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Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology at VSU
Program Description
Valdosta State University is one of only two Regional Universities in Georgia. In service to this region, the Department of Psychology and Counseling offers graduate degrees in Counseling and Guidance (M.Ed and Ed.S), Clinical Counseling Psychology (M.S.), Industrial-Organizational Psychology (M.S.), and School Psychology (Ed.S). Additionally, the College of Education offers doctoral degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Adult and Vocational Education. Several of the core courses for the I-O program serve students from these various graduate programs; as such, students of the I/O program are given the opportunity to interact in the classroom with students from these various fields.
Since the inception of the I-O Program at VSU in 1984, our students have had a high success rate in acquiring jobs in human resources, research, and human services. Part of the success of our students can be attributed to the opportunities provided by on-site practicum experiences. Students have served as human-resource interns with local, regional, national, and international organizations in manufacturing, human services, health care, civil service, banking, and government contracting. The opportunity for on-site experience is further enhanced by VSU's Office of Cooperative Education.
Many of our students take advantage of courses in other departments such as Instructional Technology (IT) and Public Administration. The IT program offers classes in Technology Applications. Students interested in the field of training will find that IT courses complement their psychology courses. For those who may be interested in supplementing their education in I-O Psychology with aspects of administration in public services, the Public Administration program welcomes psychology majors.
In addition to the academic aspects of attending VSU, one might also consider the quality of life aspects of living in Valdosta, Georgia. Valdosta is located in the center of south Georgia just 15 miles north of the Florida line. The Golden Isles of the Georgia Coast are 90 miles east. The Gulf Coast Beaches of Florida are a two-hour drive. Atlanta is 3 1/2 hours north on Interstate 75 and Orlando is 3 1/2 hours south on Interstate 75.
Larry P. Wiley, Ph.D.
lwiley@valdosta.edu