Program spotlight: Online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Psychology

Gain an understanding of human behavior to make a positive impact on organizations

Are you a working professional looking to step into a unique role helping employees and organizations create an enjoyable and sustainable workplace? If so, Rider’s online Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Psychology program is where business and psychology intersect. Designed exclusively for adult learners and working professionals, this 100% online program provides in-depth knowledge of human behavior, group dynamics and how to make the workplace function more efficiently.

What do you learn in an organizational psychology program?

Understanding human behavior is not only crucial in the realm of psychology and mental health, but it also has a significant impact on every business and organization. Therefore, it is essential to consider human behavior when designing an effective organizational structure. Rider University's organizational psychology program offers a comprehensive understanding of the role of psychology in optimizing the workforce.

You’ll learn key concepts of psychology and management and delve into topics like employee motivation and engagement, human resource management and more. The in-depth knowledge you gain will help you support employers to empower and develop employees, enhance diversity and inclusion practices, build stronger HR practices and foster a safe work environment.

Benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology

• Gain in-demand skills: During your studies, you will build marketable skills that can be applied in the workplace well before you graduate. These skills include effective communication, coaching, conflict management, critical thinking, decision-making, research and team development.
• Be highly sought after: Organizational psychologists, also known as industrial-organizational psychologists, are in high demand across all industries in the post-pandemic world. This demand is due to employers seeking to enhance productivity, attract and retain top talent and establish a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being and success.
• High earning potential: According to Payscale, the average entry-level salary for an industrial-organizational psychologist is $75,000 in 2024.
• Create an employee-centric culture: Develop the knowledge and skills that will place you at the forefront of creating the workplace of the future. You’ll work closely with businesses to build healthy and productive workplaces while strengthening the employer-employee relationship.
• Help others: Play a unique role in helping employees by managing and motivating them to grow professionally, stabilizing work conditions, creating innovative methods to solve workplace conflict, supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives and ensuring ethical workplace practice.

Career outlook for organizational psychology graduates

Earning your bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology from Rider will prepare you to enter this highly dynamic field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that by 2032, employment in the psychology field is projected to grow by 6%, with about 12,800 job openings each year for psychologists and related careers.

What can you do with an organizational psychology degree from Rider?

Due to the demand for professionals with the specialized skills and knowledge gained from Rider’s organizational psychology program, graduates can experience high employability. Plus, you can find work in nearly any industry and roles tailored to your interests and long-term career goals.

Industrial-organizational psychologists can work in a variety of settings including human resource offices in large and small corporations, K-12 and higher education systems, state and national government agencies, hospitals and health care facilities, and more.

Common job titles that organizational psychology graduates can explore include:

• Human resource officer
• Employee relations manager
• Organizational psychologist or industrial-organizational psychologist
• Quality performance manager
• Organizational effectiveness manager
• Training and development specialist

Reasons to choose Rider’s online organizational psychology program

Led by faculty experts, our online organizational psychology program provides adult learners with the tools to apply psychological principles to create better workplaces, improve employee performance and engagement and enhance the work culture overall. The benefits of learning online at Rider include:

• Flexible program start dates in the fall, winter, spring and summer that allow you the ability to study when it is convenient for you.
• Eliminating the stress of commuting to campus, classroom performance anxiety and other concerns related to in-person learning to give you more time to focus on your studies.
• Affordable online courses with various financing options, including scholarships, grants and discounted tuition rates.
• The ability for returning college students to transfer up to 63 credits from 2-year institutions and 90 credits from 4-year institutions.
• Access to a range of academic support services for online learners, including our Academic Success Center and Counseling Center.
• Career development, coaching and support resources offered through our Office of Career Development and Success