Accelerated Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

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 Arts degrees in a five-year period.

The integrated BS/MA option is 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 2810PSYC 2820, and PSYC 5110.

Students who are interested in this opportunity should meet with the I/O Psychology 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 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 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 5th-year MA 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 MA 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.

Undergraduate Prerequisites
PSYC 2810Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences 14
PSYC 2820Research Methods in Psychology 14
PSYC 5110Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology 13
Graduate Credits
PSYC 5210Team Processes3
PSYC 5310Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Work3
PSYC 5410Conflict Management and Negotiation3
PSYC 6230Program Evaluation3
PSYC 6260Development and Training Programs3
PSYC 6310Effective Interviewing and Survey Design3
PSYC 6410Consulting and Organizational Development3
PSYC 6520Performance Coaching3
PSYC 6850Field Work in Applied Psychology3
Select one of the following electives:3
Conflict Communication
Communication Philosophies, Theories, and Research Traditions
Perspectives and Theories in Organizational Communication
Small Group and Team Communication
Communication and Organizational Leadership
Organizational Behavior
Leadership
Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
Cross Cultural Management and Sustainable Leadership
Comprehensive exam:
PSYC 6999Comprehensive Exam in Applied Psychology0
Total Credits41