Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource
Management: Master of Arts Degree
Program Overview
Program Director: Dr. Tim Huelsman; huelsmantj@appstate.edu; 828-262-2730; Psychology
http://www.psych.appstate.edu/gradprograms.html
The interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management offers a unique program operated jointly by the Psychology and Management Departments. It requires courses in both departments.
The program is designed to equip students with specialized training in human resource management. Emphases will be upon developing knowledge of theories, methods, and research findings derived from the behavioral sciences. Also emphasized is the acquisition of skills in the application of this knowledge to such organizational activities as selection, placement, and motivation of employees; training and development; performance appraisal; and development and change of organizations.
Program Highlights
- In a recent (July 2004) "Rankings of Graduate Programs in I/O Psychology based on Student Rankings of Quality" by Kraiger and Abalos, ASU's I/O-HRM program was ranked:
Second in the nation for "Program Culture"
Third in the nation for "Program Resources"
Seventh in the nation for "Program Costs"
- Since 2000, program faculty have peer-reviewed publications with more than eight psychology student co-authors.
- Since 2000, program faculty have professional presentations with more than 50 psychology student collaborators.
- Since 1993, the I/O-HRM program has a 91% graduation rate (60 of 66 students).
- In the last 3 years, 100% of the I/O-HRM students have passed the psychology competency exam on their first try.
- Since 1997, 85% of the I/O-HRM students have passed the Society of Human Resource Management/Human Resource Certification Institute’s Professional in Human Resources (PHR) exam, compared to a national pass rate of approximately 65%. After acquiring 2 years experience in human resources, all graduates will be eligible for certification as Professionals in Human Resources.
- In the most recent Annual Report of the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School, the I/O-HRM program ranked first among all graduate programs at Appalachian in average formula scores (approximate score = 2600).
For the past three years, entering student's GRE scores were higher than the national average for Psychology (including applicants to Doctoral-level programs).
- In each of the past three years, I/O-HRM second-year students have taught approximately 12 sections per semester of the Organizational Behavior “laboratory” in the Department of Management and 2 sections per semester of the General Psychology course in the Department of Psychology. These student teachers earned student evaluations at or near the level of the departmental faculty.
- In an independent external review of the Department of Psychology, the I/O-HRM program was noted as an area of strength. In summary of the program the consultants noted the following:
“Students in the IOHRM program were extremely pleased with their experience. Specific strengths were cited with respect to integrating students into the culture of the program…The cooperative arrangement of Psychology and the School of Business was beneficial to the students and to the program in general."
Application Essentials
Location of instruction: On campus
Required Entrance Exam: GRE (score must be no more than 5 years old)
Required Number of References to specify in the on-line form: 3
Supplemental Information: Resume (Required upload for application submission); two page statement describing academic and professional goals not to exceed 2 pages (upload on the Additional Information page in the on-line application)
Deadlines for Application. A program not open for a particular term will be marked with an "x." If the program has early screening dates, those dates are listed in parentheses. Applications that are not complete by the early screening date risk denial of admission due to no seats available.
- Spring 2008: x
- Summer Session 1 2008: x
- Summer Session 2 2008: x
- Fall 2008, 2009: 7/1 (3/1)
Basic Criteria for Consideration: (UGPA x 400) + GREV + GREQ = 2100;