Industrial Organizational Psychology Online Degree Concentration Within the BS in Business Administration Program

The better degree depends on your specific career goals. Graduates of both business degrees and psychology degrees may find themselves in similar fields, working within the areas where people and business intersect. This often looks like roles in human resources, talent development, etc.

A business degree provides a holistic overview of multiple areas of business, while a psychology degree is based in psychology research, methods and theory.

Once you've identified your end goal, the career or specific position you'd like to be in, back in from there to identify education or skill requirements for that role. Once you understand what employers are looking for in those roles, you can choose the program that suits your goals.

And with a concentration like industrial organizational psychology, you can blend the two subjects and add a unique skill set to your resume, helping you stand out in the job market in either field.

The great thing about the BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology is how versatile it is. With a broad general education as the base of the degree, you'll have the writing, communication, analytical and math skills you need to excel in any job, in any industry.

The major coursework in business prepares you to tackle principles of human resources, marketing, operations management and business systems. Your studies will also touch on law, finance and general management principles.

Then, take this well-rounded business education and add the study of social psychology, industrial psychology, cognitive psychology and more as you learn how to apply these principles to any business setting.

From there, you can leverage your bachelor’s degree with the guidance of your faculty, each of whom are professionals working in their prospective fields, to move forward in the job search or to continue on for a graduate degree.

Many businesses look to people with a business psychology degree to create training and strategies for increasing productivity and efficiencies, and to improve employee morale.

With a business degree combined with a psychology concentration, you may work as a:

• Human resources manager: Put your people skills to work by engaging in hiring best practices as well as all facets of staff development and support. Highly administrative, this role also requires a strong level of communication and interpersonal skills. Almost every business needs a strong professional in this role to ensure that all staff management processes are in compliance with legal standards, as well as designed to help every employee be their best at work.
• Training and development manager: In this role, your primary responsibility would be to design and implement training programs to support staff and help ensure they have the tools and information they need to be their best at work every day. You may also survey staff to ensure the effectiveness of this training. With a mix of instruction, administration and interpersonal interaction, this dynamic role could position you for a rewarding career building and maintaining a strong workforce for your company.
• Social and community service manager: Use your I-O psych skills to coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being, work in environments like nonprofit organizations, for-profit social service companies or government agencies.

While the BS in Business Administration with a Concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology does not qualify you to work as a psychologist, the coursework does help prepare you for an exciting career helping others be their best in the workplace.

Not only can you earn a master’s in business with a bachelor’s in psychology, but the two fields overlap quite a bit. Both require a solid foundation in general education and the liberal arts. Strong written and oral communication skills are a must. A knowledge of math, in particular economics and applied statistics, is also helpful in both fields.

The major coursework for Southern New Hampshire University’s online BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology includes intentional overlap between business and psychology so you gain the knowledge you’ll need for a rewarding career in business psychology.

In particular, you will study financial accounting, business law, introduction to marketing and even human resource management. All of these courses will benefit from your further study in your psychology concentration in industrial-organizational psychology as well. There, you will add the study of social psychology, industrial psychology and even cross-cultural psychology to your professional repertoire.

All of this together can prepare you well for a successful business career, especially when paired with an online master's in psychology, online MBA or similar graduate-level business program. SNHU will be ready to help you explore your career options, either way, to ensure you maximize your credits and earn your master’s degree on the timeline that is best for you.

Business psychology, also known as industrial organizational psychology, is specifically tailored for applications in the business world.

It focuses on understanding human behavior in the workplace, optimizing organizational processes and enhancing employee well-being and productivity.

So, if your primary interest is in business-related settings, industrial organizational psychology is the most relevant subfield of psychology.

The main difference between psychology and business psychology lies in their focus areas:

• Psychology: Psychology is a broad field that studies human behavior, thoughts, emotions, and mental processes. It encompasses various subfields, including clinical, counseling, developmental, cognitive and social psychology, among others.
• Business psychology (industrial organizational psychology): Business psychology, or industrial-organizational psychology, is a subfield that applies psychological principles and research methods to understand and solve problems in the workplace. It deals with topics like employee motivation, leadership, teamwork and organizational culture.

A professional with a background in business psychology is often called an "industrial-organizational psychologist" or simply an "I-O psychologist."

They may also be referred to as "business consultants," "organizational psychologists," or "workplace psychologists," depending on their specific role and job title.

While the BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology does not qualify you to work as an I-O psychologist, you can put knowledge and skills gained from your concentration to use in any business role.

Business psychology is increasingly important in today's competitive and complex business world. It helps organizations improve employee satisfaction, productivity and overall effectiveness.

By understanding human behavior in the workplace, businesses can make informed decisions about hiring, training, leadership and organizational culture, ultimately contributing to their success and profitability.

Business psychology also plays a crucial role in addressing issues like diversity and inclusion, employee well-being and ethical business practices.

At colleges and universities, a concentration is a focused area of study within a larger degree program. A concentration generally replaces elective coursework in the major or discipline, allowing students to focus their studies on an area of interest.