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Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Does the work of people intrigue and interest you? Did you know that there is a field that studies how to improve the lives of people at work? MTSU has such a program—Industrial/Organizational Psychology—and is one of only a few schools that offer an undergraduate degree in this field. If you care about people at work and would like to help make jobs more interesting and satisfying, workers be more productive, and employers know how to deal fairly with employees, consider this unique program at MTSU. Included will be skills such as helping teams work together, solving workplace issues, and learning how to train and hire effectively.

This program is approved for the Academic Common Market.


What We're Doing

Where will that tattoo take you?

Not far in the “white collar” job market apparently, according to researcher Dr. Mark Frame, Psychology, and his students. Creating a fictional company and placing participants in the role of hiring manager, the investigators presented candidates—some with visible tattoos and some without—who were equally qualified. Survey results showed an overwhelming bias against hiring those with tattoos. Frame explains that great care was taken to eliminate variables, using the same candidate with and without tattoos. He even engaged a tattoo artist to come to his class, demonstrating with markers rather than permanent inks. Frame presented some of his findings to the 2013 convention of the Association for Psychological Science in Washington, DC., and will be working with I/O Psychology students to complete additional studies.

Learning about human resources opens doors

Speakers such as Kathy Medlin, director of organization development at Comdata, Brentwood, bring authentic workplace examples and experiences to members of the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at MTSU. This national organization seeks to advance the human resource profession and, in addition to speakers, provides mentoring programs; networking opportunities; and exposure to activities such as recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, labor relations, and performance appraisals. Because there are not enough people with skills such as these, the demand exceeds the supply in today's work world.


Related Media

  • MTSU True Blue Preview: Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    MTSU True Blue Preview: Industrial/Organizational Psychology

  • MTSU | The University of Opportunities

    MTSU | The University of Opportunities

 
 
 

The Industrial/Organizational Psychology major is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in human resources (formerly known as personnel) departments of businesses, industries, and governmental entities and to provide a background for students wishing to pursue graduate work in industrial/organizational psychology, general psychology, or related fields. Human resources is an underserved area in the workplace, and demand exceeds supply for people with the skills learned in the Industrial/Organizational Psychology program. Potential career options include

  • Compensation analyst
  • E-learning designer
  • Employee benefits specialist
  • Employee relations manager
  • Executive assistant
  • Human resource generalist
  • Human resource manager
  • Job recruiter
  • Office manager
  • Project coordinator
  • Training and development specialist
  • Wellness coordinator

Employers of MTSU alumni include

  • Bridgestone Inc.
  • Graphic Packaging International
  • Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)
  • ITAC Solutions
  • Nissan USA
  • Rutherford County government
  • SMS Holdings Corporation
  • Spherion Staffing Services
  • U.S. Bank
  • Vanderbilt Hospital

The Industrial-Organizational Psychology major is designed to help prepare students for entry-level positions in personnel departments of business and industries and provide a background for students wishing to pursue graduate work in Psychology, I/O Psychology, or related fields. A minimum of 9 upper division hours from the core set of required courses and a minimum of 6 other psychology hours must be taken at MTSU.  A minimum of C- is required for all required coursework in the major.  The undergraduate major in Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology is a 46 - hour major; please see the Academic Map for specific courses.

Note that one minor is required and must be approved by the major advisor. Students should see the I/O major faculty advisor regarding course sequencing.  It is very important that the students consult their I/O major faculty advisor because some courses are only offered once a year.

An undergraduate minor also is available in Industrial-Organizational.

For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS tab above.

The Industrial/Organizational Psychology major is designed to help prepare students for entry-level positions in personnel departments of business and industries and provide a background for students wishing to pursue graduate work in Psychology, I/O Psychology, or related fields. Effective academic year 2013 - 2014, a minimum of 9 upper division hours from the core set of required courses and a minimum of 6 other psychology hours must be taken at MTSU.  A minimum of C- is required for all required coursework in the major.  The undergraduate major in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology is a 46 - hour major; please see the Academic Map for specific courses.

Note that one minor is required and must be approved by the major advisor. Students should see the I/O major faculty advisor regarding course sequencing.  It is very important that the students consult their I/O major faculty advisor because some courses are only offered once a year.

An undergraduate minor is available in Industrial/Organizational; other minors include Psychology, Lifespan Development, Mental Health Services, and Neuroscience. The department participates in an interdisciplinary minor in Behavioral Research

Graduate students may pursue a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. An M.A. degree also is available in Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, and a Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology. An Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is offered with a major in Curriculum and Instruction and a concentration in School Psychology. There is a graduate minor in Psychology.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology, B.S.

Psychology 
615-898-5752
Judith Van Hein, program coordinator
Judith.VanHein@mtsu.edu

Industrial/Organizational Psychology deals with a variety of human resources and organizational issues, such as employee selection, training, job analysis, and employee motivation. The major in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is designed to (a) prepare students for entry-level positions in human resources departments in businesses and government agencies and (b) provide a background for students wishing to pursue graduate work in psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, or related fields.

At least 9 semester hours of upper-division level courses and 6 semester hours at any level in the Psychology major must be completed at MTSU. One minor is required. See advisor for an approved list of minors.

Admission to Candidacy

All students are required to be admitted to candidacy for the Industrial/Organizational Psychology major. To apply for candidacy, a student must have

  1. completed at least 30 hours of coursework (not to include learning support courses);
  2. completed the following General Education requirements: ENGL 1010; ENGL 1020; MATH 1530 or MATH 1710 or MATH 1730, or higher; and a science course with a minimum 2.00 GPA;
  3. completed the following psychology courses: PSY 1410 and PSY 2210 with a minimum 2.00 GPA. (A grade of C- or better is required in PSY 1410 and PSY 2210.)

Students will have required advising every semester until they have successfully completed admission to candidacy.

The application for admission to candidacy is an online application. Applications should be submitted by students the semester after they have completed the above requirements.

NOTE: Students should follow the recommended sequence of courses for the freshman year on the academic map.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Industrial/Organizational Psychology, B.S., Academic Map  

Degree Requirements

General Education41 hours
Major Requirements47 hours*
Supporting Course3-4 hours*
Minor15-18 hours
Electives10-20 hours
TOTAL120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the General Education curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill General Education requirements, the number of elective hours will increase. 

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements include Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

The following courses required by the program meet General Education requirements:

Major Requirements (47 hours)

A grade of C- or above is required in all major core coursework.

  • PSY 1410 - General Psychology  3 credit hours  
    (may be counted in General Education)(may be counted in General Education)  dotslash:(may be counted in General Education) title:(may be counted in General Education) 
    (may be counted in General Education) 

    PSY 1410 - General Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Prescribed prerequisite: READ 1000. Introductory survey course. Includes biological foundations, perception, principles of learning, intelligence, motivation, emotion, human development, personality, social psychology, behavior disorders, and psychotherapy.

  • PSY 2000 - Seminar on Careers in Psychology

    1 credit hour

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Required for admission to candidacy. Requirements needed for success in jobs or graduate school. Activities may include interest exploration, development of a career timeline, resume, and/or vita, and a final culminating project. ​

     

  • PSY 2210 - Psychology of Social Behavior

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410 recommended but not required. Systematic study of social behavior. Includes interaction between people, perception of others, interpersonal attraction, aggression, altruism, conformity, attitudes, and group behavior.

  • PSY 3020 - Basic Statistics for Behavioral Science

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: 3 credit hours of college-level mathematics. Elementary descriptive and inferential statistics and their applications.

  • PSY 3070 - Research Methods  3 credit hours  
    ANDAND  dotslash:AND title:AND 
    AND 

    PSY 3070 - Research Methods

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020. Corequisite: PSY 3071. Analysis of methodological issues in psychological research. Designed to teach skills in the formulation, execution, interpretation, and presentation of psychological investigations.

  • PSY 3320 - Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Survey of the applications of psychology to business and Industry. Topics will include applied research methods, employee selection, performance appraisal, training, leadership, motivation, work environment, job design, safety, and work stress.

  • PSY 4260 - Introduction to Psychological Testing

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020 with C- or better. Modern practices in test construction, selection, and application to a variety of situations such as schools, clinics, and businesses.

  • PSY 4270 - Personnel Selection and Placement

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3320. Survey of a wide range of personnel selection and placement topics such as job analysis, selection, legal issues, test reliability, test validity, employment interviews, and other variables relating to applicant evaluation, placement, retention, and promotion.

  • PSY 4290 - Compensation System Design and Administration

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3320. The role of compensation in human resources. Topics will include strategic choices, job evaluation, salary market data, incentives and pay for performance.  Legal and international issues also considered.

  • PSY 4330 - Industrial and Organizational Training and Development

    3 credit hours

    Examines training and development methods for use in organizations. Includes learning, needs assessment, program development, different training methods, and program evaluation.

  • PSY 4360 - Organizational Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410 or PSY 3320. Application of psychology to examine individual and group behavior in organizations; job design and organizational design and their effects upon work behavior; and organizational processes such as leadership, power, and decision-making.

  • PSY 4370 - Motivation and Work Attitudes

    3 credit hours

    Understanding and application of motivational theories, particularly in the workplace. Work attitude topics include job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational culture; effects on performance; measurement. Integrations with related topics such as conflict resolution.

  • PSY 3230 - Psychological Disorders  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 3230 - Psychological Disorders

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Patterns of maladaptive behavior, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and antisocial behavior.

  • PSY 3590 - Personality  3 credit hours  

    PSY 3590 - Personality

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Historical and contemporary personality theory and research, including the trait, cognitive, and motivational approaches. Topics include personality development, the unconscious, the self, goals, emotions, coping, disorders, and personality change.

  • PSY 4040 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 4040 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Information processing approach to the study of cognitive processes: attention, perception, memory, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making.

  • PSY 4480 - Learning Theories  3 credit hours  

    PSY 4480 - Learning Theories

    3 credit hours

    Survey of research and major theories of learning with emphasis on classical and instrumental conditioning and related topics.

Choose 6 hours from the following:

  • PSY 4070 - Advanced Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: Grade of B- or higher in PSY 3020 or equivalent course. Course topics include multiple regression, factorial ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA, and categorical data analysis. Designed to prepare students for graduate-level statistics courses often required in master's and doctoral level programs, as well as for employment positions in business and government that require more advanced statistical training.

  • PSY 4340 - Human Factors Psychology

    3 credit hours

    The process of designing for human use. Considers individual differences, visual, auditory, and tactile displays, anthropometry, illumination, noise, humans in motion, and space and environmental studies.

  • PSY 4380 - Group Dynamics  3 credit hours  

    PSY 4380 - Group Dynamics

    3 credit hours

    The functioning of groups. Includes development of group structure, group conflict, cohesion, social influence, leadership, group productivity, group decision making, and growth groups. Classroom activities are supplemented by group projects that may require some out of class meetings.

  • PSY 4390 - Persuasion  3 credit hours  

    PSY 4390 - Persuasion

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Survey and analysis of theory and research on interpersonal influence. Applications of findings to various areas of human experience.

  • PSY 4610 - Adult Development and Aging

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410 and PSY 2300 recommended but not required. A survey of the research on adult development. Examines the physical, intellectual, social, vocational, and personality changes during the adult years.

  • PSY 4720 - Cross-Cultural Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Reviews the concept of culture and how this and other demographic factors influence issues in psychology and human experiences including thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

  • PSY 4730 - Internship: Industrial/Organizational

    3 credit hours

    Supervised practical experience utilizing psychological principles and tools in an established organization. Pass/Fail.

  • PSY 4830 - Occupational Health Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: PSY 1410 and PSY 3020 or equivalent statistics course. Focuses on identifying and improving the key health, safety, and well-being issues that employees face.

Supporting Course (3-4 hours)

(may be counted in General Education)

  • MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: Two years of high school algebra and a Math Enhanced ACT 19 or greater or equivalent. Descriptive statistics, probability, and statistical inference. The inference unit covers means, proportions, and variances for one and two samples, and topics from one-way ANOVA, regression and correlation analysis, chi-square analysis, and nonparametrics. TBR Common Course: MATH 1530

  • MATH 1710 - College Algebra  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    MATH 1710 - College Algebra

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: DSPM 0850 or two years of high school algebra; a Math Enhanced ACT 19 or greater or COMPASS placement. Course satisfies the General Education Mathematics requirement. Topics include functions--linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic; analysis of graphs; linear systems; inequalities; counting principles; and probability. Graphing calculator required. Course may be taken by correspondence. Not open to those who have had MATH 1730. TBR Common Course: MATH 1710

  • MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus  4 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus

    4 credit hours

    Prerequisite: MATH 1710 or successful completion of high school precalculus course. An integrated and rigorous study of the algebra and trigonometry needed to successfully attempt calculus. Emphasis on functions, their analysis and their applications. Level of algebraic sophistication developed above that found in MATH 1710. Topics include exponentials and logarithms, analysis of graphs, and word problems. Graphing calculator required. TBR Common Course: MATH 1730

  • higher-level math

Minor (15-18 hours)

Recommended minors include Business Administration, Business Law, Leadership Studies, Management, or Information Systems. See advisor for a complete list of approved minors.

Electives (10-20 hours)

Curriculum: Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman First Semester

 

  • ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing  3 credit hours  
    (Comm)(Comm)  dotslash:(Comm) title:(Comm) 
    (Comm) 

    ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing

    3 credit hours

    The first General Education English course. Emphasis on learning to adapt composing processes to a variety of expository and analytic writing assignments. Minimum grade of C- required to meet degree requirements.

  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
  • PSY 1410 - General Psychology  3 credit hours  
    (Soc/Beh Sci)(Soc/Beh Sci)  dotslash:(Soc/Beh Sci) title:(Soc/Beh Sci) 
    (Soc/Beh Sci) 

    PSY 1410 - General Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Prescribed prerequisite: READ 1000. Introductory survey course. Includes biological foundations, perception, principles of learning, intelligence, motivation, emotion, human development, personality, social psychology, behavior disorders, and psychotherapy.

  • HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I

    3 credit hours

    Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2010

  • HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II

    3 credit hours

    Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from 1877 to the present. May be used to satisfy one part of the the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2020

  • HIST 2030 - Tennessee History  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2030 - Tennessee History

    3 credit hours

    The role of the state in the development of the nation. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. TBR Common Course: HIST 2030

  • HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I

    3 credit hours

    The role of African Americans in establishing and shaping the American nation. Covers their historical development and contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.

    NOTE: HIST 2040 is not a prerequisite for HIST 2050.

  • HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II

    3 credit hours

    The role of African Americans in shaping the American nation and creating a twentieth-century racial identity. Covers their historical development and examines their contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.

  • MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics  3 credit hours  
    (Math)(Math)  dotslash:(Math) title:(Math) 
    (Math) 
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    MATH 1530 - Applied Statistics

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: Two years of high school algebra and a Math Enhanced ACT 19 or greater or equivalent. Descriptive statistics, probability, and statistical inference. The inference unit covers means, proportions, and variances for one and two samples, and topics from one-way ANOVA, regression and correlation analysis, chi-square analysis, and nonparametrics. TBR Common Course: MATH 1530

  • MATH 1710 - College Algebra  3 credit hours  
    (Math)(Math)  dotslash:(Math) title:(Math) 
    (Math) 
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    MATH 1710 - College Algebra

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: DSPM 0850 or two years of high school algebra; a Math Enhanced ACT 19 or greater or COMPASS placement. Course satisfies the General Education Mathematics requirement. Topics include functions--linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic; analysis of graphs; linear systems; inequalities; counting principles; and probability. Graphing calculator required. Course may be taken by correspondence. Not open to those who have had MATH 1730. TBR Common Course: MATH 1710

  • MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus  4 credit hours  
    (Math)(Math)  dotslash:(Math) title:(Math) 
    (Math) 
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    MATH 1730 - Pre-Calculus

    4 credit hours

    Prerequisite: MATH 1710 or successful completion of high school precalculus course. An integrated and rigorous study of the algebra and trigonometry needed to successfully attempt calculus. Emphasis on functions, their analysis and their applications. Level of algebraic sophistication developed above that found in MATH 1710. Topics include exponentials and logarithms, analysis of graphs, and word problems. Graphing calculator required. TBR Common Course: MATH 1730

  • Math course higher than MATH 1730 (Math)

Subtotal: 15-16 Hours

 

Freshman Second Semester

 

  • ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: ENGL 1010. The second General Education English course. Emphasis on analytic and argumentative writing and on locating, organizing, and using library resource materials in the writing. Minimum grade of C- required to meet degree requirements.

  • Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
  • PSY 2000 - Seminar on Careers in Psychology

    1 credit hour

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Required for admission to candidacy. Requirements needed for success in jobs or graduate school. Activities may include interest exploration, development of a career timeline, resume, and/or vita, and a final culminating project. ​

     

  • PSY 2210 - Psychology of Social Behavior

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410 recommended but not required. Systematic study of social behavior. Includes interaction between people, perception of others, interpersonal attraction, aggression, altruism, conformity, attitudes, and group behavior.

  • HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I

    3 credit hours

    Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from the beginning to 1877. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2010

  • HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II

    3 credit hours

    Survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic phases of American life in its regional, national, and international aspects. Discusses the era from 1877 to the present. May be used to satisfy one part of the the General Education History requirement. HIST 2010 is NOT a prerequisite for HIST 2020. TBR Common Course: HIST 2020

  • HIST 2030 - Tennessee History  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2030 - Tennessee History

    3 credit hours

    The role of the state in the development of the nation. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement. TBR Common Course: HIST 2030

  • HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I

    3 credit hours

    The role of African Americans in establishing and shaping the American nation. Covers their historical development and contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.

    NOTE: HIST 2040 is not a prerequisite for HIST 2050.

  • HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II

    3 credit hours

    The role of African Americans in shaping the American nation and creating a twentieth-century racial identity. Covers their historical development and examines their contributions to American art, music, literature, and religion. May be used to satisfy one part of the General Education History requirement.

Subtotal: 17 Hours

Sophomore Year

 

  • ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture  3 credit hours  
    (Hum/FA)(Hum/FA) OR  dotslash:(Hum/FA) OR title:(Hum/FA) 
    (Hum/FA) OR 

    ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. Traces a specific theme or idea through a number of literary texts that reflect different historical and cultural contexts. Subject will vary.

  • ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature  3 credit hours  
    Hum/FA)(Hum/FA)  dotslash:(Hum/FA) title:Hum/FA) 
    (Hum/FA) 
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. The reading of a variety of literary types which illuminate themes and experiences common to human existence.

  • HUM 2610 - World Literatures  3 credit hours  
    (Hu/FA)(Hum/FA)  dotslash:(Hum/FA) title:(Hu/FA) 
    (Hum/FA) 

    HUM 2610 - World Literatures

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisites: ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020. Representative works of French, German, and Hispanic authors in English translation. No foreign-language proficiency required. Carries General Education credit.

 

  • COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication  3 credit hours  
    (Comm)(Comm)  dotslash:(Comm) title:(Comm) 
    (Comm) 

    COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication

    3 credit hours

    Introduces principles and processes of effective public oral communication including researching, critical thinking, organizing, presenting, listening, and using appropriate language. Counts as part of the General Education Communication requirement. TBR Common Course: COMM 2025

  • Natural Sciences 4 credit hours
  • Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours

 

  • PSY 3230 - Psychological Disorders  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 3230 - Psychological Disorders

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Patterns of maladaptive behavior, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and antisocial behavior.

  • PSY 3590 - Personality  3 credit hours  

    PSY 3590 - Personality

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Historical and contemporary personality theory and research, including the trait, cognitive, and motivational approaches. Topics include personality development, the unconscious, the self, goals, emotions, coping, disorders, and personality change.

 

  • PSY 3020 - Basic Statistics for Behavioral Science

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: 3 credit hours of college-level mathematics. Elementary descriptive and inferential statistics and their applications.

  • PSY 3320 - Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Survey of the applications of psychology to business and Industry. Topics will include applied research methods, employee selection, performance appraisal, training, leadership, motivation, work environment, job design, safety, and work stress.

  • General elective 3 credit hours

 

  • PSY 3070 - Research Methods  3 credit hours  
    ANDAND  dotslash:AND title:AND 
    AND 

    PSY 3070 - Research Methods

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020. Corequisite: PSY 3071. Analysis of methodological issues in psychological research. Designed to teach skills in the formulation, execution, interpretation, and presentation of psychological investigations.

Subtotal: 29 Hours

 

Junior Year

 

  • PSY 4260 - Introduction to Psychological Testing

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3020 with C- or better. Modern practices in test construction, selection, and application to a variety of situations such as schools, clinics, and businesses.

  • PSY 4360 - Organizational Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 1410 or PSY 3320. Application of psychology to examine individual and group behavior in organizations; job design and organizational design and their effects upon work behavior; and organizational processes such as leadership, power, and decision-making.

 

  • PSY 4040 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 4040 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

    3 credit hours

    Information processing approach to the study of cognitive processes: attention, perception, memory, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making.

  • PSY 4480 - Learning Theories  3 credit hours  

    PSY 4480 - Learning Theories

    3 credit hours

    Survey of research and major theories of learning with emphasis on classical and instrumental conditioning and related topics.

  • Minor course 3 credit hours
  • General elective or minor courses 6 credit hours
  • I/O PSY elective courses 6 credit hours
  • PSY 4270 - Personnel Selection and Placement  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 4270 - Personnel Selection and Placement

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3320. Survey of a wide range of personnel selection and placement topics such as job analysis, selection, legal issues, test reliability, test validity, employment interviews, and other variables relating to applicant evaluation, placement, retention, and promotion.

  • PSY 4290 - Compensation System Design and Administration

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3320. The role of compensation in human resources. Topics will include strategic choices, job evaluation, salary market data, incentives and pay for performance.  Legal and international issues also considered.

 

  • PSY 4330 - Industrial and Organizational Training and Development  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 4330 - Industrial and Organizational Training and Development

    3 credit hours

    Examines training and development methods for use in organizations. Includes learning, needs assessment, program development, different training methods, and program evaluation.

  • PSY 4370 - Motivation and Work Attitudes

    3 credit hours

    Understanding and application of motivational theories, particularly in the workplace. Work attitude topics include job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational culture; effects on performance; measurement. Integrations with related topics such as conflict resolution.

Subtotal: 30 Hours

 

Senior Year

 

  • PSY 4270 - Personnel Selection and Placement  3 credit hours  
    OROR  dotslash:OR title:OR 
    OR 

    PSY 4270 - Personnel Selection and Placement

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3320. Survey of a wide range of personnel selection and placement topics such as job analysis, selection, legal issues, test reliability, test validity, employment interviews, and other variables relating to applicant evaluation, placement, retention, and promotion.

  • PSY 4290 - Compensation System Design and Administration

    3 credit hours

    Prerequisite: PSY 3320. The role of compensation in human resources. Topics will include strategic choices, job evaluation, salary market data, incentives and pay for performance.  Legal and international issues also considered.

 

  • PSY 4330 - Industrial and Organizational Training and Development  3 credit hours  
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    PSY 4330 - Industrial and Organizational Training and Development

    3 credit hours

    Examines training and development methods for use in organizations. Includes learning, needs assessment, program development, different training methods, and program evaluation.

  • PSY 4370 - Motivation and Work Attitudes

    3 credit hours

    Understanding and application of motivational theories, particularly in the workplace. Work attitude topics include job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational culture; effects on performance; measurement. Integrations with related topics such as conflict resolution.

 

  • Minor courses 6-9 credit hours
  • General elective courses 14-18 credit hours

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world. They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success.

Psychology

PSY 1410 - General Psychology
3 credit hours

Prescribed prerequisite: READ 1000. Introductory survey course. Includes biological foundations, perception, principles of learning, intelligence, motivation, emotion, human development, personality, social psychology, behavior disorders, and psychotherapy.

PSY 1420 - Psychology of Adjustment
3 credit hours

Processes of human adjustment, adaptation, and environmental influences. Development of self-understanding, constructive management of emotion and stress, and healthy interpersonal relationships.

PSY 2000 - Seminar on Careers in Psychology
1 credit hour

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Required for admission to candidacy. Requirements needed for success in jobs or graduate school. Activities may include interest exploration, development of a career timeline, resume, and/or vita, and a final culminating project. ​

 

PSY 2180 - Thinking: Intelligence and Creativity
3 credit hours

Psychological approaches to the scientific study of intelligence, IQ, creativity, and creative genius.

PSY 2190 - Introduction to Biopsychology
3 credit hours

Introduction to the involvement of the brain in behavior. Topics related to anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, sensory and motor functions, intelligence, sleep and biological rhythms, emotion, and mental illness covered. No biology background required.

PSY 2210 - Psychology of Social Behavior
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410 recommended but not required. Systematic study of social behavior. Includes interaction between people, perception of others, interpersonal attraction, aggression, altruism, conformity, attitudes, and group behavior.

PSY 2300 - Developmental Psychology
3 credit hours

Broad survey of the biological and environmental factors influencing physical, cognitive, and social development from conception until death. Emphasis on current research and theory. Will not substitute for SOC 3151 or CDFS 3340.

PSY 3020 - Basic Statistics for Behavioral Science
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: 3 credit hours of college-level mathematics. Elementary descriptive and inferential statistics and their applications.

PSY 3030 - Laboratory in Psychology
1 credit hour

Corequisite: PSY 3020. Basic Statistics.

PSY 3070 - Research Methods
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 3020. Corequisite: PSY 3071. Analysis of methodological issues in psychological research. Designed to teach skills in the formulation, execution, interpretation, and presentation of psychological investigations.

PSY 3071 - Research Methods Lab
1 credit hour

Corequisite: PSY 3070.

PSY 3230 - Psychological Disorders
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Patterns of maladaptive behavior, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and antisocial behavior.

PSY 3240 - Psychological Disorders in Childhood
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Emotional and behavioral disorders in childhood and adolescence including autism spectrum disorder, depression, and child maltreatment.

PSY 3250 - Perspectives on Black Psychology
3 credit hours

(Same as AAS 3250 and AST 3250.) Application of psychological principles to the personality development and behavior patterns of African Americans, in light of cultural heritage and contemporary events. Implications for assessment and counseling.

PSY 3320 - Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology
3 credit hours

Survey of the applications of psychology to business and Industry. Topics will include applied research methods, employee selection, performance appraisal, training, leadership, motivation, work environment, job design, safety, and work stress.

PSY 3590 - Personality
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Historical and contemporary personality theory and research, including the trait, cognitive, and motivational approaches. Topics include personality development, the unconscious, the self, goals, emotions, coping, disorders, and personality change.

PSY 3750 - Introduction to Clinical Psychology
3 credit hours

Reviews the historical background, roles, and responsibilities of clinical psychologists and differentiates their duties from other mental health professionals. Introduces assessment, clinical interventions, and specializations.

PSY 3990 - Research in Psychology
1 to 3 credit hours

Prerequisites: 6 hours of psychology recommended but not required; permission of instructor. Supervised research in current topics in psychology. Contact individual faculty members for research possibilities and requirements. May be repeated. (Students majoring in Psychology or the Pre-graduate School concentration may apply up to 6 hours of credit to the major. Students majoring in I/O Psychology may apply up to 4 hours of credit to the major. Students minoring in Psychology may apply up to 6 hours of credit to the minor.)

PSY 4010 - Laboratory in Psychology: Honors
1 credit hour

May be repeated. Supervised laboratory in an area of psychology related to a content course. The laboratory can only be taken during the semester the student is enrolled in the content course.

PSY 4030 - Psychology of Sensation and Perception
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410 or permission of instructor. Perceptual and physiological (sensory) mechanisms involved in vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Perceptual consequences of central nervous system events. Historical perspectives.

PSY 4040 - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
3 credit hours

Information processing approach to the study of cognitive processes: attention, perception, memory, language, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making.

PSY 4050 - Applied Psychopharmacology
3 credit hours

Reviews current information on major categories of psychoactive drugs used to treat mental disorders and drugs of abuse including mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and legal aspects.

PSY 4060 - Sport Psychology
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410 or consent of instructor. Application of psychological principles, motivational research, and social/psychological findings to the arena of sports. Theory and application of performance enhancement and teamwork in sports.

PSY 4070 - Advanced Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Grade of B- or higher in PSY 3020 or equivalent course. Course topics include multiple regression, factorial ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA, and categorical data analysis. Designed to prepare students for graduate-level statistics courses often required in master's and doctoral level programs, as well as for employment positions in business and government that require more advanced statistical training.

PSY 4080 - Advanced Research Methods
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Grade of B- or higher in PSY 3070 or equivalent training (POD) and PSY 4070. Design, conduct, analyze, and report psychological research. Advanced research conducted individually or in small groups. Offers preparation for graduate-level research required in master's and doctoral programs and for research applications in business and government settings.

PSY 4110 - Issues and Ethics in Mental Health Services
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: PSY 1410 and PSY 3230. Overview of mental health services that can be provided by the bachelor's graduate. Offers training necessary for entry-level positions in mental health agencies, emphasizing ethical guidelines and legal issues.

PSY 4120 - Psychology of Criminal Behavior
3 credit hours

Survey of theory and research pertaining to criminal behavior, covering topics such as mental illness and crime, criminal homicide, assault, and sex offenses.

PSY 4130 - Laboratory in Psychology
1 credit hour

Corequisite: PSY 4030. Laboratory experiences in sensation and perception.

PSY 4140 - Laboratory in Psychology
1 credit hour

Corequisite: PSY 4040 Laboratory experiences in cognitive psychology.

PSY 4150 - Laboratory in Psychology
1 credit hour

Corequisite: PSY 4240. Laboratory experiences in behavioral neuroscience.

PSY 4180 - Laboratory in Psychology
1 credit hour

Corequisite: PSY 4480. Laboratory experiences in learning theories.

PSY 4190 - Child Development
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 2300 recommended but not required. Intensive research-based overview of child development from conception to adolescence. Includes cognitive, physical, and socioemotional development, as well as the contexts of child development. 

PSY 4210 - Adolescent Development
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 2300 recommended but not required. Overview of cognitive, physical, and socioemotional development during adolescence, as well as the contexts of development.

PSY 4220 - Correctional Psychology
3 credit hours

Legal, law enforcement, delinquency, and criminal psychology, including psychological evaluation, classification, therapy, and rehabilitation. Special classifications. Field problems. Preventive implications.

PSY 4240 - Behavioral Neuroscience
3 credit hours

The role of the brain in those areas which are typically considered by psychology, such as sensory and motor functions, motivation, higher mental functions, and mental disorders.

PSY 4260 - Introduction to Psychological Testing
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 3020 with C- or better. Modern practices in test construction, selection, and application to a variety of situations such as schools, clinics, and businesses.

PSY 4270 - Personnel Selection and Placement
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 3320. Survey of a wide range of personnel selection and placement topics such as job analysis, selection, legal issues, test reliability, test validity, employment interviews, and other variables relating to applicant evaluation, placement, retention, and promotion.

PSY 4290 - Compensation System Design and Administration
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 3320. The role of compensation in human resources. Topics will include strategic choices, job evaluation, salary market data, incentives and pay for performance.  Legal and international issues also considered.

PSY 4330 - Industrial and Organizational Training and Development
3 credit hours

Examines training and development methods for use in organizations. Includes learning, needs assessment, program development, different training methods, and program evaluation.

PSY 4340 - Human Factors Psychology
3 credit hours

The process of designing for human use. Considers individual differences, visual, auditory, and tactile displays, anthropometry, illumination, noise, humans in motion, and space and environmental studies.

PSY 4360 - Organizational Psychology
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410 or PSY 3320. Application of psychology to examine individual and group behavior in organizations; job design and organizational design and their effects upon work behavior; and organizational processes such as leadership, power, and decision-making.

PSY 4370 - Motivation and Work Attitudes
3 credit hours

Understanding and application of motivational theories, particularly in the workplace. Work attitude topics include job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and organizational culture; effects on performance; measurement. Integrations with related topics such as conflict resolution.

PSY 4380 - Group Dynamics
3 credit hours

The functioning of groups. Includes development of group structure, group conflict, cohesion, social influence, leadership, group productivity, group decision making, and growth groups. Classroom activities are supplemented by group projects that may require some out of class meetings.

PSY 4390 - Persuasion
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Survey and analysis of theory and research on interpersonal influence. Applications of findings to various areas of human experience.

PSY 4400 - Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
3 credit hours

Introduces applied behavior analysis and the application of behavior change procedures to enact socially significant behavior change. Will include applications of behavior analysis to self-management, family, education, disability, correctional institutions, clinical settings, and industrial organizations.

PSY 4430 - Ethical Conduct in Behavior Analysis
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Ethical practice and professional roles of behavior analysts.

PSY 4440 - Social Psychology of Close Relationships
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Theoretical and empirical issues in the scientific study of adult, close relationships from a social psychological perspective: initial attraction, relationship formation, maintenance, and dissolution. (Not a course in the broad area of marriage and the family: See CDFS 3320 - Family Relations and SOC 2500 - Marriage and Family.)

PSY 4460 - Psychology of Happiness and Well-Being
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410; PSY 2210 and PSY 3230 recommended. Introduces theories and research in psychology that examine topics relevant to the nature of happiness and psychological well-being. Topics covered will include happiness, life satisfaction, creativity, wellness, love, self-actualization, wisdom, as well as a number of others-topics recently discussed under the heading of "positive psychology."

PSY 4470 - Theories of Counseling
3 credit hours

Integration of the major theories of counseling and psychotherapy and their application.

PSY 4480 - Learning Theories
3 credit hours

Survey of research and major theories of learning with emphasis on classical and instrumental conditioning and related topics.

PSY 4490 - Operant Conditioning
3 credit hours

Philosophy of B.F. Skinner's behaviorism explored in his writings and those of his followers and critics. Current applications of behaviorism in all areas of psychology (child, marriage and family, animal conditioning, mental health, addictions, etc.) also examined.

PSY 4600 - Psychosexual Adjustment
3 credit hours

The integration of psychological, social, behavioral, and biological components of the human sexual experience. Examines research, sexual development, attitudes and behaviors, variances and dysfunctions, and strategies for intervention.

PSY 4610 - Adult Development and Aging
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410 and PSY 2300 recommended but not required. A survey of the research on adult development. Examines the physical, intellectual, social, vocational, and personality changes during the adult years.

PSY 4620 - Psychology of Women
3 credit hours

Examines the lives of girls and women in North America, including topics such as gender stereotypes, gender roles, work, relationships, sexuality, physical and mental health, violence against women, and women in later adulthood.

PSY 4630 - Death and Dying
3 credit hours

An experiential course covering the folklore of thanatology, the funeral industry, handling grief, counseling the bereaved, and the hospice concept. Objectives include an attempt to view death with equanimity and personal growth from confronting death.

PSY 4650 - Health Psychology
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. Focuses on the relationship between psychological factors and health and the application of psychological principles to the enhancement of health and prevention and treatment of illness.

PSY 4655 - Foundations of Mental Health Counseling
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: PSY 1410 and PSY 3230 or equivalent. History, roles, and duties of the professional mental health counselor. Managed care and third party reimbursement issues, administration and supervision of mental health services, and other salient issues relating to the role of the professional mental health counselor. Preparation for graduate-level training in mental health counseling.

PSY 4660 - Psychology Seminar Industrial-Social
1 credit hour

Representative and integrative study of scientific journals of field. May be taken for a total of three credits.

PSY 4670 - Psychology Seminar Clinical-Personality
1 credit hour

Representative and integrative study of scientific journals of field. May be taken for a total of three credits.

PSY 4680 - Psychology Seminar General-Experimental
1 credit hour

Representative and integrative study of scientific journals of field. May be taken for a total of three credits.

PSY 4700 - History and Systems of Psychology
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: Upper-division status; PSY 1410 recommended but not required. A survey of the history of psychology and an intensive study of current systems of psychology.

PSY 4720 - Cross-Cultural Psychology
3 credit hours

Reviews the concept of culture and how this and other demographic factors influence issues in psychology and human experiences including thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

PSY 4730 - Internship: Industrial/Organizational
3 credit hours

Supervised practical experience utilizing psychological principles and tools in an established organization. Pass/Fail.

PSY 4740 - Apprenticeship-Child
1 to 3 credit hours

Supervised practical experience utilizing psychological principles and tools in an established organization.

PSY 4750 - Apprenticeship-Pre-Clinical
1 to 3 credit hours

Prerequisites: PSY 3230 and PSY 4110. Supervised practical experience utilizing psychological principles and tools in an established organization.

PSY 4760 - Apprenticeship-Adolescent
1 to 3 credit hours

Supervised practical experience utilizing psychological principles and tools in an established organization.

PSY 4780 - Human Neuropsychology
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 4240 or consent of instructor. Organization and function of specific brain areas and the behavioral deficits and changes resulting from focal and diffuse brain damage.

PSY 4810 - Teams in Organizations
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: For students in the Bridgestone program pursuing the Leading Teams certificate. Online course that examines factors contributing to effective work team performance in organizational settings. Includes conditions for team effectiveness, group structure, performance-related emergent cognitive states, group processes supporting team effectiveness, teamwork, organizational supports for teams, and team leadership.

PSY 4820 - Psychology of Language
3 credit hours

Prerequisite: PSY 1410. A cognitive approach to how people learn and use language to communicate. Covers basic and applied psycholinguistics (including language perception, language production, syntax, semantics, discourse comprehension, and language development).

PSY 4830 - Occupational Health Psychology
3 credit hours

Prerequisites: PSY 1410 and PSY 3020 or equivalent statistics course. Focuses on identifying and improving the key health, safety, and well-being issues that employees face.

Online or Hybrid Programs at a Glance

This program is available .


For More Information or Explore Your Options​

Contact your department / program coordinator or advisor for more details about the program OR work one-on-one with your advisor to explore your options.


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The Online Advantage​

With over 25 years of experience in online teaching and learning, MTSU Online offers students access to innovative, high-quality programs. Designed with students in mind, our courses allow maximum flexibility for those unable to participate in person. ​

Resources and services for online students are available from MTSU Online or contact us at distance@mtsu.edu.

Contact Information

*For additional information, see contact information below*

Judy Van Hein
judy.vanhein@mtsu.edu
Phone | 615-898-5752

Who is My Advisor?

Chloe Calhoun (A-F)
Chloe.Calhoun@mtsu.edu
615-898-4846 | ACB 140

Amy Foster (G-O)
Amy.Foster@mtsu.edu
615-898-4940 | ACB 140

Candice Burnom-Coman (P-Z)
Candice.Burnom@mtsu.edu
615-898-4905 | ACB 140

Mailing Address

Department of Psychology
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 87
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

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