Baldwin Wallace University has added a new psychology major, Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Designed as a second major for business and psychology students, the program debuted this semester. Due to the exposure of both the business and psychology fields, students who are interested in human resources management and psychology are encouraged to seek out this major.
Dr. Lori Long, Associate Professor in BW’s Business Division, says that the adoption of Industrial/Organization Psychology was a result of the Business Division’s revision of all majors in the past year. The Business Division has been collaborating more with the Psychology Department, which spurred the creation and development of this new major for students interested in Business and Psychology.
BW’s Industrial/Organization Psychology program is set apart from similar programs at other institutions. BW’s program is an undergraduate program, which differs from other universities’ graduate programs. Dr. Long explains that the business component allows for more of a business focus. Graduating students will most likely end up in a business environment, which makes this element very important in preparing students for this type of setting. Since students will be graduating with a Psychology or Business major and Industrial/Organizational Psychology as a second major, students will be given more skills and expertise to utilize in their careers.
Students will start with the requirement of taking core courses in psychology, business, human resource management and industrial/organization psychology. Students will then take electives for both business and psychology. Near the end of the program, students will conclude by taking a Capstone course that includes a “consulting project with a non-profit organization to apply the skills and knowledge obtained in the program,” as explained by Dr. Long.
Dr. Long said Industrial/Organization Psychology students will be qualified to become Management Analysts, Human Resource Specialists and Organizational Effectiveness Directors, among other examples.
This major also prepares students to go on to Graduate school to become an Industrial/Organization Psychologist.
Interested students should contact Dr. Lori Long in the Business Division at [email protected] or Dr. Nancy Gussett in Psychology at [email protected].