Program Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
Industrial/Organizational

The Department of Psychology offers a doctoral degree in psychology with specialization in industrial/organizational psychology.  Students with a bachelor's degree who are interested in pursuing the Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology must meet first meet the admissions requirements listed under the M.A. degree.

A degree will be awarded to a student who, besides fulfilling the general requirements, has met the following specific requirements:

Fulfill admission requirements of the Graduate School and department requirements as follows:

  • completion of master’s degree including 30 graduate credits;
  • attainment of a graduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.25;
  • completion of Graduate Record Examination General Test;* (note the GRE requirement is waived for incoming 2021 applicants)
  • securing of three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with applicant’s academic work;
  • submission of a statement of purpose (more information about the SOP);
  • submission of a vita outlining educational and professional experiences.

Application materials must be received by December 15th.

Major field:

  • a minimum of 90 graduate credits including a 30-credit master’s program. A student may be required to complete additional credits beyond the 94 minimum credit requirement;
  • completion of Ph.D. core courses in the student’s specialty area: industrial/organizational. Core courses are specified in the Department of Psychology Graduate Student Manual. The student is required to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA in core courses and overall courses;
  • completion of additional required and elective courses to be planned in conjunction with the student’s faculty advisor and subject to approval by the industrial/ organizational committee.

Written comprehensive examinations:

  • satisfactory performance on doctoral written and oral comprehensive examinations in the student’s major area of industrial/organizational psychology (refer to the department’s graduate student manual).

Dissertation research:

  • completion of 3750:899 Doctoral Dissertation; (minimum 12 credits);
  • satisfactory performance on final examination and defense of dissertation research.

Other requirements:

  • refer to the department’s graduate student manual for other requirements or guidelines;
  • complete and fulfill general doctoral degree requirements of the Graduate School.

Doctoral language requirements or appropriate alternative research skills and techniques may be prescribed by the student’s advisory committee, depending upon the career plans of the student and upon the academic and/or scientific requirements of the dissertation.