Industrial-Organizational Psychology Online Courses

Earning your industrial psychology degree online is just the beginning of a diverse and multifaceted career. The kind of work you do depends on the needs of your clients and/or company, but some of the tasks will include the following activities:

• Organizational development
• Executive coaching
• Job analysis and recruitment
• Diversity and work-climate training
• Work-life balance initiatives
• Employee incentive plans
• Performance reviews
• Compensation changes
• Conflict resolution
• Psychometrics
• Questionnaires and research

Businesses are working hard to reestablish their edge in the marketplace after the recent recession, and even government and non-profit organizations have been forced to adjust the way they operate to the new economic realities. If you want to be in the right position to catch the upswing of the rebounding economy, getting your master's degree from an industrial-organizational psychology course online can may be the answer. When companies struggle and employees lose fervor, industrial-organizational psychologists can help to assess the situation and recommend critical changes that impact employee satisfaction and company success.

Careers in industrial psychology have existed ever since enterprising psychologists started applying their practice to the workplace. Since the American Psychological Association (APA) recognized them as "Division 14, Industrial and Business Psychology" in 1945, the profession has gone by a handful of names. But as of January 2010, the Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP) voted to keep the current name indefinitely.

Industrial-organizational psychology online courses teach you the background of psychology and sociology, as well as practical human resource skills, government compliance and business. Your master's degree in industrial organizational psychology will take one to two years to complete; some programs will emphasize hands-on experience through internships and assessments, while others may be more research based to prepare you for a doctoral program. If you plan on entering the workforce as a consultant, the online industrial-organizational psychology graduate program you choose should provide you with access to local companies so you can get experience working with real issues people face in the workplace.

Because of the measurable success you'll be able to bring to companies, you'll be well paid for your work in the field. In 2011 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the mean annual industrial-organizational salary was $87,330, with the highest earners working in the scientific research and development industry.