Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Industrial-Organizational Psychology, PhD


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Program Description


The PhD program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology prepares students for careers in which they apply principles, techniques, and theories from scientific psychology to solve real world problems involving human behavior. The Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology specialization emphasizes the application of scientific psychology to address issues pertinent to contemporary workplaces. Examples include performance management, leadership development, employee engagement, team dynamics, and occupational health and safety. Graduates of this program work in positions in industry, government, or consulting that all involve using the knowledge and skills acquired in the program to help organizations to become more productive and to help employees lead safer and healthier work lives. Graduates of the PhD program also may work in academic positions.

Summary of Degree Requirements


The program consists of 90 credits.

Coursework


Required Methods Coursework-12 Credits
Required IO Core Coursework-9 Credits
Required IO Experiential Coursework-18 Credits
Required Industrial and Organizational Psychology Content Coursework-18 Credits
  • Students must complete two industrial psychology courses (3 credits each) and two organizational psychology courses (3 credits each) from a list of approved courses designed by the program. Students then complete an additional two courses (3 credits each) of either industrial or organizational content courses.
General Electives-15 Credits
  • These may be courses within or outside the department. Students normally obtain approval to take courses outside the department for elective credit prior to taking the course.
Dissertation Research-18 Credits

Occupational Health Psychology Concentration


Students in the IO program (MS or PhD) may complete the Occupational Health Psychology concentration, which includes the following:

Courses taken for the Occupational Health Psychology Concentration may “double count” toward other degree requirements. In other words, these 12 credits are part of the 39 required for the MS or the 90 required for the PhD, not additional credits.

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements


To graduate, students must maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average in all coursework with no more than one course earning a grade of C or below. Students must complete an empirical master’s thesis project under the supervision of their advisor and with the approval of at least two additional committee members. Students also must complete an empirical dissertation research project under the supervision of their advisor and three additional dissertation committee members. Prior to beginning work on the dissertation, students also complete a written comprehensive exam that is evaluated by IO area faculty member. For additional program policies, lists of typical elective courses, and descriptions of faculty research, please review the Department of Psychology Graduate Program website, particularly the graduate program handbook.

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