Outside the Clinic: A Guide to Behavior-Based Degrees

Authors: Jasmine Hernandez-Morris and Maddie Duke, MS, BCBA

As of 2021, about 13% of US adults held a master’s degree, professional degree, or PhD. The process of choosing a degree can be long and confusing, especially for those hoping to apply behavior science outside the clinical setting. For these students, common degree fields tend to be in organizational behavior management (OBM), business administration, or industrial/organizational psychology (IO). Each of these degrees offers value to behavior scientists, but which is the best choice?

Organizational Behavior Management

OBM, a subfield of behavior analysis, is a relatively new field of study. Its focus is on the behavioral aspects of organizations at various levels. Most OBM professionals work in performance management or systems improvement. They are trained in the science of human behavior and pinpoint specific behaviors within organizations. OBM students will learn to develop solutions for organizational problems through methods such as objective observation and measurement, or complete descriptions of behavior (often called pinpointing). The principles of differential reinforcement are also commonly used, reinforcing certain behaviors over others to maximize individual and organizational success. OBM programs may specialize in certain topics, such as systems analysis or behavior-based safety. Regardless of the specialization, OBM students will graduate with an in-depth understanding of behavior science and its applications in organizational settings.

Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)

An MBA focuses on teaching students about the vital areas of a business, including finance, managing operational systems, accounting, human resources, marketing, business ethics, and organizational behavior. Due to the expansive range of topics covered by this degree, students will typically choose a concentration. Programs may specialize in certain concentrations, which is a consideration for prospective students. Not every program will cover organizational behavior, and not every program covers the topic in depth. The main focus of an MBA is to prepare students to be leaders in an organization with a strong foundation in business principles.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The last primary field of study is industrial/organizational psychology. While there are some similarities between IO and OBM, there are many differences as well. IO psychologists also use scientific methods to improve workplace quality of life and evaluate the performance of individuals and the organization. However, IO psychologists tend to focus their efforts on individuals and solutions, often within the realm of human resources. OBM practitioners, on the other hand, tend to focus on the organization’s systems, leadership, and development. Both fields of study use data to back their findings but use different kinds of data to focus on their specific needs.

Considerations

With all of these options, the question becomes, “Which field should I pick?” The most crucial consideration is what you hope to do with your degree. If you want to be a leader within an organization in some facet, an MBA would most likely be the best choice. If you wish to analyze systems within an organization using data to improve overall organizational behaviors, OBM would likely be a better choice. However, if you are interested in working with individuals within an organization to improve just one individual’s behavior, then IO might be a good focus. To make the best choice, consider who you want to work with, what you want to achieve, and where your interests lie when working with an organization.

A final important consideration is the employability of each degree. Of recruiters who were surveyed in the United States, 94% of them expected to hire individuals with an MBA degree in 2022. In a breakdown of whether a business degree would be worth pursuing, A recent West Virginia University article argues that a business degree is a good choice. The article highlights that the median wage is over $30,000 more than the median wage for other occupations and states that the areas of business and finance are expected to grow by 7% from 2021 to 2031. An MBA allows individuals to apply for jobs in every field, from finance to technology to healthcare, depending on their choice of concentration and skill set.

Because OBM is a newer field, professionals must have a solid understanding of their skill sets and be able to market their abilities. Some potential positions might be organizational development consultant, employee performance analyst, staff development manager, leadership development manager, and many more options. One way to find positions is to view jobs in the desired field, look at the job responsibilities, and compare them to your skill set. You might be surprised to find how many jobs with a wide range of titles are within your abilities! 

IO psychologists also have a wide range of options when pursuing jobs. Some common jobs are human resources manager, business development consultant, executive coach, performance engineer, and many more. It is important that you are confident in your abilities to be able to market yourself and your skill set effectively.  

The following table is a breakdown of some of the best-known colleges for each degree. Depending on your goals, you might desire a college that offers a master’s and doctoral degree, which is not available for every program. All these factors are critical when deciding not only which degree is right for you, but also where to get your degree of choice. Please note that the estimated costs do not include any financial aid, assistantships, or work-study that a college might offer.
 

*Estimated costs are based on out-of-state tuition as of January 2025. These costs are an estimate and subject to change at each school’s discretion.