Master of Science (M.S.) in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Total Credit Hours: 60          Degree Format: Traditional

Since the inception of the I-O Program at VSU in 1984, our students have had a high success rate in acquiring jobs in human resources, research, and human services. Part of the success of our students can be attributed to the opportunities provided by on-site practicum experiences. Students have served as human-resource interns with local, regional, national, and international organizations in manufacturing, human services, health care, civil service, banking, and government contracting. The opportunity for on-site experience is further enhanced by VSU's Office of Cooperative Education.

Many of our students take advantage of courses in other departments such as Instructional Technology (IT) and Public Administration. The IT program offers classes in Technology Applications. Students interested in the field of training will find that IT courses complement their psychology courses. For those who may be interested in supplementing their education in I-O Psychology with aspects of administration in public services, the Public Administration program welcomes psychology majors.

Program Coordinator: Dr. Christopher Downing, email: cdowning@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5930

Department of Human Services Website

ADMISSION DEADLINES

• Fall Semester: April 1 (Priority); July 15 (Final)
• Spring Semester: No Admission
• Summer Semester: No Admission

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Due to current circumstances, we will accept applications for the I/O program without test scores through the Fall 2024 semester.

Online Graduate Application

• Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
• Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

• Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
• Must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution in an appropriate major (e.g. psychology or related field).
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 Scale.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

• Minimum GRE Requirements:
  
  • Verbal score of 153 plus a Quantitative score of 145.
  • See considerations for Probationary Admission below

Written Statement

• 250-500 words in length.
• Must describe applicant's interest in the program and post-degree plans.
• Must demonstrate articulation, writing skills, and goals consistent with the outcomes of the program. 

Three Recommendations

• Recommendation Form
• Please enter the name and email of your recommenders as you complete the application. They should receive an email inviting them to compelte the recommendation after that. If they do not receive the email (or find it in their spam folder), they may submit their recommendation as an email attachment to gradschool@valdosta.edu. The General Recommendation Form can be used if the email from the online recommendation system does not arrive.
• Letters must be accompanied by the required form or submitted through the online recommendation system.

VSU Medical Form

• The VSU Medical Form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
• This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
• Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

Admission to this program requires 15 semester hours of undergraduate psychology courses appropriate to the graduate major. These courses must include Fundamentals of Psychology, Statistical Methods in Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Tests and Measurements, and an upper-level psychology elective to be approved by the advisor.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS 

International applicants must meet all admission criteria and documentation requirements as defined by the program, however, additional documentation may be required.  Please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam or International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam or IELTS exam. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.
• Certificate of Finances: The Certificate of Finance is required of any applicant requiring a student visa to enter the United States to complete his or her studies. This document is considered a part of the application for admission and applications will not be reviewed without this document.  Applicants who do not require an I-20 student visa to complete their studies are exempt from this requirement.
• Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

• Regular Status
• Probationary Status
  • The applicant may qualify for probationary admission by meeting all of the requirements listed above, with the exception of one of the following conditions:
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, calculated on all work attempted in which a letter-grade was awarded, AND a minimum Verbal score of 145 plus a minimum Quantitative score of 141.
  • -OR-
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75, calculated on all work attempted in which a letter-grade was awarded, AND a minimum Verbal score of 153 plus a minimum Quantitative score of 145.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For admission questions about this program, please contact the Graduate School by phone, email, or stop by our office.

• Call Us: 229-333-5694 
• Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu
• Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Students must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their expected graduation date.
2. Students must have a  3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.
3. Students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive electronic portfolio that requires the application of the knowledge gained in a series of courses. The portfolio will be assessed by a committee of faculty, using established criteria.

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

The university faculty has the duty and responsibility to provide the public with ethical and competent practitioners. To achieve these goals, the university adopts selective admissions, retention, and graduation policies. The delivery of psychological and counseling services, especially of a clinical nature, in schools, mental health settings, and organizations requires the practitioner to meet both academic and professional standards of competence. Accordingly, the faculty of the Department of Psychology and Counseling has adopted requirements that candidates must meet in order to graduate from one of the department’s graduate programs. These requirements include that candidates must demonstrate professionally appropriate behavior and may be terminated for academic and non-academic reasons. The complete policy is available.. Academic progress is determined by grades earned in the program of study for which the candidate is currently enrolled, as well as performance on comprehensive examinations as required by the specific program.

1. Candidates will be dismissed from the program if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points. A grade of “C,” while credited toward the degree, will result in one deficiency point. A grade of “D” is two deficiency points; a grade of “F” or “WF” or “U” is three deficiency points;
2. If a candidate wishes to withdraw from a class with a grade of “WP,” it is the candidate’s responsibility to initiate and complete the withdrawal process prior to the midterm deadline. “WP” grades do not affect academic deficiency points or grade point average.
3. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a College of Education graduate program. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.
4. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 
5. If dismissed from the program, the student must wait a minimum of two semesters and obtain approval from the academic department, before applying for readmission. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed and prior academic performance and conduct in the program will be considered.