The accelerated program is an opportunity for Fairfield University undergraduate students to leverage their success in the psychology major towards their graduate degree. This option allows Fairfield psychology students to earn their Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in a five-year period.

The integrated BS/MS option is typically completed over three semesters of additional coursework, fieldwork, and exams (summer, fall, spring), in which students prepare themselves for a career as I/O psychology practitioners. The program is ideal for students who are looking to apply their psychology, analytical, and communication skills in settings ranging from large organizations to small consultancies.

To be eligible for admission, students must have an overall GPA of 3.00 in their undergraduate courses. They also must earn grades of at least B+ in the three required prerequisite psychology courses taken while they are undergraduates: PSYC 2810 , PSYC 2820 , and PSYC 5110 .

Students who are interested in this opportunity should meet with the I/O Psychology Graduate Program Director no later than the spring semester of their junior year to discuss their interest in I/O psychology and their career aspirations. At that time, students must request permission from the Graduate Program Director to enroll in the graduate-level PSYC 5110 course (which will be completed in the fall semester of their senior year).

Current Fairfield University undergraduates should consult with the Graduate Program Director about the application process in early spring of their senior year, for admission the summer immediately following their graduation.

Psychology alumni also are eligible to apply for the 30-credit Accelerated MS degree program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology if they meet the following criteria:

1. Graduated within three years of the date of application
2. Meet the general admissions requirements
3. Earned B+ or better in each of the three prerequisite courses.

Current undergraduate students or recent alumni who earned the required grades of B+ in both PSYC 2810  and PSYC 2820 but who did not take PSYC 5110 are eligible to apply for a modified MS program of 33 credits, at the discretion of the program director. If admitted, such students must complete PSYC 5110  with a grade of B+ or better within the first 9 credits of graduate coursework.

For more information about the program, visit the Overview in the Graduate Catalog or the program’s webpage.