MASTER'S IN INDUSTRIAL-ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AT MEREDITH
MAKING WORK PLACES EVEN STRONGER.
Our Master of Arts in I-O Psychology
The Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology at Meredith College prepares graduates to use the methods of scientific psychology to improve both the effectiveness of organizations and the work-life quality of employees.
We are a two-year, coeducational, full-time, in-person, cohort-style graduate program, with one entry term each fall. Classes are held twice a week during the 3:30 to 8 p.m. timeframe.
The I-O Psychology degree program at Meredith College is built on a scientist-practitioner model, and best serves students who wish to enter directly into the workforce upon degree completion.
- Graduate ready to enter the field with practical experience gained through an internship or applied thesis.
- Choose the only master’s in industrial-organizational psychology degree in the capital city of Raleigh, recently ranked the 2nd best city to live in by Money Magazine.
- Receive hands-on career guidance, professional development, and 1:1 coaching from the moment you enter the program until you walk across the stage at graduation – and beyond.
- Develop valuable mentor and peer relationships in a small, student-focused program.
- Start a successful career. We have a strong graduate employment rate at top companies including Amazon, Cisco, WakeMed, Lowes, Curi, IQVIA, PPD, and Butterball. Read more about how some of our I-O psychology alumni are using their degrees to improve the world of work.
What is Industrial-Organizational Psychology?
Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology is the scientific study of behavior in organizational settings and the application of psychological science to understanding work behavior. While general psychology concerns itself with the behavior of individuals, I-O psychology focuses on understanding employee behavior in work settings.
What Do I-O Psychology Practitioners Do?
- Develop tools to help companies recruit, select, and place quality employees.
- Formulate and implement employee training and coaching programs, applying principles of learning and individual differences.
- Conduct research studies of physical work environments, organizational structures, communications systems, group interactions, morale, and motivation to assess organizational functioning.
- Assess job attitudes, safety programs, and other quality of work and life programs to help companies recruit and retain a qualified workforce.
- Develop criteria and tools for measuring worker performance and organizational effectiveness.
- Study consumer reactions to new products, package designs, and to advertising efforts, using surveys and tests.
What Skills Do I-O Psychology Practitioners Bring to Their Employers?
- Critical thinking skills
- Advanced data analytic skills
- Ability to develop written communication for varied audiences
- Ability to contextualize analytic solutions to help clients solve real-world problems
“I often describe I-O psychologists to people as therapists for organizations. We can understand an organization, diagnose it with data science, and then treat it with an intervention.” – Emily Buchanan, ’21, Training & Development Specialist – US LBM
Why Study I-O Psychology at Meredith?
As a graduate student in Meredith’s graduate I-O psychology program, you’ll benefit from our outstanding reputation in the field of psychology, as well as our extensive contacts with area employers. And with a semester-long internship, you’ll graduate ready to immediately enter the field.
“In my current role, the work has been about examining processes and questioning why and how they came to be. It’s about recognizing systems that no longer serve everyone and coming up with a strategic plan to change them, putting that plan into action, and measuring the outcomes to ensure it’s working.” Michele Xiong, ’21, Director of Diversity & Inclusion – Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®
The I-O psychology program at Meredith College is a two-year master’s degree. An early I-O psychology program is also available to Meredith undergraduate students.
Unlike other programs that focus on preparing students for academic careers, Meredith’s program develops students as scientist-practitioners who graduate ready to enter the job market in the industries and organizations they serve.
Strong Reputation
Graduate students benefit from the outstanding reputation of Meredith’s undergraduate psychology program, particularly in the areas of research methods preparation. Local employers are familiar with Meredith’s strong track record of preparing students both for graduate study and employment by companies in the Triangle.
Strong Experience
Students complete a full-time I-O psychology internship while in the program, giving them real-world experience in the field upon graduation. Though the program is full-time, classes are held in late afternoon/early evening to accommodate the demands of adult life. Students benefit from Meredith’s location in Raleigh, a top-ranked city that is both dynamic and extremely affordable. They can also take advantage of study abroad opportunities.
Strong Faculty
Our psychology faculty have proven expertise in training students to become fluent in designing and implementing data-driven research through intentional, phased support. Instruction by faculty in Meredith’s AACSB-accredited School of Business provides additional rigor and guidance. And our small department and high-touch, student-focused approach allow students to develop strong mentor relationships with faculty.
Strong Collaborative Relationships
Meredith’s long-standing connections with the vibrant industries represented in the Research Triangle provide rich opportunities for internships and employment for our graduates. And alumni have access to lifetime career support through our Office of Career Planning.
#1
Simple Dollar ranks I-O psychology number one among “10 Master’s Degrees that Can Actually Pay Off”
$92,000
median annual salary of master’s-level I-O practitioners
97%
of I-O psychology alumni secure I-O related jobs within 6 months of graduation
Careers in I-O Psychology
Meredith’s graduate I-O psychology program prepares you for a variety of career paths within this fast-growing field.
- Whether you want to work as a consultant, as a specialist within an HR department, or hold a managerial or supervisory role, Meredith will prepare you to immediately enter the field as an I-O practitioner.
- On a national level, the field has a projected growth rate of 7% over the next ten years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. I-O psychologist was also ranked the #2 Best Science Job for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report.
- Our location in the Research Triangle gives graduates access to a range of corporations and research facilities that would hire such individuals.
- Meredith alumni work in varied settings in areas like talent management, recruitment & selection, organizational behavior, diversity & inclusion, and training & development. In fact, 97% of our alumni secure I-O-related work within six months of graduation.
Videos About Our I-O Psychology Program
Meredith’s M.A. in Psychology | I-O Concentration prepares graduates to use data-driven solutions to improve workplaces, employee work/life balance, and more – and our program enjoys a 97% job placement rate at top organizations.
Luisa Jaramillo, ’23, chose to earn her M.A. in Psychology at Meredith College because of its student-focused program and required internship. She plans to help organizations and leaders make the most of their employees’ strengths.
Isabel Cortes, ’24, was immediately drawn to Meredith’s I-O psychology program. Now as a graduate, she is well-equipped to pursue her dreams.
Julia Johnson Toney, ’20, ’22 (M.A. in I-O Psychology), discovered her passions for psychology and business as an undergraduate. To combine her two passions, she earned her Master’s in I-O Psychology at Meredith.
At Meredith, Elizabeth Anglis, ’21, M.A. in psychology, learned the importance of investing in human capital and how to practice critical thinking while keeping people at the forefront.
Cathedia Rose, ’22, M.A. in psychology, said Meredith’s program gave her the tools to improve hiring practices and performance appraisals with methods backed by a scientific practitioner approach.
Through Meredith’s I-O psychology program, Michelle Xiong, ’21, M.A. in psychology, was prepared to pursue a job that fulfills her desire to make organizations better for everyone.
Paul Jones, ’20, M.A. in psychology, learned not only how to apply evidence-based concepts to the workplace, but how those changes can impact the bottom line for organizations.
Master of Arts in Psychology News
Meredith College celebrated Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 7-11, 2025.
Assistant Professor of Psychology Jenna McChesney has been awarded the 2025 Rains Wallace Dissertation Award from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) for her research on how job applicants disclosing anxiety and depression on LinkedIn are evaluated.
Students in Meredith’s Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology master’s degree program were able to demonstrate their skills by participating in the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) National Consulting Challenge Case Competition.
Contact Information
108 Ledford Hall
(919) 760-8723
iopsy@meredith.edu
