Which is better: Masters degree in Human Resources or Industrial Organizational Psychology?
I love psychology and business. I want to work in those two fields. If possible I would like to take the major that makes more money. I’m also worried about getting into the graduate program. I’m not sure which is harder to get into..
Basically, can anyone just tell me about the career options for both?
Thank you!!
Lai said,
Wrote on June 6, 2010 @ 1:30 pm
What job do you like better? Pick the job you want more. Do you like both of them? If you do then do the one that gives more money since you want like both of them. However, I highly recommend you to pick a job you like that is fun and you would enjoy. Good Luck!
CoachT said,
Wrote on June 6, 2010 @ 1:51 pm
You have two options in HR – HR Management and HR Development (HRD), they’re not the same.
HR Development will include a significant amount of I/O Psych but will also include career development and training. HR Management trains generalists in the HR function. I/O Psych trains psychologists specializing in workforce behaviors usually as a function of the HR department.
Which is “better” depends entirely on what you want to do and how you define “better”. If you’d like to manage the HR function of a large company then HRD and I/O aren’t going to cut it. If you’d like to do workforce testing or design training programs then HRD or I/O will work fine. If you’d like to conduct research for publication on workplace behaviors then the I/O is the way to go.
If you’re asking “which is easier to find a job with…” then it’s HR Management – generalist positions are almost always more plentiful than are specialist positions. But, the specialists are less common people and are often paid better.
I/O is one of the few psychology fields that doesn’t insist on a PhD for professional positions. On the other hand, an HR department must be really large before it has need of I/O specialists and many these days are outsourcing that need. HR departments tend to fill (in order): Generalist/Management, Payroll/Benefits, Training, Staffing, Compliance, Development – I/O
If you’re thinking of going the consulting route then HRD or I/O are “better” choices as these tend to be contracted out more often. If you’re thinking of teaching then HR Management is “better” since there are simply more programs out there to teach in.
Any of the three will teach you some really valuable stuff about how to maximize your human capital potential.