Working Professionals

The program is designed to be accessible for working professionals. Courses are offered in the evenings and on weekends so that individuals who work full-time can complete the program. The program is ideal for people working in an I/O-related field, such as in a Human Resources function within an organization, who are looking for a degree that will allow them to expand their career options. The program is also appropriate for working individuals looking to change careers and for individuals who have just completed an undergraduate degree. Work in an I/O-related career is not required for admittance into the program.

Advisory Board

An Advisory Board has been established for the I/O Program. The Board, made up of leading I/O psychologists and human resource professionals working in the Charlotte Community (see the department website for a list of current Board members), provides regular reviews and evaluations of the programs’ curriculum to ensure that course content addresses current topics and issues facing I/O psychologists working in the business community. The Board also plays a key role in identifying  business leaders in the community who can provide information or guidance to students.

Admission Requirements

The Graduate School requires that applicants submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), or Miller Analogies Test (MAT). The I/O program will accept scores from any one of these tests.

The Graduate School also requires two letters of recommendation. Working professionals who received a bachelor’s degree more than five years ago are suggested to seek out recommenders who can speak to their capabilities and potential as an I/O or HR professional (e.g., supervisors, coworkers, individuals with an advanced I/O degree). Applicants who have recently graduated from a bachelor’s program, should seek out academic recommenders who can speak to their potential for graduate studies.

Applications must also include a statement of purpose. Minimally, the statement should address: (a) motivation for seeking a degree in I/O psychology, (b) preparation for graduate studies in I/O Psychology, and (c) expectation of how the degree will positively impact your career. Statements should be kept to approximately two pages.

Applicants must also have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university (the Graduate School requires that applicants upload transcripts from each institution attended). While a degree in psychology or business is not required, applicants with backgrounds in these disciplines may be given preferential treatment.

The Graduate School has additional requirements for applications. Please see the Graduate School  section and/or the website at graduateschool.uncc.edu for additional details.

Admission to the program is competitive. Applicants whose native language is other than English must offer acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (see graduateschool.uncc.edu for what constitutes an acceptable score). Applications should be submitted by February 1 of years that applications are accepted (applications are accepted on an every other year basis).

Degree Requirements

The Industrial/Organizational program requires at least 31 credit hours of graduate coursework as specified and discussed in the I/O Psychology Graduate Student Handbook.  Students should be able to complete the program in two calendar years.   Courses will be required in the summer between the first and second year in the program.  Additionally, students must pass a comprehensive examination, which is given at the end of the second year of study.

Students who consistently show borderline course performance, who fail to complete coursework on a timely basis, or who otherwise perform unprofessionally or unsatisfactorily, may be required to complete additional courses or be removed from the program.  The enrollment of a student who receives two grades of C or one Unsatisfactory (U) grade during his or her graduate career is automatically terminated.

Specialization

Students will be able to pick a specialization track: a thesis research track or a practice track. These tracks allow the student to tailor, in part, their educational experience to their career objectives. The only difference between the tracks is the capstone experience; students choosing the thesis track will defend an empirical thesis, whereas students who choose the practice track will complete a standardized comprehensive examination in the summer of year two in the program. The examination samples content from across the I/O Psychology discipline. A complete description of the specialization tracks and requirements (including a thorough discussion of the comprehensive exam) can be found in the most recent version of the I/O Psychology Graduate Student Handbook.

Practica and Applied Experiences

Students who desire I/O-related work experiences have a wide range of opportunities for applied experiences. These can occur as part of a formal practicum experience (i.e., internships) or more informally through the UNC Charlotte Organizational Science Consulting and Research Unit. While practicum experiences are not required as part of the program, Faculty and Advisory Board members have connections within the local community to help students find relevant experiences.