University of Georgia

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I/O Psychology Programs at the University of Georgia

The University of Georgia appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology is an area that focuses on how people use equipment and how they work. Professionals in this field often work for nonprofit organizations and private companies. They also work in research institutions and for product development groups. The University of Georgia offers two advanced programs for students who want to study I/O psychology.

The I/O graduate psychology program takes two years to finish. This is a professional program that only accepts students who already have some business and psychology experience. It asks students to take a maximum of two classes each semester. It features three full semesters. Students usually take electives during the summer semesters. The university allows them to take psychology electives and classes from other departments. Some of the required courses in the I/O psychology graduate program include:

  • Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • Organizational Research Methods I and II
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Talent Development
  • Testing and Measurements

The second year also includes a practicum that students do during the second semester.

A doctoral I/O psychology program allows students to conduct research that uses the university’s resources and settings. Students who did not earn their graduate degrees from the university must submit transcripts that show they took all required prerequisites. The program asks that students take six credits of classes from other departments and 18 credits of I/O psychology courses. Those courses can include:

  • Applied Cognition
  • Seminar in Staffing
  • Leadership in Organizations
  • Organizational Theory and Design
  • Training and Career Development

Students must also do internships approved by the university and the department head. Both paid and unpaid internships will count towards this requirement. To get credit for their internships, students must meet with their advisors during the semester and keep track of what they do.

About the University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public university that serves as the main campus of the University of Georgia system. Established in 1785, it goes by several other names, such as Georgia and UGA. The date of its foundation makes it one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the country. A group of men and women working for the board searched the state for a location for the new university and settled on Athens. It was one of the fastest growing cities in Georgia at the time. That location helped the university grow to one of the largest in the nation.

UGA now has North, South, East and West campuses that offer classes through different departments. But students can also apply to UGA Online and take classes over the computer. Both U.S. News and World Report and Washington Monthly rank UGA as one of the best 100 colleges in America. ARWU and Times are among those that rank the university as one of the world’s top schools. The UGA system includes multiple campuses across the state. The main campus in Athens has an enrollment of more than 38,000 students.

University of Georgia Accreditation Details

Georgia has accreditation from the APA for its doctoral and graduate psychology programs. The APA awarded the university accreditation because:

  • its psychology programs meet the standards established
  • each one prepares students to work in psychology fields

UGA also has regional accreditation, which allows the university to grant financial aid packages and degrees to eligible students. Regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) also allows undergrads and grad students to transfer credits to UGA and from the university to another college.

University of Georgia Application Requirements

The I/O psychology program at UGA starts during the fall semester each year and will only accept students who can start at the beginning of that semester. This is a professional program designed for those who have experience. This is why the university asks for a resume. Students must have a minimum of six months of experience to enroll. Incoming students must also have a GPA of at least 3.0 in all the undergrad classes they took and a bachelor’s degree. The university looks for those with a background in social sciences, business and/or statistics. Graduate students will give UGA their official transcripts and submit an online application, which has a small attached fee.

Those applying to the doctoral I/O psychology program need to have a strong GPA. UGA gives priority to those with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Students also need to provide their GRE scores. These scores cannot be more than five years old. The university prefers scores of at least 1200 on the verbal section and 308 on the quantitative section. Students will submit the application and fill out a section on any awards or honors they received and another on their professional experiences. UGA also asks for three letters of recommendation and a resume.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The estimated cost of attending UGA is $11,600 per semester for students living in Athens. Students from any other state who take courses on the Athens campus will pay $19,200 a semester. These rates include tuition for full-time students and all the fees they pay. It does not include:

  • living expenses
  • transportation costs
  • personal costs

UGA recommends that students apply for the funding they need and secure that funding by the middle of December in the year before they start classes.

One way graduate students can pay for an I/O UGA program is with a student loan. The federal government offers loans of $20,500 a year and allows students to borrow the same amount for several years. To get an unsubsidized federal loan, students must complete the FAFSA. Students can apply for other types of awards, including assistantships and fellowships. Professors and students can nominate others for a $1,000 award based on the research work they did.

A similar program awards prizes to students who teach for the university. Another program provides students with money for the mentoring that they do. The fellowships and scholarships available from the university require that students submit applications for each one. Scholarships, assistantships and fellowships provide students with funds that they can use for any of their educational costs. The University of Georgia awards all its institutional aid to psychology majors by the end of December each year.

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