Industrial and Organizational (I/O) psychologists contribute to an organization's success by improving the performance and well-being of its people. An I/O psychologist researches and identifies how work-related behaviors and attitudes can be improved through hiring practices, training programs, and feedback systems. Applying psychology to help individuals have more satisfying work lives is a fulfilling vocation. Some of the business strategies that I/O psychologists assist with include:
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Recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified employees
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Develop fair, legal, and efficient hiring practices
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Design and implement new training programs
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Increase diversity in the workforce
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Develop performance management systems
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Minimize absenteeism
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Eliminate harassment and discrimination
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Increase motivation and enhance work-life balance
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Concentration at ECU
The I/O Psychology concentration at East Carolina University trains students to apply scientific solutions to the workplace. The I/O Master's degree program requires the completion of 45 semester hours during which students develop the skill sets necessary to apply psychological concepts and theories to organizational settings.
An essential part of the Master's degree program is an internship that typically occurs during the summer between a student's 1st and 2nd year. The internship provides students with an opportunity to apply skills learned through course work and to acquire new skills in an organizational setting. The internship may require students to relocate.
The Master's thesis is a professional research paper and an example of the student's research skills and ability to write an organized research report. The student will defend the completed thesis at an oral examination conducted by the thesis committee.
The department currently has six full-time I/O psychology faculty members and two affiliated faculty members.
