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Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Graduate Certificate)

Want to understand how psychology improves the workplace? Learn strategies for leadership, training and decision-making while building advanced writing, critical thinking and research skills. Prepare to boost performance in organizations and open doors to a variety of careers.

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A team organizes sticky notes, reflecting workplace collaboration in ASU's Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Graduate Certificate).

Quick facts

Additional facts

Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Program description

In the graduate certificate program in industrial and organizational psychology, you become well versed in transformational workplace empowerment strategies and interventions that can lead to the optimal well-being and performance of individuals within organizations.

The foundational coursework uses concepts in psychology to emphasize training and development, professional motivation, decision-making, justice and leadership. You engage in a rigorous curriculum that fosters advanced writing and critical thinking skills to promote competence in theoretical frameworks within psychology. As part of the program, you also conduct industrial and organizational psychology research.

Curriculum

This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:

15 credit hours

Required Core (15 credit hours)
PSY 508 Choice and Decision Making (3)
PSY 509 Advanced Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3)
PSY 510 Professional Motivation and Leadership (3)
PSY 511 Psychology of Organizational Development (3)
PSY 556 Cultural Intelligence (3)


What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Analyze the theories and key concepts related to industrial/organizational psychology.
  • Apply appropriate strategies to organizations to enhance productivity, inclusivity, and employee well-being.

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants are required to submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. personal statement
  4. one letter of recommendation
  5. proof of English proficiency

Additional Admission Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency.

It is recommended that applicants have a background in psychology, sociology, communication, business, education or another closely related field. Required program coursework assumes a basic understanding of social science statistics and research methods. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed a statistics course or a research methods course.

The statement of purpose should be concise and describe the applicant's academic or career goals and how a graduate certificate in industrial and organizational psychology will help them achieve those goals.

It is preferred that the letter of recommendation come from a faculty member who knows the applicant's work well; if this is not possible, the recommendation should come from an individual in a supervisory or professional role.

Application deadlines

Fall
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C Online Rolling*
Session B Online Rolling*
Spring
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C Online Rolling*
Session B Online Rolling*
Summer
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C Online Rolling*

*A rolling deadline means that applications will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis until the semester begins. International students should be mindful of visa deadlines to ensure there is time to produce necessary visa documents. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit application materials as soon as possible for consideration.


Explore expanded study opportunities

Students can complete two graduate certificate programs and combine them into a Master of Advanced Study degree, giving ultimate flexibility to build their own master's degree. Interested students can learn more about MAS requirements and the admission process.

Global experience

Study abroad is possible for graduate students, and it enables students in the psychology program to stand out in many career fields. Students are exposed to distinct differences in the human condition worldwide, are able to improve their language and cross-cultural skills for effective communication, and are challenged to adapt to new social and cultural circumstances.

More than 50 program opportunities are available, with programs on every continent. Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Career opportunities

Careers this industrial and organizational psychology graduate certificate prepares you for

Graduates leave this program with a broad understanding of industrial and organizational psychology. They may pursue careers in psychology, education, business or government. In addition, the industrial and organizational coursework benefits graduates working in supervisory or management positions in corporate, government or social service professions.

The certificate can benefit those in positions such as:

  • assessment development specialist
  • data scientist
  • human resource specialist
  • people science and strategy manager
  • product manager
  • psychometric analyst
  • service and testing supervisor
  • workforce planning manager
Number 2 in the U.S. for employability among public universities. ASU ahead of UCLA, University of Michigan and Purdue. Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, 4 years, 2023 to 2026.

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

School of Social and Behavioral Sciences | FAB N101
NCGradOnline@asu.edu
602-543-3000
Admission deadlines

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

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