The organizational psychology explores the behavior of groups and individuals in business settings to determine how to optimize performance and human potential in the workplace.
The organizational psychology or industrial organizational psychology is an interdisciplinary study which incorporates principles of psychology, management sciences and business. Organizational psychology is for those who intend to enter the corporate world upon graduation or further pursue studies in the same or related field.
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Importance of organizational psychology
Employee satisfaction is directly related to the level of productivity. The more productive an employee is the more competitive a company will be. Consequently employers realize the importance of individuals trained in psychology and human resource to ensure employees maximize their potential. Organizational psychology or industrial organizational psychology is a subfield of psychology which applies to organizations. Organizational psychologists are employed to promote a positive work environment. Boosting employee satisfaction and work productivity, as well as promoting good working relationships fall into the realm of an organizational psychologist's role.
Organizational philosophy can aid in an organization’s growth by helping its employees figure out how they can best achieve their targets. 
Bachelor of Science – Industrial/Organizational Psychology
The Bachelor of organizational psychology degree can typically be completed in four years. During the program, students are required to study psychology and its application in the work environment. Scientific-psychological principles and methods are applied to workplace activities such as hiring, training, assessing and coaching. Individual and group behavior theories are also taught. Motivation studies, conflict management, counseling and job assessment are other subjects included in the program's curriculum. Courses related to leadership studies and group development are also included. Students learn to increase employee motivation and improve behaviors in the work environment.
Program structure and coursework
A bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology may be awarded upon successful completion of 120 credit hours. The courses are drawn from psychology, general education, elective and concentration courses.
The psychology courses may be titled as:
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Introduction to Psychology
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Theories of Personality
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Data Analysis and Evaluation
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Methods in Social Science Inquiry
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Development Across the Lifespan
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Brain and Behavior
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Motivation and Emotion
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Cross-Cultural Psychology
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Learning and Cognition
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Social Psychology
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Psychology in the Contemporary World
The organizational psychology courses may be titled as:
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Applying Psychological Principles to Organizations
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Psychology of Leadership
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Human Resources Management
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Organizational Behavior in Multicultural Organizations
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Introduction to Business
Admission requirements
General admission requirements for the program may include:
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A high school diploma or its equivalent
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Official transcripts
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Letters of recommendation
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Official SAT/ACT scores
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Personal Essay
The admission requirements may vary with different institutes.
Financial aid
Financial aid and assistance is provided to those who qualify. Filing of the FAFSA is mandatory, in order to be considered for financial assistance. Your school’s financial aid package may include grants, scholarships and loans. For further assistance, you can contact your school’s financial aid office.
Careers in organizational psychology
Organizational psychologists may find employment in private companies, government agencies, consultancy firms, advertising, market research, public opinion, occupational analysis, and marketing. Most employment opportunities in companies and corporations involve human resources and training. With a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology graduates may probably perform more generalized roles in human resource departments.
Human Resources Specialists and Labor Relations Specialists
Human resources specialists recruit, finalize and interview selected applicants for various vacancies within an organization. In addition, they may also take part in employee training, and other facets of employee relations like making their payroll, etc. Labor relations specialists, on the other hand, administer and interpret labor contracts in the context of union and management practices, pensions, healthcare, employee welfare, and wages and salaries. Human resources specialists may work in-house or on contractual basis. Most of them are employed with the employment services industry. The level of education and work experience required in becoming a human resources specialist or labor relations specialist may vary between positions and employers, however, they typically hold a bachelor’s degree. Certification, and licenses are usually not required, however certified human resources specialists or labor relations specialists may be more employable.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resources specialists or labor relations specialists earned a median yearly salary of $55,640 in 2012.
Human Resources Managers
Human resources managers serve as a link between a company’s management and its employees. They also consult with a company’s top management on strategic planning and oversee the recruiting process, including interviewing and hiring of new staff. Furthermore, they plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. A majority of human resources managers find work in government, manufacturing and management sectors of the economy. Others work in healthcare and professional, scientific and technical services. Human resources managers usually hold a bachelor’s degree and have more than 5 years of work experience.
According to BLS, human resources managers earned a median yearly salary of $99,720 in 2012. Their demand is expected to grow at the rate of 13% faster than the average growth for all other occupations from 2012 to 2022.