Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The new fully ONLINE ASYNCHRONOUS Master of Arts degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology will be available starting Fall 2026. The Ph.D. program is NOT accepting applications.
Our flexible online format means classes are offered fully online, asynchronous, and do not require live class sessions. The program is designed with working professionals in mind.
Students are able to start in the fall, spring, or summer. Applications are reviewed year round!
Industrial and organizational psychologists focus on how people are hired, developed, and supported at work. Organizations succeed when people are supported and work is designed well. In CMU’s online M.A. program, you’ll build practical, applied skills in hiring and assessment, training, performance management, and organizational development, preparing you to solve real workplace problems across a wide range of organizations.
About Industrial / Organizational Psychology
The online M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at CMU prepares students to apply psychological science to real workplace challenges. Students build practical skills in hiring and selection, training and development, performance management, employee surveys, and people analytics. The curriculum emphasizes applied problem solving and evidence-based decision making across a wide range of organizations.
Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology - ONLINE ASYNCHRONOUS
The master's program is offered ONLINE only. This program is geared toward the study of people in organizations and businesses with a focus on improving their well-being and productivity. You'll learn to use research and measurement skills to solve practical workplace issues and to apply the principles of psychology to human resource and leadership challenges. The M.A. program requires 30 hours of coursework.
Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology - NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The doctoral program prepares students for careers in research, business, or university settings. This program requires 96 hours of course work, a comprehensive exam, a master’s thesis, and a doctoral dissertation and typically requires four or five years of intensive academic work. We require submission of recent GRE General Test scores as part of our admissions process for the PhD program.
Admissions process
Deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Course work starts the semester following acceptance into the program. In addition to grades and *GRE scores, the Admissions Committee considers letters of recommendation, personal statements, and relevant professional experiences.
*The GRE is required for our Master's program unless applicants have an undergraduate degree in psychology with grades of B or better in research methods and statistics courses. The subject portion of the GRE is not required.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding application requirements, please contact:
Department of Psychology, 989-774-3001
Central Michigan University, Industrial/Organizational Psychology Program
Sloan Hall 101, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
Fax number: 989-774-2553
Application forms
1. CMU College of Graduate Studies application (required)
Complete and submit Central Michigan University's application form with all required application materials to the College of Graduate Studies. Transcripts should be sent to the College of Graduate Studies, Central Michigan University, 802 Industrial Drive, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. They can also be sent electronically directly from your prior school to apply@cmich.edu. For an update on your application status, please call (989) 774-4444.
2. Letters of recommendation (recommended)
The online application requires three letter writers to electronically submit their letters to your application portal. You will need to provide their email addresses within your application in order for the system to automatically reach out to them.
3. GRE scores (*required - can be waived if certain criteria are met)
*The GRE is required for our Master's program unless applicants have an undergraduate degree in psychology with grades of B or better in research methods and statistics courses. The subject portion of the GRE is not required.
Please use the following information to send your GRE score:
The code for Central Michigan University is 1106
The I/O Psychology Program Code number is 2008.
The GRE is currently administered either in person or remotely on your own computer at home. Please visit the GRE at Home website. GRE fee reductions may be available for those with financial need through the Educational Testing Service.
Applied skills students build
- Job analysis and competency modeling
- Structured interviews and selection decision making
- Training needs analysis, design, and evaluation
- Performance management systems and feedback processes
- Employee engagement and climate survey design and reporting
- Applied research and people analytics, including data cleaning, analysis, and interpretation
Common career paths
- Talent Acquisition Specialist or Recruiter
- HR Generalist or HR Business Partner
- Learning and Development Specialist
- Organizational Development Specialist
- People Analytics or HR Analytics Analyst
- Employee Experience Specialist
- Leadership Development Specialist
- Assessment Specialist
Handbooks
Student handbooks
For past Student Handbooks, contact the Department of Psychology at psy@cmich.edu.