productive, accepting, and communicative.
More specifically, your studies will focus on critical aspects of applying behavioral science in organizational settings. For example, you’ll learn about employment law, leadership, and organizational management. You’ll also examine training and development strategies, decision-making in business, and how to conduct statistical procedures.
You’ll acquire these and other skills by completing a 36-credit program of study. The largest component of the curriculum is required coursework in advanced psychology topics. For example, you’ll take an Organizational Theory class that explores the latest research in this field. You’ll evaluate modern organizational theories, examine empirical research in this field, and discover how to use organizational theory to improve the functionality of a workplace.
Another critical course you’ll take early on in this program is Industrial Psychology. This class discusses how to apply psychology in business settings. For example, you’ll learn how to design systems by which potential employees are interviewed. You’ll also learn how to train employees and create systems by which top employees are retained. This course examines the legal aspects of working in business and industry, too.
Your studies will be enhanced further by taking a Training and Development course. As the name indicates, this class will help you develop the skills required to design, analyze, and evaluate an organization’s employee training apparatus. You’ll do so within the context of learning how to conduct task analysis, how to develop training methods, and how to create employee evaluations.
The sequence of applied psychology courses continues with Leadership and Decision-Making. This class equips you to be part of an organization’s leadership team by teaching you how to be an effective leader. This includes gaining higher-level decision-making and communication skills. You’ll touch on ethical and legal issues of leadership, too.
There is also a research component to this program. On the one hand, you’ll take Research and Statistical Methods, which is a three-credit course that explores common research methodologies in the behavioral sciences. More specifically, the course focuses on quantitative methods of research and developing expertise in using the APA style of writing to develop detailed reports of your research.
Furthermore, you’ll take Statistical Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. This class is essential in your development because you’ll learn how to make sense of the data you collect as part of your research. This includes modern computerized statistical methodologies that make collecting, analyzing, and reporting data a much more streamlined process.
In addition to the required courses outlined above, you must also complete 12 elective credits of graduate psychology coursework. These classes allow you to tailor your degree somewhat and focus on areas of particular interest to you. However, each elective must be approved by your advisor.
The final two components of this degree are an internship and a comprehensive exam. The six-credit internship gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in a supervised, real-world setting. You’ll be able to observe experienced industrial-organizational psychologists at work, participate in organizational leadership activities, and work directly with employees on issues such as leadership, morale, and productivity, to name a few.
Meanwhile, the comprehensive examination evaluates your growth and development as a pre-service IO psychologist. The exam covers topics from throughout your studies and evaluates your ability to apply what you’ve learned in real-world contexts. Typically, the exam is taken during your final semester of studies before graduation.
You can apply here if this program seems like a good fit. Ensure you meet these requirements prior to applying:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher or 2.75 or higher in the final 60 credits of your studies.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide additional documentation as required by the academic college.
Auburn University
Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
While Auburn University is in Alabama, its Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology is available to you as a Louisiana resident. This online program focuses on developing the skills and techniques necessary to address challenges of all sorts, from leadership issues to lack of employee motivation to larger organizational issues that prevent a business from reaching its goals.
This 30-credit program typically requires two years to complete. The program is composed entirely of coursework–there is no thesis required, though a Practicum in Applied Psychology must be completed. The practicum typically occurs toward the end of the program after you’ve had the opportunity to acquire the full breadth of IO skills needed to be successful in an organizational environment. During the practicum, you’ll develop your knowledge and skills more thoroughly by working with an experienced supervisor in an organizational setting.
But, before you can complete the practicum, you must work through a sequence of graduate-level courses focusing on psychology, research, and professional issues. For example, you’ll take a course entitled Foundations in I/O Psychology that explores the development of this field. You’ll gain a better understanding of the need for industrial-organizational organizational psychology, common practices and techniques in this field, and the benefits that applied psychology offers to businesses and organizations.
Another key course you’re required to take is Training and Development in Organizations. One of the most important functions of IO psychologists is to provide the proper onboarding techniques for new employees that make their success more likely. You’ll learn how to develop training programs and how to implement continuing education and training modalities that help employees grow throughout their tenure.
These classes go hand-in-hand with studies of applied psychology such as:
- Personnel Selection
- Ethics and Professional Issues in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Research Methods in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Advanced Analytics in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The final component of this program is a nine-credit sequence of graduate electives. These courses must be offered by the Department of Psychological Sciences–you cannot take classes outside the department and apply them toward this degree, even if they are pertinent business or management classes. Currently, you can choose from a wide range of electives, including topics like Occupational Health Psychology, Coaching in Organizations, and Organizational Change.
Another elective option is Occupational Stress and Management. This is a key course to consider taking because it enables you to directly address one of the most common workplace complaints–job-related stress. The skills you gain in this class not only prepare you to have a measured impact on employees’ job satisfaction and productivity but also allow you to help employees be more mentally healthy at work and in life in general.
The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide a personal statement in which you discuss why you wish to study industrial-organizational psychology at Auburn.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from references with insights into your academic and professional capabilities.
Purdue University Global
Online Master of Science – Industrial Organizational Psychology
Another option for pursuing a graduate degree in IO psychology is the online Master of Science program from Purdue Global. This program is fully online and offers an accelerated format, with an average completion time of just one year.
Purdue’s graduate program offers a concentration in IO psychology, preparing you to apply psychological principles in organizational settings. In this program, you’ll study theories, techniques, methods, and practices related to IO psychology, along with topics such as workplace attitudes, leadership, human resource management, and employee evaluation.
Many of the required courses focus on general psychology topics that are applicable to various areas. For example, in the course Foundations of Professional Psychology, you’ll learn the skills, knowledge, and abilities needed to be an effective psychologist. The course Ethics and Standards for Professional Psychology builds on this by helping you develop a professional identity and a commitment to ethical conduct.
Several courses focus on research skills, such as:
- Advanced Research Methods
- Applied Statistics for Psychology
- Testing, Measurement, and Assessment
These courses will teach you how to apply psychological principles to gather and analyze data, and how to use your findings to improve organizational functioning and employee performance.
Another important course is Life Span Development, which focuses on human development across different life stages. You’ll explore key milestones in each stage and study human development through various models, including cultural and contextual frameworks.
The program includes a five-course concentration sequence in IO psychology, which is designed to build your expertise and provide you with the skills needed to practice effectively in organizational settings.
One key course in this sequence is Industrial/Organizational Theory and Development. In this course, you’ll gain an overview of IO psychology, including methods of practice. You’ll also study the history of the field, as well as topics like ethical considerations, sociocultural influences, and organizational behavior.
The Organizational Management and Behavior course examines how organizations function, with a focus on managing change, resolving conflicts, and developing effective communication strategies within organizations.
Other required courses in the concentration include:
- Workplace Motivation and Attitudes
- Organizational Leadership—Management, Training, and Evaluation
- Human Resources Management
You may also choose to complete an IO psychology practicum, a five-credit field placement that provides real-life experience in an organizational setting. This practicum gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in class while gaining practical insights from experienced IO psychology professionals.
As part of the program, you’ll have the option to complete either a thesis or a capstone project. Both require research, but the thesis focuses more on theoretical and intensive research. The capstone project, on the other hand, involves developing a research proposal, including a literature review, hypothesis, and methods for testing the hypothesis.
To apply to this program, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Submit official transcripts confirming your degree.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Submit an Enrollment Agreement.
- Complete the Identity and Document Verification process by providing a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Arrange financing for the program.
- Provide proof of English proficiency if English is not your native language.
The application process is available online, and Purdue Global is ready to help you take the next step in achieving your academic and professional goals in psychology.
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