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Kansas State University

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Psychology - Industrial/Organizational Emphasis

What makes a distance education program good?

Factors to consider when evaluating distance education programs include:

  • Reputation of the university: A degree is only as good as the university’s faculty.
  • Cost of the program: Are the costs clearly explained? Do program fees cover the cost of the major expenses: tuition, books, university delivery/technology fees, and mailing?
  • Access: Do students have access to support for academic course work and technology issues?
  • Time requirement of programs: Is the program paced? How much time do students spend weekly in courses?
  • Career enhancement: Will the program provide you with the competitive advantage and networking opportunities that you want?
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How does this program differ from a Master’s of Business Administration?

The Master’s of Science (MS) degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (MIOP) has been developed with guidance from human resource leaders. As such, the program is designed to integrate analytical concepts and psychological issues and methodologies, and apply these concepts directly to human resource problems. An MBA does not include the intricacies of many human resource problems, but rather addresses a broad range of operational and strategic issues.

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Can I get a degree without attending campus?

This is an option at some universities, however most programs require some on-campus attendance. Although the on-campus component of the MIOP program is only two weeks each summer, it breaks the isolation that is common with distance learning. We find students are motivated to complete a course because they know each other and the faculty. Also, students welcome the opportunity to meet each other and gain business contacts!

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What is a typical on-campus session like?

Sessions run from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with lectures, hands-on exposure to the distance learning technology, computer laboratory project work, presentation delivery, and participation in industrial/organizational psychology seminars.

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What is involved in a distance learning course?

Material that would normally be covered during the traditional or unit classroom lecture is broken down into several short modules. Course information is available over the Web. Unlike the traditional classroom, students have the option to access archived information with just a click of the mouse. Faculty members assign group projects and provide guided study and discussion using threaded message boards and chat rooms. Students also read the textbook or other assigned materials, and complete assignments.

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What is a typical week like while taking MIOP’s online courses?

MIOP’s online courses incorporate reading, conversing by way of threaded message boards, and writing more traditional assignments and papers. As with most graduate courses, a 3-credit hour class can be expected to occupy approximately 6-7 hours of your time each week. Depending on the course and its professor, you can expect to spend 2-3 hours each week monitoring and contributing to the course’s message board. The remaining time should be distributed amongst required readings and completing assigned written work (e.g., term papers, weekly writing assignments).

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What if I don’t understand the course material or homework?

Like any traditional learning program, faculty expect students to need additional help. The MIOP program is structured so that students can easily get the help they need through a variety of methods that include: Message boards, e-mail, and the telephone.

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Master’s Application Process
Chris Waples
MIOP Program Assistant
Department of Psychology
Kansas State University
474 Bluemont Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-5503
(785)532-2236 FAX: (785)532-5401
miopsych@k-state.edu
Program Questions
Trina McCarty
MIOP Program Coordinator
Division of Continuing Education
Kansas State University
225 College Court Building
Manhattan, KS 66506-6002
(785)532-2553 1-800-622-2578 FAX: (785)532-3779
trina@k-state.edu
Department of Psychology
Kansas State University
492 Bluemont Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-5503
(785)532-6850 FAX: (785)532-5401