Phd w/ Concentration in I/O Psychology vs Phd in I/O Psychology

[njordan2012]

Hello Everyone

I just have a few questions about Industrial Organizational Psychology. I am currently finishing up my Masters in I/O psychology and looking into Phd programs.

Question 1: Does it matter if get a Phd in I/O psychology or a Phd in Psychology with the I/O concentration? Will I still be referred to as an Industrial Organizational Psychologist?

Question 2. If I decided to get a Phd in Organizational Behavior would I still be able to use the title of I/O Psychologist?

[ILuvPsych2013]

Hi there!

1) It depends on what job you ultimately want. If your plan is academia, I think an I/O concentration would be fine. However if you plan to go applied (consulting, etc.) you will want straight I/O psych. I am not sure regarding the actual title.

2) To my knowledge, if you get your PhD in OB, you will not have the title of I/O Psychologist. It is a business degree, not a psychology degree. However, if you are interested in going the academic career route, you can make great money with this degree (business depts. generally trump arts & sciences depts., funding-wise).

Hope this helps!

[iopsych]

Hello Everyone

I just have a few questions about Industrial Organizational Psychology. I am currently finishing up my Masters in I/O psychology and looking into Phd programs.

Question 1: Does it matter if get a Phd in I/O psychology or a Phd in Psychology with the I/O concentration? Will I still be referred to as an Industrial Organizational Psychologist?

I think you need to do a little more research. I know some programs actually just award the PhD in Psychology, but they have separate tracks. So for example, one school has 3 programs:

I/O

Clinical

Human Factors

All 3 actually get a degree in Psychology, but it has concentration in I/O, Clinical, HF, etc.

You are actually in that program it is just easier for the university to only get APA accreds for 1 program.

I am finishing up from a program similar to the one I mentioned above and I have already worked for two consulting organizations. The fact that my PhD isn't actually in I/O has never come up.

[honkycat1]

Hello Everyone

I just have a few questions about Industrial Organizational Psychology. I am currently finishing up my Masters in I/O psychology and looking into Phd programs.

Question 1: Does it matter if get a Phd in I/O psychology or a Phd in Psychology with the I/O concentration? Will I still be referred to as an Industrial Organizational Psychologist?

I wouldn't worry too much about the title. If you are going academia, there is a lot of exchange between the business school and i/o departments. Its not uncommon for someone to get a phd in i/o psych and get a job in the management department somewhere else.

If you are going applied, then I think it matters even less, the title is not an official certification. Organizations just want someone who can do the typical I/O things like selection, evaluation, measurement, and a ton of statistics. It comes down to your skillset you get in your program.

Question 2. If I decided to get a Phd in Organizational Behavior would I still be able to use the title of I/O Psychologists

My first answer kind of address the title issue. But, phd OB programs will be heavily focused on academia and will not prepare you for applied compare to most i/o programs.