Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Course Descriptions

PSY 605 – Applied Measurement Theory (3 cr.)
Provides a broad grounding in classical test theory, as well as modern test theory including generalizability theory and item response theory. The course addresses reliability, validity, and utility as criteria for evaluating the quality of any psychological measurement tool.

PSY 647 – Applied Industrial Psychology (3 cr.)
Industrial psychology is the study of theory and techniques related to understanding, predicting, and managing human behavior within organizations. Key methodologies emphasized in the course include: job analysis and competency modeling, recruitment, selection and validation, performance management, and training and development.

PSY 648 – Applied Organizational Psychology (3 cr.)
Organizational psychology is the scientific examination of how human cognition, attitudes, and behavior is affected by the context of leaders, co-workers, and organizational policies, structure, culture, etc. Core topics include motivation, leadership, group and team performance, job attitudes, organizational climate and culture, and organization development.

PSY 660 – Applied Cross-Cultural Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3 cr.)
This course will examine cultural differences in the application of individual differences and organizational-level interventions to improve the utilization of human capital and organizational effectiveness. Research strategies and applied tools covered in earlier courses will be re-examined through a cross-cultural perspective.

PSY 661 – Applied Organizational Development (3 cr.)
This course is an in-depth study of organization-wide interventions designed to improve the organization and to implement change in the organization. This course will include techniques for developing and improving the organization through organizational diagnosis, planned change, and survey feedback.

PSY 662 – Applied Psychological Research Methods I (4 cr.)
This course features an introduction to psychological research emphasizing hypothesis testing and simple research designs, and an introduction to general linear modeling, including ANOVA and multiple regression.

PSY 663 – Applied Psychological Research Methods II (4 cr.)
Students will learn advanced statistical techniques such as logistic regression and canonical correlation used for planning research studies and analyzing data.

PSY 665 – Applied Psychological Issues and Methods (3 cr.)
The course is designed to provide practical knowledge and skills to Masters-level practitioners. Course topics include an overview of the scientific method, threats to internal and external validity, how to conduct a literature review, and how to design both well-controlled laboratory studies and a variety of field studies that are common in Industrial/Organizational psychology.

PSY 666 – Succession Planning and Leadership Development (3 cr.)
This course focuses on the examination of modern theories of effective leadership and design of strategies for succession planning and leadership development through training, coaching, mentoring, and professional development.

PSY 667 – Competency Modeling and Criterion Development (3 cr.)
This course will cover fundamentals of conducting job analyses and competency modeling within organizations, as well as the application of the results of those processes to criterion development (e.g., development of performance appraisal or 360-degree feedback systems). Students will learn how to conduct competency modeling projects, design rating and evaluation instruments, create rater training programs, and provide constructive performance feedback.

PSY 668 – Workforce Training and Development (3 cr.)
This course provides an overview of adult learning theory with an emphasis the role Industrial/Organizational psychology plays in identifying training needs, designing effective learning programs, promoting transfer of training, and evaluating training effectiveness.

PSY 669 – Capstone: Practicum and Skills Development (3 cr.)
This capstone course refines the applied Industrial/Organizational consulting skills through one or more applied research/consulting projects with actual organizations. Virtual teams will be used and guided with the support of a faculty mentor.