There are many different advantages of getting a college degree in Oklahoma. On the one hand, public and private universities, large and small, are in every corner of the state, so access to higher education is easy. This is especially true now that online learning is so common.
On the other hand, Oklahoma is an inexpensive place to live and work. In fact, Oklahoma has the third-lowest cost of living in the U.S. By finding an affordable online industrial-organizational psychology program, you can extend that affordability to your education, too.
Below are some of the popular IO psychology programs worth your consideration. Some of these programs are in-state; others are from out-of-state schools whose programs are available to you as a resident of Oklahoma. In either case, these programs will prepare you for the next step, be that additional schooling or a career.
Industrial Organizational Psychology Programs in Oklahoma
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering industrial-organizational psychology programs in Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma State University
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University
- Capella University
- Walden University
- Colorado State University
- The Chicago School
- National University
- American Public University
- Southern New Hampshire University
Oklahoma State University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Oklahoma State University is a four-year, 120-credit, fully online program. With the knowledge and skills you gain earning this degree, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue entry-level work in IO psychology.
This degree is not specifically focused on industrial-organizational psychology. However, the broad psychology curriculum gives you the essential tools to understand how psychology can be applied in workplace settings. You can hone your skills further by taking coursework in business, management, and marketing to fulfill the degree’s elective course requirements. Doing so allows you to tailor your degree to business and organizational applications without having a specific specialization or minor.
Speaking of the curriculum, you’ll begin by completing general education classes required of all undergraduate students. You’ll take courses in a wide range of academic fields, including, but not limited to, the following:
- English
- American History and Government
- Analytical and Quantitative Thought
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
Typically, these classes are lower-division and completed in the first two years of the program. After that, you’ll focus on major requirements and electives.
The major requirements include core classes like Succeeding in Psychology, Statistical Methods in Psychology, and Experimental Psychology. These courses are foundational; they help you acquire the necessary skills to be a competent psychology student and future practitioner of psychology.
From there, you’ll take 30 credits of psychology classes in four competency areas:
- Learning, Cognition, and Biological Basis
- Psychometrics, Personality, and Social Processes
- Developmental and Sociocultural Dimensions
- Clinical and Applied Psychology
You must take at least one class in each of the areas listed above. How you fill out the remaining required competency credits is up to you. For example, with an interest in IO psychology, you might prioritize coursework in the Psychometrics, Personality, and Social Processes field. Classes like the Psychology of Motivation, Social Psychology, and Psychological Testing all have significant applicability in IO psychology settings.
Courses in other niches are pertinent to IO psychology as well. For example, Psychology of Learning, which is in the Learning, Cognition, and Biological Basis area, explores how human behavior changes as a result of the learning process. You’ll learn about classical and operant conditioning and the differences between the two, as well as verbal learning and concept identification. What you learn in this class will help you understand how others learn, the most effective methods by which to teach others, and the tools you can use to retrain others, as well–all of which are important tasks for IO psychologists.
As another example, you might take Decision-Making and Problem-Solving, which analyzes psychological research on these processes. Having a greater understanding of how people make decisions and solve problems is essential for IO psychologists. It helps inform you of why people behave the way they do, what their individual strengths and weaknesses are, and the methods you might use to help them become better decision-makers and problem-solvers in a workplace setting.
You can choose to take other psychology electives, too. For example, you might complete a senior thesis to get additional research and writing experience, which can be helpful for making your case for admission to a master’s degree program. Alternatively, you might enroll in a research practicum to get real-world experience assisting your professors with research for publications and presentations at professional meetings.
You can apply to OSU online if this program sounds like a good fit for you. Follow these application procedures to apply as a first-year student:
- Complete the online application linked above.
- Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or above and rank in the top one-third of your graduating class, or have a 3.0 GPA or above in a 15-unit core curriculum and a 21 ACT score or 1060 SAT score or higher, or score 24 or higher on the ACT or 1160 or higher on the SAT.
- Submit official high school transcripts.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Another undergraduate option to consider is the Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Like the program at OSU described above, this degree requires about four years of full-time study. However, six additional credits are needed to graduate–126 credits in total.
A unique feature of this program is that each class is just five weeks long. While the pace of learning is intense, you only take one class at a time, as opposed to three, four, or five classes at a time in a traditional program. Taking a single class at a time offers the advantage of thoroughly learning the subject matter before moving on to another subject.
Likewise, since classes start every five weeks, Oklahoma Wesleyan offers continuous enrollment. This gives you the flexibility of starting and stopping your studies as needed without having to wait an entire semester to take new classes.
As is common for undergraduate degrees, you’ll complete a variety of courses in different fields. The general education component for this degree comprises roughly half of the credits you need to graduate. These credits explore topics such as:
- Natural sciences, such as biology and chemistry
- Social sciences, such as sociology and anthropology
- Arts and humanities, like art history and philosophy
- Quantitative reasoning, like college algebra and trigonometry
- History and government, like U.S. history since 1865 and American government
As noted earlier, these and other general education classes are intended to make you a well-rounded and well-informed student. The skills and knowledge you acquire in these classes are directly applicable to future studies and to your work as an IO psychologist.
For example, understanding basic biology ensures that you’ll be more successful in classes like Biological Psychology. The mechanisms of biology are constantly at work and influencing our behavior. Knowing how neurotransmitters work, for example, and how medications affect neurotransmitters, are key components of another common psychology course–Psychopharmacology.
You can use your understanding of these subjects in IO psychology situations, too. For example, let’s assume you’re in an entry-level role in the human resources department at a large organization. Let’s also assume that an employee has shared that they have ADHD. With an understanding of the biological components of ADHD and the ways that ADHD medications affect functioning, you can more readily support that worker and assist them in being as productive in their work as possible.
This degree also requires you to take courses like Techniques of Counseling. Though one-on-one counseling isn’t typically a role for IO psychologists, having a basic understanding of counseling techniques is an excellent asset to have. You can help people work through interpersonal problems at work, explore their frustrations with their job assignments, and set future goals by using counseling skills to be an effective support system for your colleagues.
Other psychology courses you might take as part of this program include the following:
- Experimental Psychology
- Psychological Statistics
- History and Systems of Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Psychology of Motivation
Just like the first degree on this list, this B.S. in Psychology does not have a specific emphasis on IO psychology. Instead, you can build your own degree of sorts by prioritizing psychology classes that are most applicable in a business or organizational setting. Furthermore, you can take business classes (e.g., organizational management, human resources management) to gain insights into important business topics and procedures that you must be versed in to work in industrial-organizational psychology.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a Christian school. As such, your learning takes place in the context of Biblical teachings. You might be able to use this religiously-focused learning to provide spiritual guidance to people in business or organizational settings, such as parochial schools, religiously-based non-profit organizations, or even in higher education settings at religious schools.
The application for undergraduate admission to Oklahoma Wesleyan is available online. You must complete the following steps to apply:
- Create an Oklahoma Wesleyan account.
- Complete the online application for admission.
- Submit official high school transcripts.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
- Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.3 or higher.
- Submit official ACT (17 or higher) or SAT scores (930 or higher).
Capella University
Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology
A popular option for completing a master’s degree in IO Psychology is the Master of Science in Psychology from Capella University. This program teaches you the fundamentals of workplace psychology. You’ll learn how to motivate workers, create an effective work environment, and improve the functionality of workforces, too.
You’ll learn these and other skills over the course of a 53-credit program. The curriculum includes four core courses, six specialization courses, and one integrative project. It usually takes about two years to complete these requirements.
The core coursework explores fundamental aspects of the study of psychology. For example, you’ll take Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology learners, which is essentially an introduction to being a graduate-level psychology student. You’ll learn about the resources available to you as a Capella student, explore the APA writing style, and go over the requirements for graduation, among other things.
The other three core courses focus more specifically on psychology. Survey of Research Methods is one such example. This class covers the scientific components of this field. You’ll learn about scientific inquiry, research methods, ethical concerns, and statistics, too. The Quantitative Design and Analysis class builds on these skills by exploring topics such as:
- Logic and reasoning
- Statistical analysis
- Statistical interpretation
- Computational psychology
The final core course takes your study of the science of psychology a step further by discussing Tests and Measurements. As a future IO psychologist, it’s necessary to understand the theoretical bases of psychological testing. You also need to know how to administer psychological tests and interpret the results. Doing so is a critical part of your future work. For example, IO psychologists commonly use psychological tests to help determine employee placement within an organization.
The core coursework is just the start, though. The IO psychology specialization courses further your understanding of human behavior in general and the more specific application of psychological principles in organizational settings.
For example, a general course you’re required to take is Lifespan Development. As the name indicates, this class examines how humans develop from birth through adulthood and into the final years of life. Topics of study include developmental theories, multicultural considerations, and lifespan development issues in the workplace.
A more specific class example is the Psychology of Leadership. This specialization course is intended for IO psychology students to discover why some people become good leaders–and the factors that help them achieve leadership positions. To do so, you’ll examine case studies of leadership, undertake research in leadership development, and reflect on your personal leadership qualities.
Other specialization courses are as follows:
- Consultation Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology Practices in Personnel and Human Resource Management
- Ethics and Multicultural Issues in Psychology
As noted above, this degree also requires an Integrative Project. As an IO psychology student, you’re required to showcase what you’ve learned about IO psychology, participate in IO psychology research, and demonstrate an ability to engage in IO psychology scholarship, too. These tasks are undertaken in the context of a research proposal and grant-writing exercise. You must also highlight your ability to work with diverse groups, explain detailed psychological concepts, and practice ethically.
The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.3 or higher.
- Provide a copy of a current government-issued photo ID.
The above requirements are for Capella’s GuidedPath track, which is a traditional learning format with specific due dates and class meeting times. If you wish to apply for the FlexPath track, which is self-paced, you must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
Walden University
Master of Science – Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The online Industrial and Organizational Psychology program at Walden University culminates in a Master of Science degree. With this graduate degree, you may qualify for various IO-related careers in psychological research, business and industry, government, or consulting.
To graduate, you must complete 48 quarter credits, which include foundational, core, research, specialization, and capstone courses focused on IO psychology’s general practice issues.
The foundation course, Foundations of Graduate Study in Psychology, serves as an introduction to graduate-level expectations. In this course, you’ll become familiar with the online learning platform, acquire essential skills for success, and learn about the support systems available to help you progress through the program.
Your core coursework includes three classes focusing on key aspects of IO Psychology:
- Themes and Theories of IO Psychology
- Psychology of Organizational Behavior
- Consulting for Organizational Change
You’ll then complete a two-course research sequence. The first course, Research Theory, Design, and Methods, covers essential research skills, including quantitative and qualitative inquiry methods, data collection, and research ethics.
The second research course, Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis, focuses on quantitative research. In this course, you’ll study traditional research designs, review common statistical methods, and learn to use statistical software to interpret data and present findings effectively.
The specialization sequence requires 15-17 credits in one of the following areas:
- Consulting Psychology
- Evidence-Based Coaching
- General Practice
- Human Resource Management
- International Business
Alternatively, you may design a specialization with departmental approval.
The program concludes with a capstone experience designed to reflect on your learning and apply it to real-world industrial-organizational psychology. This capstone involves creating a project aimed at promoting positive social change and takes the form of an integrative paper. The paper must focus on a topic directly related to your chosen specialization, demonstrating your practical and theoretical understanding and showcasing your research skills.
You may complete the program in a traditional course-based format or the Tempo Learning format. The course-based format involves scheduled online classes, similar to a conventional program. The Tempo Learning option allows you to progress by demonstrating your competency in key areas, earning credit through competency assessments in place of traditional courses.
The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
- Provide personal, academic, and employment information as requested.
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae, if required.
This program offers flexibility in pacing and structure, allowing you to tailor your education to your professional goals in industrial-organizational psychology.
Colorado State University
Master of Applied Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Colorado State’s online Master of Applied Industrial-Organizational Psychology is a comprehensive 2-4 year program in which you study how individuals behave in business and organizational settings. But your focus isn’t just on studying behavior; it’s also on learning how to modify or improve human interactions in the workplace to improve company performance.
Improving the functionality of a business or organization is difficult work. However, you’ll gain competency in numerous areas that enable you to be a positive force for companies. This includes learning how to:
- Tackle issues of diversity and discrimination.
- Assess employee strengths, weaknesses, and performance.
- Recruit and retain talented employees.
- Develop leadership programs.
- Analyze the effectiveness of workplace programs.
You’ll acquire these and other skills over the course of a 38-credit curriculum. The coursework is extremely varied–which is necessary to give you a comprehensive education in IO psychology.
On the one hand, you’ll take applied classes that have direct application in IO psychology, such as Applied Industrial Psychology, Applied Organizational Psychology, and Applied Cross-Cultural Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Broadly speaking, these classes inform you how to utilize psychological principles in the workplace.
On the other hand, you’ll take broad psychology classes that explore fundamental skill-building as a future psychologist. For example, you’ll take Psychological Research Methods, which introduces you to hypothesis testing, basic and advanced research designs, and linear modeling using statistical tools like ANOVA. You’ll also take a course on Competency Modeling and Criterion Development, which teaches you how to conduct job analysis, performance appraisals, and training programs.
Another key course you’re required to take is Applied Measurement Theory. This class investigates classical and modern test theories like generalizability and item response. You’ll cover basic topics like utility, validity, and reliability, too, particularly as they pertain to judging the quality of psychological measurements.
Other required coursework includes the following:
- Applied Psychological Research Design
- Workforce Training and Development
- Succession Planning and Leadership Development
- Applied Organizational Development
The program’s final component is a Practicum and Skills Development Capstone. Essentially, this is an experiential course in which you conduct either an applied research project or a consulting project. No matter which one you choose, you must complete it inside an approved organization. In other words, you’ll take what you’ve learned throughout the program, apply it in a real-world setting, and get much-needed guidance from faculty mentors and supervisors in the field to hone your IO psychology skills before graduation.
No thesis is required for this degree since you must complete the capstone requirement. Additionally, no thesis is required because this is a terminal degree–it does not lead to a Ph.D. Usually, Ph.D. programs require you to have conducted master’s-level thesis work.
You can apply to Colorado State’s online graduate school online. Since this is a competitive and terminal degree program, there are strict admissions guidelines. These guidelines are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Complete undergraduate coursework in industrial psychology, organizational psychology, organizational behavior, or human resource management with a grade of B or higher.
- Submit general GRE scores. You must also submit GRE Psychology Subject Test scores if your undergraduate degree is not in psychology.
- Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Submit a statement of purpose in which you discuss your interest in IO psychology and why you want to pursue a career in this field.
- Submit a writing sample, such as a senior thesis or term paper from your undergraduate psychology work.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from references who can speak to your academic abilities.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
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