Organizational Psychology

Organizational Psychology focuses on interactions in the workplace. The goal of organizational psychologists is to hire and retain the best talent, organize the workplace to enhance productivity, and promote overall employee satisfaction. To do so, these professionals regularly improve selection procedures, conduct surveys, and train and motivate employees.

Organizational psychology tackles sensitive issues:

• Workplace stigmas: Weight, physical attractiveness, sexual orientation, disabilities, religious beliefs, and race.
• Workplace culture: An especially sensitive topic after an acquisition, when you must merge two company cultures.
• Workplace aggression: An increasingly common issue, as seen with recent incidents.

Education & Career Opportunities in Organizational Psychology

To join the organizational psychology field, you can pursue a master's degree or PhD in organizational psychology, or a master's degree in human resource management. Organizational Psychology PhDs train to research in companies or the government, and teach at the university level. Master's graduates can also become organizational consultants, career advisers, and executive coaches. The U.S. Department of Labor has estimated mean annual wages for this booming psychology sector at $102,570.