Washington is a beautiful state with soaring mountain peaks, gorgeous coastal rainforests, and recreation opportunities everywhere you look. The state’s economy is as varied as its climate, too – timber, shipping, technology, and aviation are just a few of its major industries.
The state’s higher education system is diverse as well and there are many popular psychology schools in the Washington. You can study at a large state university like the University of Washington or Washington State. Alternatively, you can pursue a degree at a small school like Gonzaga or the University of Puget Sound.
Industrial Organizational Psychology Graduate Programs in Washington State
Not all colleges and universities in Washington have a graduate program in industrial organizational (I-O) psychology, though. Below is a list of some popular schools offering graduate industrial organizational psychology programs in Washington State:
- Washington State University
- Seattle Pacific University
- Grand Canyon University
- Gonzaga University
- Capella University
- Eastern Washington University
- Purdue Global
Washington State University (WSU)
Washington State University was founded in 1890 in Pullman, a mid-sized city on the state’s eastern side. WSU is the state’s land grant institution, and as such, its programs focus on teaching practical subjects with applications in the modern world. In addition to psychology, Washington State has business, education, and science programs, to name a few.
In all, more than 100 bachelor’s degrees, nearly 80 graduate programs, and more than 60 doctoral programs are available at WSU. Additionally, professional degree options in veterinary science, pharmacy, and medicine exist.
If you join the more than 31,000 students on campus, you can take part in hundreds of campus activities and organizations. You can even study abroad with more than 550 programs that enable you to study in other nations.
Industrial Organizational Psychology Program Information
The doctoral program in experimental psychology from Washington State University offers a concentration in industrial organizational psychology. This specialization informs you on how to apply psychological principles in the workplace on the individual and organizational levels.
This five-year program allows you to explore highly specific topics in industrial organizational psychology. For example, you can study:
- Work-family conflicts
- Work-based discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Job insecurity
- Organizational dynamics
As a result of your studies, you will be prepared to pursue a career in any number of settings, including psychology, business management, and consulting. Graduates of this program are highly trained in research and academic applications of psychology as well, giving you yet more options for your post-graduate occupation.
Your doctoral studies can be paid for in many ways, including assistantships, fellowships, and grants. In some cases, you might have enough funding to pay for the entirety of this residential program.
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- Hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited university with a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Have at least 18 undergraduate credits in psychology studies
- Submit three letters of recommendation
Additional factors may also be considered, such as past research experience, a background in statistics and research methods, and prior teaching experience.
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University was founded in 1891 as a private Christian school associated with the Free Methodist Church of North America. What began as a small school has grown over the years to include students and faculty with associations in more than 50 Christian denominations.
Seattle Pacific is still a small school, though – just over 3,000 students. However, the school offers 70 undergraduate degrees, more than two dozen master’s programs, and a handful of doctoral programs.
Additionally, there are dozens of undergraduate and graduate certificates offered. No matter your area of study, you will enjoy a gorgeous campus, small class sizes, and easy access to all the amenities that Seattle and the Pacific Northwest provide.
Industrial Organizational Psychology Program Information
Seattle Pacific’s Master of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology is a 66-credit, two-year residential program. Of the 66 credits, 56 are required courses, and the remaining ten credits are electives of your choosing.
While in the program, you will develop a theoretical foundation of I-O principles that enable you to conduct research and address real-world work-based challenges with competence. Your coursework includes traditional classroom studies, research opportunities, and fieldwork that develops you into a leader in the field.
Some of the courses you will take include:
- Organizational Behavior
- Leadership and Team Development
- History and Systems of Psychology
- Program and Organizational Evaluation
- Learning Systems and On-the-Job Development
Additionally, you must complete a master’s project and portfolio during the second year of the program as part of the requirements to graduate. Upon graduation, you will have the skills needed to enter the workforce. Alternatively, you will also be prepared to pursue a doctoral degree in I-O psychology.
You can apply to this program by completing an online graduate application and submitting a $50 application fee. You must also satisfy the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university
- Have a 3.0 GPA or higher in all undergraduate studies
- Have at least one business, social science, or math statistics course on your undergraduate transcripts
- Have at least two psychology courses on your transcripts
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities you’ve attended
- Submit a personal statement
- Submit three letters of recommendation
Gonzaga University
Located in Spokane, Gonzaga University was founded in 1887 as a private, non-profit institution of higher learning. Even today, the school is still quite small – there are around 7,000 students, and the campus is just 152 acres.
With a small student body comes small average class sizes and a low student-to-faculty ratio. This, in turn, means you’ll have ample opportunities for one-on-one learning with your professors.
Speaking of professors, Gonzaga boasts a high percentage of faculty with a terminal degree – nearly 90 percent. This means your professors have the highest level of expertise and experience in their fields – expertise they can pass on to you.
Whether you study at the undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral levels, Gonzaga has the faculty, staff, programs, and support services to help you meet your educational and career goals.
Industrial Organizational Psychology Program Information
The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga isn’t an I-O psychology program. However, if you have an undergraduate education in psychology or have a graduate degree in this field, Gonzaga’s program can give you additional insights into developing strong leaders in business and industry.
For example, just like a typical I-O psychology program, the organizational leadership degree from Gonzaga focuses on the following:
- Conflict resolution
- Motivating groups
- Decision-making
- Effective communication
- Negotiation
Moreover, you will learn how to be a change-maker for management and leadership positions, how to strategize on a global scale, and how to develop creative solutions to small and large problems in the workplace.
What’s more, you have the opportunity to focus your studies in one of four specializations:
- Global Leadership
- Change Leadership
- Strategic and Organizational Communication
- Servant Leadership
If you like, you can continue your education after you graduate from this program by enrolling in Gonzaga’s Ph.D. program in Leadership Studies.
Applying to this program is simple. Complete an online application and submit official transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume. To qualify, you must already have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university.
Eastern Washington University (EWU)
Eastern Washington University is a mid-size public school located in Cheney. The school was founded in 1882 as the Benjamin P. Cheney Academy but eventually gained university status in 1961.
The school has continued to grow in the years since, with recent enrollment eclipsing the 10,000 mark. As a student at EWU, you can take courses in various fields, from psychology to criminal justice to education.
EWU has many interesting and unique features. The school’s campus was almost completely destroyed by fire on two separate occasions. In both instances, the school was rebuilt better than before.
EWU is also one of just three universities with a facility for research in a wildlife refuge. The school’s Prairie Restoration Project, which is converting farmland back to prairie, is another unique opportunity for learning.
Industrial Organizational Psychology Program Information
The 44-credit Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Eastern Washington University is a great opportunity to learn how to be a change leader in business, industry, and other organizations.
This online program can be completed in as little as ten months. This means you can start and finish your education in a much shorter time frame, which allows you to begin your career sooner. You can begin that career with the knowledge and skills needed to make effective and lasting changes in workplace environments.
Some of the courses you will take include:
- Ethical Leadership
- Social and Emotional Dimensions of Leadership
- Leading in an Intersectional World
- Team Leadership
- Organizational Theory and Culture
While this isn’t an I-O psychology program, the topics listed above (and the many others you will study) align closely with the overarching principles of I-O psychology studies. Like the program from Gonzaga, Eastern Washington’s program might be a good fit if you already have an undergraduate or graduate degree in psychology.
You can begin the application process by applying online. To qualify for admission, you must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited university
- Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of study
- Submit official transcripts from the institution that granted your undergraduate degree
- Submit a professional resume
I-O Psychology Work Opportunities in Washington State
As noted in the introduction, Washington has a highly diverse economy that includes blue-collar and white-collar industries. With organizations and businesses big and small scattered throughout the state, there are many opportunities to make a positive difference using your background in psychology and leadership development.
For example, you might work for Starbucks Coffee to help identify ways that management and ownership can incentivize employees to be more productive while on the job. Alternatively, you might consult with a company in the aerospace industry to devise strategies for improving worker safety on the manufacturing floor.
Other careers for I-O psychology in Washington include working in private practice and providing consultative services to private companies or public entities, like local and state governments. You might conduct research, too. By specializing in I-O psychology research, you might unlock a new understanding of why some people develop into great leaders and others struggle with leadership.
In other words, the possibilities for working as an I-O psychologist in Washington are virtually endless! The first step is to get your graduate degree. Then you can explore the world of possibilities working in the Evergreen State.
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