Online Master’s Degree in Industrial Psychology

As today’s business cultures continue to grow more complex, the need for individuals with an online Master’s Degree in Industrial Psychology will also continue to rise. Accredited online industrial psychology masters degrees are designed to give students a solid foundation in the behavioral theories and practices that apply to efficiency in the workplace. An online bachelor’s degree in industrial psychology is often sufficient for most entry-level jobs requiring such a background, but the added training, experience, and potential connections made from a good masters program in industrial psychology can open broader and more lucrative career opportunities.

Online Master’s Degrees in Industrial Psychology Requirements

The successful online industrial psychology masters degree student displays skills in critical thinking, making distant connections in data and working towards achieving goals to learn new information. People studying to obtain accredited online degrees in industrial psychology have excellent time management skills, think globally, and have the ability to articulate complicated ideas. Top online masters programs in industrial psychology give students the chance to hone these traits, in addition to developing new, useful skill sets.

Many online masters industrial psychology candidates have a bachelor’s degree in related fields like:

• Psychology
• Anthropology
• Sociology
• Developmental Studies

Additionally, a lot of students who pursue a masters in industrial psychology from an online school have prior work experience as psychology researchers, social workers and developmental counselors.

Usually an online masters in industrial psychology is necessary to pursue an online PhD in industrial psychology.

Online Industrial Psychology Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in industrial psychology typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of Industrial Psychology degrees offered by the best Industrial Psychology master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Industrial Psychology (MS in Industrial Psychology)
• Master of Arts in Industrial Psychology (MA in Industrial Psychology)

Information on Industrial Psychology Courses

Top online masters degree programs in industrial psychology tend to stress the connection between theory and application in real-life settings. Often, behavioral circumstances that arise in business settings vary in their depth and scope; the courses required to obtain an industrial psychology master’s degree online are thus meant to mold students into skilled professionals capable of handling a wide array of situations. Online master’s degree industrial psychology classes focus on developing breadth and the ability to make fast decisions in pressured environments.

Courses common to the best industrial psychology masters programs online include:

• Psychometrics
  This online master in industrial psychology course teaches students the fundamentals of cognitive evaluation, from the measurement of knowledge to personality traits.
• Data Analysis
  Students learn how to analyze data sets to identify trends of statistical relevance in various realms of psychological research.
• Performance Measurement Methods
  Students learn about the fundamentals of performance evaluation in workplace settings, in order to keep accurate tabs on employees and their progress.
• Organizational Ethics
  This online master degree in industrial psychology course offers an in-depth look at the moral implications that arise in complex work environments.
• Human Resource Management
  Students learn how to address efficiency problems related to human resource development and management.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because Industrial Psychology is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s industrial psychology students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Organizational Behavior
• Behavioral Theory
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Workplace Ethics

Careers in Industrial Psychology

Graduates of online master programs in industrial psychology enjoy a wide spectrum of careers to choose from. Popular career choices among online masters degree industrial psychology graduates include:

• Organizational Consultant
  Some industrial psychologists enjoy private consulting work, where they can offer their expertise in a particular area of psychological evaluation. Organizational Consultants are hired to evaluate, train, and advise companies on how to better assess their employees’ performances. These professionals make about $55,000 per year. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow 12 percent until 2018. State licensing is required.
• Researcher
  These professionals work for companies or in academic contexts to run and design experiments, as well as to interpret the data to find meaningful psychological trends. On average, researchers make $50,000 per annum, and the job market is expected to remain competitive.
• Counselor
  Counselors work in many different types of settings, but can supply important evaluative advice in many organizational environments like schools, upper management tiers, and human resource sectors. Counselors make around $45,000 per year with a healthy projected outlook of job growth until 2018.
• Forensic Psychologist
  Forensic psychologists work with federal agencies and police departments to evaluate the mental status of criminals in relation to specific cases. Often, behavioral and organizational roles play a large part in their assessments. These professionals make around $50,000 per year, with a competitive growth in jobs expected into the future.
• Executive Officer
  Executive Officers work in the upper-tier of management in corporate environments. Often, a background in industrial psychology helps these managers run divisions of companies with efficiency and insight. These professionals make $60,000 per year and up, with a competitive market expected until 2018.

Industrial psychology offers a broad foundation upon which students can build and specialize to take on rewarding careers. Online master degree programs in industrial psychology allow graduates to sustain a good job and an even better salary into the future.