The Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Ph.D./IO) program will prepare graduates for careers in industrial/organizational psychological research, consulting, and instruction with emphasis on employee issues, organizational development, human resource management, and research expertise.

Competence and effectiveness in any organization find their roots in the people the organization employs and develops. Under this auspice, leaders recognize the significance of critical human resource methods, such as job design and analysis, organizational culture assessments, training and development, and talent management, on the sustainability and prosperity of any organization. Thus, both strategic and tactical decision making must be based in sound, methodologically rich data gathering and analysis, as well as robust theoretical frameworks for explaining workplace behavior. Possession of these knowledges and skill sets place industrial/organizational psychologists in a crucial role for organizations, and as either consultants or leaders themselves, these professionals utilize data-driven inquiry and responses to improve efficacy, develop and maintain cultures of high performance, and enrich the workplace lives of employees.

The Ph.D./IO program engages learners in academic inquiry into organizations and human behavior in the world of work, with foundational coursework in the history and functions of I/O psychology as well as an intensive, rigorous research curriculum. Through these dual emphases, the program challenges learners to develop the habits of mind and critical dispositions required to produce complex, yet practical, inquiry aimed at organizational and human development. Furthermore, the program explores the ethical aspects of I/O psychology practice, ensuring that learners respect and work toward enhancing the well being of the people whom they serve.

The I/O Psychology profession is characterized by the theory/practice continuum practitioners embody in every facet of their work, perhaps more so than most organizational workers. As such, the Ph.D./IO degree is consistent with the University's mission to educate students to achieve their professional goals, improve the productivity of educational organizations, and to improve the quality of their communities as well as the community of scholarship on industrial/organizational psychology. The Ph.D./Industrial Organizational Psychology (I/O Psych) program consists of 98 credit requirement.