Salem State University

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Studying Organizational Psychology at Salem State University

Industrial and organizational psychology is also known as IO psychology. It’s a field that looks at the way people think and act in a work setting. Salem State University offers a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology that has flexibility for working professionals. Students can:

  • enroll in a hybrid program
  • take classes entirely online
  • take classes on the university’s campus

The hybrid program asks students to spend a few hours on the campus as they take a class and do most of their work online.

The entire IO Psychology program offered by Salem State University meets the standards established by the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology. This shows students that they will get the training needed to work in the industry. Students must take at least four management and business courses and a statistics class as undergrads. If they did not take those classes, Salem State University requires that they complete their prerequisites before taking any IO Psychology classes. The program includes a psychology core worth 21 credits. Those credits include:

  • Management Theory and Application
  • Ethical Issues in Business
  • Research in Organizations

Students will also need to do an internship that requires spending at least 300 hours working in the field. They’ll also attend a meeting on the campus each week to talk about their experiences. Students can pick five electives from human resources and organizational development courses. Those classes can include:

  • Human Resources Management
  • Training and Development in Organizations
  • Managing Human Performance in Organizations
  • Psychology of Small Group Leadership and Work Motivation
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Task Design

Salem State University allows students to get approval from the program coordinator to do independent study projects and thesis projects or to take a special topics class.

About Salem State University

Salem State University is a public university named after the city of Salem, Massachusetts. It was established as the Salem Normal School in 1854. It was one of the normal schools founded by Horace Mann that used his idea of educational training. It was one of the only normal schools in the east and one of the only in the country at the time.

Only women could enroll in its two-year programs during those early years. They received two years of higher education and training to work in schools. It moved to a new location in Salem in 1896 and added men to its classes two years later. It was renamed the Salem Teachers College in 1932 and the State Teachers’ College at Salem in 1960. It becam a university many years later. Salem State University also uses other names, including Salem State and SSU.

SSU has a north campus that consists of buildings and resources. The south and central campuses are slightly smaller but conveniently located close to the north campus. Students can also use the university’s athletic complex and take classes in the Salem School of Social Work. Enrollment at SSU now includes more than 1,600 graduate and doctoral students and more than 7,000 undergrads.

Salem State University Accreditation Details

The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) granted SSU regional accreditation. Any graduate student who previously attended college can transfer those credits into the IO psychology program because of that accreditation. It also gives students the chance to apply for aid and get help from the state and federal governments.

Salem State University Application Requirements

It’s important that students know the application requirements that SSU has in place before they apply. If the university does not receive all the information that it needs, it can reject the application or request that the student apply again at a later date. Salem State does not have an application deadline for its IO Psychology program. Once it receives all required information, it will review the student’s completed application and make a final decision. The university sends decision letters through the mail and allows students to use their online accounts to check for a response too.

The main requirements include the application and a $60 fee. They will also need to provide transcripts and allow the university to evaluate those forms. SSU wants to make sure that IO Psychology majors took the necessary prerequisites and that they have a strong background in psychology and the other social sciences. A required statement of purpose lets students write about why they chose SSU and what they hope to get out of the program as well as what they will do with their degrees. Other requirements include a GRE or a MAT score that is no more than five years old and three references. SSU asks for the references contact information rather than letters of recommendation.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Salem State charges a nonresident rate for grad students. All of those students pay $230 per credit hour. Most of the IO Psychology courses are worth three credits. Full-time students take between nine and 12 credits each semester. They also pay fees, which will bring the cost up to $547.10 per credit hour. Massachusetts residents pay $140 per credit hour and fees for a total of $457.10 per credit hour. Grad students are responsible for any expenses they have, including their textbooks and both room and board.

Any student attending grad school who receives reimbursement from their employers can work out a payment plan with the university to reduce the amount they need to pay at the beginning of the semester. Other students qualify for payment plans that let them make several small payments instead of one large payment.

Graduate students can qualify for either federal work study or a university assistantship. With federal work-study, they get minimum wage or more for the hours they work on the campus. Assistants receive tuition remission and a stipend for working 10 hours a week. There are a few scholarships that go to grad students too. SSU recommends that students use the FAFSA to apply for federal loans. Some students may want to use alternative loans also. All students enrolled in the organizational psychology program at Salem State University can get and use one or more types of financial aid.

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