The 45 semester hour program is as follows:
- Research skills requirement: PSYC 6430 (Stat. & Research Design I ) 3 s. h.
- Research and design requirement: PSYC 6431 (Stat. & Research Design) 3 s. h.
- Thesis: PSYC 7000 6 s. h.
- Core: PSYC 6420 (Personnel), 6327 (Psychometrics), 6343 (Organizational Behavior), 6465 (Ethics), 6521 (Special Topics) 15 s. h.
- Approved electives (at least 6 s.h. must be taken from Psychology) 15 s. h.
- Internship: PSYC 6970 3 s.h.
Employment opportunities are varied and include both public and private sector jobs in areas such as personnel research, wage and salary administration, human resource development, statistics, personnel management, job analysis, selection and placement, training and development, organizational development, performance management, QWL, and entry level management. Further education at the doctoral level is also an option. Most positions for master's level psychologists in organizations do not require licensure. The skills required to be a successful I/O psychologist include intellectual ability, good oral and written communication skills, high career motivation, problem solving skills, and a high level of interpersonal skills.
Each student in the I/O program must complete an internship that provides practical experience in an organizational setting. An internship is an opportunity to do professional work under the supervision of another professional, and may entail either personnel research or applied activities, such as training, selection and appraisal, job analysis, or other similar functions. Internship Criteria An internship must meet the following minimal criteria: 1. One semester of full-time employment in an organizational setting. Internship placements generally occur during the summer (May through August) following the first year of course work. A full summer's assignment (no less than 10 weeks) will be considered equivalent to one semester. 2. A work placement, which will allow the application of knowledge and skills, acquired as an I/O graduate student. Students may not interview for an internship without receiving prior approval from the Program Director. Students are usually placed on the company's payroll, and the assignment may require the student to relocate for the semester. 3. An on-the-job supervisor who is familiar with the requirements of the internship program. A psychologist (or other human resource professional) employed by the organization will supervise the student, or he or she will work under the supervision of an ECU I/O faculty member. The provision of supervision must be approved by the I/O Program Director prior to the beginning of the assignment. Each supervisor will be asked to summarize the student’s performance in a feedback report provided to the Program Director and the student. Students will be evaluated on job performance, attitude, and professional growth.
Placement Procedures Program Placements All first year students (successfully completing 12 s.h.) will be assumed to be part of the applicant pool. As they are identified, open positions will be announced via at least one of the following methods: 1. Open positions may be announced in a class in which all first-year students are enrolled. 2. Open positions may be posted on the bulletin board beside Rawl 110. 3. Open positions may be e-mailed to all first-year students. Internship placements will be made according to the following set of guidelines where possible: 1. All available organizations will be sent all available student résumés.
2. The number of students to be interviewed will be determined by the respective organizations. 3. Each organization will be asked to rank acceptable candidates. 4. Once all rankings are completed and returned to the Program Director, or by April 15th (whichever comes first), students will be assigned according to organizational rankings and student preferences. Where possible, assignments will be made in order to maximize the possibility that each organization gets one of its top choices 5. When possible, students will be informed of their assignments on or before April 15th. Self-Placements Although the program typically facilitates the internship assignment, self-placements, arranged by the student, are acceptable with prior approval from the Program Director. Written evidence that the placement will meet the minimal requirements for an internship assignment is required prior to the student accepting the position. This statement should include: 1. Description of the organizational setting, and outline of the work assignment. 2. Description of expected work output (e.g., project report, technical manual, training material, etc.). 3. Qualifications of supervisor. 4. Supervisor's written endorsement of the project and agreement to provide feedback to both the student and the Program Director.
Specialty comprehensive exams for I/O are administered in April of the student’s second year. The exam consists of essay questions related to the following topic domains: · Organizational Behavior (PSYC 6343) · Special Topics (PSYC 6521) · Ethics PSYC (6465) · Personnel (PSYC 6420) · Measurement (PSYC 6327) The exam items are written by faculty who teach the graduate classes listed above. Students may approach any of the professors involved to seek study guides. The format of the exam allows the student to answer three out of five total items. One of the five items is required (i.e., it must be answered by all students), and the student is asked to choose and answer two of the four remaining items. A three-hour time period is allotted for the entire exam.
Professional Organizations in I/O Psychology
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