Where can I learn more about the field of I-O Psychology? The best place to start is www.siop.org. There is an entire section for Students that covers topics of interest to those seeking an education and career in this field. There are numerous other valuable resources as you explore this career path, including a job board and the results of a recent salary survey of I-O Psychologists. What will I be able to do with a Master’s degree in I-O Psychology? There are a lot of options, especially after you acquire a few years of relevant work experience, and it depends on your skill set and career path interests. People with Master’s degrees in I-O Psychology usually start out in a talent management or leadership development group as an analyst or specialist. Some also work as junior consultants in small to mid-size consulting firms. There are also a myriad of jobs in government and non-profit organizations. For more information on the career paths available after graduation, refer to www.siop.org/Career-Center/I-O-Career-Paths and www.bls.gov. The following video from SIOP is also a great resource of information. Everything You Want to Know About Graduate School in I-O Psychology but Are Too Afraid to Ask After graduating from the IOMP, can I progress to completing my Ph.D. in the I-O program at UGA? Will the courses transfer? You must apply to the I-O Ph.D. program separately, and most of the IOMP coursework will not transfer. The Master’s program is a completely different format designed for working professionals with some classes taught by senior business leaders and some taught by faculty, with more of a practitioner focus in the content. However, the Ph.D. program is a full-time, traditional academic format with classes on weekdays in Athens delivered almost entirely by the faculty who focus more on theory and pure research. I-O Ph.D. programs at other universities tend to have a similar policy on course transfer. You could certainly complete both programs consecutively, but you’d be best served to decide beforehand which route best fits your career objectives. Keep in mind that the UGA I-O Ph.D. program is extremely competitive, with only roughly 3% of applicants receiving acceptance each year. Is a degree awarded from a program delivered on the Gwinnett Campus considered a lesser degree than a degree awarded from a program on the Athens Campus? No, not at all. The degree is the same and is awarded by The University of Georgia with no reference to Gwinnett on the degree.
