Criteria
Definitions
Application process
Admission requirements
Alumni network
Success of alumni and connection of alumni to the program
Class offerings
Topics of interest offered and class times offered
Cost
Tuition, fees, and program-related expenses incurred due to program attendance
Facilities available
Labs, office space, technology options, statistical packages, journals access
Faculty quality/expertise
Quality of class instruction, salience of research advice, depth and breadth of faculty knowledge
Faculty productivity
Quality and quantity of graduate faculty journal publications and conference presentations
Faculty research interests
Major professor and other professors with research interests similar to yours
Teaching opportunities
Availability for students to student teach, lecture classes, serve as a teaching assistant
Funding resources
Financial package available to student, relationship between stipend amount and cost-of-living
Graduation requirements
Requirements are reasonable and match with student's goals (e.g., having internship requirements when a student is interested in going applied)
Internship opportunities
Availability of suitable internships to the program's students
Job/Internship placements
Successful placements of current students and alumni in appropriate internships and jobs
Location
Geographic qualities around the campus, access to nearby job/internship opportunities, cost of living
Opportunities for applied projects
Availability do consulting projects and other types of applied work as part of the program
Program culture
Atmosphere of the program, norms, collaborative vs. competitive
Program flexibility
Opportunity for student to arrange their schedule to fit other facets of their life, take a semester off for life events
Program ranking
Knowledge of a program's current ranking (e.g., )
Program reputation
Knowledge of a program's reputation in I-O
Quality of life/fit and social relationships between grad students
Social fit with and relationships between students within the program
Research opportunities
Availability for students to engage in research that relates to their topics of interest within the program
Student productivity
Quality and quantity of graduate student journal publications and conference presentations
Student support by faculty/
department
Mentoring availability and formal and social interactions between the student and the faculty/department. Faculty accessibility to students.
Teaching model used
Balance between applied and academic focus
Learn practical skills
Relevant skills are learned by students that will be useful in I-O internships and jobs.
The second phase, the main data collection which involved collecting importance scores and ratings, involved a widely distributed survey. Data collection for this phase began in September of 2017. The survey was administered to current graduate student participants from I-O MA/MS and PhD programs across the country. The researchers distributed a Qualtrics survey administered to all affiliates of SIOP through the SIOP listserv. To augment the number of student participants for this study, particularly MA/MS students, SIOP distributed the study link to I-O progra m directors so that they could email it directly to their students.
Respondents were told that the purpose of this study was “to collect perceptions of the quality of the graduate programs from the perspective of their customers—the graduate students.” Participants were asked to rate the importance of the 25 criteria, in general, from their perspective as a current graduate student. A sample question for class offerings asked participants to rank the importance of class offerings for choosing a graduate school from your perspective as a current graduate student: “topics of interest offered and/or the class times that courses are offered.” Ratings were collected on a four-point Likert-type scale (1= not important at all to 4 = very importan t). The highest possible score for programs was 100.
Students were then also asked to rank the quality of their program on each of the 25 criteria. A sample item asked “ Please provide your perceptions on how the following variables relate to the quality of the graduate program in which you are currently enrolled. Only answer this section if you are currently enrolled as a student in a graduate program (e.g., Class Offerings).” Ratings for that variable were collected on a four-point Likert-type scale (1 = extremely poor class offerings to 4 = extremely good class offerings ). With the exception of two items (i.e., application process, graduation requirements) that had 3- point Likert scales, all other items were ranked by participants using a 4-point Likert-type scale with anchors tailored to the specific item. Students also provided demographic information. All surveys were completed anonymously.
Notably, students from both MA/MS and PhD programs were included and provided importance ratings and rankings on the criteria. We expected that some criteria items may be differentially important to master’s students versus doctoral students but allowed the importance ratings to elucidate that information for us. Study respondents from each type of program dictated through the importance ratings, which items were key drivers to them. See Tables 2 and 3 for the list of which variables were included in the importance ratings for PhD and MA/MS programs respectively.
Criteria for Calculating PhD Rankings
Criteria included PhD rankings | Importance rating | Criteria not included for PhD rankings |
Alumni network | -0.050109499 | Application process |
Class offerings | 0.283953825 | Facilities available |
Cost | 0.395308266 | Graduation requirements |
Faculty quality/expertise | 1.917152296 | Internship opportunities |
Faculty productivity | 0.061244943 | Location |
Faculty research interests | 1.10055306 | Program flexibility |
Funding resources | 1.026316766 | Program ranking |
Job/Internship placements | 0.692253443 | Student productivity |
Learn practical skills | 1.211907502 | Teaching opportunities |
Opportunities for applied projects | 0.061244943 |
|
Program culture | 1.917152296 |
|
Program reputation | -0.347054675 |
|
Quality of life/fit and social relationships between grad students | 0.09836309 |
|
Research opportunities | 0.914962325 |
|
Student support by faculty/department | 1.397498237 |
|
Teaching model used | 0.09836309 |
|
Criteria for Calculating MA/MS Rankings
Criteria included MA/MS rankings | Importance rating | Criteria not included for MA/MS rankings |
Application process | -0.753117766 | Faculty productivity |
Alumni network | 0.329699052 | Program ranking |
Class offerings | 1.001792249 | Student productivity |
Cost | 0.591068628 | Teaching opportunities |
Facilities available | -0.902471809 |
|
Faculty quality/expertise | 1.860578 |
|
Faculty research interests | -0.454409678 |
|
Funding resources | 0.030990964 |
|
Job/internship placements | 1.412515869 |
|
Learn practical skills | 2.009932044 |
|
Location | -0.043686058 |
|
Opportunities for applied projects | 0.703084161 |
|
Program culture | 1.07646927 |
|
Program flexibility | -0.93981032 |
|
Program reputation | 0.217683519 |
|
Quality of life/fit and social relationships between grad students | -0.155701591 |
|
Research opportunities | -0.977148831 |
|
Student support by faculty/department | 0.964453738 |
|
Teaching model used | 0.66574565 |
|
Importance ratings followed by student rankings on the program criteria were then used to determine the rankings of programs based on what graduate students deemed important (giving criteria with higher importance more weight) and how they rated their program. To calculate the overall program rankings, we separated PhD and masters programs and developed separate weights for each program type. We included all criteria that were above the mean level of importance rating as well as all criteria that were one standard deviation below the mean level of importance rating. By doing this we were able to exclude criteria that the sample did not rate as important (9 criteria for PhD students, 4 criteria for MA/MS students were excluded from ranking calculations). See Tables 2 and 3 for the list of which variables were included in the importance ratings for PhD and MA/MS programs respectively. After obtaining the mean importance ratings for each item, we calculated a weight for each criterion. The weight was the importance rating for each criterion subtracted from the mean importance rating of the total criteria set, divided by the standard deviation of the importance ratings. The weights for each criterion were then multiplied by the mean rating on that criterion from each program. The sum of all of the weighted criteria provides the rank for each program.
This study received institutional review board approval and approval from the Institutional Research Committee at SIOP. SIOP was instrumental in facilitating the collection of data for this study. The Institutional Research Committee required that to protect the identity of participants, programs with fewer than four respondents could not be analyzed for importance ratings or rankings. Therefore, programs with students who did not wish to participate or program directors who did not distribute the study information to their students were not included in these analyses. We can make no assertions as to the quality or hypothetical ranking of such programs. Simply because a program is not included on our list does not imply that it is not a quality program.
Ratings were obtained from 1,049 current PhD and MA/MS students. We received data that met our inclusion criteria of having N s greater than or equal to 4 from 44 PhD programs and 48 MA/MS programs. The SIOP website states that there are 78 psychology PhD programs and 125 PhD programs total (which includes those programs housed in psychology departments, business departments, etc.). This website also states that there are 157 MA/MS programs. There were some programs from which we did not receive data, which could be due to various reasons (e.g., students are not current SIOP members and did not receive the notification about the study, program directors chose not to forward the study recruitment information on to their students). There were a few programs in which we did not receive enough data to include their program in the rankings, which was unfortunate. We chose to report the top 20 PhD and MA/MS programs respectively for two reasons: (a) to showcase those truly exceptional programs and (b) to shield programs that had strong participation in this study but were scored less favorably than other programs by their students.
MA/MS ( N = 583) student respondents were primarily female ( N = 340), with N = 190 being male and N = 9 selecting either prefer not to answer or not providing a response on this item. The average age of these respondents was 26.26 ( SD = 6.02). Of the MA/MS students surveyed 66% were Caucasian, 9% were Asian, 8% selected Other, 8% were Hispanic/Latino(a), 5% were Black or African American, and 2 respondents were American Indian or Alaskan Native. On average the MA/MS students in our study had an average start year of 2016 ( SD = .70), had been in their current program for approximately one and half years ( M = 1.53, SD = .46) years, and estimate their degree completion in 2018 ( SD = .59).
Similar to the MA/MS sample, of the responding 466 doctoral students, N = 276 were female, N = 161 were male, and N = 18 selected either prefer not to answer or did not provide a response on this item. The average age of these respondents was approximately 29 years old ( M = 28.85, SD = 7.41). The racial makeup of the PhD students was also analogous to the MA/MS students, and 68% of PhD students surveyed were Caucasian, 9% were Asian, 5% selected Other, 5% were Hispanic/Latino(a), 4% were Black or African American, and one respondent was American Indian or Alaskan Native. The PhD students reported an average start year of 2014 ( M = 2014, SD = 1.98), had been in their current program for more than 3 years ( M = 3.32, SD = 1.75) years, and estimate degree completion in 2019 ( M = 2019, SD = 1.42).
Top 20 PhD Overall Based on Student Rankings
Rank | Program |
| Raw score | Z-score |
1. | Portland State University | 5 | 38.348 | 1.721 |
2. | Pennsylvania State University | 10 | 38.064 | 1.615 |
3. | Michigan State University | 10 | 37.629 | 1.453 |
4. | Texas A&M University | 8 | 37.582 | 1.435 |
5. | Old Dominion University | 9 | 36.766 | 1.169 |
6. | University of South Florida | 4 | 36.759 | 1.128 |
7. | Rice University | 14 | 36.263 | .943 |
8. | University of Georgia | 12 | 36.052 | .864 |
9. | Columbia Teacher’s College | 9 | 35.830 | .781 |
10. | George Mason University | 22 | 35.772 | .760 |
11. | Louisiana Tech University | 18 | 35.484 | .652 |
12. | Wayne State University | 6 | 35.452 | .640 |
13. | University of Minnesota | 7 | 35.406 | .623 |
14. | Northern Illinois University | 5 | 35.018 | .478 |
15. | University of Houston | 10 | 35.012 | .476 |
16. | Seattle Pacific University | 10 | 35.002 | .472 |
17. | University of Missouri–St. Louis | 11 | 34.989 | .467 |
18. | University of Oklahoma | 9 | 34.820 | .404 |
19. | Florida International University | 7 | 34.819 | .404 |
20. | University of Akron | 15 | 34.739 | .374 |
Top 20 MA/MS Programs Overall Based on Student Rankings
Rank | Program |
| Raw score | Z-score |
1. | Xavier University | 19 | 32.107 | 1.865 |
2. | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | 18 | 31.764 | 1.706 |
3. | Appalachian State University | 13 | 31.058 | 1.379 |
4. | New York University | 4 | 30.619 | 1.176 |
5. | Middle Tennessee State University | 25 | 30.597 | 1.166 |
6-tie. | San Diego State University | 5 | 30.329 | 1.041 |
6-tie. | University of Maryland, College Park | 12 | 30.329 | 1.041 |
8. | George Mason University | 15 | 30.027 | .902 |
9. | Missouri State University | 21 | 29.874 | .831 |
10. | Columbia Teacher’s College | 21 | 29.785 | .789 |
11. | University of Akron | 8 | 29.778 | .786 |
12. | Radford University | 19 | 29.737 | .767 |
13. | Hofstra University | 11 | 29.614 | .710 |
14. | Florida Institute of Technology | 6 | 29.526 | .670 |
15. | Minnesota State University–Mankato | 17 | 29.489 | .652 |
16. | Chicago School of Professional Psychology | 17 | 29.448 | .633 |
17. | University of Guelph | 8 | 29.058 | .453 |
18. | University of Georgia | 18 | 28.947 | .401 |
19. | Wayne State University | 5 | 28.756 | .313 |
20. | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | 6 | 28.717 | .295 |
In an effort to highlight the specific criteria that are most important to I-O graduate students and to provide more information on certain program characteristics that may be of interests to faculty and students we provide that information here. The top five criteria PhD students ranked highest were faculty quality/expertise ( M = 3.83), program culture ( M = 3.70), student support by faculty/department ( M = 3.69), learn practical skills ( M = 3.64), and faculty research interests ( M = 3.61). The top five criteria MA/MS students ranked highest were the opportunity to learn practical skills ( M = 3.85), followed by faculty quality/expertise ( M = 3.81), job/internship placements ( M = 3.69), program culture ( M = 3.60), and class offerings ( M = 3.58). The following tables below are the program rankings based on the top three criteria that were rated as highly important to both PhD and MA/MS students.
Rankings of Program Culture
Rank | PhD programs | Score | Rank | MS/MA programs | Score |
1. | Old Dominion University | 3.89 | 1-tie. | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | 4.00 |
2. | University of Akron | 3.87 | 1-tie. | Keiser University | 4.00 |
3-tie. | Wayne State University | 3.83 | 1-tie. | University of Guelph | 4.00 |
3-tie. | Clemson University | 3.83 | 4. | Xavier University | 3.95 |
5-tie. | Pennsylvania State University | 3.80 | 5. | George Mason University | 3.88 |
5-tie. | Portland State University | 3.80 | 6. | Appalachian State University | 3.85 |
7. | University of Oklahoma | 3.78 | 7. | Florida Institute of Technology | 3.83 |
8. | Texas A&M University | 3.75 | 8-tie. | Missouri State University | 3.78 |
9-tie. | Florida International University | 3.71 | 8-tie | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | 3.78 |
9-tie. | Rice University | 3.71 | 10. | Carlos Albizu University | 3.77 |
11. | Seattle Pacific University | 3.70 | 11-tie. | California State University, Long Beach | 3.75 |
12. | University of Georgia | 3.67 | 11-tie. | Elmhurst College | 3.75 |
13-tie. | George Mason University | 3.64 | 11-tie. | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 3.75 |
13-tie | University of Missouri-St. Louis | 3.64 | 14-tie. | University of West Florida | 3.71 |
15. | Teachers College, Columbia University | 3.63 | 14-tie. | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 3.71 |
16-tie. | Michigan State University | 3.60 | 16. | University of Maryland, College Park | 3.69 |
16-tie. | Northern Illinois University | 3.60 | 17-tie. | Minnesota State University-Mankato | 3.67 |
16-tie. | Hofstra University | 3.60 | 17-tie. | Missouri University of Science and Technology | 3.67 |
16-tie. | Chicago School of Professional Psychology | 3.60 | 19-tie. | Hofstra University | 3.64 |
20. | Florida Institute of Technology | 3.58 | 19-tie. | Middle Tennessee State University | 3.64 |
Learn Practical Skills
Rank | PhD programs | Score | Rank | MS/MA programs | Score |
1. | Louisiana Tech University | 3.94 | 1-tie. | East Carolina University | 4.0 |
2. | Michigan State University | 3.89 | 1-tie. | Illinois Institute of Technology | 4.0 |
3. | Alliant International University | 3.75 | 1-tie. | Keiser University | 4.0 |
4-tie. | Pennsylvania State University | 3.70 | 1-tie. | San Diego State University | 4.0 |
4-tie. | Seattle Pacific University | 3.70 | 1-tie. | Seattle Pacific University | 4.0 |
6. | Columbia Teachers College | 3.63 | 1-tie. | University of Georgia | 4.0 |
7-tie. | Keiser University | 3.60 | 1-tie. | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 4.0 |
7-tie. | Portland State University | 3.60 | 1-tie. | University of Texas at Arlington | 4.0 |
9. | Florida Institute of Technology | 3.55 | 1-tie. | University of West Florida | 4.0 |
10-tie. | University of Connecticut | 3.50 | 1-tie. | Wayne State University | 4.0 |
10-tie. | University of Houston | 3.50 | 1-tie. | West Chester University | 4.0 |
10-tie. | University of Tulsa | 3.50 | 12. | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | 3.94 |
13. | University of Akron | 3.47 | 13. | Carlos Albizu University | 3.93 |
14-tie. | Illinois Institute of Technology | 3.44 | 14-tie. | California State University, Long Beach | 3.92 |
14-tie. | Old Dominion University | 3.44 | 14-tie. | University of Maryland, College Park | 3.92 |
16-tie. | Roosevelt University | 3.40 | 16-tie. | Hofstra University | 3.91 |
16-tie. | Chicago School of Professional Psychology | 3.40 | 16-tie. | University of Baltimore | 3.91 |
18. | Central Michigan University | 3.38 | 18. | University of Maryland, Baltimore County | 3.90 |
19. | Wayne State University | 3.33 | 19-tie. | Minnesota State University - Mankato | 3.89 |
20-tie. | Texas A&M University | 3.29 | 19-tie. | Xavier University | 3.89 |
20-tie. | University of Guelph | 3.29 |
|
|
|
Faculty Quality
Rank | PhD programs | Score | Rank | MS/MA programs | Score |
1-tie. | Portland State University | 4.00 | 1. | Keiser University | 4.00 |
1-tie. | University of South Florida | 4.00 | 2-tie. | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis | 3.83 |
3. | Michigan State University | 3.90 | 2-tie. | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | 3.83 |
4. | Texas A&M University | 3.88 | 4-tie. | George Mason University | 3.80 |
5-tie. | Rice University | 3.86 | 4-tie. | San Diego State University | 3.80 |
5-tie | University of Minnesota | 3.86 | 4-tie. | Wayne State University | 3.80 |
7. | University of Georgia | 3.83 | 7-tie. | University of Akron | 3.75 |
8. | Pennsylvania State University | 3.80 | 7-tie. | University of Minnesota Duluth | 3.75 |
9. | Columbia Teacher’s College | 3.75 | 9. | Appalachian State University | 3.69 |
10. | University of Missouri–St. Louis
| 3.73 | 10. | University of Maryland, College Park | 3.67 |
11. | Florida International University | 3.71 | 11. | University of Baltimore | 3.64 |
12. | Clemson University | 3.67 | 12. | Missouri State University | 3.62 |
13. | George Mason University | 3.64 | 13-tie. | Middle Tennessee State University | 3.60 |
14. | Louisiana Tech University | 3.61 | 13-tie. | New York University | 3.60 |
15-tie. | Hofstra University | 3.60 | 15. | Columbia Teacher’s College | 3.56 |
15-tie. | Northern Illinois University | 3.60 | 16-tie. | Florida Institute of Technology | 3.50 |
15-tie. | University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | 3.60 | 16-tie. | Keiser University | 3.50 |
18. | Bowling Green State University | 3.56 | 16-tie. | Missouri University of Science and Technology | 3.50 |
19-tie. | University of Central Florida | 3.50 | 16-tie. | Touro College | 3.50 |
19-tie. | University of Phoenix | 3.50 | 16-tie. | University at Albany, SUNY | 3.50 |
The overarching goal of this research was to provide valuable information to both incoming students and current faculty about I-O graduate programs. We believe that using the perceptions of current students provides unique insight into ranking graduate programs. Regardless of the method for determining which program to attend, prospective students are driven to attend the best program possible. As we have shown through this research and as evidenced by the other I-O program rankings notated above—there are many ways to evaluate said programs. A secondary aim of this research was to provide rankings for MA/MS programs in addition to the more frequent PhD program rankings. Even though it can be more challenging to find methods for ranking master’s programs, students who wish to attend those programs should have a resource similar to students evaluating PhD programs.
That said, we must acknowledge that in the process of this research we observed that “program ranking” was not an important criterion for students. It was indeed one of the lowest factors of consideration for students from both PhD and masters programs. This may indicate that some of our presumptions about the use or practical value of rankings, at least for prospective students, were incorrect. It may be that the more fine-grained information such as the ratings of specific criteria is more useful (e.g. one student may very much care about funding packages whereas another student may very much care about research opportunities).
Furthermore, we want to also note that the samples collected from each institution may be biased. Students who were either very happy or very disgruntled may be those who were the most motivated to respond to our inquiry. Furthermore, students who are more research-focused may have been overrepresented here and those interested in teaching or applied work underrepresented as “teaching opportunities” was rated as low on importance in these samples as was “internship opportunities” in PhD programs.
We want to underscore that programs that were not included in the top 20 PhD or MA/MS programs may also be high quality. Also, any unique method of ranking programs will likely produce different results. We realize that this type of research has its drawbacks (e.g. potential biases of the raters as they are already in their chosen program) and that not all academics support the use of program rankings. We want to underscore that there may be a number of reasons that any given program could have been omitted from these rankings but that does not include the program is low in quality. However, we hope that this work has provided a useful update to previous attempts at student driven rankings of I-O graduate programs.
Ms. Roman and Ms. Barnett wish to thank Dr. Erin Eatough and Dr. Charles Scherbaum for serving as faculty advisors for this project as their advice and guidance were crucial. We also wish to acknowledge Ms. Stefanie Gisler and Ms. Sabrina Yu for their valuable contributions to the project.
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Kraiger, K., & Abalos, A. (2004). Rankings of graduate programs in I-O psychology based on student ratings of quality. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 42 (1), 28-43.
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Payne, S. C., Succa, C. A., Maxey, T. D., & Bolton, K. R. (2001). Institutional representation in the SIOP conference program: 19862000. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 39 (1), 5360.
Plous, Scott. (1993). The psychology of judgment and decision making. p. 233.
Surette, M. A. (1989). Ranking I-O graduate programs on the basis of student research presentations. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 26 (3), 4144.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Program details.
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.
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.
Examples of doctoral thesis research.
“ 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. ”
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.
Updated: February 29, 2024
Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Organizational / Business / IO Psychology. A graph of 5.43M citations received by 144K academic papers made by 1,021 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.
We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.
For Organizational / Business / IO Psychology
Department of Psychological Sciences
Industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology is interested in people in the workplace and how work affects people’s lives more broadly. This knowledge of human behavior in organizations allows I-O psychologists to solve workplace problems and enhance workplace well-being, fairness and productivity. Applying psychological theories and principles, the industrial component of I-O psychology focuses on selecting and training workers, and the organizational component focuses on creating a conducive environment for workers. The field of I-O psychology is leading the way in understanding future of work and big data trends.
Ranked No. 7 in the world by U.S. News and World Report , Purdue University’s I-O psychology program is also one of the oldest, having conferred its first degree in 1939. Additionally, Purdue’s I-O psychology program has graduated more PhDs and produced more Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) fellows than any other.
Graduate students are admitted to work with a primary faculty member who will serve as their mentor. Heavily research-oriented, graduate training is based on a science-practice model, so students are trained as both researchers and applied scientists, equipped to work with organizations on human resources-related issues. Graduate students will also have opportunities to gain teaching experience in the program.
All graduate students are admitted with funding and will have guaranteed funding for five years, provided they are making strong progress toward their PhD. An admitted student will typically work as a graduate teaching assistant for 20 hours per week during the academic year and receive a nine-month stipend and tuition waiver. Students may also receive funding during summers if they obtain a teaching assistant position or if they are employed as a research assistant.
As an I-O psychologist, you’ll have opportunities to work in academia, federal governments, consulting organizations and more. Our alumni have gone on to work at top-ranked universities, including the University of Houston and Bowling Green State University, and acclaimed organizations, such as Google, PepsiCo, NATO and more.
Each graduate student admitted to a degree program must file an individualized plan of study to guide their academic progress. The plan of study is an academic contract between the student, advisory committee members and the Graduate School. Students filing their plan of study should complete their plan electronically via the Plan of Study Generator on MyPurdue. More information about creating a plan of study can be found in the Department of Psychological Sciences’ graduate handbook.
Degree Type : Doctoral
Program Length : 4-6 years
Location : West Lafayette, IN
Department/School : Department of Psychological Sciences
Students are strongly encouraged to participate in faculty research and eventually formulate and direct their own individual research projects. Faculty in the I-O psychology graduate program have a wide range of research interests, many of which center around the psychological experiences of people at work.
Within the industrial-organizational psychology program, faculty also have research interests in several bridge topics, including diversity and inclusion, individual differences, maladaptive behavior, perception and performance, and social relationships. I-O psychology faculty studying diversity and inclusion focus on diversity in hiring, cultural synergy in multicultural spaces and work attitudes. Individual differences research examines achievement, conflict management and predictors of workplace outcomes. Maladaptive behavior research in the I-O psychology program is centered around bias and conflict escalation. Program faculty who study perception and performance investigate person-environment fit. Finally, I-O psychology faculty studying social relationships seek to improve workplace well-being and interpersonal relationships.
Many students enter the PhD program with a bachelor’s degree, although some enter with a master’s degree. We are particularly interested in students who have undergraduate or graduate research experience as well as those who have a master’s degree in I-O psychology or a similar field. We’re looking for the following knowledge and skills that are important for success in the I-O psychology graduate program:
Within your application, the statement of interest is particularly important to showcase a good alignment of research interests between you and faculty members. You are also encouraged to contact faculty members with whom you are interested in working.
Faculty recruiting new students for Fall 2025 admission will be posted here in October 2024.
If you have questions or to learn more about this program, please contact the Department of Psychological Sciences Graduate Program Coordinator, Nancy O’Brien at [email protected] .
Nancy O’Brien Purdue University 701 Third Street West Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 494-6067
The Industrial and Organizational (I-O) Psychology Research Interest Group (RIG) studies human behavior in organizational and work situations. Faculty expertise address research problems in this discipline such as motivation at work, the aging workforce, discrimination in the workplace, job performance, and team training. Students receive solid training for careers in both academic and applied settings.
I-O Psychology at Rice University from Rice University on Vimeo .
Primary Contact: Mikki Hebl
Please visit the Forms page to access the required paperwork to establish candidacy.
Core Courses (all required)
One of the following courses is required
The following are required before you can defend your Master's thesis.
Important Information about Ph.D. Candidacy in I-O
Three of the following substantive courses are required
Two of the following statistical courses are required
Additional courses for breadth and depth Three courses to be selected according to students' individual interests from the set of special topics courses taught by I-O faculty and other advanced courses taught by other psychology faculty.
As part of the I-O program, all students will meet with the entire I-O faculty at the end of every academic year to review progress. Students will complete the Progress Report for Rice’s Psychological Sciences Department , which is due to the Graduate Administrator and the student's advisor by the last day of classes during the spring semester .
Each student’s review meeting will be held in late April/early May (after the annual SIOP conference) and will be about 20 minutes long. Students should expect to receive suggestions about additional projects/activities for the coming year at this meeting (e.g., develop a review paper, run an experiment, look for an internship, etc.).
Industrial organizational psychology is an area of psychology focused on human behavior in the workplace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage for Industrial and organizational psychologists to be $105,310. I/O psychology is a lucrative career for professionals with the right training and experience. Earning an online PhD in industrial and organizational psychology gives students the knowledge and skills needed to understand problems based on the scientific understanding of human behavior in the workplace and then solve them.
For current I/O psychology practitioners, earning an online PhD in industrial organizational psychology allows them to continue their education while holding their current jobs. Students don’t need to relocate or take time away from their obligations to attend class. Working students and those with family or professional obligations benefit from the flexibility that an online program can offer. Whether the PhD student decides to ultimately work within an organization, conduct research, or teach at the collegiate level, earning an organizational psychology PhD can open doors to career advancement.
To create our ranking of the top online PhD industrial organizational psychology programs, we used information gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator. We identified accredited colleges that offer doctoral degrees in industrial organizational psychology. We narrowed our focus to regionally accredited institutions offering the degree in either an online or hybrid format. Information regarding student to faculty ratios, and courses/specializations were noted, and colleges were ranked by average in-state graduate student tuition.
Average Graduate Tuition Rates
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
Online doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology.
School Profile Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $40,530 Points: 4 Adler University offers a top affordable PhD in organizational psychology online that prepares students to be forward-thinking organizational experts. Required courses include:
Students complete a unique 200-hour civic-minded internship that spans four courses. Applicants should have a cumulative 3.0 GPA in their master’s degree and submit a writing sample to be considered for the program. Graduates are successful in diverse fields such as:
Industrial and organizational psychology, phd.
School Profile Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $29,632/year Points: 4 Keiser University offers a cost-effective online PhD in I/O psychology that follows a cohort model. Cohort students complete two residencies during the program, attending workshops and presentations and engaging with faculty face-to-face. Courses include:
Graduates will be able to contribute to the field through scholarship, research, and independent learning.8
Doctor of philosophy in psychology-industrial/organizational psychology online.
School Profile Student to Faculty Ratio: 32:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $14,784/year Points: 5 The top affordable online PhD in organizational psychology from Capella University is a relevant, real-world program with online courses and face-to-face residencies. Students will learn the latest theories and best practices that will help them advance team performance within their organization.
Capella offers several ways to save on the cost of tuition. The Capella Progress Reward is a $20K scholarship students can apply for to offset expenses. Capella also offers discounts to specific employers and organizations. Graduates of this top PhD industrial organizational psychology online program can apply their skills to a variety of settings including:
Leadership psychology doctorate online.
School Profile Student to Faculty Ratio: 7:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $34,800 Points: 6 William James College features a high-value online leadership psychology doctorate degree with concentration areas in:
This 98-credit hour program can be completed in four to six years. Courses are conducted online except during residencies. Residencies are four-day intensives that allow students to work together on theory and practice in I/O psychology. Students will attend three residencies and complete a 600-clock hour practicum and a 300-hour internship.
Online phd in business psychology-i/o psychology track.
School Profile Student to Faculty Ratio: 8:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $22,554/year Points: 7 The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers a high-quality online PhD in industrial/organizational psychology through their business psychology program. Students with their master’s degree can complete their degree in three years. Students with a bachelor’s can expect to finish in five years. Hands-on experience is key and students who enter the program post-baccalaureate will complete two internship experiences to develop professional skills. Course offerings include:
The Chicago School is committed to keeping school affordable and has a variety of financial aid opportunities available.
Phd in psychology – industrial and organizational psychology – qualitative research.
Courses are offered in eight-week sessions and students can access course content at any time. Students can complete two or three hands-on doctoral residencies to support their dissertations. Independent research opportunities are available to better understand how memory, reasoning, and motivation play a role in the workplace.
Industrial-organizational psychology specialization phd.
School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 1:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $16,881/year Points: 8 Northcentral University offers a cost-effective PhD in industrial-organizational psychology that aligns with the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s (SIOP) guidelines for education and training. Northcentral offers unmatched flexibility, allowing students to complete their degree around personal and professional obligations. There are no scheduled lecture hours and no group assignments. Courses include:
Students interact one-on-one with their professors and receive personalized mentoring. This 60-credit hour program can be completed in about 48 months.
Ph.d. in psychology – industrial/organizational.
Website Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1 Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,847/year Points: 8 Liberty University is a non-profit Christian university offering a high value online PhD in I/O psychology. Students gain research and professional skills to make a significant impact in their organization. Classes are completed online, and students can save money by transferring in up to 50% of the degree total. Courses include:
Various start times throughout the year allow students to begin the program when it is most convenient. An online I/O psychology PhD degree from Liberty is affordable. Unlike many other schools, Liberty has not raised tuition rates in six years.
Online doctor of psychology in human and organizational psychology.
School Profile Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1 Average Graduate Student Tuition: $9,000/year Points: 10 Our top online PhD in organizational psychology is at Touro University Worldwide. Touro offers a 66-credit hour program that takes about three years to complete. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions and there are no on-campus residency requirements. Students will study organizational psychology, leadership psychology, and industrial psychology. Courses include:
Graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to design effective evidence-based solutions to touch challenges in the workplace.
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Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Questions to ask yourself when choosing a degree program, career overview, career/licensing requirements, salary information, related links, view all industrial and organizational psychology schools by program.
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Rehabilitation Services
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Labor Relations Specialist
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Personnel Psychology
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Assessment Techniques In I-O Psychology
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Best phd industrial organizational psychology: students before profits.
If you’re interested in psychology and looking to make a meaningful contribution in the workplace, consider industrial organizational psychology. I-O psychologists use their insight into human behavior to solve workplace challenges while improving productivity at all levels. This is a specialty field that involves using principles in psychology and research methods to improve worker quality of life, while also improving productivity and quality for organizations. These psychology professionals work with an organization’s leadership to help guide policies, employee screening and training, and the development of the organization. I-O psychologists apply theories developed through research in this growing field.
This list of 20 best industrial organizational psychology PhD programs was derived from an initial pool of 32 IO PhD programs. All programs listed in our industrial organizational psychology graduate programs ranking are accredited by nationally recognized accreditation boards. Ranking of these top industrial organizational psychology graduate programs is based on in-state tuition costs, national recognition, program length, and unique program features. IO PhD programs tuition cost was derived from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator website. Profile information was acquired from individual school websites. Contact your program of interest directly for the most recent tuition, financial aid, and program information. Both online and on-campus top industrial organizational psychology graduate programs are listed.
20. louisiana tech university, ruston, la.
Out-of-state tuition $10,147.
This program, one of the best programs on our list of the top industrial organizational psychology graduate programs, promises to prepare graduates for success. Students have opportunities for application of knowledge through research and applied projects with faculty through LTU’s Applied Research Organizational Solutions (AROS) group. This robust program prepares a strong foundation in psychology, research methodology, and statistical analysis. Students typically complete this program in three to four years of full time study. This I-O psychology program works to graduate culturally competent professionals equipped to serve a diverse population.
Tuition $7,935.
Liberty University’s online 60-credit PhD in psychology is offered as an industrial-organizational psychology specialization that guides students in their study of human behavior in organizations and the work environment. Students in this online PhD program study individual, group and organizational behavior and apply that knowledge to develop solutions for workplace problems. This program is designed for graduates to become researchers and psychologists who demonstrate both academic excellence and high ethical standards while assimilating biblical values into their practice. Graduates of this program are equipped to work in academia, consulting, and research in a variety of settings. Liberty’s mission is to equip professionals to model Christ-like compassion in the workplace and to better help people who are hurting. This is one of the top top industrial and organizational psychology graduate programs available.
Tuition $23,580.
This PhD program in I-O psychology follows the scientist-practitioner model, incorporating theory, research, and practice that is directed at improving employee well being and organizational performance. This is among the top industrial and organizational psychology graduate programs. Students graduate prepared for a wide range of employment possibilities including work in government, industry, academia, consulting, and research. TU’s I-O psychology program’s mission is to prepare graduates with the skills and knowledge useful to organizations for successful selection, training, and engaging workers, enabling organizations to be successful in their mission. Students develop the critical thinking and communication skills needed to solve problems in the real world. This 90-credit program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis, and must be completed within 6 years. Students may transfer up to 12 credits from previous graduate work. Graduates must successfully complete a 200-hour field experience and a dissertation.
Tuition $22,338.
Florida Tech’s PhD I-O psychology program boasts a unique team based research approach with applied learning experience gained through a 300-hour practicum experience. This program earned a feather in its cap when a study published by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) cited Florida’s Tech’s PhD I-O psychology program as having the “best program culture.” This program is also top-ranked for student satisfaction on the national level. With a scientist-practitioner curriculum and team-based coursework and research projects, Florida Tech’s I-O psychology program with its small class sizes and one-to-one mentoring may be what you’re looking for. PhD students in the I-O psychology program can expect to gain expertise through case study work, team research, and consultation with businesses. Graduates of this program are well prepared to work and carry out research in organizations with a focus on cross-cultural theory, research design, cultural competency and international business.
Saint Louis University’s PhD program in Industrial-Organizational psychology promises to prepare professionals with the skills and knowledge to make an impact in their workplace. Coming in at #15 in our ranking of top industrial organizational psychology graduate programs, this is one of the top IO psychology PhD programs available. Students complete a minimum of 73 credits, professional training activities, and complete and defend a thesis and dissertation. SLU’s doctoral students gain skill in conducting research and apply psychology theory, models, and principles in an organization. Although not a graduation requirement, most students complete a short-term practicum or a minimum of a 1-year internship, taking advantage of the I-O psychology program’s wide network. As a result, it is possible to graduate with as much as 2-3 years of professional experience, making graduates attractive to possible employers.
Tuition $16,983.
This online PhD-PSY in industrial organizational psychology is aligned with the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s (SIOP) education and training guidelines, and is designed to prepare students for success in leadership positions in government, industry, education and consulting. Students learn from doctoral prepared faculty to apply I-O psychology theory to real-life issues in industry and business. Graduates of this program will be well versed in small group theory, team processes, leadership and management dynamics, and structure and procedures in organizational development. Tests and measurements and results interpretation and how it applies to hiring employees, performance assessments, and training evaluation is addressed in this industrial organizational psychology PhD program. Graduates are prepared to take leadership positions in government, industry, consulting and educational settings. Most students complete this PhD program in about 4 years.
In-state tuition $16,285, out-of-state tuition $35,274.
This full-time doctoral program in I-O psychology from Wayne State University promises to prepare students to develop researcher and practitioner skills through the scientist/practitioner model. With an intensive research focus, WSU students are afforded opportunities to interact with I-O psychologists working in industry and business in this metropolitan area. Students can gain valuable work and research experience because of the school’s location. Graduates of this PhD program in industrial organizational psychology will be prepared to be effective practitioners and researchers in a wide range of work settings. Through research, students contribute to the practical and theoretical knowledge base. Students can expect to learn through collaboration, discussion, coursework and other interactive opportunities. Graduates of this program have gone on to positions in business, industry, academia, government, and applied research and consulting firms.
In-state tuition $14,298, out-of-state tuition $24,286.
Wright State University’s human factors and industrial/organizational psychology PhD program is a unique program where students gain understanding between the relationship of human factors and I-O psychology through interaction from both areas of study. Students gain expertise to identify how behaviors and attitudes can be enhanced through hiring practices, employee training programs, and employee feedback systems. Students learn to design effective organizational structures to help organizations succeed, and choose the right employee for the environment. With opportunities in the school’s geographic area for interdisciplinary collaboration with fields such as defense, medicine, engineering and more, students can find learning and work that will enhance their education and networking opportunities. A human factors and industrial organizational psychology PhD from Wright State prepares graduates for professional success to help improve employee motivation and performance, training and job satisfaction, whether they are targeting a career in business, research, teaching, government or industry.
Out-of-state tuition $23,160.
CUNY’s PhD program in I-O psychology promises to prepare graduates for careers in academic, organizational, and consultation settings. This program follows both scientist and practitioner models, and emphasises students’ skills in research and analytics in addition to the core knowledge and skills in industrial organizational psychology. With a collaborative atmosphere where students and teachers work together to develop student knowledge, skills, and excellence in research, graduates of this robust program can expect to be well prepared for success in the workplace. This program provides training and mentoring, with six full-time I-O psychologists with broad expertise. Approximately 25 students are in residence, in addition to students completing their dissertations.
In-state tuition $8,878, out-of-state tuition $25,186.
University of Georgia’s industrial organizational psychology PhD program is offered to develop, research, and apply psychology principles to improve quality of life in the workplace. This scientist-practitioner model program teaches students to improve function within organizations through teaching, research, and service. UGA’s I-O psychology program promotes an inviting and nurturing community for students and faculty with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, seeking to promote understanding of the importance of diversity within organizations throughout the curriculum. With three doctoral programs within the Department of Psychology, students may take classes from the other areas to prepare for careers in academia, government, industry and consulting. Students carry out research and internships to network and gain professional experience. They also complete a doctoral dissertation.
In-state tuition $8,539, out-of-state tuition $17,681.
The University of Houston’s PhD program in industrial organizational psychology emphasises both theory and practical application, providing a firm foundation in I-O psychology, statistics, research methodology and general psychology principles. Students have the opportunity to pursue courses in personnel selection, worker motivation, performance assessments, personnel training, worker satisfaction, interviewing, productivity, occupational safety and health, worker compensation, and legal issues. UH graduate students also have the opportunity to utilize the computing resources for advanced topics in quantitative methods. This program typically takes 4-5 years to complete all courses, research, internship, and dissertation work.
Tuition $19,370.
DePaul University’s industrial-organizational psychology program is a MA/PhD combined program that only admits students aiming to complete their PhD. This program can be completed in four years, with classes offered during the day. This program provides a solid foundation in psychological theory and essential training in methodology. I-O psychology graduate students collaborate with faculty to develop and carry out new research to contribute to this growing field. Students study motivation, leadership, training, performance appraisal, organizational theory, and consultation to name a few of the topics in this program. Students in this program may exercise their option to add an additional specialization with courses in communication, management, marketing or women’s and gender studies.
In-state tuition $6,775, out-of-state tuition $19,048.
Texas A&M’s robust industrial organizational psychology PhD programs graduate professionals to be scientists and practitioners. Students gain a strong preparation in basic and applied research as well as I-O psychology theory needed for academic and applied work. This program seeks to continue in its excellent reputation through the conducting of basic and applied research, and emphasizes faculty and student collaboration through continuous research projects. This program’s major emphasis is on academic research-based training, but in addition to academic positions, graduates are qualified for work in research, government agencies, corporations, and consulting organizations. Graduates of this vigorous program can expect a solid foundation in areas such as testing, personnel selection, criterion development, training, performance assessment, organizational commitment, occupational health, workplace diversity, and group processes, to name a few.
Hofstra University’s industrial organizational psychology graduate program is based on a scientist-practitioner model, which enables students to be exposed to the application of research methodology, factual content, and theory to real-life problems within organizations. With 96 required credits, students graduate from this PhD in I-O psychology prepared with the ability to apply scientific methods to solve problems and succeed in their chosen career. Students in this industrial organizational psychology PhD program complete a required supervised internship and a doctoral dissertation. Graduates of this robust program can expect to have expertise in the application of research methods and statistics, and in the disciplines related to behavior within organizations. Students gain valuable experience conducting relevant research in laboratory and field settings. Hofstra University’s location affords students vibrant internship opportunities in the New York City area. This is among the top graduate schools for industrial organizational psychology on our industrial organizational psychology graduate programs ranking.
Tuition $42,432.
This PhD program in industrial-organizational psychology from nationally ranked Columbia University’s Teachers College is staffed by a national award-winning and recognized faculty. With an emphasis on both quantitative and qualitative research methods, this top I-O psychology PhD program is a full-time program that, on average, takes 6-7 years of dedicated study. Students may receive up to 15 credits for previous graduate work. Students in this program are required to serve as teaching assistants during their time at Teachers College. This rigorous program is for students seeking knowledge and skills in the science and application of psychology in organization and social scenarios. Teachers College Columbia University promises an environment that prepares scientist-practitioners ready for diverse responsibilities, including work in research, business and service organizations.
In-state tuition $ 17,580, out-of-state tuition $27,204.
University of Minnesota’s nationally ranked and highly reputable program in I-O psychology is designed to give PhD students a wide breadth of training in the areas of expertise of their psychology department faculty. Students and graduates of this robust program are known to be highly engaged in the I-O psychology profession and community and are recognized contributors to this growing field. Specialization options are available in areas such as personnel psychology, training and development, individual assessment, group and organizational processes, data science, research methods, work motivation and more. The I-O seminar is a series of classes that is designed to build deep expertise in the topics of your choosing, and develop professional identification within the field and associations and friendships with students and faculty. In addition to traditional coursework, students are immersed in research immediately with the first year research project. Students also attend monthly meetings of the local I-O psychology professional organization and have the opportunity to complete summer internships.
In-state tuition $14,064, out-of-state tuition $29,140.
This Doctor of Philosophy from Georgia Institute of Technology is a degree in psychology with a concentration in industrial organizational psychology. It is a research-focused program. Students can expect to graduate with knowledge, skills and experience that are developed through an individualized program that includes seminars, laboratory and field research projects, elective classes, and I-O psychology training, which includes working within local organizations. Specialized coursework and research opportunities include cognitive and brain science, cognitive aging psychology, engineering psychology, industrial organizational psychology, and quantitative psychology. Each research area includes a firm foundation in general experimental psychology for this specialization. Students complete a doctoral thesis reporting on their individual independent research, which advances the psychological science in this important discipline.
In-state tuition $8,350.
Students in the University of South Florida’s industrial organizational psychology PhD program can expect a rigorous full-time residential program that provides students with important research skills and knowledge in quantitative methodology. Students complete research, coursework and experiences to to prepare students for academic and research positions in industrial and governmental work environments. This nationally ranked I-O psychology program emphasizes research experience and skills as foundational for both academic and applied career paths; it is among the top industrial organizational psychology graduate programs on our IO psychology program rankings. USF accepts approximately 30 students to this program, and students have the option to take courses in other departments in order to broaden their education to include minor requirements. Internships are available to be pursued locally or in other locations, as well as teaching experience. This program also offers a concentration in Occupational Health Psychology (OHP), which is completed within the structure of the I-O psychology program.
In-state tuition $8,017, out-of-state tuition $14,009.
This nationally ranked I-O psychology graduate program from Bowling Green State University promises to prepare graduates to contribute to this important field. Students develop skills and knowledge through classes, research, and applied projects. BGSU’s doctoral students can expect to be well-rounded scientist-practitioners through the study of psychological theories and principles, research, and internships. Applied experience is gained through projects with local businesses, and many take summer- or year-long internships to gain further experience. With faculty engaged as active researchers in a wide range of I-O -psychology topics, students are encouraged to engage in research during their time as BGSU graduate students. Some students have presented their research at industry conferences and have had their research published in industry publications. BGSU’s I-O psychology program boasts a strong collaboration and cooperative culture, an extensive alumni network as a long-standing program, and a fast student progress rate with students completing their PhD in about 4.5 years. This is one of the top graduate schools for industrial organizational psychology, coming in high on the list in our IO psychology program rankings.
In-state tuition $18,858, out-of-state tuition $37,056.
This top-ranked industrial organizational psychology program from Michigan State University attracts students from around the globe. This is among the best industrial organizational psychology graduate programs; it comes in at #1 on our IO psychology graduate programs ranking. This I-O psychology program enrolls between 15-20 full-time students. Students entering this program with a bachelor’s degree can expect to complete this PhD within five years. Students complete their master’s degree in the first 2 years of the program, and spend the remaining years completing their comprehensive exam, completing an internship and dissertation. Students’ interest determines their actual program, enabling flexibility to study areas where they would like to develop their expertise. While traditional I-O psychology areas are studied in depth, students may wish to delve into areas such as measurement, educational psychology, cognitive psychology, social and ecological psychology, counseling, labor relations, and communication, to name a few. Although MSU’s program focuses on research training for academic positions, more than half of their program graduates go on to work in applied I-O psychology within organizations.
What is industrial organizational psychology.
The challenging field of industrial organizational psychology, also known as I-O psychology, is the scientific study of the workplace. Psychology methods are applied to issues relevant to businesses and other organizations that employ people. I-O psychology is applied to employee management, coaching, assessment, employee selection and training, organizational development, performance, and work-life balance.
Looking at the best industrial organizational psychology graduate programs can be daunting because of the major investment in time and money, but knowing what is important to you is a good place to start. Then there are a few other things to check out. When looking at programs in industrial organizational psychology, confirm that the program and institution are truly accredited. When a program is accredited, it gives students assurance of a quality program that is respected in the workplace. Accreditation impacts eligibility for federal financial aid and credit transferability. Of course, the cost of the program is always a big consideration, with in-state and out-of-state tuition to consider, as well as financial aid from the institution. The specifics of the program, such as field experience requirements, courses required, and the time to complete the program should also be considered carefully. Finding an IO psychology graduate programs ranking can be helpful when searching for top IO psychology PhD programs that suit your needs.
Industrial organizational psychology PhD programs typically require between 60 and 69 credits. Full-time students can expect to graduate in three to seven years. PhD programs in I-O psychology are not typically offered as an accelerated program. These demanding PhD programs typically have a specific amount of time that they must be completed in, so if you are completing this degree on a part-time basis, consult your program to map out your academic program to ensure you graduate within the time-frame required.
Some programs offer special rates for online degree programs that are typically the equivalent of in-state tuition; however, many do not. You may find some programs offer discounted tuition rates to students in the military, international students, or a flat rate for online programs. Check with your program of interest to learn the specifics of the school’s tuition policy.
Industrial organizational psychology is growing much faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With an anticipated growth rate of greater than 13% over the next 10 years, this field is predicted to be one of the fastest-growing fields of psychology.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an annual mean wage for an I-O psychologist is $112,690. The lowest 10% of earners earned $57,440, while the top 10% of wage earners made $192,800. Check out bls.gov to find more information on earnings and job outlook for this growing profession.
I-O psychologists typically deal with a variety of areas in psychology. Social psychology, experimental psychology, business, and statistics are just a few areas that the I-O psychologist deals with regularly. People in this exciting field often enjoy the practical application of psychological research to improve the workplace.
I-O psychologists can expect to find work opportunities in a wide range of settings, including manufacturing plants, health care systems, education systems, labor unions, private agencies, and government agencies. I-O psychologists also work as consultants to companies needing their services.
Professionals in this challenging field are often called upon to conduct psychological research and apply it within the workplace, train employees, work with HR on problem solving, increase business efficiency, help in company transitions, provide consultation on ergonomics to maximize performance, and enhance employee and employer quality of life, among other things. The I-O psychologist can expect to carry out the practical application of research in the workplace.
There are multiple professional organizations serving I-O psychologists professionals, with the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) being the most prominent. This active organization keeps members current through their publications, as well as providing information on internships and job opportunities. I-O psychologists also get professional support through the American Psychological Association (APA). Professionals in this field may also find the Emotional Intelligence Consortium, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Society of Psychologists in Management, and Society for Human Resource Management helpful.
If you’re wondering what you can do with a PhD in industrial organizational psychology, check out this article entitled “What Can You Do with a PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology?” to learn more about career possibilities in this exciting and growing field.
By Carol Dolan BS RN BSN CDCES
Carol graduated with her BS in Nutrition from Montclair State University and her BSN in Nursing from Rowan University. She is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) currently working with adults and children living with diabetes in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
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Grad School Series: Applying to Graduate School in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Starting Sophomore Year: Should I get a Ph.D. or Master’s? | How to Get Research Experience Starting Junior Year: Preparing for the GRE | Getting Recommendations Starting Senior Year: Where to Apply | Traditional vs. Online Degrees | Personal Statements Alternative Path: Managing a Career Change to I/O | Pursuing a PhD Post-Master’s Interviews/Visits: Preparing for Interviews | Going to Interviews In Graduate School: What to Expect First Year Rankings/Listings: PhD Rankings | Online Programs | Trustworthy Master’s and Ph.D. Rankings
Having written my grad school series , one of the most common questions I get is, “Which graduate programs should I apply to?” What people generally want to know is some variation of this question:
As I’ve explained on this blog before, evaluating program quality a complicated problem . It is difficult even for those of us in the field to agree on what “best” means; it is a worse problem for you as a prospective student. Fortunately, the advice is more straightforward: in the end, you should evaluate which schools offer what you want out of them as a student . Don’t look for “the best”; look for the best for you. That means compiling information from multiple sources, including multiple rankings, and keeping track of how each program matches you, as an individual.
Because trustworthy rankings tend to get buried on various websites over time, whereas spam rankings seem to live forever, I decided to start a running list of all current trustworthy rankings of IO programs, splitting them by the year they were released. This way, you can get the most recent information available but also see historic rankings and how they’ve changed. Again, you should not rely upon any single ranking system to determine where you apply , but consulting multiple ranking systems, seeing how they agree and don’t, and then weighing that against your own priorities is a great way to narrow down the field of options. “What is the best IO psychology master’s program” or “what is the best IO psychology PhD program” has a different answer for every prospective student.
By the way, I’m defining “trustworthy” as based upon empirical data, reporting a transparent ranking methodology, and where a reasonable argument could be made for construct validity of “program quality.”
Without further ado, here is the list.
As I alluded to earlier, there are many rankings on the internet that are… let’s say “stupid” which I have chosen not to include here (I’m looking at you thinly veiled attempts to earn commissions by sending people to online programs at Capella, Walden, and/or Phoenix). Most of these are based on nonsensical metrics (e.g., one Ph.D. ranking I found was based on tuition cost, which is misleading in several different harmful ways).
If you know of other rankings you think I should include or would like my opinion on a ranking you found, drop it in the comments!
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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 ...
Ranked in 2022, part of Best Social Sciences and Humanities Schools. Industrial and organizational psychologists strive to make workplaces more efficient, pleasant and productive through research ...
Ranking: Top 10 IO Psychology PhD programs . Average Graduate Tuition. Less than $10,000 per year= 5 Points; ... In a PhD organizational psychology program, students are training to become an IO scholar. An IO scholar will do the same tasks as the IO professional, but will also use those experiences to advance our general understanding of IO ...
A minimum 3.0 GPA. Verbal GRE score of 150 or higher; quantitative GRE score of 141 or higher. Letters of recommendation, essays, and interviews. A Psy.D. or Ph.D. program takes about 4-6 years to complete. Coursework includes a focus on applying psychology in practice with groups and individuals.
3 reviews. Master's Student: Saint Louis University (SLU) offers a Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science program, which provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in computer science. Curriculum: The MS in Computer Science program typically covers advanced topics in computer science such as algorithms, artificial intelligence ...
Ranking PhD I-O Programs by Development Opportunities Nicholas Howald and Sami Nesnidol, Bowling Green State University; Kristin Horan, University of Central Florida; and Russell A. Matthews, University of Alabama ... In Wave 2, we surveyed student affiliates and members of the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP) via the ...
Kraiger, K., & Abalos, A. (2004). Rankings of graduate programs in I-O psychology based on student ratings of quality. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 42 (1), 28-43. Levine, E. L. (1990). Institutional and individual research productivity in I-O psychology during the 1980s. The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 27(3), 2729.
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.
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 ...
This page contains links to U.S. psychology Ph.D. programs grouped by research area and ranked in quality according to the Princeton Review's "Gourman Report of Graduate Programs" (8th edition). Beyond Social Psychology, the Gourman Report covers: Clinical Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Developmental Psychology; Experimental Psychology
Northwestern University. Evanston, IL. #9 in Psychology (tie) Save. 4.5. Studying the intricacies of the human experience is central to a psychology program. With a graduate degree, psychologists ...
Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Organizational / Business / IO Psychology. A graph of 5.43M citations received by 144K academic papers made by 1,021 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.
Ranked No. 7 in the world by U.S. News and World Report, Purdue University's I-O psychology program is also one of the oldest, having conferred its first degree in 1939. Additionally, Purdue's I-O psychology program has graduated more PhDs and produced more Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) fellows than any other.
Industrial and organizational psychologists strive to make workplaces more efficient, pleasant, and productive through research and application. Rice University's Industrial-Organizational Psychology graduate program is currently ranked #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
Ranking the Top 9 Online PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Average Graduate Tuition Rates. Less than $10,000 per year= 5 Points. $10,000 to $15,000 per year= 4 Points. $15,001 to $20,000 per year= 3 Points. $20,001 to $25,000 per year= 2 Points. Greater than $25,001 per year= 1 Point. Student-to-Faculty Ratio.
Salary Information. In a 2000 survey conducted by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the average salary for those with a doctorate degree was $90,000 and $67,000 for those with a master's degree. Respondents under 35 years old average $70,000. Ph.D. starting salaries are over $60,000.
4 years. Online + Campus. UGA's professional I-O psychology master's program uses an innovative hybrid format to engage working professionals. Coursework is mainly delivered online, with students meeting face-to-face on Friday afternoons and Saturdays five times per semester.
This program earned a feather in its cap when a study published by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) cited Florida's Tech's PhD I-O psychology program as having the "best program culture.". This program is also top-ranked for student satisfaction on the national level.
"What is the best IO psychology master's program" or "what is the best IO psychology PhD program" has a different answer for every prospective student. By the way, I'm defining "trustworthy" as based upon empirical data, reporting a transparent ranking methodology, and where a reasonable argument could be made for construct ...
Kenan-Flagler ranked 19th among graduate business schools in 2019, according to U.S. News & World Report. UNC placed 6th in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for graduate sociology programs in 2017. During the same year, UNC's graduate psychology program tied for 13th place in its respective category.
Links to 32 Social Psychology Ph.D. programs rank-ordered by quality. ... links to 32 social psychology Ph.D. programs ranked in quality according to the Princeton Review's "Gourman Report of Graduate Programs" (8th edition). ... Social-Organizational: 4.46: 13: University of Texas--Austin: Social Psychology: 4.43: 14:
Liberty University and Touro University Worldwide are our top online PhD in Organizational Psychology programs. Online PhD in Organizational Psychology programs offer flexibility for working professionals with affordable tuition options below $41,000. Organizational psychologists use their extensive knowledge of human behavior to solve ...
Quick Highlights: Our #1 ranked school for a master's in organizational psychology is Texas A&M University, followed by the University of North Carolina. Organizational psychology programs focus on improving workplace efficiency and employee well-being. Graduates are prepared for careers in HR, consulting, and leadership development.
AISResearchRankings.Org ranked him the most productive author on the AIS senior scholars list in 2014, 2020, and 2021. He has been ranked among the top scholars in Social Sciences by Research.com and named among the top 2% most productive researchers in the world in a study published in PLOS Biology. Jason's work has earned 17,000+ citations.