Program Overview

The M.S. in Psychology program at West Chester University seeks to advance the discipline of psychology as an area of scholarly, professional, and scientific endeavor by providing a high-quality education designed to prepare students for participation in an increasingly diverse society. WCU offers concentrations in General Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Both programs include advanced training in psychology and opportunities for research and internships. Faculty experts teach in both graduate tracks and welcome graduate students as research collaborators, giving students access to practitioners who have research interests in both theoretical and applied psychology.

Tracks

General Psychology

The 36-credit General Psychology M.S. program is designed for students interested in research and/or teaching and prepares graduates for advancement into doctoral programs. The program provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of research design and experience, various areas of psychology, data analysis, and psychological measurement. Students build valuable critical thinking and data analysis skills for careers in the public sector, business, health care, and academia. The General Psychology M.S. program does not provide clinical preparation. Students interested in a career that includes clinical preparation should consider WCU's Clinical Psychology (PsyD) and Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs.

Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology

The 39-42 credit Industrial/Organizational Psychology M.S. is designed for students who plan careers in human resource areas of business, industry, government, or other sectors. Students explore workplace motivation and attitudes; employee selection, training, and evaluation; leadership, group and organizational behavior; organizational culture and change management; people analytics and human resource management. In addition to acquiring critical skills in business, leadership, and psychology, students learn to apply psychological principles to the workplace and use research methods to improve the quality of work life for employees. The program also prepares graduates for continued study at the doctoral level.

Students in the program create their own personal concentrations based on interest with electives, internships, and research. Examples include selection and placement, training, performance evaluation, leadership development, workplace stress, employee engagement, group/team processes, and organization development interventions.

Industrial/Organizational Graduate Certificate

The Industrial/Organizational Graduate Certificate is a 12-credit, 100% online program designed to develop business, leadership and psychology skills to help students advance their career in management or human resources. Graduates can help drive positive change in organizations, motivate teams and increase employee productivity. Courses include people analytics, ethics, and professional skills in organizational practice.

Program Highlights

  • Modern computer and experimental labs and state-of-the-art video rooms for research
  • Faculty experts
  • Opportunities for research collaboration
  • Thesis option
  • Full and part-time study options
  • Evening course offerings to accommodate working professionals
  • Opportunities to work on industrial/organizational psychology consulting projects
  • Diverse industrial/organizational psychology internship availability from Washington, D.C. to NYC
  • Industrial/organizational psychology occupations projected to grow 4% to 7% through 2031; Median Salary of $139,280 (BLS.GOV)
 

What can I do with this degree?

General Psychology M.S. graduates are employed in agencies, businesses, hospitals, industries, and academic institutions across the country. Graduates have also pursued doctoral work at many prestigious universities.

Industrial/Organizational M.S. graduates work in management, consulting, human resources, recruiting, training, selection and placement, organization development, employee relations, workplace stress, and leadership development. I/O graduates have also pursued research and/or academic careers in Ph.D. programs at many prestigious institutions.

Graduates have gone to work with a variety of employers including:

  • Astra Zeneca
  • Blue Cross
  • Boeing
  • BP Oil
  • Catholic Health East
  • DuPont
  • First National Bank
  • The Hay Group
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Merck & Co
  • Pep Boys
  • PECO Energy
  • Price Waterhouse Coopers
  • QVC
  • SAP
  • TD Bank
  • WAWA

At the local level, half of the occupations associated with industrial/organizational psychology are expected to grow faster than Pennsylvania's average rate of growth. Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Training Specialists are expected to have the highest number of job openings, while industrial/organizational psychologists are expected to have the second-highest percent growth in employment. (BLS.GOV)

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Newsworthy

At the local level, within a 75-mile radius of West Chester University, half of the occupations associated with I/O psychology are expected to grow faster than Pennsylvania's average rate of job growth.

The occupations with the highest projected numerical growth at the national, state, and local levels are as follows: Management Analysts, Training and Development Specialists, Human Resources Training, and Labor Relations Specialists. All Other Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Training Specialists are expected to have the highest number of job openings, while Industrial/Organizational Psychologists are expected to have the second-highest percent growth in employment.