Tepper School of Business

Tepper School

Ph.D. Program in Organizational Behavior and Theory

Interdisciplinary approach & methodological rigor.

Understanding human behavior in organizations and solving problems requires the integration of a variety of social science and related disciplines. A distinguishing feature of the Tepper School's OBT Ph.D. program is the broad interdisciplinary training it provides across an array of areas (e.g., psychology, sociology, economics, strategy, and computer and data science). Not only do OBT doctoral students interact with other students and faculty within the Tepper School of Business, through cross-registration in courses and participation in colloquia, OBT doctoral students also have opportunities to interact with students and faculty in departments such as Engineering and Public Policy, Human-Computer Interaction, Social and Decision Sciences, Psychology and a variety of departments at the University of Pittsburgh. A cornerstone of the OBT Ph.D. program is its methodological training and rigor. From computer science courses in machine learning and AI to courses in advanced statistical methods, students develop a deep understanding of analytical methods and tools.

Collaborative Culture

A small number of students are accepted into the group each year, with a total of about 10 OBT doctoral students in residence. Student-faculty relationships are close, which permits the tailoring of the program of study to fit the background and career goals of the individual.

Course of Study

Our program emphasizes preparation for careers in scholarly research, and graduates of the program usually pursue careers in academic or research institutions. During their course of study, students have the opportunity to engage with faculty in doctoral seminars and joint research, meet with visiting scholars, and interact with other faculty and students across campus. We prepare our graduates to be competitive on the academic job market by getting them involved in research from Day 1.  Program requirements include the successful completion of two research-based papers in the first and second years of the program, qualifying exams, a “minor” area requirement and a doctoral dissertation.  

Research Specializations

Diversity, inclusion, and human capital.

Diversity is at the core of many important organizational problems and many of our OBT faculty make important contributions to the growing knowledge base on diversity and its impact on individual, group, and organizational outcomes.

FACULTY RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Rosalind Chow: gender and promotion processes
  • Oliver Hahl: gender, race, and cultural capital effects on supply and demand for human capital in markets (i.e., hiring and career outcomes)
  • Denise Rousseau: the employment relationship, evidence-based management
  • Catherine Shea: gender issues in management, advice seeking, interpersonal dynamics
  • Laurie Weingart: gender and non-promotable tasks in the workplace, gender and negotiation, interdisciplinary teams
  • Anita Williams Woolley: gender diversity, cognitive diversity and team collective intelligence

Ethics and Justice

Unethical and unjust behaviors are costly to organizations and society. The OBT group in the Tepper School has three members with expertise in the areas of business ethics and social justice (Aven, Chow, and Cohen). The Tepper School is also home to ethics scholar Tae Wan Kim, whose research takes philosophical perspectives on business ethics.

  • Brandy Aven: relational attributes of fraud and corruption
  • Rosalind Chow: perceptions of and responses to social inequality
  • Taya Cohen: interpersonal misconduct, workplace deviance, moral character, guilt, shame, trust and trustworthiness
  • Tae Wan Kim: artificial Intelligence ethics, future of work, business ethics

Groups and Teams

The OBT group in the Tepper School houses three scholars who are leaders in the areas of groups and teams (Argote, Weingart, and Woolley) and others whose work is directly relevant (Aven, Chow, Cohen, and Hahl). The Tepper School and Carnegie Mellon more broadly host several other faculty who work in this area (Carley, Kiesler, and Krackhardt). We regularly graduate students who conduct research on groups and teams.

  • Linda Argote: learning, transactive memory and knowledge transfer within and between groups
  • Brandy Aven: networked teams
  • Rosalind Chow: power and status within/between groups, impacts of diversity on group functioning and performance
  • Taya Cohen: cooperation and conflict within and between groups, pathways to status and leadership in groups
  • Oliver Hahl: perceptions of status, authenticity and identity within/between groups
  • Laurie Weingart: conflict in teams, multiparty negotiation, negotiation and group dynamics
  • Anita Woolley: collective intelligence, team strategic orientation, team performance

Knowledge Transfer and Learning in a Technologically-Driven World

The OBT group in the Tepper School includes scholars whose work has been foundational to the field of organizational learning (Argote) and includes four other scholars who are substantially engaged in the growing body of work on knowledge transfer and learning (Aven, Hahl, Lee, and Woolley). Reflecting the Tepper School's focus on the intersection of business and technology, faculty research involves responses to rapid change, coordination of work distributed across time and place, organizational learning. Our work also connects to scholars working in related areas in Information Systems (Mukhopadhyay and Singh) and Economics (Epple) at the Tepper School, as well as researchers at Heinz (Krishnan), Engineering (Fuchs), and Computer Science (Carley, Dabbish, and Rose) at Carnegie Mellon, also conduct research relevant to learning.

  • Linda Argote: transactive memory systems, knowledge transfer, organizational learning, the effects of technology on learning and knowledge transfer
  • Brandy Aven: transactive memory systems, the effects of technology on networked systems for learning and knowledge transfer
  • Oliver Hahl: learning and knowledge transfer, effect on firm performance
  • Sunkee Lee: organizational learning, effect of the spatial design of workplaces and incentive systems on organizational learning, knowledge transfer, exploration vs. exploitation, learning from own and others’ experiences
  • Anita Woolley: learning and collective intelligence in groups and organizations, increasing collective intelligence in human-computer systems

Networks and Organizations

Research on the formation and consequences of social networks in organizations and markets have become central to our understanding of how organizations and markets work. The OBT group in the Tepper School hosts four scholars who work on important areas related to the role of social networks in organizations (Argote, Aven, Hahl, and Shea). Researchers at Heinz (Krackhardt) and Computer Science (Carley) at Carnegie Mellon, also conduct research in areas that inform our knowledge of social networks as well as the methodologies employed to distinguish their antecedents and effects.

  • Linda Argote: learning and knowledge transfer through social networks
  • Brandy Aven: formation of social networks, persistence (or not) of social networks, learning and deviance within social networks, knowledge sharing in social networks
  • Oliver Hahl: identity in social networks, perceptions of brokers in networks, organizational networks and individual performance
  • David Krackhardt: social network analysis theories and methods, informal organizations
  • Catherine Shea: social network cognition, network formation, experimental methods in social networks

Entrepreneurial and Organizational Strategy

The “Carnegie School” has long influenced research on strategy, particularly by looking at the microfoundations of strategic selection, implementation, and performance. The OBT group in the Tepper School hosts four scholars who work on important areas in firm strategy (Argote, Aven, Hahl, and Lee) that all tie back to the Carnegie School’s foundations in the Behavioral Theory of the Firm . Additionally, scholars in Economics and Marketing (Miller, Epple and Derdenger) at the Tepper School and in the Engineering and Public Policy school at Carnegie Mellon (Fuchs and Armanios) also collaborate in research with Tepper faculty and students research in areas that inform organizational theory, entrepreneurial strategy, firm strategy selection and implementation, and firm performance.

  • Linda Argote: organizational learning and capability development, micro foundations of strategy and firm performance, behavioral theories of strategy
  • Brandy Aven: entrepreneurial strategies, entrepreneurial teams, behavioral theories of entrepreneurship and strategy
  • Oliver Hahl: identity-based strategies, categories, diversification, status and authenticity in markets, human capital management and firm performance, microfoundations of strategy and firm performance, behavioral theories of strategy
  • Sunkee Lee: organization design, exploration/exploitation, incentives, spatial design, response to performance feedback, firm acquisition behavior and performance, microfoundations of strategy and firm performance, behavioral theories of strategy

P lease visit our Ph.D. Student Profiles page t o view the profiles of our current doctoral candidates.

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PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Become a leader for the human side of organizations.

Online Programs

Table of contents, need additional help or information, phd in industrial and organizational psychology overview.

The PhD in organizational psychology program will help you build skills in organizational diagnosis and intervention design through coursework, applied research and real-world projects. Using a scholar-practitioner approach, our I-O Psychology program combines a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with an eye for organizational strategy. You'll also expand your research and data analytics skills to build new knowledge and help organizational leaders make more informed, evidence-based decisions. Your doctoral research study, a topic that fascinates you, will be your avenue for advancing thought and dialogue in your chosen area of Industrial-Organizational Psychology. You’ll develop a deep understanding of organizational culture, motivation, and individual behavior to improve employee health and well-being and facilitate positive change in the workplace.

PLO1: Explain and apply industrial-organizational psychology principles, concepts, models, theories, and methods. 

PLO2: Explain and apply ethical and legal principles to situations in industrial-organizational psychology. 

PLO3: Demonstrate a positive, proactive, and non-judgmental attitude towards diverse cultures and identities. 

PLO4: Design culturally competent professional services in respective areas for diverse populations. 

PLO5: Analyze data, evaluate results, and communicate findings using applied and academic research methods. 

PLO6: Explain and apply research, psychometric, and people analytics concepts to problems in industrial-organizational psychology. 

Program Facts

All online organizational psychology programs are accepting applications. However, please be aware that on-ground organizational psychology programs are not accepting applications.

Offered in two formats: 1. Hybrid format in Los Angeles

  • A schedule ideal for working professionals and international students, designed  to participate in highly interactive live virtual class discussions two to three evenings per week with select on-campus in-person class meetings typically on one full weekend each month and one weekend day. Talk to an admissions counselor to see a sample schedule.  
  • Interactive classes provide connections to professional peers, alumni, and other professionals working in the field.   
  • Program starts in August, October, January, or March.

2.    Fully online format (in U.S. States where available) 

  • To engage in individual and group learning activities  
  • To complete course assignments and submit by the established due dates. 
  • Optional synchronous weekly live-virtual discussion hours.  
  • Starts in August or January.  
  • Designed for 3 years (15 terms of 8 weeks each), year-around, with a part-time option. 
  • Post-masters PhD degree.  
  • Transfer credits for past doctoral courses are allowed up to 25% of the program units (16 units).   
  • Highly reputable and supportive faculty with research and professional experience. 
  • Alumni engage students by teaching courses, guest-speaking, and networking.  

To learn more about this program and other offerings, visit our CSPP-dedicated microsite . You’ll find videos featuring our university president, dean of CSPP, and faculty, along with numerous interactive features!

Program Highlights

Schedule for Working Professionals

Hybrid format provides highly interactive live virtual lectures, class discussions, and peer learning two to three evenings per week with select on-campus in-person class meetings typically on one full weekend each month and one weekend day. Four starts each year: August, October, January, and March Terms.   

Online program consists of asynchronous courses where you complete coursework each week on your own schedule. Two starts each year: January or August. 

Experiential Training

Learn theories and cases of industrial psychology in the classroom and gain hands-on experience through class projects and real-world projects. A PhD in organizational psychology equips you to assess and design organizational interventions. An internship option is available for students who qualify.

Compelling Coursework

Industrial-organizational psychology courses provide you with insight into the dynamics of individuals, teams, psychological science and organizational systems. Courses help prepare you to take a consulting approach in a variety of professional psychology practices. 

Strong Network of Peers, Faculty, and Alumni 

Get to know your faculty and colleagues in a supportive climate, developing working relationships that can last a lifetime. Get to know alumni in our network, other organizational psychologists,  and identify job opportunities and internships through professional relationships.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Increase your cross-cultural skills with multinational, multiracial faculty and students, and support a society of inclusive excellence, equity, and belonging. Our graduate study programs foster dialogue and engagement around diversity and inclusion.

Learn to Consult

Doctoral program courses prepare you to analyze a situation for underlying causes, then act to make a positive difference by applying the principles of organizational science. Faculty help prepare you to take a consulting approach to analyze and intervene with individuals, teams, and organizational systems.

Wide Range of Careers 

Deepen your existing skills or prepare for a new career in organization development, people analytics, talent and leadership development, human resources, and talent management, and more in various industries, nonprofits, and government agencies. 

Independent Research 

Conduct your independent dissertation research study to contribute to human resource and organizational development, and engage in scholarly dialogue as an aspiring industrial organizational psychologist.

Learn About Admissions Requirements

The faculty consists of renowned experts with years of experience in the organizational and consulting fields. Faculty members include past and current local, national, and international professional association leaders; test and intervention developers; journal editors; and consultants. Areas of expertise include the following:

  • Management consulting
  • Organization development and change management
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
  • Leadership and leadership development
  • Motivation and employee engagement
  • Coaching and mentoring

Doctoral Degree Information

While our master's degree provides you with preparation in a wide variety of career practice areas in our field, the PhD program gives you further depth as well as research, analytical, and consulting skills. As a doctoral graduate, you can teach at a university, even while enjoying a career as an organizational psychologist in the industry, and express your thought leadership through writing. Some of our doctoral alumni have started successful companies.  

Instructional approach

Graduate study courses of the online doctorate include change management, organizational design and process improvement, ethics, diversity and inclusion. This branch of behavioral science also covers motivation, innovation and change. Since it overlaps with social science, it further drills down to business strategy and operations, social and organizational psychology, consulting skills, a professional practice sequence, and diagnostic methods for organizational consulting. The IO Psychology graduate certificate also encompasses people analytics, human behavior, advanced statistics, research methods, talent recruitment assessment, and selection, dissertation, and more.

Consistent with contemporary work environments, you work both individually and in groups (virtual groups for online students) in your coursework. By working in groups, you develop advanced skills in business communication, engaging with people who have different working styles, and learn through experience the importance of valuing diversity and appreciating inclusion and belonging.  

Discipline-specific competencies

Students of the IO psychology graduate school are expected to acquire and demonstrate competence in several areas:

  • Consulting – within an organization or externally to many organizations 
  • Analytics – people analytics for needs analysis and organizational diagnosis, program evaluation, talent assessment and selection, and academic research  
  • Theory – social and organizational psychology, motivation, innovation and change, ethics, diversity, equity, and inclusion  
  • Organizational intervention – leadership assessment and development, change management, organization design and process improvement  
  • Business skills – the big picture of strategy and operations within which consulting must make a difference, business communication and presentation skills  

Research and Dissertation

Students of organizational psychology phd programs will engage in original research. They will coordinate with their faculty mentors to choose and refine a topic that will serve as the main focus of their dissertation research. The dissertation itself requires students to make a significant and original contribution to the field of Organizational Psychology. 

Ready to become a doctoral student of this program? 

Start My Application

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can i still apply for the degree program even if i don't have a degree in psychology.

No. Although there's no specific psychology course credits, applicants for the doctorate in organizational psychology should have a solid understanding of organizational behavior, research methods and statistical analysis. This knowledge is typically acquired through relevant undergraduate coursework that's expected from all applicants.

What scholarship and financial aid options are available?

Private and public scholarships can help you meet the cost of your education, and Alliant offers institutional scholarships for many of our students. Learn more about these  scholarship opportunities here . Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify in the form of loans, grants, federal work study, and military aid. Learn more in our  Financial Options Guide .

How long does it take to complete the program?

The degree is a 66-credit program that can be completed in three years by focusing year-round on two courses per eight-week term, or longer if you take one course during some terms. You can find a copy of our eight-week  academic calendar here.

Can I work full-time and complete the program?

Yes. You can take courses online, on weekday evenings, or on weekends. The program at our graduate school is rigorous, so you're encouraged to discuss your personal circumstances with your admissions counselor or with a faculty member during the application process.

When does the program start?

The program is offered as an eight-week term program and is open for enrollment during those enrollment periods. Applicants can apply for either a January or August start. You can find a copy of our eight-week term academic calendar here.

What is the modality of the program?

You can earn your PhD in I/O psychology degree online.

Why Alliant

At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and to promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve lives. We offer an education that is accredited, focused on practical knowledge and skills, connected with diverse faculty and alumni, and aimed at the student experience.

Founded in 1969, CSPP was one of the nation’s first independent schools of professional psychology. Today, CSPP continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals through graduate-level degree programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, organizational psychology, psychopharmacology, and more.

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Business Psychology

What is business psychology.

Practitioners of Business Psychology apply strategic and practical thinking to areas including evolving market conditions, competitive position, corporate strategy, stakeholder relations, and organization design and operations.

Business Psychology Degree Programs at The Chicago School

The Chicago School’s Business Psychology programs prepare graduates to assume leadership roles in today’s global and multicultural business environment. At the undergraduate level, the online B.S. Business Psychology program prepares students to make a lasting difference in business careers through the application of psychological principles.

Our doctoral degree includes two concentrations for students to further define and hone their expertise. Those on the consulting track often work in roles that improve the functioning of both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. As consultants, they work with senior leadership teams, small business owners, boards of directors, and middle management to improve performance and efficiency within organizations.

Meanwhile, professionals with a Ph.D. Industrial and Organizational Psychology utilize assessment and intervention skills to help organizations solve problems, enhance performance, and manage the complexities of today’s business environment. They often develop and administer management systems such as, performance management, training, organizational development, change management, employee selection, and organizational-wide surveys.

Degrees in Business Psychology offered at The Chicago School

Careers in business psychology.

The Chicago School’s Business Psychology programs equip graduates with the skills necessary to succeed in a variety of fields and professions with both public and private sector employers, including corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Public and Private Sector Employers

  • Corporations
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Higher Education
  • Governmental Agencies

Business Psychology Job Titles:

  • Director of organizational development
  • Program director
  • Industrial/organizational psychologist

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phd in business psychology

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Industrial and Organizational Psychology Degree and Career Guide

  • Author: Audrey Stoffle
  • Editorial Process

Business psychology, more commonly called industrial and organizational (I/O or I-O) psychology, is one of the top-paying psychology fields. 1 Recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a specialty in professional psychology since 1996, industrial and organizational psychology is the study of human behavior in the workplace. 2 Industrial and organizational psychologists analyze and interpret workplace dynamics at the individual and group levels and suggest solutions to improve the health of the organization and its employees. The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) considers it a specialty under the umbrella of Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology, which includes I/O psychology and consulting psychology. 3

While some business and I/O psychologists find entry-level positions with bachelor’s degrees , most business psychologists obtain a master’s or doctoral degree in the field, and some become licensed in psychology in their state and/or certified by organizations such as the American Board of Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology (ABOBCP). There are several schools offering bachelor’s programs I/O psychology, but over twice as many award master’s or advanced degrees Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) , or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) ). A bachelor’s degree in psychology is often preferred for entrance into one of these advanced degree programs.

Quick Facts

  • There are 127 not-for-profit colleges and universities with industrial and organizational psychology programs. 4
  • 6 schools offer a certificate in industrial and organizational psychology. 5
  • 1 school offers an associate degree in industrial and organizational psychology. 4
  • 33 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology. 4
  • 98 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in industrial and organizational psychology. 4

Table of Contents

Degree Requirements and Coursework

In a business psychology or I/O psychology degree program, students learn about the dynamics of the workplace, human resources management, employee training and development, performance appraisal and employee motivation, and how to effect developmental change. Since I/O psychology is already a subfield of psychology, it is considered a specialization (or concentration, specialty, or emphasis) in psychology, and further specializations are not usually offered.

Advanced degree program requirements typically include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and some require minimum GRE scores. Some programs prefer an undergraduate degree in psychology or business. Many programs are small and selective. Terminal master’s programs in I/O psychology or business psychology typically take around two years to complete, and doctoral degrees in the field usually take around three to five years to complete and often include a master’s degree. Check with the schools of your choice to confirm whether the master’s degree is stand-alone or part of the doctoral program. Sample coursework for students of business psychology degree programs include:

  • Advanced Industrial Psychology
  • Advanced Personnel Psychology
  • Collective Bargaining and Arbitration
  • Employee Selection
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Motivation and Job Attitudes
  • Training and Development

Top-Ranked Business Psychology Degree Programs

Society for industrial and organizational psychology’s top i-o phd programs overall 2020.

  • Alder University (#1; online)
  • Albizu University (#2; on campus or online)
  • Alliant Internation University (#3; on campus)
  • Austin Peay State University (#4; online)
  • Baker College (#6; online)
  • Bellevue University (#7; online)
  • California Southern University (#8; online)
  • Chicago School of Professional Psychology (#11; online)
  • Colorado State University (#13; online)
  • Eastern Kentucky University (#14; online) 5

US News & World Report’s Best Industrial and Organizational Psychology Programs 2022

US News ranked I/O psychology programs at the doctoral level; therefore, all of the following rankings are for PhDs in I/O psychology, but some schools may offer master’s-level programs as well.

  • Rice University (#1; on campus)
  • Michigan State University (#2; on campus)
  • Bowling Green State University (#3 tie; on campus)
  • University of South Florida (#3 tie; on campus)
  • George Mason University (#5 tie; on campus)
  • Purdue University–West Lafayette (#7 tie; on campus)
  • Texas A&M University–College Station (#7 tie; on campus)
  • University of Minnesota–Twin Cities (#7 tie; on campus)

Best Value Schools With On-Campus Industrial/Organizational Psychology Programs

Many public and not-for-profit colleges and universities across the US offer on-campus business or industrial-organizational psychology programs at the graduate level. We researched these schools and narrowed the list down to those with the highest undergraduate graduation rates (60% or above) and the lowest undergraduate net price (under $20,000 per year). A high graduation rate tends to be an indicator of a school’s success, and a low net price is important to prospective students as they consider the return on their investment. We also included other helpful information, such as degree names, US News & World Report rankings, and the percentage of tenured faculty.

SchoolGraduate Degree(s)US News National Rank Grad Rate % Tenured Faculty Net Price
CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeMS Industrial/Organizational PsychologyNR70%29%$4,544
MA Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource ManagementNR73%39%$10,473
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMS Industrial Organizational Psychology;
Certificate Applied Workplace Psychology;
Certificate Statistical Methods in Psychology
#157 tie64%45%$14,133
Montclair State UniversityMS Industrial/Organizational Psychology#169 tie65%23%$15,224
University of Central FloridaMS Industrial/Organizational Psychology;
PhD Industrial/Organizational Psychology
#165 tie70%43%$15,341
University of GeorgiaMA Industrial-Organizational Psychology;
PhD Industrial-Organizational Psychology
#46 tie85%54%$15,934
SUNY at AlbanyMA Industrial/Organizational Psychology;
PhD Industrial/Organizational Psychology
#140 tie65%33%$16,100
Master of Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology;
PhD Industrial/Organizational Psychology
#140 tie69%43%$17,191
St. Mary’s UniversityMS Industrial/Organizational PsychologyNR63%33%$17,806
Clemson UniversityMS Industrial-Organizational Psychology;
PhD Industrial-Organizational Psychology
#66 tie82%47%$18,757
Certificate Industrial/Organizational Psychology;
MS Industrial/Organizational Psychology;
PhD Industrial/Organizational Psychology
#66 tie82%13%$19,554

Select Business Psychology Degree Programs

Traditional bachelor’s programs, baldwin wallace university.

At Baldwin Wallace University, students can pursue an interdisciplinary bachelor’s in industrial and organizational psychology (I/O) psychology that prepares them for graduate school or a human resources career. The program is a second major available to Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business Administration majors that comprises 34 credits in addition to the coursework in the primary major. Required courses include Human Resource Management, Research Methods, Psychological Testing, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and a capstone project. Electives include courses in psychology and business, but cannot be used for both the primary major and the I/O major. These courses include Human Relations and Group Dynamics; Business Communications; Employment Law; Personality Psychology; and Cognitive Processes.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (Baruch College) offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology through its Zicklin School of Business that prepares graduates for further graduate study or for entry-level careers in government, marketing, advertising, occupational analysis, or market research. The major itself comprises 25 credits and includes coursework such as Research Methods in Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Personality and Individual Differences, Cognitive Psychology, and Psychology of Organizational Training and Development. Baruch College also offers a Master of Science (MS) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology.

Traditional Master’s Programs

Appalachian state university.

Appalachian State University (App State) offers an interdisciplinary master’s program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management (IOHRM) through its Department of Psychology and Department of Management, preparing graduates to work in I-O psychology or HR-related jobs. In line with the educational standards set by the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Society for Human Resource Management, the IOHRM program at App State emphasizes theories, methods, and research in behavioral sciences. It teaches how to apply these theories to address business issues such as selection, motivation of employees, training, performance reviews, and organizational change. A thesis or internship is required for all students to gain real-world experience in the I-O psychology or business field. Students have completed internships with companies like Delhaize, Volvo Financial Services, T-Mobile, Texas Instruments, and Reynolds America. Most students complete the master’s program in less than two years.

Minnesota State University

Minnesota State University (MSU) offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The program emphasizes research and consulting and prepares graduates for careers in consulting, human resources, and market research. Students complete 44 credits to receive their MA, including a three-month internship or thesis, and participate in real-world projects that prepare them to enter the workforce. A bachelor’s degree in psychology is preferred for admission, but prospective students who have a bachelor’s degree in another subject must have completed a minimum of 15 credits in psychology, including courses in introductory psychology, statistics, research methods, and social psychology. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for entry, as well as GRE scores with a Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning score in the 35th percentile and an Analytical Writing score of 3.0 or higher.

Touro College

Touro College is home to a master’s program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology that prepares students to increase organizational effectiveness and to develop and implement sound business strategies. Students must translate academic learning to real-world practice through a required 240-hour internship. The program requires 36 credit hours and can typically be completed in four to six semesters. Courses take place on the school’s Manhattan campus during weekday evenings as well as via live online webinars, though all course finals must be taken on campus. Touro College offers competitive tuition rates as well as financial aid opportunities, including work-study positions for qualified students.

University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa’s Kendall College of Arts and Sciences offers three graduate programs in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology: a Master of Arts (MA), a Juris Doctor and Master of Arts (JD/MA) combination degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The MA program comprises 37 credit hours, including 16 hours of I-O core courses, six hours of general psychology courses, nine hours of research methodology courses, and six hours of electives, with an optional thesis available. In addition, students must complete a 200-hour internship and pass a comprehensive I-O psychology exam before obtaining their degree. The JD/MA joint-degree program offers a way for students to complete two degree programs at once, saving them 19 credit hours. There are two curriculum options for the JD/MA: one consists of 30 hours of psychology and 81 hours of law, and the other consists of 33 credit hours of psychology and 78 hours of law. The PhD in I-O Psychology requires 90 credit hours and trains graduates for roles in government, consulting, research, and teaching at the university level.

Traditional Doctoral Programs

George washington university.

George Washington University’s (GWU) Columbian College of Arts and Sciences offers a doctoral program in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology that culminates in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and covers areas such as personnel selection, training and development, motivation at work, teams, and organizational development. The program consists of 72 credit hours, including 42 core credits, 12 elective credits, and 18 dissertation research credits. Admission is highly competitive. Prospective students should have an undergraduate degree in psychology or have completed undergraduate psychology prerequisites to be considered for admission. In addition to transcripts showing a GPA of 3.0 and above, applications must include three letters of recommendation, GRE scores in the 50th percentile or higher, a statement of purpose essay, and an interview is required. It typically takes students five years to complete the doctoral program, and candidates are expected to be full-time students.

Michigan State University

Michigan State University’s Department of Psychology offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Organizational Psychology, which focuses on quantitative methods and I/O psychology. The degree is research-driven, targeted at students who intend to become faculty at universities or to conduct research in major corporations, government, or other organizations. The program maintains a student population of around 15 to 20 full-time students and typically staffs around primary faculty. The entire PhD program takes an average of five years to complete, with the integrated master’s program taking two years, comprehensive exams taking place during the third year, and the fourth and fifth years being devoted to an internship and dissertation work. While some students complete the program in four years, most students choose to complete it in five years so they can be more involved in their research and applied projects. As the program is heavily research-focused, students should expect to be involved in research at all times during their five years in the program. However, the program also boasts flexibility, allowing students to shape their studies to closely match their interests. Admission into the program is competitive, with incoming classes being as low as two to three students and as many as seven students.

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University offers a doctoral program in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology that prepares graduates for academic careers or practitioner roles. Most students collaborate with faculty in applied research projects during their studies. An average of 20 full-time students are enrolled in the program at any time, so admittance is highly competitive, with only three to four new students admitted every year (out of an average of 70 applicants). The I/O PhD can be completed in five full-time years, and all students must participate in a weekly colloquium series featuring guest speakers from various I/O positions. Formal internships are not required but are highly recommended for students who wish to become practitioners. Introductory coursework in statistics, experimental design, I/O psychology, management and test construction, and social psychology is recommended before applying.

University of Georgia

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia (UGA) prepares graduates for academic, industrial, consulting, government, and military careers. The Industrial-Organizational Psychology program is based on the scientist-practitioner model and emphasizes diversity and the development of the whole person. The program aims to improve organizational functioning and the quality of life for working people. Students are required to conduct their own research under the direction of faculty for both the master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation. They will gain professional experience through approved internships. Applicants must submit official transcripts, GRE scores (preferred verbal score of 1200 and quantitative score of 308), three letters of recommendation, a list of professional achievements, and a statement of career goals.

Colorado State University

Colorado State University (CSU) offers an online Master of Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MAIOP). The degree is practitioner-oriented, providing practical knowledge and skills focused on research and consulting. The MAIOP program consists of 38 graduate hours and can be completed in two to four years. No thesis is required. Coursework is focused on quantitative research methods and includes courses such as Applied Measurement Theory; Applied Organizational Psychology; Competency Modeling and Criterion Development; and Succession Planning and Leadership Development. Students are grouped into virtual consulting teams to complete a series of projects together. The program is self-paced, allowing students to work while obtaining their degree. The GRE is required for admission, as well as a minimum 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework and a grade of B or higher for statistics courses.

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Psychology degree with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. SNHU’s MS program offers its students a foundation of psychology research methods that can be applied in real-world organizations. Coursework includes Motivation in the Workplace, Psychology of Leadership, and Organizational Consulting, and a Seminar in Industrial & Organizational Psychology. The 36-credit online degree program adequately prepares students to apply psychology principles in organizations or to pursue a doctoral degree in the field. A Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology is preferred, but a bachelor’s degree in another field can be accepted if the applicant has completed foundational coursework in Psychology, Statistics, and Research Methods. GRE scores are not required for entry. A capstone and seminar course ends the program, in which students execute a faculty- and peer-reviewed project focusing on a contemporary issue in the field.

Business Psychologist Career Information

How to become a business psychologist.

A master’s degree in business psychology prepares graduates to practice in the field as consultants in business psychology. Licensed industrial and organizational psychologists need a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or a PhD in Psychology in any state, one to two years of supervised experience in their field, and a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). While the steps for becoming licensed as an I/O psychologist vary by state, the basic steps are:

  • Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
  • Earn a master’s degree in business or industrial-organizational psychology.
  • Get hired by a public or private organization and begin practicing in non-clinical business psychology roles, if desired.
  • Earn an accredited PsyD or PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Business Psychology.
  • Accumulate the supervised clinical experience required by your state.
  • Pass the required exam(s), including the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
  • Seek optional I/O certification from the American Board of Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology (ABOBCP).
  • Apply for and receive a psychology license from your state psychology board.
  • Begin practicing as a business psychologist.
  • Complete the required continuing education to keep your license current.

Job Description

Business psychologists study human individual, group, and organizational behavior within the workplace and help solve work-related problems. They assist in improving employee performance and motivation, help business leaders evaluate and develop their employees, and help managers plan for succession. I/O psychologists may work in any organization or workplace setting, including manufacturing, commercial enterprises, labor unions, government agencies, and healthcare facilities. On a day-to-day basis, they may research methods of employee assessment, leadership development, workplace safety, work-life balance, and diversity. Business psychologists with a PhD may hold academic positions at colleges or universities. Others may work in human resources departments or as independent consultants.

A master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology will typically qualify you for work in the private sector, while a doctoral degree will qualify you to work in academia and prepare you for state licensure. Job titles may include:

  • Business psychologist*
  • Business coach
  • Facilitator
  • Human resources coordinator
  • I/O psychologist*
  • Organizational development consultant
  • Organizational effectiveness consultant
  • Organizational psychologist*
  • Personnel psychologist*

*A doctoral degree is usually required for this job title.

Salary and Job Outlook

I/O psychologists are well-paid, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting the 2022 average annual salary at $144,610. 9 In fact, industrial-organizational psychologists are among the highest-paid in the field of psychology according to the BLS, commanding average annual salaries above those of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists. 10 Most business psychologists are employed in colleges, universities, and professional schools, but the highest-paying industry for I/O psychologists is local government, excluding schools and hospitals, with an average annual salary of $156,940 per year in May 2022. 9

The outlook for I/O psychologists is positive, with the Projections Central predicting employment growth of 2% between 2020 and 2030. 12 For comparison, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists are projected to grow by 10.4% over the same time period, according to Projection Central. 12

Additional Resources

  • The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) : APA’s Division of Industrial-Organizational Psychology (Division 14), and has over 8,000 members who enjoy benefits like subscriptions to newsletters, networking, and discounts to conferences.
  • American Board of Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology (ABOBCP) : Offers important information about the specialty, certification requirements, and more.
  • Alliance for Organizational Psychology (AOP) : A federation of work, industrial, and organizational psychology societies around the world, provides access to white papers and works to promote the science and practice of organizational psychology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of degree do i need to become a business psychologist.

Most I/O psychologists have an advanced degree. While it is possible to practice I/O psychology with just a bachelor’s degree, it is not common. A master’s degree qualifies you to work in private or public companies and in consulting roles. A doctoral degree affords business psychologists even more opportunities, such as working in research or teaching roles at colleges or universities. A doctoral degree is also required for psychologists who wish to work in a clinical setting and use the title “psychologist;” in addition, state licensure is required for these roles.

How long will it take me to get an I/O degree?

The length of time it will take to get a business psychology degree depends on the program, but most master’s programs take an average of two years, and doctoral programs take an average of three to five years. So within five years, it is possible to complete a terminal degree in the field (though some students may take longer).

How do I become an industrial/organizational psychologist?

To be an I/O psychologist, you will typically need a graduate degree in industrial/organizational psychology. I/O psychologists must pass required state exams to gain licensure to practice. A master’s degree qualifies you for most jobs in public and private organizations without any further certification. If your goal is to be a clinician (practicing psychologist) or work in higher education, you will most likely need a doctoral degree. Check with your psychology board in your state for more information about licensure as a psychologist.

What is industrial and organizational psychology?

I/O psychology, or business psychology, is the practice of studying workplace dynamics and making recommendations on how to improve the company culture, employee relationships, and productivity.

How much do business psychologists make?

Business, or I/O, psychologists are among the highest-paid psychologists in the country. According to the BLS, they earned an average of $144,610 per year in 2022, which is more than clinical and counseling psychologists, who earned an average of $102,740 in the same year. 10,11

Student Reviews

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Touro College 65 Broadway #2 New York, NY 10006 (212) 742-8770 https://www.touro.edu/

The I/O Psychology program at Touro College is fairly new for this school. However, this department is growing very quickly. This is happening as a result of hard work and dedication of all department members of this program. My experience with Touro College has been a journey. This is because during my first year I knew very little about this program. Then with the help of professors and well-structured courses, I was able to find my passion for organization development and HR practices. Now, I have been working for almost one year for an organization and with the help of Touro also promoted to an HR Generalist role. Overall, Touro College has been a very positive experience for me.” – Student at Touro College

References: 1. Rivier University, Top 5 Highest-Paying Psychology Careers: https://www.rivier.edu/academics/online/resources/program-resources/top-5-highest-paying-psychology-careers-rivier-university/ 2. American Psychological Association, Specialities and Proficiencies, Industrial and Organizational Psychology: https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/industrial 3. American Board of Professional Psychology, Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology: https://abpp.org/application-information/learn-about-specialty-boards/organizational-business/ 4. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ 5. Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, A Peek Into the Online World: Evaluating the Current State of Online I-O Graduate Programs https://www.siop.org/Research-Publications/Items-of-Interest/ArticleID/4756/ArtMID/19366/preview/true 6. US News & World Report Best Industrial and Organizational Psychology Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/industrial-organizational-psychology-rankings 7. US News & World Report National University Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities 8. College Factual: https://www.collegefactual.com/ 9. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193032.htm 10. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-5 11. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022, Clinical and Counseling: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193033.htm 12. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm

  • Harvard Business School →
  • Doctoral Programs →

PhD Programs

  • Accounting & Management
  • Business Economics
  • Health Policy (Management)
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Technology & Operations Management

Students in our PhD programs are encouraged from day one to think of this experience as their first job in business academia—a training ground for a challenging and rewarding career generating rigorous, relevant research that influences practice.

Our doctoral students work with faculty and access resources throughout HBS and Harvard University. The PhD program curriculum requires coursework at HBS and other Harvard discipline departments, and with HBS and Harvard faculty on advisory committees. Faculty throughout Harvard guide the programs through their participation on advisory committees.

How do I know which program is right for me?

There are many paths, but we are one HBS. Our PhD students draw on diverse personal and professional backgrounds to pursue an ever-expanding range of research topics. Explore more here about each program’s requirements & curriculum, read student profiles for each discipline as well as student research , and placement information.

The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program has four areas of study: Accounting and Management , Marketing , Strategy , and Technology and Operations Management . All areas of study involve roughly two years of coursework culminating in a field exam. The remaining years of the program are spent conducting independent research, working on co-authored publications, and writing the dissertation. Students join these programs from a wide range of backgrounds, from consulting to engineering. Many applicants possess liberal arts degrees, as there is not a requirement to possess a business degree before joining the program

The PhD in Business Economics provides students the opportunity to study in both Harvard’s world-class Economics Department and Harvard Business School. Throughout the program, coursework includes exploration of microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, probability and statistics, and econometrics. While some students join the Business Economics program directly from undergraduate or masters programs, others have worked in economic consulting firms or as research assistants at universities or intergovernmental organizations.

The PhD program in Health Policy (Management) is rooted in data-driven research on the managerial, operational, and strategic issues facing a wide range of organizations. Coursework includes the study of microeconomic theory, management, research methods, and statistics. The backgrounds of students in this program are quite varied, with some coming from public health or the healthcare industry, while others arrive at the program with a background in disciplinary research

The PhD program in Organizational Behavior offers two tracks: either a micro or macro approach. In the micro track, students focus on the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and the effects that groups have on individuals. Students in the macro track use sociological methods to examine organizations, groups, and markets as a whole, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives. Jointly administered by HBS and GSAS, the program includes core disciplinary training in sociology or psychology, as well as additional coursework in organizational behavior.

Accounting & Management  

Business economics  , health policy (management)  , marketing  , organizational behavior  , strategy  , technology & operations management  .

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  • Best Online Ph.D. In Organizational Psychology Programs

Best Online Ph.D. In Organizational Psychology Programs Of 2024

Mikeie Reiland, MFA

Updated: Mar 26, 2024, 4:14pm

Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology applies psychological principles to human problems in business and the workplace. Industrial-organizational psychologists help workers perform their best while also prioritizing their well-being.

Organizational psychology looks particularly at human behavior as part of a company or an organization. Organizational psychologists examine the roles of teamwork, leadership and drive within a company’s workforce.

A Ph.D. is the terminal degree in organizational psychology, and psychologists who want to become board-certified through the American Board of Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology must earn a doctoral degree.

We’ve ranked four of the most reputable U.S. colleges offering online Ph.D.s in organizational psychology. Read on to learn about each of them.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

  • 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
  • 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
  • All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
  • Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
  • Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

Our Methodology

We ranked four accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online Ph.D. programs in organizational psychology in the U.S. using 14 data points in the categories of student experience, credibility, student outcomes and affordability. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites.

Data is accurate as of February 2024. Note that because online doctorates are relatively uncommon, fewer schools meet our ranking standards at the doctoral level.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Experience:

  • Student-to-faculty ratio
  • Socioeconomic diversity
  • Availability of online coursework
  • Total number of graduate assistants
  • Portion of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

  • Fully accredited
  • Programmatic accreditation status
  • Nonprofit status

Student Outcomes:

  • Overall graduation rate
  • Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

  • In-state graduate student tuition and fees
  • Alternative tuition plans offered
  • Median federal student loan debt
  • Student loan default rate

We listed all four schools in the U.S. that met our ranking criteria.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

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Best Online Ph.D. Programs in Organizational Psychology

Should you enroll in an online ph.d. in organizational psychology program, accreditation for online ph.d. programs in industrial organizational psychology, how to find the right online ph.d. in organizational psychology for you, frequently asked questions (faqs) about online doctorates in organizational psychology, liberty university, the chicago school at los angeles, keiser university-ft lauderdale, adler university.

Liberty University

Program Tuition Rate

$595/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University enrolls more than 135,000 students, 97% of whom take at least some distance learning courses. The university’s online Ph.D. program in industrial-organizational psychology requires 60 credits, does not include in-person requirements and features multiple start dates throughout the year.

Program courses last for eight weeks each and cover the teaching of psychology and organizational behavior and development. Military students receive a significant tuition discount.

  • Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
  • School Type: Private
  • Application Fee: $50
  • Degree Credit Requirements: 60 credits
  • Program Enrollment Options: Full-time
  • Example Major-Specific Courses: Teaching of psychology; organizational behavior and development
  • Concentrations Available: N/A
  • In-Person Requirements: No

The Chicago School at Los Angeles

$1,703/credit

Based out of Chicago with additional campuses in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and online, the Chicago School offers an online Ph.D. in business psychology with an industrial and organizational track. Bachelor’s degree holders in the program must complete 97 credits to graduate, while master’s degree holders must complete 61 credits.

The program includes an in-person residency requirement and an opportunity to complete an applied research project. The program takes three years to complete for master’s degree holders and five years to complete for students with bachelor’s degrees.

  • Degree Credit Requirements: 61 credits (post-master’s) or 97 credits (post-bachelor’s)
  • Example Major-Specific Courses: Statistics and lab; social psychology/behavioral economics
  • In-Person Requirements: Yes, for an in-person residency

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

$15,856/semeste

Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Keiser University features an online Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology that usually takes three to four years to complete. Classes last eight weeks, and Keiser delivers most online coursework asynchronously. Notable courses in the program’s 60-credit curriculum include personnel psychology and organizational psychology.

Distance learners must visit campus to complete two on-campus residencies over the course of their degree. Students can enter the program with a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree.

  • Application Fee: $55
  • Example Major-Specific Courses: Personnel psychology, organizational psychology
  • In-Person Requirements: Yes, for on-campus residencies

Adler University

$924/credit

Based in Chicago with a satellite campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Adler University also delivers several online programs, including a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology. Post-bachelor’s students must complete 66 credits to graduate, which takes around three years.

One of the program’s main draws is its social justice practicum, during which online students dedicate eight to 10 hours per week for 200 total hours to a specific community site. Learners may complete the practicum in person or online.

  • Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
  • Application Fee: Free
  • Degree Credit Requirements: 66 credits
  • Example Major-Specific Courses: Statistics, social justice practicum

Pursuing any online degree, especially one as rigorous as a Ph.D., is a large undertaking, and distance learning may not suit all students. To determine if online college is for you, ask yourself a few key questions:

  • What are your other commitments? Flexibility is arguably the main draw of online learning. If you’re juggling large responsibilities outside of school, you may want to prioritize asynchronous online programs, which do not have scheduled class times and offer maximum scheduling flexibility.
  • What’s your budget? Distance learners often avoid certain costs associated with on-campus learning, including housing and transportation. Moreover, some public universities allow students who enroll only in online coursework to pay in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates.
  • How do you learn best? While online learning is generally more flexible and affordable than on-campus learning, it isn’t the right fit for everyone. Distance learning requires a great deal of discipline, organization and time management. If you need additional structure, perhaps in the form of a classroom or an in-person cohort, on-campus learning might provide a better fit.

There are two key types of college accreditation : institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation applies to the whole school. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the agencies that handle institutional accreditation. These agencies vet schools for the quality of their finances, faculty, programs and student services, among other categories.

You should enroll only at institutionally accredited schools. Otherwise, you will be ineligible for federal student aid, and employers and credentialing bodies may not recognize your degree as valid. To check a school’s accreditation status, you can visit its website or check the directory on CHEA’s website .

Programmatic accreditation provides a similar vetting service for specific degree programs and departments. In psychology, keep an eye out for accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). To become a board-certified organizational psychologist in the U.S., you’ll need an APA-accredited doctorate.

Keep the following in mind as you survey your options for online organizational psychology doctoral programs.

Consider Your Future Goals

A Ph.D. in organizational psychology can lead to lucrative careers with high levels of responsibility in academia, research, management consulting, policy and human resources, among other fields. That said, every program is different, and it’s important to choose the option that best aligns with your goals and circumstances.

For example, consider each prospective program’s dissertation and field experience requirements. If you’re looking to pursue an academic career after earning your doctorate, you should complete a dissertation, which can give you research experience and help you get published. Alternatively, field experience can also prepare you for work in your area of interest, whether that’s consulting, policy or human resources.

If you want to become a board-certified industrial-organizational psychologist, you can earn that credential through the American Board of Organizational and Business Consulting Psychology after you finish your doctoral program.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Per-credit tuition rates for the qualifying programs in our guide range from $595 to $1,703. Credit requirements vary from around 60 (for master’s degree holders) to 90 (for bachelor’s graduates). As such, total tuition costs for the programs in our guide range from around $36,000 to $150,000.

To lower the cost of your education, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA is your portal to federal student aid opportunities like loans, grants and scholarships. You can also seek aid through third parties like nonprofits, private organizations, private lenders and your future university.

On-campus Ph.D. programs sometimes provide stipends to graduate students who work as teaching assistants for undergraduate courses or assist professors with research. However, these opportunities aren’t always available to distance learners.

Is a Ph.D. in organizational psychology worth it?

It depends on your goals and circumstances. If you want to become board-certified as an organizational psychologist or pursue high-level roles in consulting or academia, a Ph.D. in the field is often worth it.

Is it possible to get a Ph.D. in psychology online?

Yes. We’ve ranked four qualifying schools that offer online Ph.D. programs in organizational psychology.

How long does a Ph.D. in industrial organizational psychology take?

Master’s degree holders can often finish a Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology in three years, while bachelor’s degree holders may need up to five years to finish. Dissertation requirements can also affect completion times.

Mikeie Reiland, MFA

Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.

Ph.D. Programs in Business Psychology

business psychology

In the past, if you were to explore most successful businesses, you would have likely found a “type A”, typical bull-headed individual leading the charge for an organization. Change occurred at a slower pace and usually those who had good contacts, and manufactured their products along a rigid business model would do just fine.

However, these days are long past and businesses have been forced to reassess the type of individuals who are needed at the helm of their organizations. Business models need to be constantly re-evaluated for flaws and for areas where the competition has advanced. Employees need to be able to adapt for continuously changing job descriptions and they also need to be able to be heavily relied upon to self-regulate their own changing duties. As a result, business leaders need to know how the work environment affects the nature of the worker.

The list of necessary leadership mental tools and skills is long and growing. PhD programs in business psychology provide students with the skills required to either teach the psychology of successful business leadership to organizations, or to take over the roll themselves. Opportunity for business leaders educated with the fundamentals of psychology is on the rise and shows no signs of slowing down.

What you will learn

Specifically, a PhD program in Business Psychology will provide you with knowledge in the following areas:

PhD in Business Psychology Concepts

  • Team performance enhancement
  • Issues associated with diversity
  • Ethics and legal issues
  • Organizational and industrial psychology concepts
  • Adult psychopathology
  • Techniques of group counseling
  • Business relevant statistics and psychometrics
  • Research methodology and design
  • Objective personality assessments
  • Market research issues & methodology
  • Human creativity, team synergy and breakthrough thinking
  • Leadership development
  • Business workplace culture and consequential performance

Salary Benefits

Below is a table created by May of 2014 Occupational Employment Statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS):

CareerMedian SalaryAverage of top 10%
Training & Development Managers$111,030$178,360
Human Resources Managers$114,140$183,590
Organizational Psychologists$90,070$145,480

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Joint Degrees

Students admitted to any doctoral program in Social Sciences may subsequently petition the University to create a joint program with another department. Such individually-created joint degree programs begin in the second year of graduate studies or later. In all cases, students complete the separate program requirements for each degree, with no additional residence requirement, and write one Ph.D. dissertation that separately meets the dissertation requirements of each department. One such established program in Psychology is the Joint PhD in Business and Psychology. Other programs that have had joint students in Psychology include the Department of Comparative Human Development and the Department of Linguistics. 

Joint PhD in Business and Psychology

The Joint Program in Psychology and Business was established in 2009, and is overseen jointly by the Behavioral Science dissertation area at Chicago Booth and the Department of Psychology in the Division of the Social Sciences. The aim of this program is to connect the large number of social, cognitive, and organizational psychologists at Chicago Booth and within the Department of Psychology. To qualify for the joint program, a student must be admitted into either the Psychology or the Business graduate program. PhD students in Psychology or Business who want to earn a PhD in Psychology and in Business will need an adviser in both schools. The adviser from the program the student was initially admitted into will be a primary adviser and the one from the other program, the secondary adviser. Once the student and the faculty member agree on the advising relationship, the student applies for Joint status after completion of their first year in the primary program.  

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Salary Outlook with a Ph.D. in Business Psychology Degree

The specialty of business psychology, also referred to by the American Psychological Association (APA) as industrial and organizational psychology, focuses on the scientific study of human behavior in businesses and the workspace. Business psychology is concerned with the study of individual, group and organizational behavior, and then applying the knowledge to solve problems at work. ( APA.org )

A Ph.D. in Business Psychology will provide the student with specialized training and knowledge in the science of behavior in the workplace. You will develop deep knowledge of organizational development, attitudes, career development, decision theory, human factors, and human performance. Students also learn about small group theory and process, criterion theory and development, task and job analysis and individual assessment.

With a Ph.D. in Business Psychology, you will be able to do the following:

  • Pinpoint training and development needs
  • Optimize and design job and work and quality of life work
  • Formulate and implement training programs and evaluate how effective they are
  • Provide coaching to employees
  • Come up with criteria to evaluate individual performance
  • Determine consumer preferences, market strategies and customer satisfaction

Earning your Ph.D. in Business Psychology is a worthwhile endeavor, but will take several years and large financial resources. Is it worth it? Consider the salary outlook with this degree and then you can make an educated decision.

Business Psychology Salary Outlook

With a Ph.D. in business psychology, you can expect to earn towards the top of the income scale for psychologists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the median salary for all psychologists is $79,000 annually. But that figure includes people with a bachelor’s or master’s. With a Ph.D. and sufficient work experience, you can expect to make up to $129,000 per year. ( BLS.gov )

Also, the APA reports the median salary for an industrial-organizational psychologist (APA does not use the term ‘business psychologist’) is $65,000 with a master’s degree and $81,000 for a doctoral degree. APA also states university professors with a Ph.D. in this field make $70,000 per year, and in the private sector, the salary can be more than $100,000. ( APA.org )

Payscale.com reports the average salary for industrial-organizational psychologists is $72,200. ( Payscale.com ). That website further states that an organizational psychologist makes an average salary of $71,000 per year. ( Payscale.com )

Featured Online Ph.D. in Business Psychology

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers an online Ph.D. in Business Psychology – Consulting Track teaches the student how human behavior affects overall organizational effectiveness. Students emerge from this four-year, online degree program with the vital strategies needed to assume high-level responsibilities in a domestic or international business environment. ( TheChicagoSchool.edu )

SEE ALSO:  How to Choose an Online PhD in Business Psychology Degree

Students also learn how to advise organizations appropriately on large business initiatives: strategic planning, talent management, executive coaching, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and change management.

You will be educated to assume high-level consulting roles in the modern global and multicultural business environment. Students develop advanced skills in:

  • Industrial and organizational psychology
  • Executive advising and leadership
  • Internal and external consulting
  • Organization design and operations

Required courses in this Ph.D. in Business Psychology program include:

  • Business and Financial Literacy
  • Strategic and Organizational Planning
  • Change Management

Also, the completion of a dissertation is a vital component of this Ph.D. program. Your dissertation provides the Chicago School the chance to evaluate your ability to think creatively and critically about an applied issue in business psychology, and to create new research in the business psychology field.

SEE ALSO:  Top Online Ph.D. Industrial-Organizational Psychology

High Salary Growth in Business Psychology

Students wanting to make the most income with a Ph.D. in Business Psychology would be wise to choose a career as an industrial-organizational psychologist. In private company consulting, it is possible to earn well over $100,000 per year. In scientific research and development, you could expect to earn $120,000 or more per year.

Ph.D. Job Outlook

The job outlook for professionals with a doctorate in business psychology is excellent. BLS states the employment of psychologists will rise by 14% through 2028, much faster than average. Generally, employment for psychologists is being driven by higher demand for psychological services in hospitals, mental health centers and social service agencies.

In business psychology, there is more demand as all types of organizations are facing more competition and the need to make more money with less. Also, in a stronger economy, companies compete for the best employees. Business psychologists help companies to become better workplaces, to better train and retain the best employees, and to put the right employees in the right positions for their skills. ( BLS.gov )

Business Psychology Career Opportunities

With a Ph.D. in Business Psychology, you can look forward to these intriguing career options:

  • Human resources executive : Be responsible for management development and employee training; employee performance evaluations; employee personal development; behavioral and organizational assessments; and fair hiring practices.
  • Market research analyst : Study current marketplace conditions to determine how well a product or service could sell. Examine demographic and economic data to understand which products will best sell to which customers in a company.
  • Industrial counselor : Use business psychology principles to enhance business performance. Offer counseling services to employees to help them deal with problems in the workplace.
  • Industrial-organizational psychologist : Analyze and improve company practices, employee morale and motivation, performance and satisfaction in the workplace. Also, organize and improve employee training, support key objectives of management and motivate employees.
  • Human factors specialist : Use psychological principles to understand how people learn and interact with their environment to create products that are simpler to use.

Obtaining your Ph.D. in Business Psychology is a strong career move because there is a lot of potential to earn a high salary with several years of work experience. You can work for a private company and easily make a six-figure salary, or choose to consult with many different companies and be paid on retainer. Either way you choose, this is a specialty in psychology that will only get bigger in the future as competition grows in a strong economy to retain the best workers and create optimal environments for employees in the workplace.

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PhD The Stevens Doctoral Program

Join a community of bold thinkers.

The Stevens Doctoral Program at Chicago Booth is the top destination for analytical, intellectually curious individuals who want to earn a doctorate in business from one of the best business PhD programs in the world.

As a PhD student at Chicago Booth, you will explore and cultivate your research interests from day one—wherever they lead you. In partnership with our distinguished faculty , you will develop your ability to conduct groundbreaking research. You’ll graduate with a business PhD and the tools to achieve academic and professional success.

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Video Transcript

Baris Ata (00:00): When I came here, it felt like, "Now I'm in the major leagues." I realized how high the standards are.

Jane L. Risen (00:09): We're the oldest PhD program within a business school, which is pretty extraordinary to think of sort of how long ago the recognition was there that we wanted to be training not just business leaders in practice, but to be training the future leaders of academic discipline.

Ray Ball (00:26): So I arrived in 1966. Oh, it was marvelous. The place just crackled with ideas and open discussion, and I ended up throwing out all the ideas I came with.

Ann L. McGill (00:35): What I especially liked about learning things here is this is an interdisciplinary school, so you didn't have to dive in a silo. You can wrap your arms around huge areas.

Marianne Bertrand (00:46): What is special is that we are part of a business school, training PhD students across a range of disciplines, not just economics or finance, which we deploy in the Economics Department, but also students are doing psychology, operation research.

Ray Ball (00:59): At Chicago, the ideas were the authorities, not the people, and they were all up for grabs.

Amir Sufi (01:06): What we're trying to create here is people who produce knowledge, not just consume it. And that's the real challenge I think of PhD education.

Ana-Maria Tenekedjieva (01:15): I was never told at any point that, "Oh, this is not real finance. This question is too outside of the box." On the contrary, it was always, "You should do what you want to do, and we're going to think about placement once the paper is ready."

Jane L. Risen (01:32): You don't make any assumptions. You question everything.

Pradeep K. Chintagunta (01:35): It's not enough just to know what other people have done. It's also important to know what needs to be done next. To be able to do that, you need to be able to ask questions beyond the questions that have been asked in the previous literature or in the previous knowledge that's already out there.

Jeffrey R. Russell (01:53): When you're going to seminars here, or watching my colleagues talk in the hallways, you'll often see them in what look like very contentious battles. But really, they're just after, "What's the right answer?" When PhD students come here, they are able to sort of bring that into their own souls, and I think that really pushes them then to sort of be the best possible researcher that they can.

Ana-Maria Tenekedjieva (02:12): Chicago Booth is known for its quite aggressive questioning style. I think that we get a little bit of a bad rap. There is a point to the aggressive questioning, and it is to clarify the idea. In Chicago Booth the spirit is be tough on the idea, not on the person.

Amir Sufi (02:30): Throughout the world, we're appreciating more and more how influential research can be. I think our PhD students going forward will increasingly be placed in positions, both in scholarship and in government and in business, where they can have major influence.

Ray Ball (02:48): So the fact that this is the oldest doctoral program in business, that it has been going for 100 years, gives some indication of the commitment of this school to training people. We still have those same values, and so it's always going to generate people who change the world, who change the way we think. I can't tell you at this point how that will happen. That's exactly the idea. New people come in with new ideas, and they learn how to implement them in the school, and they change the way we think about the world. And that's going to keep going.

PhD in Business at a Glance

The Stevens Program is highly competitive—and highly rewarding. Approximately 20–25 new PhD students matriculate each fall from an applicant pool of more than 1,000, and our graduates are highly sought after at the world's most elite institutions of higher learning, in government, and at leading global businesses.

Our program is a full-time program that typically takes about five years to complete. PhD students can apply for one of our seven dissertation areas  or three joint PhD programs.

Explore Our Dissertation Areas and Joint PhD Programs

Our program gives you the flexibility to meet your intellectual and academic goals. We have seven doctoral dissertation areas, as well as three joint PhD programs.

Join Our Research Community

In collaboration with faculty and fellow students, you’ll conduct innovative research and prepare for a successful career.

How to Apply for and Fund Your PhD in Business

Explore phd admissions.

Earn your PhD in one of the best business PhD programs in the world. Here’s how to join our community of bold thinkers.

Attend a PhD Admissions Event

Join us at an information session or recruiting forum to learn more about the Stevens Doctoral Program at Chicago Booth.

Explore Financial Aid

At Chicago Booth, PhD students receive a tuition grant, a stipend, student health insurance, a computer or computer subsidy, and access to research and travel funding.

Meet Our Alumni and Job Market Candidates

Discover our alumni success.

For 100 years, Chicago Booth has been a proven training ground for the next generation of leading professionals in academia, government, and industry.

See Our PhD Job Market Candidates

See the Stevens Doctoral Program's current job market candidates—the next generation of researchers who will shape theory and practice in business and beyond.

Discover UChicago

Discover UChicago is a two-day program that introduces third-year undergraduates to the prospect of pursuing a graduate degree at UChicago and other institutions alike. At the event, Stevens Doctoral Program representatives will shed light on the program and application process, as well as navigating academic life at Chicago Booth.

Celebrating 100 Years of Pioneering Research

Since 1920, our faculty, alumni, and students have been driving the evolution of modern research in a wide range of disciplines.

On April 11, 2024, scholars in financial economics gathered to share ongoing research in a series of alumni and student presentations as part of a commemorative event dedicated to our late colleague, Yiran Fan.

Stories from Our Community

Measuring preferences for privacy.

Current PhD student Tesary Lin’s passion for economics and behavioral science has led her to develop a new incentive framework for businesses that want to use consumer data to inform managerial decisions, while respecting consumers’ privacy preferences.

A PhD for Social Impact

A passion for travel, social impact, and wanting to "dig deeper" inspired current student Gülin Tuzcuoğlu to pursue a PhD in operations research.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD-BA), Industrial/Organizational Psychology

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PhD-BA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology professionals study and assess individual, group, and organizational dynamics in the work environment. They apply their research to work problems and identify solutions to improve the well-being and performance of organizations and their employees. With skills that can be applied to address such issues as recruiting new employees, researching consumer behavior, and measuring employee evaluation and performance, they can be very valuable contributors to organizational leadership.

This interdisciplinary PhD specialization explores the application of industrial and organizational psychology and management theory to the understanding of people in the workplace. You’ll complete courses in both the School of Business and the School of Psychology to develop competencies in theory, research, and applications of psychology related to human behavior in organizations. You’ll then apply this learning as you conduct advanced research related to organizational and psychological theories on human resource management.

Admission Requirements 

A conferred master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution. In addition to this general requirement, applicants have two options for entering the doctoral program in the School of Business:

1. Direct Entry – You may immediately begin the doctoral program through the DBA or PhD track with a previously completed master’s degree in one of the following:

  • A generalized business area, such as business management or business administration
  • A specialized business area (Master of Finance, Master of Human Resources Management, etc.) AND an undergraduate degree in business
  • A master’s in any field AND an undergraduate degree in business

2. Evaluation Track – If you don’t meet the direct entry requirements, you’re required to take SKS-7001 – Doctoral Comprehensive Strategic Knowledge Studies as part of your degree program.

Course Details

For the PhD in Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, you must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours (20 courses), including a minimum of five core courses, five specialization courses, two statistical courses, five research courses, and one doctoral elective. The estimated time needed to complete this certificate is 73 months.

Course Listing

This course serves as an introduction to the PhD–BA and as the foundation for further doctoral-level study in business. The PhD–BA degree is designed to encourage you to become a scholar-practitioner, using business theory to inform further scholarly inquiry and positively impact business practices. You will examine requirements for the degree—including each milestone and deliverable—and will develop a plan for achieving your academic and research goals. This preparation will be done in the context of an examination of modern trends in business theory and in beginning the transition from being consumers of knowledge to being producers of knowledge.

Students will analyze and apply knowledge in 12 business areas necessary to address a wide variety of business-related situations. The focus of the course is demonstrating core proficiencies in the following business areas: Marketing, Business Finance, Accounting, Management, Legal Environment of Business, Economics, Business Ethics, Global Dimensions of Business, Information Systems, Quantitative Techniques and Statistics, Leadership, and Business Applications. The intent is not to introduce these core business concepts, but rather to verify a graduate-level threshold competency within each. The course includes a comprehensive case study that will allow students to demonstrate their competency within all 12 professional component areas.

It is important for scholar-practitioners to understand both the internal and external influences on business—the business environment. In this course, students will examine theories related to those environmental factors including business ethics, international business, and marketing. Internal environmental factors include management and organizational behavior.

The allied fields of economics, accounting, and finance are key areas where a highly knowledgeable leader can greatly contribute to the success of a business. Financial professionals secure and manage the money needed to run a business; economists determine how markets will react in certain situations; and accountants provide analysis and accountability to the entire process. In this course, scholar-practitioners will work towards information fluency in theories related to these critical knowledge areas.

Good plans aligned against clear strategic goals can help business leaders achieve those goals. This course is an overview of the theories involved in strategic planning to aid business. Students will explore the difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning, how to choose a strategy that is right for each business, and how to design a strategic plan. This course will investigate how to analyze customers and the competition and ask key questions that help design the most effective strategic plan for each business.

In this course, you will engage in the process of scholarly literature reviews and academic writing. With an emphasis on how to (a) conduct effective literature searches, specifically in preparation for the dissertation, (b) develop a plan for writing comprehensive, critical, and synthesized reviews of research literature, and (c) critically review and write about underlying theory/conceptual frameworks, you will develop a foundation for future research. The overarching goal of this course is for you to conduct an exhaustive search of the peer-reviewed research literature in your topic area and identify potential areas of inquiry for your dissertation.

In this course, you will cultivate a statistical mindset through learning and nurturing skills needed to perform and interpret univariate inferential statistics. The course will facilitate building your statistical confidence in assessing and performing statistics. The course will cover univariate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, interpretation of statistical output, and introduce skills needed to select statistical tests based on quantitative research questions.

In this course, you will learn advanced statistical principles and how to apply them to quantitative research in the study of organizations. You will be provided an overview of advanced statistical concepts used in empirical research, including inferential analysis. Advanced computations will be performed using commonly used statistical software. The focus involves helping you build independent scholarly skills with an emphasis on understanding multivariate data; the use, comprehension, and evaluation of sophisticated statistical concepts, and presentation of statistical results.

During this course, as a scholar-practitioner, you will build the skills essential for designing quantitative studies; analyzing the data collected in these studies, and interpreting the results of data analyses. You will explore designs and statistical techniques to use with their envisioned dissertation research.

During this course, you will examine qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, mixed methods, and case studies. You will explore designs and methodologies to use with your envisioned research.

The Pre-Candidacy Prospectus is intended to ensure students have mastered knowledge of their discipline prior to candidacy status and demonstrated the ability to design empirical research as an investigator before moving on to the dissertation research coursework. Students will demonstrate the ability to synthesize empirical, peer-reviewed research to support all assignments in this course. The Pre-Candidacy Prospectus is completed only after all foundation, specialization, and research courses have been completed.

Students in this course will be required to complete Chapter 1 of their dissertation proposal including a review of literature with substantiating evidence of the problem, the research purpose and questions, the intended methodological design and approach, and the significance of the study. A completed, committee approved (against the minimum rubric standards) Chapter 1 is required to pass this course successfully. Students who do not receive approval of Chapter 1 to minimum standards will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of Chapter 1.

Students in this course will be required to work on completing Chapters 1-3 of their dissertation proposal and receive committee approval for the Dissertation Proposal (DP) in order to pass the class. Chapter 2 consists of the literature review. Chapter 3 covers the research methodology method and design and to includes population, sample, measurement instruments, data collection and analysis, limitations, and ethical considerations. In this course, a completed, committee-approved Chapters 2 and 3 are required and, by the end of the course, a final approved dissertation proposal (against the minimum rubric standards). Students who do not receive approval of the dissertation proposal will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of these requirements.

Students in this course will be required to prepare, submit, and obtain approval of their IRB application, collect data, and submit a final study closure form to the IRB. Students still in data collection at the end of the 12-week course will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to complete data collection and file an IRB study closure form.

In this dissertation course students work on completing Chapters 4 and 5 and the final Dissertation Manuscript. Specifically, students will complete their data analysis, prepare their study results, and present their findings in an Oral Defense and a completed manuscript. A completed, Committee approved (against the minimum rubric standards) Dissertation Manuscript and successful Oral Defense are required to complete the course and graduate. Students who do not receive approval for either or both their Dissertation Manuscript or defense can take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of either or both items as needed.

Specialization Courses

Specialization course listings.

In this course, you’ll focus on how psychological principles are applied in work settings. Current models, theories, and research in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology will be explored. In order to develop a better social context for the workplace, you’ll also explore the roles of attitude, motivation, group factors, and leadership.

Consulting in businesses, schools, and health settings requires an array of personal skills, knowledge, and techniques. In this course, you’ll learn to develop the personal skills and understanding for developing a successful consulting program.

You’ll investigate organizational behavior (OB) and the impact of individuals, groups, and structure on it. Specifically, you’ll focus on how to improve productivity, reduce absenteeism and turnover, and increase job satisfaction. You’ll also study the tools and perspectives needed to guide the productivity of others, predict human behavior at work, and manage individuals from diverse backgrounds.

In this course, you’ll synthesize and assess the current theories and research of organizational development. Among many topics, you’ll assess behavior in all sizes of organizations, evaluate groupthink and group behavior, and weigh the structure and design of successful businesses.

Prerequisites:  Fundamental requirement in general management or fundamental psychology courses

Whether you’re currently a manager or aspire to become one, this course provides you with essential management skills for today’s globalized work environment. You’ll examine concepts and apply strategies regarding global leadership, managing human capital and teams, ethical decision-making, and navigating organizational change. A key course feature is a personalized assessment of your management skills, the results of which will enable you to develop a personal leadership plan.

Learning Outcomes

Students earning the Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology specialization will learn to:

  • Develop business knowledge  based on a synthesis of current theory
  • Defend theories, applications, and perspectives related to business to diverse audiences
  • Evaluate business practices that positively impact society
  • Evaluate the relationship  between the global environment and business decisions
  • Formulate solutions to problems identified in extant business research

Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.

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  • Harvard Business School →
  • Doctoral Programs →
  • PhD Programs
  • Accounting & Management
  • Business Economics
  • Health Policy (Management)

Organizational Behavior

  • Technology & Operations Management
  • Program Requirements

Scholars in the doctoral program in Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School are prepared to pursue an interdisciplinary inquiry into issues that are broadly related to the functioning of individuals within groups, at either the micro or macro level. Graduates of our program go on to become the leading researchers and thinkers in organizational behavior, shaping the field and advancing theoretical understanding in posts at schools of management or in disciplinary departments.

The Organizational Behavior program is jointly administered by the faculty of Harvard Business School and the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and students have the opportunity to work with faculty from both the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Business School.

Curriculum & Coursework

Our program offers two distinct tracks, with research focused either on the micro or macro level. Students who choose to focus on micro organizational behavior take a psychological approach to the study of interpersonal relationships within organizations and groups, and the effects that groups have on individuals. In macro organizational behavior, scholars use sociological methods to examine the organizations, groups, and markets themselves, including topics such as the influence of individuals on organizational change, or the relationship between social missions and financial objectives.

Your core disciplinary training will take place in either the psychology or sociology departments, depending on the track that you choose. You will also conduct advanced coursework in organizational behavior at HBS, and complete two MBA elective curriculum courses. Students are required to teach for one full academic term in order to gain valuable teaching experience, and to work as an apprentice to a faculty member to develop research skills. Upon completion of coursework, students prepare and present a dossier that includes a qualifying paper, at least two other research papers, and a statement outlining a plan for their dissertation. Before beginning work on the dissertation, students must pass the Organizational Behavior Exam, which presents an opportunity to synthesize academic coursework and prepare for an in-depth research project.

Research & Dissertation

Examples of doctoral thesis research.

  • Cross-group relations, stress, and the subsequent effect on performance
  • Internal group dynamics of corporate boards of directors
  • Organizational mission and its effect on commitment and effort
  • Psychological tendencies and collaboration with dissimilar others

phd in business psychology

Aurora Turek

phd in business psychology

Justine Murray

phd in business psychology

Jaylon Sherrell

“ In HBS’s Organizational Behavior program I receive outstanding, rigorous training in disciplinary methods and also benefit from the myriad resources that HBS has to offer. HBS scholars are looking to apply their research to real-world problems, come up with interventions, and make a real difference. ”

phd in business psychology

Current Harvard Sociology & Psychology Faculty

  • George A. Alvarez
  • Mahzarin R. Banaji
  • Jason Beckfield
  • Lawrence D. Bobo
  • Mary C. Brinton
  • Joshua W. Buckholtz
  • Randy L. Buckner
  • Alfonso Caramazza
  • Susan E. Carey
  • Paul Y. Chang
  • Mina Cikara
  • Christina Ciocca Eller
  • Christina Cross
  • Fiery Cushman
  • Frank Dobbin
  • Samuel J. Gershman
  • Daniel Gilbert
  • Joshua D. Greene
  • Jill M. Hooley
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Alexandra Killewald
  • Talia Konkle
  • Max Krasnow
  • Michèle Lamont
  • Ellen Langer
  • Joscha Legewie
  • Ya-Wen Lei
  • Patrick Mair
  • Peter V. Marsden
  • Katie A. McLaughlin
  • Richard J. McNally
  • Jason P. Mitchell
  • Ellis Monk
  • Matthew K. Nock
  • Orlando Patterson
  • Elizabeth A. Phelps
  • Steven Pinker
  • Robert J. Sampson
  • Daniel L. Schacter
  • Theda Skocpol
  • Mario L. Small
  • Jesse Snedeker
  • Leah H. Somerville
  • Elizabeth S. Spelke
  • Tomer D. Ullman
  • Adaner Usmani
  • Jocelyn Viterna
  • Mary C. Waters
  • John R. Weisz
  • Christopher Winship
  • Xiang Zhou

Current HBS Faculty

  • Julie Battilana
  • Max H. Bazerman
  • David E. Bell
  • Ethan S. Bernstein
  • Alison Wood Brooks
  • Edward H. Chang
  • Amy C. Edmondson
  • Robin J. Ely
  • Alexandra C. Feldberg
  • Amit Goldenberg
  • Boris Groysberg
  • Linda A. Hill
  • Jon M. Jachimowicz
  • Summer R. Jackson
  • Leslie K. John
  • Jillian J. Jordan
  • Rakesh Khurana
  • Hyunjin Kim
  • Joshua D. Margolis
  • Edward McFowland III
  • Kathleen L. McGinn
  • Tsedal Neeley
  • Michael I. Norton
  • Leslie A. Perlow
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer
  • Ryan L. Raffaelli
  • Lakshmi Ramarajan
  • James W. Riley
  • Clayton S. Rose
  • Raffaella Sadun
  • Emily Truelove
  • Michael L. Tushman
  • Ashley V. Whillans
  • Letian Zhang
  • Julian J. Zlatev

Current Organizational Behavior Students

  • Jennifer Abel
  • Silvan Baier
  • Yajun Cao
  • Grace Cormier
  • Megan Gorges
  • Bushra Guenoun
  • Elizabeth Johnson
  • Akshita Joshi
  • Caleb Kealoha
  • Kai Krautter
  • Justine Murray
  • Mandi Nerenberg
  • C. Ryann Noe
  • Elizabeth Sheprow
  • Jaylon Sherrell
  • Yoon Jae Shin
  • David Shin
  • Erin Shirtz
  • Samantha N. Smith
  • Tiffany Smith
  • Channing Spencer
  • Yuval Spiegler
  • Emily Tedards
  • Aurora Turek

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

Recent placement, hanne collins, 2024, evan defilippis, 2023, hayley blunden, 2022, lumumba seegars, 2021, karen huang, 2020, stefan dimitriadis, 2019, elizabeth hansen, 2019, julie yen, 2024, jeff steiner, 2023, ahmmad brown, 2022, yanhua bird, 2020, jeffrey lees, 2020, alexandra feldberg, 2019, martha jeong, 2019, nicole abi-esber, 2023, elliot stoller, 2023, ariella kristal, 2022, leroy gonsalves, 2020, alicia desantola, 2019, catarina fernandes, 2019.

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    The Chicago School
   
 
2023-2024 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook with Spring Addendum    





2023-2024 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook with Spring Addendum [Archived Catalog]

| (opens a new window)

Anaheim - Chicago - Los Angeles - Dallas -Washington D.C. - Online 

Program overview.

Businesses large and small increasingly recognize the critical distinction between a manager and a leader-between someone who merely assigns tasks, and someone who paints a vision and then inspires employees to work effectively toward achieving it. Organizational leadership professionals work in both for-profit and nonprofit settings, helping to clearly define and communicate organizational objectives and strategy. They ensure that business processes are as effective and efficient as possible, build trust, bolster morale, and help each employee grow professionally and contribute meaningfully to advancing an organization’s mission. Curriculum includes coursework in leadership, research, ethics, interpersonal dynamics, and a range of electives to support each student’s unique career goals-preparing graduates to apply the principles of psychology and leadership theory in a broad range of settings, to more effectively lead individuals and organizations to success.  Graduates are able to select, implement, and manage appropriate leadership methodologies to meet individual, group and organizational needs in non-profit and for-profit settings. 

Program Philosophy 

The Chicago School offers a PhD degree in Organizational Leadership. This program examines field of psychology from an organizational leadership perspective.  It is intended to develop professionals who can apply knowledge about principles of psychology and leadership to work more effectively with specific populations.  The program includes coursework in leadership, research, ethics, interpersonal dynamics, and a range of electives to support each student’s unique career goals preparing graduates to apply the principles of psychology and leadership theory in a broad range of settings, to more effectively lead individuals and organizations to success.  Graduates are able to select, implement, and manage appropriate leadership methodologies to meet individual, group and organizational needs in non-profit and for-profit settings.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program students will be able to:

Professional Practice

  • Produce written documents that are well researched, cited, and organized for easy reading and understanding. Students will be able to deliver presentations targeted to business and academic audiences.
  • Describe and apply effective practices within the field of Business Psychology or Organizational Leadership. 
  • Explain and build upon the role that individual and group differences play in the workplace (e.g., race, gender, age, national culture, cognitive style, socio-economic status, job title/power and etc.). Students will be able to demonstrate cross-cultural competence and operate within a framework of global diversity.

Professional Behavior

  • Demonstrate personal integrity and ethical behavior in professional practice.
  • Form effective professional relationships based on attitudes and communication skills that foster trust, open dialogue, and collaboration, regardless of differences in background, education, position in the organization, points of view or other personal characteristics

Scholarship

  • Cite the theoretical knowledge and research integral to their fields of study. Students will be able to describe the philosophies of science underpinning their field’s theoretical knowledge and research. Students will be able to apply published research to the development of new areas for scholarly study. Students will be able to design and conduct research studies. Students will be able to analyze and interpret the data produced by research.
  • Analyze and evaluate the work of others, including probing for more information, searching for logic flaws, and creating alternative solutions to problems.

Admission Requirements

For information on where The Chicago School is currently authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to approval, please visit   https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/why-us/state-authorization/

Application to The Chicago School’s Organizational Leadership doctoral program is open to any person who has earned a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution within the behavioral sciences, organizational discipline or other related field, and who meets other entrance requirements. Applicants will be judged on their overall ability to do graduate work. 

Factors and materials to be considered for admission will include: 

  • Completed application and $50 application fee.  
  • Generally, a graduate GPA 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 
  • Official Transcripts  
  • Students must submit official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned.  
  • It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications. 
  • Resume/CV or Work History (e.g. employer letter, LinkedIn profile, or other document that reflects your work history)  
  • Two Letters of Recommendation  
  • Essay (between 500-750 words) 
  • Please write a personal statement of your desire to become an organizational leadership consultant or practitioner at the doctoral level, what experiences or insights have led you to pursue a doctoral degree in this program, and how this program will support your efforts in working with richly diverse colleagues and clients. 
  • Statement of Research Interests (up to 500 words) 
  • Please share your research interests (regarding business psychology/organizational leadership), and why you believe this is worth studying?   
  • Preferred 3 or more years of work experience prior to admission. 
  • Completion of two courses below with C or better (contingent) 
  • Undergraduate level Statistics course 
  • Upper level undergraduate or master’s level organizational behavior or psychology 

PhD Organizational Leadership Progression Requirements

This program requires applicants to have successfully completed at least one (1) foundational course in statistics, and one (1) foundational course in psychology or organizational behavior with a grade earned of ‘C’ or better by the end of their first semester (second online term) of study.  Students who have not done so through previous coursework must successfully meet this progression requirement through one of the following options:

  • A grade of “C” or higher in TCS 390 Introduction to Statistics and TCS 380 Introduction to Psychology
  • A grade of “C” or higher in a comparable course at The Chicago School
  • A grade of “C” or higher in a comparable course at another regionally accredited institution

Applicants accepted who have not successfully completed one (1) foundational course in statistics and one (1) course in psychology or organizational behavior will be required to register for applicable TCS courses in their first ground semester or online term. All students must meet this progression requirement by the end of their first semester (second online term) of study. Students who do not successfully fulfill this requirement will not be allowed to register in any future coursework in the program of study until this requirement is met. Extensions can be granted by the Program Chair or designee when extenuating circumstances prevent completion of the requirement in the specified timeframe.  Requests for an extension must be submitted in writing to the Program Chair for consideration.

Applicant Notification

The Chicago School reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once review begins, complete applications will be considered by the Admission Committee and applicants will be notified regarding the admission decision. The Chicago School does not share information or provide any feedback regarding admission decisions.

If a student is offered admission and in order to secure a place in the incoming class, a non-refundable tuition deposit of $250 will be required by the deposit deadline indicated in the offer of admission. The non-refundable deposit will be applied in full toward the student’s tuition upon enrollment.

Articulation Agreements

The Chicago School has established agreements between The MA Psychology and the PhD Organizational Leadership program to allow qualified students to enroll in doctoral level courses while completing thier master’s degree that will then count toward the doctoral degree.  Click on this link    for details.

Degree Completion Requirements

  • Successful completion of 60 credit hours of coursework
  • Successful completion of dissertation
  • Successful completion of Competency Examination
  • Attendance at two residences that are three and a half day each (online students only)

The following policies are located under  Academic Policies and Procedures   : Academic Calendar, Admissions Requirements, Attendance, Satisfactory Academic Progress, Service Learning, and Transfer Credit/Course Waiver. Click the link above for detailed information.

Residency Requirements (Online Students Only)

Online students are engaged in two brief residencies (roughly three and a half days each) at one of our campuses-providing an opportunity for face-to-face interaction and networking with fellow students from around the globe who bring a wealth of diverse leadership experiences and perspectives.  At the first residency, students meet with their cohorts and faculty members and engage in focused seminars.  At the second residency, students participate in their competency exam.

Field Experience Requirements 

Students must have access to an organizational environment that will be available for use in research and reference for course work. 

Ethical Guidelines

Students are expected to engage in all graduate work, including but not limited to course work, research, and scholarship, with a high degree of integrity and professionalism. It is essential that students approach professional working relationships, collegial relationships, and client/partner-contact with respect. Further, students are expected to adhere to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct as well as the “evolving universal code of ethics” (Gauthier, 2005).  Students who choose to seek employment in the field of psychology shall not work beyond their level of competence and shall not use titles governed by credentialing statutes and/or regulations unless authorized by the relevant jurisdictional authority. Students who fail to comply with ethical and professional behavior guidelines are subject to department remediation and/or referral to Student Community Standards for disciplinary action and possible dismissal.

Competency Examination

Every student is required to pass a Competency Examination (CE). The aim of this assessment exercise is to evaluate the student’s knowledge of theory, research, and practice. This is also an opportunity to assess the student’s ability to demonstrate this knowledge and skill in simulations in order to judge his or her abilities as a future organizational leader. The Comprehensive Examination is taken at the end of the student’s second year in the doctoral program

Dissertation

Completion of the dissertation is an essential aspect of a students’ academic experience and professional education. It provides the school the opportunity to evaluate the student’s ability to apply Organizational Leadership theory and research and to think critically and creatively about an issue in the field.

The dissertation should clearly and concisely demonstrate the student’s command of the research in a specific area of Organizational Leadership. In the dissertation, the student will critically evaluate and synthesize relevant research and theory in the topic chosen for study. The student’s dissertation Committee is responsible for determining the appropriateness and acceptability of the dissertation proposal and for final approval of the dissertation.

The Curriculum

Intensive course work that balances theory and practice culminates in completion of the competency exam and the dissertation. Students entering post-master’s must complete 60 graduate semester hours of study:

Required Core: 54 credit hours

Electives: 6 credit hours

Program Total

Ph.D. Organizational Leadership: 60 credit hours

Required Core

  • IO 519 - Statistics and Lab (4 credit hours)
  • PB 400 - Professional Development Seminar (3 credit hours)
  • PB 455 - Research Methods (3 credit hours)
  • OL 539 - Personality and Life Span in the Workplace (3 credit hours)
  • OL 549 - Systems Theory (3 credit hours)
  • OL 551 - Group and Team Leadership (3 credit hours)
  • OL 554 - Management Philosophy and Practice (3 credit hours)
  • OL 556 - Emerging Theories of Leadership (3 credit hours)
  • OL 560 - Ethical and Cultural Considerations (3 credit hours)
  • OL 573 - Organizational Diagnosis and Cultural Dynamics (3 credit hours)
  • OL 576 - Strategic Change Management (3 credit hours)
  • OL 580 - Residency I (auto half time) (0 credit hours)
  • OL 620 - Competency Examination (3 credit hours)(course fee $12)
  • OL 621 - Qualitative Research Methods (3 credit hours)
  • OL 631 - Dissertation Maintenance I (3 credit hours)(auto full time)
  • OL 632 - Dissertation Maintenance II (3 credit hours)(auto full time)
  • OL 633 - Dissertation Maintenance III (3 credit hours)(auto full time)
  • OL 705 - Leadership Self-Development (2 credit hours)(course fee $177)

Students choose one of the following:

  • OL 623 - Advanced Qualitative Research Methods (3 credit hours)
  • PB 528 - Advanced Statistics (3 credit hours)

Choose six hours of elective courses:

  • OL 634 - Virtual and Global Leadership (3 credit hours)
  • OL 637 - Team Interventions (3 credit hours)
  • OL 640 - Governance in Non-profit (3 credit hours)
  • OL 641 - Supervising and Coaching Employees (3 credit hours)
  • OL 642 - Strategic Human Resources Effectiveness (3 credit hours)
  • OL 643 - Social Entrepreneurship (3 credit hours)
  • OL 644 - Leadership Ethics (3 credit hours)
  • OL 645 - Diversity (3 credit hours)
  • OL 646 - The Role of Technology in Organizations (3 credit hours)
  • OL 647 - Public Policy Leadership (3 credit hours)
  • OL 650 - Envisioning the New Health and Human Service Organization (3 credit hours)
  • OL 651 - Community Building and Social Transformation in Health and Human Service Organization (3 credit hours)
  • OL 652 - Ethical, Practical, and Economic Challenges in Health and Human Service Organization (3 credit hours)
  • OL 653 - Advanced Consulting Skills (3 credit hours)
  • OL 654 - Business Development for Consulting Psychologists (3 credit hours)
  • OL 655 - Large Group Methods (3 credit hours)
  • OL 657 - Professional Coaching (3 credit hours)
  • OL 658 - Group Facilitation (3 credit hours)
  • OL 670 - Special Topics I (1 credit hour)
  • OL 671 - Special Topics II (2 credit hours)
  • OL 672 - Special Topics III (3 credit hours)(course fee)
  • OL 675 - Independent Study I (1 credit hour)
  • OL 676 - Independent Study II (2 credit hours)
  • OL 677 - Independent Study III (3 credit hours)

Students may also select elective courses from the Ph.D. Business Psychology    elective pool.

Extension Courses

  • OL 953 - Manuscript Preparation (MP) Extension (0 credit hours) - auto full-time
  • OL 954 - Manuscript Preparation (MP) Extension (0 credit hours) - auto half-time
  • OL 958A - Manuscript Preparation (MP) Extension (0 credit hours) - auto half-time
  • OL 958B - Manuscript Preparation (MP) Extension (0 credit hours) - auto half-time
  • OL 959A - Manuscript Preparation (MP) Extension (0 credit hours) - auto full-time
  • OL 959B - Manuscript Preparation (MP) Extension (0 credit hours) - auto full-time

Research Project Extension Courses - Semester Based Program Versions (Doctoral Level)

These courses are used in accordance with the Research Project Courses policy.  Students in Semester Based doctoral programs may use only these courses as extensions for dissertations, theses, advanced applied projects, advanced research projects, and applied research projects. RPX courses may not be repeated, substituted, or combined with term-based research project extension courses.

  • RPX 501 - Research Project Extension 1 (3 credit hours) (Auto full-time)
  • RPX 502 - Research Project Extension 2 (3 credit hours) (Auto full-time)
  • RPX 5031 - Research Project Extension 3 (Summer 1) (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 5032 - Research Project Extension 3 (Summer 2) (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 504 - Research Project Extension 4 (3 credit hours) (Auto full-time)
  • RPX 505 - Research Project Extension 5 (3 credit hours) (Auto full-time)
  • RPX 5061 - Research Project Extension 6 (Summer 1) (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 5062 - Research Project Extension 6 (Summer 2) (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)

Research Project Extension 7, 8, 9, and External IRB require the written approval of the department prior to enrollment.

  • RPX 507 - Research Project Extension 7 (3 credit hours) (Auto full-time)
  • RPX 508 - Research Project Extension 8 (3 credit hours) (Auto full-time)
  • RPX 5091 - Research Project Extension 9 (Summer 1) (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 5092 - Research Project Extension 9 (Summer 2) (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 510 - Research Project Extension External IRB (1 credit hour) (auto full-time)

Research Project Extension Courses - Term Based Program Versions (Doctoral Level)

These courses are used in accordance with the Research Project Courses policy.  Students in Term Based doctoral programs may use only these courses as extensions for dissertations, theses, advanced applied projects, advanced research projects, and applied research projects. RPX courses may not be repeated, substituted, or combined with semester based research project extension courses.

  • RPX 551 - Research Project Extension 1 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 552 - Research Project Extension 2 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 553 - Research Project Extension 3 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 554 - Research Project Extension 4 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 555 - Research Project Extension 5 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 556 - Research Project Extension 6 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 557 - Research Project Extension 7 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 558 - Research Project Extension 8 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 559 - Research Project Extension 9 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 560 - Research Project Extension 10 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 561 - Research Project Extension 11 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 562 - Research Project Extension 12 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)

Research Project Extension 13 through 18, and External IRB A and B require the written approval of the department prior to enrollment.

  • RPX 563 - Research Project Extension 13 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 564 - Research Project Extension 14 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 565 - Research Project Extension 15 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 566 - Research Project Extension 16 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 567 - Research Project Extension 17 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 568 - Research Project Extension 18 (1.5 credit hours) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 569 - Research Project Extension External IRB A (0.5 credit hour) (auto full-time)
  • RPX 570 - Research Project Extension External IRB B (0.5 credit hour) (auto full-time)

COMMENTS

  1. Program Requirements

    Two term-length graduate-level psychology courses ; One term-length graduate-level social sciences course; Sociology Track. Two term-length courses on sociological theory (Soc 204 and 208) ... Harvard Business School Wyss House Boston, MA 02163 Phone: 1.617.495.6101

  2. PhD Business Psychology: I/O Track

    The PhD Business Psychology (I/O Track) is a post-bachelors or post-master's doctoral program that trains doctoral-level professionals for a career in academic research as well as for corporate, consulting, and other work settings. The curriculum is a unique blend of business, industrial and organizational psychology that prepares students to ...

  3. Ph.D. Business Psychology: I/O Track

    The Ph.D. Business Psychology program prepares students to build careers and assume professional responsibilities as professional psychologists in the executive ranks, management consulting, strategic HR, and organizational effectiveness positions. Financing Your Education.

  4. Ph.D. Program in Organizational Behavior and Theory

    Our Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Theory program provides broad, interdisciplinary training with Carnegie Mellon's engineering, public policy, human-computer interaction, social and decision sciences, and psychology departments.

  5. Ph.D. Business Psychology: Consulting Track

    Ph.D. Consulting Track. Ph.D. Business Psychology: Consulting Track. Develop a deep understanding of human behavior to guide and improve corporate strategy as a consultant. Apply lessons to both for-profit and nonprofit settings. 3 Years full time. 6 Years part time. Rigorous curriculum includes research, consulting, and coaching.

  6. PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

    The PhD in organizational psychology program will help you build skills in organizational diagnosis and intervention design through coursework, applied research and real-world projects. Using a scholar-practitioner approach, our I-O Psychology program combines a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with an eye for organizational strategy.

  7. Online Ph.D. Industrial Organizational Psychology

    In the PhD-PSY in Industrial-Organizational Psychology specialization, you will learn to apply psychological theories to critical issues in the fields of business and industry. Specifically, you'll gain expertise in the dynamics of leadership and management, the best practices for enhancing employee motivation and engagement, and the ...

  8. Business Psychology Degrees

    At the undergraduate level, the online B.S. Business Psychology program prepares students to make a lasting difference in business careers through the application of psychological principles. Our doctoral degree includes two concentrations for students to further define and hone their expertise. Those on the consulting track often work in roles ...

  9. Joint Psychology and Business PhD

    A PhD program that combines the resources of a world-class business school and a top psychology department. Learn from distinguished faculty, conduct interdisciplinary research, and explore diverse topics in psychology and business.

  10. Best Accredited I/O Psychology

    Business psychology, more commonly called industrial and organizational (I/O or I-O) psychology, is one of the top-paying psychology fields. 1 Recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a specialty in professional psychology since 1996, industrial and organizational psychology is the study of human behavior in the workplace. 2 Industrial and organizational psychologists ...

  11. Organizational Behavior

    Learn how to pursue an interdisciplinary inquiry into the functioning of individuals and groups in organizations with a PhD in Organizational Behavior from HBS. Explore the curriculum, research, faculty, and placement of this joint program with Harvard Sociology.

  12. PhD Programs

    The PhD in Business Administration grounds students in the disciplinary theories and research methods that form the foundation of an academic career ... Scholars in the PhD program in Organizational Behavior draw on methods from psychology and sociology to examine organizations and how people behave within them. The program offers two tracks ...

  13. Best Online Ph.D. In Organizational Psychology Programs Of 2024

    Best Online Ph.D. Programs in Organizational Psychology. Liberty University. The Chicago School at Los Angeles. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale. Adler University. 1.

  14. Online Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

    A master's degree, by the date of matriculation, in industrial and organizational psychology, psychology, business, or a related discipline. Applicants who did not graduate from Adler University's Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology or an equivalent program may be required to complete the equivalency requirements in ...

  15. Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Online

    For the Ph.D. in clinical, counseling and applied psychology, for example, Adler University's ROI based on a 100% chance of graduation is $240,546. The ROI adjusted to account for dropouts is ...

  16. Ph.D. and DBA Programs in Business Psychology

    The list of necessary leadership mental tools and skills is long and growing. PhD programs in business psychology provide students with the skills required to either teach the psychology of successful business leadership to organizations, or to take over the roll themselves. Opportunity for business leaders educated with the fundamentals of ...

  17. Joint Degrees

    Joint PhD in Business and Psychology. The Joint Program in Psychology and Business was established in 2009, and is overseen jointly by the Behavioral Science dissertation area at Chicago Booth and the Department of Psychology in the Division of the Social Sciences. The aim of this program is to connect the large number of social, cognitive, and ...

  18. Salary Outlook with a Ph.D. in Business Psychology Degree

    With a Ph.D. and sufficient work experience, you can expect to make up to $129,000 per year. ( BLS.gov) Also, the APA reports the median salary for an industrial-organizational psychologist (APA does not use the term 'business psychologist') is $65,000 with a master's degree and $81,000 for a doctoral degree.

  19. PhD Program

    If you still have questions after reviewing our doctorate in business FAQ, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you! Phone: 773.702.7298. Email Us. Chicago Booth's PhD program is the top destination for analytical, intellectually curious individuals ready to earn a world-class doctorate in business.

  20. PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    For the PhD in Business Administration, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, you must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours (20 courses), including a minimum of five core courses, five specialization courses, two statistical courses, five research courses, and one doctoral elective. The estimated time needed to complete this certificate is 73 ...

  21. Organizational Behavior

    In the field of Organizational Behavior, researchers draw on the methods and concepts of psychology and sociology to examine complex organizations and the ways that people behave within them. Scholars in the doctoral program in Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School are prepared to pursue an interdisciplinary inquiry into issues ...

  22. Program: PhD Organizational Leadership

    The Chicago School is an accredited psychology graduate school offering comprehensive business psychology, applied behavior analysis, school psychology, and other graduate programs. ... The Chicago School has established agreements between The MA Psychology and the PhD Organizational Leadership program to allow qualified students to enroll in ...

  23. PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology Online

    Choose from 12 online undergraduate programs in business, education, nursing, health sciences, and other in-demand areas. All Bachelor's Programs Business and Management ... As the terminal degree in a field with broad applications, an I/O psychology PhD may qualify you for a range of opportunities in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors ...