FAQ and Resources

General Questions

Who do I contact with questions related to the program?

Contact the Program Director, Dr. Bisi Atoba, with program-related questions through email: bisi.atoba@tamu.edu. Although email is the preferred method of contact, you can also call her office phone: 979-458-8611.

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Can I contact a student about the program?

Yes. Our current students welcome questions from prospective students. Some students have volunteered to be contact persons. Please feel free to contact one or more of them: Asia Parson (aparson@tamu.edu); Caden Hausman (chausman@tamu.edu); Ramaa Kale (ramaa@tamu.edu).

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Is the Master of Psychological Sciences degree a STEM designated degree?

Yes. Consequently, international F-1 students who earn the degree may be eligible to apply for a STEM optional practical training (OPT) extension in addition to the initial 12-month post-completion of degree OPT.

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After completing the Master's program, can I transfer to the PhD program?

No. It is important to note that the master’s program with a concentration in I-O Psychology is designed to be a terminal applied degree preparing you for a job in industry or consulting. It is not designed to be a stepping stone to the PhD program and graduates of the MS program cannot automatically transfer or continue on to the PhD program. However, if you would like to pursue a PhD after completing the MS program, you can apply to the PhD program and your admission application will be considered along with all the others in the applicant pool. If you are admitted to the PhD program, coursework that overlaps with the doctoral program is likely to count toward the degree

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How is an MS in I-O psychology different from a master's in human resource management?

The I-O psychology curriculum includes a core in psychological theories and a strong statistical foundation, including psychometrics. While the MSIOP program with a concentration in I-O Psychology does prepare students for careers in human resources departments, our curriculum is particularly focused on the science of human behavior at work, as it relates to personnel functions, individual characteristics, and interpersonal relationships in the workplace.

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Application

Is there an admissions cycle for Spring semester?

No. We only have admissions in fall semesters.

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I do not have an undergraduate degree in Psychology. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. While we do not require that applicants have a Psychology degree, if you still have the opportunity to take courses, we recommend that you complete coursework in social science statistics and research methods and one or more courses closely-related to I/O Psychology (e.g., personnel psychology, organizational psychology, psychological testing and measurement, social psychology, personality, human resource management, organizational behavior, human resource development, and diversity and inclusion in organizations).

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When is the deadline for applications for fall admission? The application deadline is February 1st for international applicants and February 15th for U.S. applicants. All components of your application listed below, including letters of recommendations, must be on file by this deadline. Applicants who wish to be considered for the Avilés-Johnson Fellowship Program nomination must have a complete application on file by January 14th. Please note that there are multiple sequential steps to completing an application. We recommend you start the process right away and do not wait until the deadline to begin your application. #accordionGroup8 { display: none; }

Am I competitive in terms of my GRE and GPA?

On average, the students admitted had an overall GRE score of 307 (153Q, 154V, 4W) and 3.62 GPA. Due to the holistic evaluation process used by the Admission Committee, it is difficult to evaluate an applicant’s chances for admission without having received a completed application.

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When will admission decisions be made?

We begin extending admission offers within 4-5 weeks of the application deadline.

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How many students will be accepted?

We anticipate cohorts to consist of approximately 22 students.

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Funding

Are there graduate assistantships available?

Although the program offers a few merit-based scholarships, the Program or Department is not able to offer graduate assistantships or fellowships to master’s students at this time. Employment within the Department and any benefits associated with employment are not available to Master’s students. Students may be able to qualify for non-departmental funding and graduate assistantships available through the Scholarships and Financial Aid Office or advertised on JobsforAggies . Please visit the MSIOP Funding Opportunities page to learn of others.

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Curriculum

Will classes be offered at night, on the weekends, or online?

At this time, classes are delivered in person and generally offered three days during the work week between 9am and 5pm.

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Can I enroll in the program on a part-time basis?

While students are expected to maintain a full-time status (i.e., 9 credit hours), a request to complete the program part-time will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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Will I have office space/desk on campus?

Yes. Students have access to a shared graduate student office with multiple workstations to work while on campus. They also have access to a private flex space and a graduate student lounge.

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To what extent do the TAMU Master's and PhD programs overlap?

Students take overlapping (PBSI 610 and 611) courses taught by many of the same faculty members during the first year. They also attend colloquium together every Friday. The Master’s program with a concentration in I-O Psychology includes more applied and professional development experiences that focus on application of I-O principles within organizations and in personnel decisions.

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Internships and Jobs

Am I guaranteed a job?

No. We cannot guarantee you a job. However, we anticipate many internships experiences will turn into full-time job opportunities and strong relationships will develop to facilitate job placement.

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Where did your graduates receive job offers?

Examples of organizations where our alumni have received job offers are Department of the Air Force, NASA Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory (via JES Tech), Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Mercer, KPMG, Texas Instruments, Reynolds American Incorporated, Amazon, Teacher Retirement System of Texas, KANTAR, AI RecruiTas, Ally, HealthEquity, ISN Software Corporation, Hire Wages, HumanKind HR, Intelsat, Klein Tools, Lee Hecht Harrison, NRC Health, Rushmore Loan Management Services, TI Verbatim Consulting, and Critical Ops.

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What positions do students go into when they graduate?

Majority of our students go into I-O psychology-related roles. Some of their job titles include the following: Culture & Engagement Specialist, HR Development Program Trainee, Human Resources Specialist, Learning and Development Coordinator, Organizational Development Consultant, People Analytics Analyst, Research Coordinator, Quantitative Research Executive, Survey Operations Analyst, Workforce Engagement Research Analyst, Workplace Health and Safety Specialist, and Talent Development Project Manager.

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Is an internship required?

Yes. All students must complete a minimum of a full-time internship in a related to context. Alternative timelines (e.g., 6 months, part-time) will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approved by the Director of the Program. We anticipate most students will complete their internship in the summer between their first and second year.

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Can I use my current employer as my internship?

Yes, as long as it meets the requirements stated in the MSIOP-Handbook and is approved by the Director.

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Where do students complete internships?

Organizations where students have secured internships include Department of the Air Force, KPMG, Ally, Schlumberger, Merck, Bell Textron, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ericsson, Texas Instruments, Transocean, Reynolds American Incorporated, Cuna Mutual Group, DDI-Asia, Teacher Retirement System of Texas, Choice Hotels, Rio Tinto, Houston Police Department, Klein Tools, Lee Hecht Harrison, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, WPS Health Solutions, Monarch (ISN), Pinsight, SelectQuote, Superior HealthPlan, TDIndustries, ME360, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Critical Ops, Human Dynamics Inc., Mylance, UTMB Health, qChange, and Bilbao Consulting. We anticipate most students will complete internships in the local area, as well as Houston, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and San Antonio; however, students are not limited to completing their internship in these locations.

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Are there practical hand-on experiences beyond the internship?

Yes. Hands-on learning are an essential part of the MSIOP experience and the program places an emphasis on applied skill acquisition and development. Students develop these skills by completing I-O psychology projects for local organizations through their courses and occasionally through non-coursework opportunities. Local organizations students have completed applied course projects for include the following: Aggieland Outfitters, Brazos Valley CASA, Brazos Valley Food Bank, Brazos Valley Marketing, City of Bryan, City of College Station, Family Promise, Mathnasium, Ment Services, MHMR of Brazos Valley, QuestSpecialty, Scotty’s House, and TAMU HROE Division.

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Research Opportunities

What opportunities are there for gaining research experience in the program?

The MSIOP program at TAMU is a non-thesis 16-month program and research is not required. However, because we are affiliated with a premier I-O Psychology PhD program in a Tier 1 research institution, there may be nonobligatory opportunities to participate in the I-O psychology faculty’s research programs, as well as other faculty’s research programs in related areas outside of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. A number of MSIOP students have been actively involved in various research labs both within and outside the PBSI department. Students interested in gaining research experience should discuss their interests with the Program Director.

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Is it possible to complete a master's thesis through this program?

No. This is a non-thesis master's program. A thesis is not an option.

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Resources

Recommended Books

Surviving Graduate School in Psychology: A Pocket Mentor by Tara L. Kuther

Becoming an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist by Doverspike and Flores

Applying to Graduate School in Psychology: Advice from Successful Students and Prominent Psychologists by Amanda C. Kracen (Editor) and Ian J. Wallace (Editor) — Applying to Graduate School in Psychology: Advice from Successful Students andProminent Psychologists byAmanda C. Kracen (Editor) and Ian J. Wallace (Editor)

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