phd programs in io psychology

Top 10 PhD in industrial organizational psychology Programs

Welcome to our ranking of the Top 10 PhD programs in industrial organizational psychology .

The field of industrial and organizational psychology takes an in-depth look at human behavior in the workplace. I/O psychologists are an asset to any organization in today’s competitive business environment. Doctoral level psychologists have advanced training in areas like human performance and human factors and job analysis. They are able to address issues in areas like training and development, recruitment, and workplace motivation. Industrial/organizational psychology is a great fit for psychologists who want to help teams succeed and organizations achieve their business goals.

Featured Schools

Methodology.

We created this ranking of the top industrial organizational psychology PhD programs to showcase some of the best IO psych PhD programs in the country. We used information from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator to identify accredited colleges offering a doctoral degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. We narrowed our focus to programs offering a well rounded curriculum based on the scientist-practitioner approach which prepares graduates for a variety of different career settings. All programs require a dissertation and research experience which provide students with the necessary training and skill development to be successful in the field. We then applied our ranking criteria using the average graduate tuition rate (realizing it may differ for PhD programs) and student to faculty ratio.

Ranking: Top 10 IO Psychology PhD programs

Average Graduate Tuition

• 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

• 12:1 or less= 5 Points
• 13:1 to 15:1= 3 Points
• Greater than 15:1= 1 Point

10. DePaul University – Chicago, Illinois

Industrial organizational psychology ma/phd.

More Information

Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $17,951/year Points: 4 The College of Science and Health at DePaul University features an industrial organizational psychology MA/PhD program. Students can tailor the program to meet their professional goals by choosing a secondary specialization in:

• communication
• women’s and gender studies

Students are engaged in forward-thinking research that helps prepare them for successful careers. 100% of I/O psychology graduates from DePaul were employed or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Champaign, Illinois

Phd in industrial-organizational psychology.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 21:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $14,635/year in-state and $27,674/year out-of-state Points: 5 The Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois offers a top doctorate in organizational psychology that prepares students for research and to apply theory to organizations around the world. Students will participate in research tackling tough challenges like:

• hiring/personnel selection
• race gaps in HR
• effects of job loss

The curriculum covers the breadth of I/O psychology and general psychology through coursework with faculty and the depth of the field with an individualized program of study created by the student and their advisor. Program alumni include prominent I/O psychologists and journal editors.

8. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College – New York, New York

Doctoral program in industrial organizational psychology.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $11,090/year in-state and $20,520/year out-of-state Points: 5 The City University of New York Baruch College is a regionally accredited institution offering a top doctoral program in industrial organizational psychology. The program supports a collaborative culture of faculty and student support in research excellence. Diversity is a core value, emphasized by student and faculty research in areas like demographic diversity and LGBTQ issues in the workplace. The program attracts some of the top talents in the field and faculty are widely recognized for their contributions to I/O psychology. Graduates are ready for a wide variety of career paths in academic and consulting settings.

7. Clemson University – Clemson, South Carolina

Industrial organizational psychology phd.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $10,600/year in-state and $22,050/year out-of-state Points: 5 The top organizational psychology doctorate program from Clemson University follows the scientist-practitioner model and follows the doctoral program guidelines set by the SIOP. Students gain experience in quantitative research techniques and design and in solving complex organizational issues. Students complete dissertation research and internships to gain professional experience. The program is designed to be completed in four or five years.

6. Columbia University in the City of New York – New York, New York

Doctor of philosophy in social-organizational psychology.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 6:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $50,496/year Points: 6 The Teachers College at Columbia University offers a top PhD in social-organizational psychology for students interested in research, practice, or scholarship. The program is designed for full-time graduate students. A unique aspect of the program is the theoretical, research, and applied focus that allows students to study organizations from a variety of perspectives. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used to tackle complex issues. Most students can complete their degree in six or seven years of post-baccalaureate study.

5. University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia

The industrial organizational psychology doctoral program.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $8,878/year in-state and $25,186/year out-of-state Points: 6 The top industrial organizational doctorate degree at the University of Georgia is a highly customizable program. Students can choose to focus exclusively in the area of I/O psychology or complete a blended program that includes measurement and individual differences. Students will participate in research and select courses that align with their career goals. Professional experience opportunities are available through internships approved by the faculty. Graduates are ready to pursue exciting I/O psychology careers in settings like academia and government.

4. University of Houston – Houston, Texas

Phd industrial organizational psychology.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 21:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $8,713/year in-state and $17,857/year out-of-state Points: 6 The University of Houston offers the oldest and largest I/O psychology graduate program in the United States. Students produce high-quality research featured in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences. Courses include:

• Multilevel Modeling
• Personnel Psychology
• Statistics for Psychology

The program structure allows students to work with their advisors as well as other program faculty, including business school faculty and faculty at other universities. Students are trained to be academic faculty members and real-world practitioners through the scientists-practitioner model. Most students can complete their degree in four years.

3. Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas

Doctor of philosophy (phd) in industrial and organizational psychology.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $6,885/year in-state and $19,592/year out-of-state Points: 6 The industrial organizational psychology doctoral program at Texas A&M University prepares students to be scientists and practitioners. The program emphasizes academic research-based training, but graduates are also prepared to work in government agencies, consulting firms, and research organizations. Faculty are renown scholars in areas like performance appraisal, group processes, and workplace diversity. Students can complete the program in about five years of post-baccalaureate study.

2. Louisiana Tech University – Ruston, Louisiana

Industrial organizational psychology (phd).

Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $5,416/year in-state and $10,147/year out-of-state Points: 6 The College of Education at Louisiana Tech University features a top industrial organizational psychology PhD program rich with hands-on learning opportunities. Courses cover areas like:

• Job Analysis and Performance Appraisal
• Psychometrics
• Organizational Consulting

Students complete 84 semester hours of coursework, a dissertation, practicum training, and must pass a doctoral comprehensive examination. Students work on research and applied projects through the Applied Research for Organizational Solutions group. Most students take between three and four years of full-time post-baccalaureate study to complete the program.

1. Saint Louis University – Saint Louis, Missouri

Industrial and organizational psychology phd.

Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1 Average Graduate Tuition: $21,960/year Points: 7 Our top choice for a PhD in industrial organizational psychology is offered by Saint Louis University. Saint Louis University features the oldest psychology department at a Jesuit university, offering courses in psychology for over 100 years. This top I/O psychology PhD program covers areas like:

• Occupational health
• Systems and process consultation

Students are involved in supervised research and professional experience while gain competence in research and organizational consultation. Graduates are employed at top organizations like Nike, the US Secret Service, and Pfizer.

Should I Obtain My Masters or PhD in Organizational Psychology?

As a student begins to plan for their ultimate careers in the field of IO psychology, the decision should be made as to how much education is desired, a master’s degree or a doctorate. Typically speaking, in a master’s program, the student is training to be an IO professional.  An IO professional will consider how to apply the principles of IO psychology to solve specific organizational problems. Simply speaking, IO professionals are trained to help organizations; IO professionals practice IO psychology.

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 through research. For students that would like to teach at a collegiate level, the only suitable degree is a PhD. Ultimately, IO scholars are trained to advance organizational science, helping organizations along the way; IO scholars conduct research.

In practice, this means that an I/O psychology PhD will generally be making the big decisions, while the IOs with Master’s degree will aid with implementation or conduct background research.

A student should decide if he or she wants to pursue a terminal master’s or continue on to a PhD as early as is possible in his or her educational career.  This will help the student tailor his or her coursework through the undergraduate and graduate years specifically to the degree and future job prospects that he or she desires.

Job Descriptions for I/O Psychologists

According to a 2014 report by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions in industrial and organizational psychology are expected to increase by 53.4% from 2012 to 2022, placing trained I/O professionals in high demand. I/O psychology is still fairly uncommon in the grand scheme of psychologists, but the number of practitioners continues to rise exponentially.

I/O practitioners typically find employment in a number of areas including:

• public and private industries
• educational institutions
• government agencies

Because the skills they possess are so varied, it is sometimes difficult to enumerate the jobs that an IO psychologist could successfully fill.  One obvious area where IO psychologists thrive is in human resources. Typically, these types of jobs include working directly with employees in such areas as:

• employee training and development
• employee relations
• employee compensation and benefit negotiations

Many times, the human resource skills brought to the table by IO psychologists make for solid general managers, as well.  Another area where IO psychologists thrive is in government.  Those with an advanced degree in social (industrial organizational) psychology are especially adept in labor law, affirmative action cases and policy, and union relations. Finally, many industrial organizational psychologists, especially at the PhD level, find their home in the area of research.  Studying such areas of business such as personnel selection, work motivation, talent development, and organizational change can make monumental improvements in the working lives of millions of people.

Additional job titles held by Industrial Organizational professionals are: HR Practice Leader * Behavioral Analyst * Behavioral Scientist * Talent Management Specialist * HR Organizational Development Specialist * Executive Coach * Career Coach * Leadership Coach * Employment Testing Professional * Testing Specialist * Tests and Measurement Specialist * Assessment and Selection Specialist * Employment Law Expert * Research Analyst * Organizational Development * Organization Effectiveness * Organizational Capability * Talent Management * Management Development * Workforce Insights * Human Resources * Human Resources Research * Employee Relations * Training and Development * Professional Development * Leadership Development * Selection Systems * Evaluation & Assessment * Testing Programs * Leadership Research * Assessment * Applied Behavioral Research * Optimization * Managing * Leadership * Learning & Performance * Career Planning

Related Resources:

• 30 Great Scholarships, Grants & Awards for Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Top 10 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Top 9 Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Online
• Top 10 Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Online
• 10 Most Affordable Top-Ranked Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Top 10 Bachelor’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology 
• Top 25 Campus Based Industrial-Organizational Psychology Master’s Degree Programs
• Top 15 Industrial/Organizational Certificate Programs
• Neoacademic.com
• Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Websites

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

The Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology Doctoral Program trains individuals to be both scientists and practitioners. We believe that a strong grounding in basic and applied research skills and the theoretical underpinnings of I/O psychology are essential for both academic and applied work. The goal of the I/O psychology program is to continue to enhance its national reputation as a center of scholarly excellence in I/O psychology by conducting high-quality basic and applied research. Consequently, faculty and student collaboration in ongoing research projects is strongly emphasized.

The program has a major emphasis on academic research-based training with the objective of placing students in academic careers. However, in addition to academic positions, our graduates are qualified for positions in research organizations, government agencies, corporations, and consulting firms. Concerning the placement of our graduates since 2000, approximately 40% are currently in academic positions and 60% are in applied and research positions.  Some academic placements include University of Illinois, University of Central Florida, Rice University, Northern Arizona University, DePaul University, Oklahoma State University, University of Chile, Kansas State University, Eastern Kentucky University, and University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Some research and applied placements include Pearson, Select International, United States Special Operations Command (U.S. Air Force), VA Boston Healthcare System, ACT, American Institutes for Research, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., IPR Pharmaceuticals (AstraZeneca PLC), Google, and State Farm Insurance. Over the last decade, all of our students have accepted jobs immediately upon graduation. We are very proud of our  alums !

The domains of I/O psychology represented in the program includes the areas of testing and personnel selection, criterion development, training, performance appraisal, individual differences, organizational commitment, occupational health, workplace diversity, group processes, decision-making, and conflict. Our faculty consists of a renowned group of scholars. Consonant with this, the I/O psychology program was ranked 6th in terms of research productivity based on publications in the top 10 I/O psychology-oriented journals (Beiler et al., 2014). In addition, it was ranked 6th in terms of presentations at the annual conferences of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Beiler et al., 2014). Finally, the department was ranked 6th in terms of the number of publications between 1986 and 2008 in the premier I/O psychology journal,  Journal of Applied Psychology  (Mahoney et al., 2010).

I/O Psychology Faculty and Doctoral Students (Fall 2023)

Not pictured: Stefan Dumlao, Elizabeth Jenkins, Ellen Hagen, Zach Traylor, Jessica Walker, Ashleigh Williams, and Linden Wooderson.

Greatest Hits and Accomplishments!

We are very proud of the ranking of our Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD program as the 7th best graduate program in the country! This ranking was generated by the  U.S. News & World Report  magazine that details the top 50 best graduate education programs in the U.S. Way to go, I/O!!! You can read all about it  here  !

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Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

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PhD in I-O Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology delves into areas including personnel selection, training and development, work motivation and leadership.

Working closely with advisors, PhD students often win awards for their research, and many present each year at conferences held by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Academy of Management.

Prospective Students

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For prospective applicants: In general, individuals applying to the IO Program should have GREs in the 50th percentile or higher, UGPAs of 3.0+, meaningful research experience (research assistantships, honors thesis, presentations and/or publications, etc.), and interest areas that match those of the faculty. Admitted students' scores are usually notably higher. We evaluate all candidates holistically, looking at their entire application before making admissions decisions. Further information about IO Programs, standards and requirements is available on the  SIOP website . 

Research Labs

Dr. Tiffany Bisbey ’s Collaboration and Organizational Learning Lab (COLLab) conducts research examining how the way we work together impacts important workplace outcomes, with a specific focus on the role of teamwork. Teamwork is critical for organizational success, particularly in high-risk industries where the consequences of failure are extreme, such as healthcare and the military. Our work considers how teams bounce back from setbacks to avoid failure, how to measure and predict these processes, and how to best develop resilient teams. Graduate and undergraduate research assistants work on projects examining a broad range of phenomena relevant to these contexts, such as psychological safety, team learning, employee voice, and workplace safety. For more information, visit the website or contact [email protected] .

Dr. Lynn Offermann ’s Leadership and Diversity lab examines leadership and team issues with a particular interest in how these play out in diverse contexts. The world of work is increasingly populated by people from many backgrounds and individual capabilities and styles who need to work together collaboratively to achieve organizational success, and we examine how best to make that happen. Graduate and undergraduate research assistants work on projects including examining the dynamics of inclusive leadership, virtual leadership and communication, multidisciplinary teams, and racial and LGBTQ+ concerns in the workplace. For more information, contact [email protected] .

Professor David Costanza ’s SHOP Lab conducts research on hard organizational problems. Hard problems are ones that defy simple solutions, where theoretical support or existing models are lacking, whose study requires complex data sets, that use advanced methods and statistics, and in general are hard to figure out. Graduate and undergraduate research assistants work in the SHOP Lab on projects including high-potential leadership (what is potential anyway?) , generations and generational differences (hard to study something that doesn’t exist) , the impact of leadership on organizational outcomes (the connection is distal at best) , and career paths (modeling individual, cohort, organizational, and macro factors simultaneously affecting individual career outcomes) . For info on SHOP, contact [email protected] .

Dr. Yisheng Peng ’s Stress & Occupational Health Across the Lifespan (SOHAL) Lab generally examines stress and occupational health issues across the lifespan. His first line of research focuses on aging and older workers issues, such as risky and protective factors of older workers’ occupational health, late career development, family caregiving, etc. His second line of research focuses on the impacts of social work environment (e.g., workplace mistreatment, emotional labor) on employees’ well-being and work outcomes. Graduate and undergraduate research assistants work on projects including college student workers (e.g., health behaviors, career development), ostracism/isolation, and proactive work behaviors. For more info, contact [email protected] .

From Classroom to Career

Real-World Applications

Employers of all sizes seek industrial-organizational psychologists who can help guide organizational change. This work might include:

• Conducting research on employee retention and turnover
• Improving products through strategic customer surveys and feedback
• Advising leaders and team as they think through difficult decisions or craft company philosophy around topics such as diversity and inclusion

Internships

Many students also choose to pursue optional internships in the Washington, D.C., area. The department has ties to many local and national organizations, providing plenty of internship opportunities. Past internship employers include:

• Army Research Institute
• Federal Management Partners
• Fors Marsh Group
• Personnel Decision Research Institutes
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management
• The World Bank

"I was able to earn trust from co-workers because of my subject matter expertise in the I/O area and basic research methodology. The program also really set me up for success [with] opportunities such as my fellowship at the Army Research Institute."

Kaitlin Thomas PhD ’17, I-O Psychology

Course Requirements

The general requirements stated under  Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs .

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 72 credits, including 42 credits in required courses, 12 credits in elective courses, and 18 credits in dissertation research.

• Industrial and Organizational Psychology

The specialty of industrial-organizational psychology (also called I/O psychology) is characterized by the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and the work place. The specialty focuses on deriving principles of individual, group and organizational behavior and applying this knowledge to the solution of problems at work.

Specialized knowledge

Specialized knowledge and training in the science of behavior in the workplace requires in-depth knowledge of organizational development, attitudes, career development, decision theory, human performance and human factors, consumer behavior, small group theory and process, criterion theory and development, job and task analysis and individual assessment. In addition, the specialty of industrial-organizational psychology requires knowledge of ethical considerations as well as statutory, administrative, and case law and executive orders as related to activities in the workplace.

Problems addressed

The specialty of Industrial Organizational Psychology addresses issues of recruitment, selection and placement, training and development, performance measurement, workplace motivation and reward systems, quality of work life, structure of work and human factors, organizational development and consumer behavior.

Population served

The distinct focus of I/O psychology is on human behavior in work settings. Therefore, the populations affected by the practice of I/O psychology include individuals in and applicants to business, industry, labor, public (including non-profit), academic, community and health organizations.

Skills and procedures utilized

I/O Psychologists are scientist-practitioners who have expertise in the design, execution and interpretation of research in psychology and who apply their findings to help address human and organizational problems in the context of organized work. I/O psychologists:

Identify training and development needs; 

Design and optimize job and work and quality of work life; 

Formulate and implement training programs and evaluate their effectiveness; 

Coach employees; 

Develop criteria to evaluate performance of individuals and organizations; and 

Assess consumer preferences, customer satisfaction and market strategies.

Related Resources

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Industrial-Organizational Psychology Graduate Program

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.

Program Highlights

• You will work with a faculty mentor with related research interests. As you grow in knowledge and expertise, you are encouraged to collaborate with different faculty to develop your own unique research stream.
• Faculty and graduate students frequently collaborate with faculty in the social, cognitive and clinical psychology areas as well as faculty in the Krannert School of Management.
• Because we value social responsibility, the I-O psychology program at Purdue is the first to become a UN Global Compact participant, by which we place an emphasis within our courses and program activities on organizations’ responsibilities to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
• While there is significant overlap with organizational behavior and human resources, the I-O psychology program emphasizes the scientific study of work, workers and the workplace, focusing on outcomes experienced by the employees rather than exclusively organizational outcomes.
• As a graduate student in the I-O psychology program, you’ll be considered a member of the Purdue Association of Graduate Students in Industrial Psychology (PAGSIP) . This organization provides opportunities for you to meet informally with other I-O psychology students to discuss research ideas and problems as well as to connect with program alumni.
• The Purdue I-O area is partnering with Instats to connect with some of the best methodologists in the world.

Potential Careers

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.

• Industrial-organizational psychologist
• University faculty member
• Human resources director
• Quantitative user experience researcher
• Postdoctoral researcher
• Research psychologist

Plan of Study

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.

Program Quick Facts

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.

Bridge Topics

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.

Research Opportunities

• Cultural collision and synergy
• Strategies for difficult communication
• Goals and self-regulation
• Relationships and work
• Optimizing hiring decisions using statistical models
• Big data and machine learning
• Individual differences
• Diversity in recruitment and selection
• Franki Y. H. Kung
• Sang Eun Woo

Admissions/Requirements

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:

• Knowledge of I-O psychology literature and science efficacy
• Motivation and interest in scientific research and I-O psychology
• Conscientiousness
• Resilience and emotional stability
• Self-direction, self-regulation and independence
• Advanced quantitative skills
• Advanced reading and writing skills
• Interpersonal communication and emotional intelligence
• Critical- and systematic-thinking skills
• Intellectual and scientific creativity
• Openness and humility
• Collaboration skills
• Learning and growth mindset
• Problem-solving skills
• Time management and organizational skills

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.

Connect with Us!

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

[email protected]

Ph.D. Industrial & Organizational Psychology

The Doctoral Program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Central Florida educates and trains its students “to generate and integrate scientific and professional knowledge, attitudes and skills so as to further psychological science, the professional practice of psychology, and human welfare. The graduate of this training model is capable of functioning as an investigator and as a practitioner, and may function as either or both, consistent with the highest standards in psychology” (National Conference on the Education and Training of Scientist-Practitioners for the Professional Practice of Psychology, 1990, pp. 7-8). Our departmental mission statement directs us to provide high quality education to include “the dissemination of state-of-the-field theoretical and empirical information, training in the methodological, statistical, and technical skills necessary to conduct psychological research, and practice in the application of psychological knowledge to real-life problems.” Our doctoral program aspires to achieve excellence in research training and to contribute to and perpetuate psychological science and practice through faculty and graduate student involvement in scholarly and professional activities. Our faculty and graduate students advocate for initiatives that affect the profession of psychology and the welfare of individuals and groups, and are active members of professional organizations and contributors to psychological science.

The Ph.D. track in Industrial and Organizational Psychology provides students with training that is consistent with the scientist-practitioner model. As a result of this training students will be prepared to pursue rewarding careers in either academia (university-based teaching and research) or industry (e.g., consulting). I/O students receive training in work motivation theory, organization theory, organizational development theory, attitude theory, career development theory, decision making, human performance/human factors, assessment of individual differences, small group theory, performance appraisal and feedback, criterion theory and development, personnel selection, placement and classification, research methods, statistical methods, job and task analysis, individual assessment, and training theory, program design and evaluation.

At a glance:

• Our program ranks 4 th  in research productivity (i.e., number of publications) and 2 nd  in presence at SIOP out of all I/O Ph.D. programs (Beiler, Zimmerman, Doerr, & Clark, 2014)
• The program began in 2000 and has graduated 67 students (47% now work in academic/research positions, 53% now work in applied positions)
• We have 34 current students

Degree Requirements

The doctoral program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology requires approximately four years of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate and approximately three years beyond the master’s. The first few years are devoted to course work and the final year to the doctoral dissertation. After completing all required course work students are required to pass a Candidacy Examination. This examination may be taken a maximum of two times. Failure to pass the examination on two occasions will result in the student being dismissed from the program.

Program Admissions

Application deadline is december 1st.

The UCF Psychology Department coordinates the admission process with the UCF Graduate Studies office. In order to enroll in graduate classes, students must have obtained a baccalaureate or higher degree, prior to the start of the term for which the student is admitted, from a regionally accredited institution or from a recognized foreign institution. Students without a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution (or equivalent) are not admitted to graduate degree programs, graduate certificate programs, or graduate nondegree status.

Mailing Address UCF College of Graduate Studies Millican Hall 230 PO Box 160112 Orlando, FL  32816-0112

Institution Codes GRE: 5233 GMAT: RZT-HT-58 TOEFL: 5233 ETS PPI: 5233

Program Goals:

Consistent with the Department’s Mission Statement, the doctoral program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s overall goals are to: (a) train and educate leaders in psychology at the doctoral level within the scientist-practitioner tradition; (b) expand and disseminate scientific knowledge about behavior at work through publications in scientific journals, conference presentations, and teaching; (c) strive to apply psychological principles to solve workplace problems and thus improve the quality of individuals’ work and non-work lives; and (d) produce psychologists who understand the ethics, principles and practice of psychology. Within our broad vision to become renowned scientist-practitioners, our program seeks to enhance scientific understanding of the following three areas: (a) training and team performance, (b) occupational health, and (c) human analytics, big data, and research methods. The overall goals of the training program are consistent with that of the Mission Statement of the Department, the College of Arts and Science, Graduate Studies, and the University.

Overview of Curriculum Goals:

Training emphasis:.

The Education and Training Committee of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (Division 14 of the American Psychological Association) prepared Guidelines for Education and Training at the Doctoral Level in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (hereafter called, “Guidelines”). The UCF Industrial and Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program is designed to train students according to these American Psychological Association-approved Guidelines.

The Guidelines follow the scientist-practitioner model and a competency-based approach. The Guidelines state that, “taking the scientist-practitioner model seriously means that doctoral education needs to focus on both the theory and application associated with all content areas” (p. 3). All students, regardless of whether they expect to pursue academic or applied careers, must be knowledgeable in theory, research methods, and the application of the content areas to applied practice. The competency areas to be trained include:

• Consulting and Business Skills
• Ethical, Legal, and Professional Context of I-O Psychology
• Fields of Psychology
• History and Systems of Psychology
• Research Methods
• Statistical Methods/Data Analysis
• Attitude Theory, Measurement, and Change
• Career Development
• Consumer Behavior
• Criterion Theory and Development
• Health and Stress in Organization
• Human Performance/Human Factors
• Individual Assessment
• Individual Differences
• Job Evaluation and Compensation
• Job/Task Analysis and Classification
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Leadership and Management
• Organization Development
• Organization Theory
• Performance Appraisal and Feedback
• Personnel Recruitment, Selection, and Placement
• Small Group Theory and Team Processes
• Training; Theory, Program Design, and Evaluation
• Work Motivation

Students should familiarize themselves with the description of each competency area as described on the SIOP website (www.siop.org). Students will develop knowledge and skill in these 25 competency areas through formal course work, internship, independent study, and research experiences.

Our program takes advantage of and builds upon a multitude of university and community partnerships consistent with the mission of UCF as a major urban university. There is also an infusion of diversity throughout the program that accurately reflects the surrounding society and can proactively respond to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce. The program emphasizes cultural diversity by actively recruiting quality faculty and talented students with varied cultural backgrounds, as well as by offering courses that emphasize cross-cultural perspectives and considerations.

We have a diverse faculty and student body in the I/O Psychology Program. As of Fall 2020, the Ph.D. program has 34 students. 23 students are female, and 14 of the students are from diverse ethnic backgrounds (3 Hispanic, 1 African American, 8 Asian/Pacific Islander, 1 Hispanic/Alaskan Native/American Indian, 1 Asian/Hispanic). Seven are international students, and 21 of our students did their undergraduate work outside of the state of Florida.

Internships & Employments

• Adaptive Assessment Services
• Aptima, Inc.
• Army Research Institute
• Bank of America
• Booz Allan Hamilton
• Camber Corporation
• Capital One
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• CHI Systems, Inc.
• CIC Planning Group, Inc.
• City of Jacksonville
• City of Lakeland
• City of Orlando
• Cognitive Performance Group
• CVS Caremark Corporation
• Department of Defense
• Educational Testing Services
• FedEx Management Partners
• Ford Motors
• General Dynamics
• Institute for Simulation and Training
• KAEGAN Corporation
• Parks Consulting, Inc.
• Lockheed Martin
• Marriot Vacation Club
• Mountain States Employers Council
• Northeast Florida Education Consortium
• Northrop Grumman
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
• Orange County Sherriff’s Office
• Orlando Regional Hospital
• Orlando Utilities Commission
• Personnel Decisions, Inc.
• RFK and Associates
• TalentKeepers
• The Travelers Companies
• Universal Studios
• S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
• WLH Consulting
• Workforce Central Florida
• University of Akron, Department of Psychology
• Clemson University, Department of Psychology
• Florida Institute of Technology, College of Psychology
• Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Psychology
• Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine
• Rutgers, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development
• Ozyegin University, Department of Psychology
• Seattle Pacific University, Department of Psychology
• Quinnipiac University, School of Business
• University of North Texas at Dallas, Department of Business
• University of South Florida, Department of Psychology
• University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Psychology
• Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine
• Hofstra University, Department of Psychology
• Roosevelt University, Department of Psychology

Faculty in I/O Psychology

Program Director

[email protected] PSY 301D (Orlando)

Program Assistant

[email protected] (407)823-2458

Industrial-Organizational Doctoral Program

The Industrial-Organizational Psychology Doctoral Program at UGA exists to develop, research, and apply psychological principles to raise the quality of life for working individuals. We strive to improve organizational functioning through our commitment to teaching, research and service. We take pride in our scientist-practitioner integration, diverse perspectives, and whole person development.

The Industrial-Organizational Psychology program is committed to nurturing a culture that is inviting to students and faculty with a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives, and to promoting an understanding of the importance of diversity in organizations throughout our doctoral curriculum. 

Program Description

The Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program is one of three doctoral programs within the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia. Students may concentrate in the areas of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Measurement and Individual Differences, or they may develop a balanced program in both areas. Completion of the Ph.D. requirements in these areas prepares students for careers in such settings as academia, industry, consulting, government, and the military.

In addition to the range of expertise and courses offered by the Industrial-Organizational Psychology faculty, the Program also draws upon the expertise and courses available through other programs in Psychology as well as from Management, Computer Sciences, Education, Statistics, Public Administration, and Sociology.

The curriculum includes required courses that are intended to provide an academic foundation for mastery of the knowledge and skills central to each student's area of concentration. Beyond these, students may select courses appropriate to their individual programs of study at both the master's and doctoral levels. In addition, individual programs of research carried out by students under the direction of faculty are required for completion of both masters' theses and doctoral dissertations. To complement the student's academic preparation, professional experience will be gained through internships approved by the program faculty.

Follow the I-O Psychology Doctoral Program! 

COFFEE Lab (Olenick)

ECHO Lab (Eby)

Healthy Work Lab (Clark)

Leadership & Performance Dynamics Lab (Hoffman)

Model Lab (Outland)

OSHC Lab (He)

Relationships and Work Lab (Robertson)

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I-O Admission Information

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I-O Useful Links

Program Photos

I-O Program Handbook

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We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience.  Click here to learn more about giving .

Every dollar given has a direct impact upon our students and faculty.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I-O)

Left to right: Richard Landers, Nathan Kuncel, Aaron Schmidt, Paul Sackett, Deniz Ones

Our program is designed to give students broad training across all areas of I-O psychology and deep training in the areas of expertise of our Psychology department’s faculty.

The I-O Psychology program at Minnesota has long maintained a reputation as one of the top three I-O Ph.D. programs in the United States.  Current and former Minnesota faculty and students have won over 80 awards, prizes, grants, and other recognitions from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), our field’s primary professional organization.  Six graduates and two faculty of the Minnesota I-O program have even served as presidents of SIOP (i.e., almost 10% of all SIOP presidents).  In general, Minnesota faculty and students are highly engaged with the I-O psychology community and have been broadly recognized for their many contributions to the field.

Students often choose to specialize in such areas as personnel psychology, training and development, individual assessment, work motivation, group and organizational processes, data science, research methods, and psychometrics, among others. Such specialization may be achieved with courses in:

• Counseling Psychology
• Advanced Seminars in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Personality Assessment
• Social Psychology
• Data Science
• Computer Science
• Research Methods
• Psychometrics
• Speech Communications
• Industrial Relations
• Political Science

In addition to coursework, you will be immersed in research.  Upon arrival, you will be brought into a new or continuing faculty research project immediately.  You will also develop and carry out a first year research project.  This may be an outgrowth of the early research experience, or it may be completely separate.  A major goal is to have a topic identified by the end of your first semester.  It is not crucial that you originate the idea, but it is the intent of this project that you take a lead role in carrying out the project (as opposed to being a “helping hand” on a faculty project) and write up the results for presentation and publication.   Students typically remain continuously engaged in research their entire time at the University.

Practical experience

In addition to coursework and research, students have many opportunities to gain real-world experience.  In addition to attending monthly meetings of the local I-O psychology practitioners group , all students who want practical experience before they graduate complete summer internships either locally, remotely or in locations desirable to them.  Students have significant flexibility in this depending upon their interests; some complete internships every year, whereas others choose to spend their summers teaching or working on research grants.  Recent internships have included:

• Johnson & Johnson
• Land O’Lakes
• Marriott International
• Proctor & Gamble
• Assessment Associates International
• Development Dimensions International
• Personnel Decisions Research International
• SHL Talent Measurement Solutions
• Public sector consulting at government agencies, including: 
• Department of Veterans Affairs

Course, research, and internship opportunities are all intended to help you meet your career goals, and your academic advisor will work closely with you to guide your decision-making to reach those goals (even if you aren’t quite sure what they are yet).  

Since you are required to satisfy a set of general distribution requirements in psychology, you will spend much of your first two years taking such courses, typically with a significant emphasis on I-O psychology courses, statistics courses, and research methods courses. As you progress through the program, the proportion of your time that you spend on research versus coursework will increase sharply. For specific curriculum requirements to the Industrial Organizational (I-O) program, please visit the  Graduate Education Catalog: Psychology .

The star attraction of Minnesota I-O psychology’s curriculum is the I-O seminar, which is an in-depth 3-semester seminar series that you will complete by the end of your third year in the program.  The course has no books; each week, students plus two I-O faculty read journal articles and discuss them in significant depth.  One week each semester, you will be responsible for becoming a world-class expert in your chosen topic and present this to the class. I-O seminar is designed to build real, deep expertise in several topics of your choosing, to create professional identification with the field, and to develop professional associations and friendships with students and faculty that will last for years to come.

PSY 5703: Psychology of Organizational Training and Development PSY 5707: Personnel Psychology PSY 5862: Psychological Measurements: Theory and Methods PSY 8814: Analysis of Psychological Data I

PSY 5708: Organizational Psychology PSY 8993: Research Methods in I/O Psychology PSY 8815: Analysis of Psychological Data II

PSY 8701: Seminar in Industrial and Organizational Psychology I (Kuncel, Landers, Ones, Sackett, Schmidt) Select among stats, methods, I/O specialty seminars, and other courses within or outside psychology, in consultation with your advisor

PSY 8702: Seminar in Industrial and Organizational Psychology II (Kuncel, Landers, Ones, Sackett, Schmidt) Select among stats, methods, I/O specialty seminars, and other courses within or outside psychology, in consultation with your advisor

PSY 8703: Seminar in Industrial and Organizational Psychology III (Kuncel, Landers, Ones, Sackett, Schmidt) Select among stats, methods, I/O specialty seminars, and other courses within or outside psychology, in consultation with your advisor

Select among stats, methods, I/O specialty seminars, and other courses within or outside psychology, in consultation with your advisor

Dissertation

Core Faculty

Nathan Kuncel , Professor & Marvin D. Dunnette Distinguished Professor Richard Landers , Associate Professor & John P. Campbell Distinguished Professor Deniz Ones , Hellervik Professor of Industrial Psychology & Distinguished McKnight University Professor (Area Director) Paul Sackett , Professor & Beverly and Richard Fink Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Liberal Arts Aaron Schmidt , Associate Professor

Affiliated Faculty

Abdifatah Ali , Assistant Professor Elizabeth Campbell , Associate Professor Michelle Duffy , Professor & Vernon Heath Chair  Theresa M. Glomb , Professor & The Toro Company-David M. Lilly Chair in Organizational Behavior John Kammeyer-Mueller , Professor & Curtis L. Carlson Professor of Industrial Relations Connie Wanberg , Professor & Industrial Relations Faculty Excellence Chair 

Emeritus Professors

John Campbell , Professor

Home / Discover Psychology Degree Programs / Online Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology Programs

Online Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology Programs

Choosing the right online industrial organizational psychology degree program, which i/o psychology degree is right for me, industrial organizational psychology degree program curriculum, industrial organizational degree program clinical requirements, list of online i/o psychology degree programs.

An industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologist can be a massive asset to both employees and shareholders in businesses. An I/O psychologist works to help improve the experience and productivity of employees in a workplace. From research studies to helping leaders learn how to motivate their employees, I/O psychologists have countless opportunities to positively affect businesses and workplaces. 

If you’re interested in earning a degree in I/O psychology online, it’s important that you choose an accredited degree program. This ensures that the program you’re choosing is up to the standards of organizations that are up to date with the best practices in the field, allowing you to rest assured that the hard work you’re putting in while you’re earning your degree will be respected and valued when you work to find a job in your field.

You’ll want to be sure you choose a program accredited by the American Psychological Association . Following the completion of your accredited doctoral program, you’ll be able to apply for board certification from the American Board of Organizational Business and Consulting Psychology , which is a part of the American Board of Professional Psychology .

Bachelor's Degree

While there is not a specific undergraduate degree that will allow you to become an I/O psychologist, most people who are interested in eventually going into the I/O psychology field get an undergraduate degree in psychology, business, or sociology. You may be able to take some classes in I/O psychology at the undergraduate level, further preparing you for your future career.

Master's Degree

You’ll need to earn your doctorate degree before you can officially work as an I/O psychologist, but you can earn your master’s degree in I/O psychology, which can help you get your start in the field. Your master’s I/O program will provide you with information on the latest best practices in human resources, employee training, employee motivation, and leadership. Your online master’s degree program may provide you with the opportunity to complete paid or unpaid internship experience that can help bolster your resume, making it easier to get a job in the field after you complete your program.

Graduate Certificate

If you already have your bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, you may be interested in earning a graduate certificate online to help you gain the qualifications necessary to work in the I/O psychology field. You may be able to choose a graduate certificate that focuses on a particular area of I/O psychology, such as improving work-life balance for employees within an organization. 

In order to practice as a psychologist, you’ll need to earn your doctorate degree in I/O psychology. By the time you begin your graduate studies, you’ll already have several years of education in the field under your belt, and you may already know of a specific area of I/O psychology that you’d like to learn more about through research in your doctorate program. Many people who are earning their doctorate in I/O psychology online work in a related field (such as human resources) while completing their studies.

The exact courses that you’ll need to complete your I/O psychology program will depend on your school and your prior education. 

Common courses required by I/O psychology programs include: 

• Organizational behavior
• Legal, ethical, and professional issues in I/O psychology
• Professional human resources practices
• I/O psychology assessment

Average credits required for I/O psychology higher education programs: 

• Bachelor's: 123 credits
• Master's: 40 credits
• Graduate Certificate: 30 credits
• Doctorate: 80 credits

At the doctorate level, you’ll be required to go through clinical placements that will help to inform your future practice. You’ll need about 600 hours of internship experience in order to complete your degree program. You’ll be supervised by a licensed psychologist while you go through your internship, and you’ll regularly meet with a member of your program’s faculty to discuss what you’re learning on the job. Because you’ll be enrolled in an online program, you’ll need the option to complete these internship hours locally. Be sure to double-check that this option is available to you in the program to which you’re applying to.

While internships aren’t always required for bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, participating in an internship experience can go a long way in helping you get your foot in the door when it comes to landing a job after you complete your graduate program.

Looking for an online industrial-organizational psychology degree program near you? Browse our state-by-state school listings below.

Jump to Your State Listings

Auburn university at montgomery.

• Master of Science in Psychology - Industrial Organizational Track

Alliant International University-San Diego

• Master's in Organizational Psychology
• PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Azusa Pacific University

Golden gate university.

• Master Of Arts In Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Connecticut

Post university.

• Industrial/Organizational Studies

Sacred Heart University

• MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Florida Institute of Technology-Online

• Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
• BA in Applied Psychology/Organizational Psychology

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago

• Master of Arts in Psychology students with an Organizational Leadership Concentration
• M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology Applied Research Project (ARP) Track
• Online Certificate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Purdue University Global

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology in I/O Psychology
• Graduate Certificate in Psychology in I/O Psychology

Eastern Kentucky University

• Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology

Louisiana State University-Alexandria

• Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Baker College

• Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MS)

Capella University

• MS in Psychology-Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Southeast Missouri State University

• Industrial/Organizational Psycholog

Bellevue University

• Bachelor of Science in Professional Psychology
• Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (I-O)

Rider University

• Organizational Psychology Online

Franklin University

• MBA with a Specialization in Business Psychology

Pennsylvania

Saint joseph's university.

• Organization Development and Leadership

George Mason University

• MPS in Applied Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology Concentration

Liberty University

• M.A. in Applied Psychology - Industrial/Organizational
• Ph.D. in Psychology - Industrial/Organizational

Regent University

• M.S. in Psychology - Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.

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Do you want to deepen your knowledge in psychology and use your research to contribute to the field of understanding human behavior? Liberty University’s PhD in Psychology can provide rigorous research training that can better prepare you for a career in academia and research. An online PhD in Psychology is ideal for students who want to bring new knowledge of human behavior to the field and find new ways to help people heal, grow, and thrive.

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Through this program, you will be encouraged to become a thought leader on a variety of topics related to the human experience. Our goal is to help you venture into the world of psychiatric research and practice and offer insights based on biblical foundations of truth that can help people heal and thrive.

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• PSYC 710 — Psychological Research and Biblical Worldview
• PSYC 716 — Theories and Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• PSYC 775 — Teaching of Psychology

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To help you meet your educational goals in a way that fits your life, our online PhD in Psychology provides scheduling flexibility and keeps affordability in mind. Our PhD in Psychology’s online format allows you to take your classes from home without traveling to campus. However, this program still provides a community of psychology professionals and the ability to take optional intensive courses to allow you to connect in person.

Throughout this program, Liberty incorporates a biblical worldview into your instruction. This perspective in your research and practical training in psychology can help you develop professional and academic excellence without compromising an ethical appreciation for human life. Additionally, our caring faculty are devoted to helping you grow personally and academically.

With our online PhD in Psychology, you can learn effective clinical techniques, essential behavioral theory, and develop your research and writing expertise. You can be equipped with a thorough understanding of human thought and behavior while developing your own research to further the field.

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Through the  PhD in Psychology – Behavioral Health Leadership , you can hone your research and leadership skills as you prepare to pursue administrative and management positions in mental and behavioral health organizations.

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Through the online  PhD in Psychology – Developmental Psychology , you can learn about research theory related to human development, including cognitive development, social development, and language development.

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The online PhD in Psychology – General Psychology provides an in-depth study of advanced psychiatric research and practice while giving you room to customize your course content.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

In the online  PhD in Psychology – Industrial/Organizational Psychology  track, you will study human behavior in organizations and the workplace. You will focus on deriving principles of individual, group, and organizational behavior and applying that knowledge to developing solutions for challenges in the workplace.

Social Psychology

In the online  PhD in Psychology – Social Psychology  track, you can learn about research and theory related to social processes and relationships, attitudes, and other constructs related to social psychology.

In the online  PhD in Psychology – Theology  track, you can learn how to study the Bible and integrate that study of the Bible with research in psychology to further your understanding of psychological concepts.

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Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
• Contact information  for 2 recommenders is required (approved recommenders are the student’s former college professors or supervisors).
• Statement of Purpose  is required (1,000-1,500 words, double spaced).
• Departmental approval is required.
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
• Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

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An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

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• Best Online Psychology Master's Degrees

Best Online Psychology Master’s Degrees Of 2024

Updated: Jan 23, 2024, 1:08pm

The human mind has long been a subject of fascination and controversy, and psychology—the study of the mind—proves valuable across industries, fields and positions. Whether you work in public relations, user experience or human resources, a background in psychology can give you an edge in your career.

A master’s in psychology involves wide-ranging study that can lead to careers in diverse fields. You’ll gain advanced research and analysis skills and a strong understanding of human behavior. Plus, a master’s in psychology can qualify you to work as an industrial-organizational psychologist or a school psychologist .

If you want to dive deeper into the field while maintaining a flexible schedule, you can pursue your degree online. Keep reading to learn about the 10 best online psychology master’s degrees.

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Our Methodology

We ranked 39 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online psychology master’s degrees in the U.S. using 16 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience and application process. 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 June 2023.

We scored schools based on the following metrics:

Student Outcomes:

• Overall graduation rate
• Median earnings 10 years after graduation

Affordability:

• In-state graduate student tuition
• In-state graduate student fees
• Alternative tuition plans offered
• Median federal student loan debt
• Percentage of students in federal student loan deferment

Student Experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio
• Socioeconomic diversity
• Availability of online coursework
• Total number of graduate assistants
• More than 50% of graduate students enrolled in at least some distance education

Credibility:

• Fully accredited
• Programmatic accreditation status
• Nonprofit status

Application Process:

• Acceptance rate

We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 84% or higher.

Find our full list of methodologies here .

• Best Master’s In ABA Online Degrees
• Best Online Master’s In Counseling Psychology
• Best Online Psychology Degrees

Best Master’s in Psychology Online Programs

Why should you consider an online psychology master’s program, accreditation for online master’s in psychology programs, how to find the right online master’s in psychology for you, frequently asked questions (faqs) about the best online psychology master’s degrees, university of southern california, arizona state university digital immersion, ferrum college, william woods university, indiana wesleyan university-national & global, national louis university, palo alto university, lynn university, liberty university, southern new hampshire university.

Graduate Tuition

$2,244/credit

Percentage of Grad Students Enrolled in Distance Education

Overall Graduation Rate

Based out of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California offers an online Master of Science in applied psychology that full-time students can complete in 16 months by taking two courses per term. The program’s 34-credit curriculum covers topics in consumer psychology, organizational psychology and research methods, and all students complete 240 hours of experiential field learning through a required internship.

Students can choose to complete the internship requirement through an optional summer experience in Dublin, Ireland.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn around your 9-to-5
• School Type: Private
• Application Fee: $90
• Degree Credit Requirements: 34 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Full-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Consumer psychology, organizational psychology
• Concentrations Available: N/A
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for internship

$565/credit

Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona State University is among the largest universities in the nation by enrollment. ASU features an online master’s in psychology that requires 36 credits. The curriculum includes courses in applied social psychology, professional issues and research methods and concludes with a capstone course in which students analyze current psychological literature and recommend policy.

ASU delivers most online coursework asynchronously, and the program does not include in-person requirements.

• Our Flexibility Rating: Learn on your schedule
• School Type: Public
• Application Fee: $70
• Degree Credit Requirements: 36 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Applied social psychology, professional issues in psychology
• In-Person Requirements: No

$475/credit

Based in Ferrum, Virginia, Ferrum College enrolls fewer than 1,000 students and maintains an affiliation with the United Methodist Church. The college’s fully online Master of Science in psychology prepares graduates for Ph.D. programs in the field and takes one year of full-time study to complete.

The program’s 33-credit curriculum includes required courses in ethics, research methods and applied statistics. All students must also complete a thesis that involves significant original research. Ferrum College’s MS in psychology does not lead to licensure.

• Application Fee: $50
• Degree Credit Requirements: 33 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Ethics and professional issues; research methods in social sciences; applied statistics in the social sciences

$450/credit

Based in Fulton, Missouri, William Woods University offers an online master’s in psychology program that requires 33 credits. The curriculum includes coursework in psychological testing and assessment, advanced statistics, research design and advanced cognition. All students complete an original thesis before they graduate.

This program is designed for both working professionals looking to expand their career options and students who want to eventually pursue doctoral programs in psychology.

• Application Fee: Free
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Psychological testing and assessment; advanced statistics

$499/credit

Based in Marion, Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan University has expanded its distance learning presence in recent years. The university offers an online master’s in psychology program with two concentration options: industrial and organizational psychology, and life coaching and positive psychology. Both tracks require 30 credits and include core courses in lifespan development, personality development and research methods.

All students also complete a capstone project. IWU delivers all online coursework asynchronously for maximum flexibility.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 30 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Lifespan development, theories of personality development, research methods in psychology
• Concentrations Available: Industrial and organizational psychology; life coaching and positive psychology

$790/credit

Headquartered in downtown Chicago, National Louis University features an online Master of Arts in psychology that students can complete in 18 months. The 36-credit curriculum includes four concentration options: general psychology, community psychology, psychological assessment and teaching of psychology. No matter their concentration, students in the program complete core foundational coursework in areas like abnormal and social psychology.

Online courses at NLU may include both synchronous and asynchronous elements.

$6,888/quarter

Located in the Bay Area in Palo Alto, California, Palo Alto University focuses primarily on counseling and psychology programs. The university’s online Master of Science in psychology includes limited in-person requirements. Students who pursue the Ph.D. prep concentration must complete a one-week, on-campus residency focused on clinical interviewing. Learners can take a generalist track or pursue a concentration in forensic psychology or technology and mental health.

The program uses Zoom to deliver synchronous coursework during the evenings.

• Application Fee: $80
• Degree Credit Requirements: 37.5 to 47 credits
• Program Enrollment Options: Part-time
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Research methods and statistics; child and adolescent development
• Concentrations Available: Ph.D. prep; technology and mental health; forensic psychology
• In-Person Requirements: Yes, for Ph.D. prep concentration

$650/credit

Located in Boca Raton, Florida, Lynn University offers an online Master of Science in psychology with either a generalist concentration or an industrial/organizational psychology concentration. In both cases, the curriculum requires 37 credits, and core courses include personality psychology, advanced social psychology, and scientific writing and analysis. All students complete a thesis with original research as a capstone requirement.

Incoming students can apply to begin the program in the spring, summer or fall semesters.

• Degree Credit Requirements: 37 credits
• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Advanced research in psychology, personality psychology
• Concentrations Available: General psychology, industrial/organizational psychology

Based out of Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University enrolls more than 135,000 students thanks in large part to its online programs. The university’s online master’s in applied psychology takes the typical student 18 months to complete. Students can choose between concentrations in general psychology, developmental psychology, industrial-organizational psychology and public mental health.

No matter their concentration, distance learners must complete 36 credits and take core courses in areas like social psychology and the psychology of learning.

• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Social psychology, psychology of learning
• Concentrations Available: General psychology, developmental psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, public mental health

$637/credit

Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire University is a private university primarily focused on online programs. The university’s online Master of Science in psychology offers three concentration options: forensic psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and child and developmental psychology. All students must complete 36 credits and take core courses in areas like social psychology and cognitive processes.

SNHU delivers all online coursework asynchronously, and the program does not include any in-person requirements.

• Notable Major-Specific Courses: Social psychology, cognitive processes
• Concentrations Available: Forensic psychology; industrial and organizational psychology; child and developmental psychology

A master’s in psychology is a widely applicable degree for all types of students. Here’s why you might pursue an online psychology master’s degree.

Master’s Degrees in Psychology: Fast Facts

• Nearly 25% of CEOs hold a master’s degree as their highest level of education. ( U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics )
• According to the American Psychological Association (APA), neuroscience is the most competitive psychological subfield at the master’s level, while counseling psychology accepts the highest percentage of students.
• Approximately 4 out of 5 graduate psychology students are women. (APA)
• Forty-three percent of graduate psychology students identify as BIPOC. (APA)
• The most diverse subfield of psychology among graduate students is developmental psychology. (APA)

Should You Earn Your Degree Online?

Online degrees have become more and more prevalent in recent years. However, they don’t suit all types of learners. To determine if distance learning is right for you, ask yourself a few key questions:

• What’s your budget? Distance learners generally avoid some costs associated with on-campus learning, including housing and transportation. Moreover, some public universities allow out-of-state distance learners to pay in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates.
• What’s your learning style? Online learning requires plenty of discipline, organization, time management and self-motivation. If you rely on a peer group or the routine of a physical classroom for motivation, on-campus learning may provide a better fit.
• What are your other commitments? Flexibility is one of the main reasons many parents and working professionals opt for online learning. If you’ll have significant obligations outside of school, an asynchronous online program might help you juggle your studies with your other commitments.

There are two important types of college accreditation to understand: institutional and programmatic.

Institutional accreditation is non-negotiable. You should enroll at a school only if it’s institutionally accredited, as this is the only way you can qualify for federal student aid. Plus, Ph.D. programs, employers and credentialing bodies may not recognize degrees that come from unaccredited universities.

The U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the agencies that manage the institutional accreditation process. These agencies evaluate schools for the quality of their finances, academics and faculty. To verify a prospective school’s accreditation status, you can visit its website or check the directory on CHEA’s website.

Programmatic accreditation offers quality assurance and vetting in specific fields. Programmatic accreditation is uncommon among undergraduate and master’s-level psychology programs, though APA accreditation does apply to doctoral, postdoctoral residency and internship programs.

Once you’ve determined that you want an online master’s degree in psychology, it’s time to decide where you should earn it. Here’s how to choose a school.

Consider Your Future Goals

Psychology is a wide-ranging field. To choose the right program and specialization for you, it’s best to determine your career goals before committing to any specific program.

A master’s degree in general psychology can lead to careers in fields as diverse as public relations , education, human resources , user experience and marketing , among others. If you know you want to go into a specific field, such as industrial-organizational psychology , you may want to consider attending a psychology program that offers that specific specialization.

If you don’t want to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, and instead plan to continue your studies in a doctoral program, you should choose a master’s program with a significant research component. A completed thesis can help you take the next step into a Psy.D. program or a Ph.D. in psychology. Some master’s programs also offer Ph.D. prep concentrations, which explicitly prepare you to continue your career in academia.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

Eliminating the one significant outlier (USC at $2,244), per-credit tuition rates for the 10 programs ranked in our guide range from $450 to $799. Over the course of a typical 36-credit master’s degree, these rates translate to approximately $16,000 to $29,000 in total tuition costs.

As a comparison point, according to the National Center for Education Statistics , as of the 2021–22 academic year, the average annual tuition for a graduate program was $12,596 at public universities and $29,931 at private, nonprofit universities.

To get help funding your education, the first step is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). The FAFSA is the portal to federal aid opportunities like grants, scholarships and loans, along with aid from other resources. You can also pursue graduate assistantships through your university. Keep in mind that some assistantships may be reserved for on-campus and Ph.D. students.

How long does it take to get an online master’s degree in psychology?

The 10 ranked programs in our guide generally take 12 to 18 months to complete. Keep in mind that completion times can vary depending on your school, program and enrollment status.

What can I do with an online master’s in psychology?

There are many psychology-related careers that you can pursue as a master’s degree holder, including market research analyst, user experience researcher, project manager , public relations specialist and human resources manager .

Is an online master’s in psychology respected?

Yes. As long as you attend an accredited university, a psychology master’s degree earned online carries the same weight as one earned in person.

Can I do a master’s in psychology online?

Yes, you can complete a master’s in psychology online. Many colleges offer fully online and hybrid psychology master’s programs.

Is it better to get an M.S. or an M.A. in psychology?

It depends on your goals. An M.A. in psychology often focuses on the applications of psychology, whereas an M.S. focuses more on research and scholarship.

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.

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We offer a  Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in psychology , a  D octor of Philosophy in experimental psychology , and  Doctor of Philosophy in clinical psychology . We currently have over 300 undergraduate majors, and over 40 graduate students involved in our programs.

Psychology courses delve into topics such as cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience. Through engaging coursework, students explore the intricacies of behavior and mental processes. We emphasize hands-on learning experiences, encouraging students to actively participate in psychological research projects and gain practical skills that will benefit them in their future careers.

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Our faculty members, who are experts in their respective areas, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom, ensuring that students receive a high-quality education.

The Department of Psychology offers numerous opportunities for students interested in psychological research. Under the guidance of our faculty, students can engage in research in areas such as cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and more. 

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We at the Department of Psychology are committed to providing outstanding education and promoting a deep understanding of human behavior, mental processes, and psychological research.

Our department offers a diverse range of programs and opportunities for those interested in psychology, whether you're pursuing a career in the field or simply want to explore the fascinating world of the human mind.

Idaho State University's psychology department offers comprehensive programs and degrees tailored to the diverse interests and career goals of our students. From undergraduate programs to graduate degrees, our faculty members, who are experts in their respective fields, bring extensive knowledge and experience to the classroom, ensuring a high-quality education that prepares students for success in various psychology-related fields.

Delving into topics such as cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience, our engaging coursework provides students with valuable insights into the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. Through hands-on learning experiences, students actively participate in psychological research projects, gaining practical skills that benefit their future careers.

Our department also offers abundant research opportunities, allowing students to engage in cutting-edge research guided by our expert faculty. These experiences deepen students' understanding of psychological principles and equip them with essential skills in research design, data analysis, and critical thinking. Graduates from Idaho State University's psychology program are well-prepared for a range of career prospects in counseling, social work, human resources, research, and academia.

We invite prospective students, current students, and alumni to explore our website and discover more about our psychology programs, faculty, research opportunities, and the vibrant community we have cultivated at Idaho State University's Department of Psychology. Whether you're seeking to understand human behavior, promote mental health, or make a positive impact in the field of psychology, we are here to support your journey.

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U of I’s First Graduate Health Care Programs Will Launch in Fall 2025

June 13, 2024.

MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho will welcome the School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP) to its graduate program roster in Fall 2025. These programs will address the physician and health care provider shortage that has plagued Idaho for years.

SHAMP will be a transformative force in addressing Idaho’s health care crises by expanding medical education and health care services both in rural north Idaho and statewide. The new programs will support existing programming in the state and propel Idaho out of its health care crises.

Spearheaded by Idaho WWAMI Regional Dean and Director Jeff Seegmiller, the new school was approved by the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) today, June 13, determining that U of I will be adding SHAMP and a master’s degree in gerontology — the study of old age — to its health care offerings.

“This is a monumental step forward for University of Idaho and the state’s health care system,” Seegmiller said. “These programs are designed to equip future health care professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the growing demands of our communities. Thank you to the Idaho State Board of Education for supporting the development of these new health care education opportunities.”

The state is experiencing a health care worker shortage, ranging from primary care providers and nurses to behavioral health professionals. Idaho ranks 50th out of 50 states in the country in practicing physicians per capita. Additionally, by 2031, an estimated 30% of Idaho’s population will be 65 or older, making this a critical time to introduce Idaho’s first gerontology degree.

The programs housed within SHAMP will include a Master of Gerontology, with the intent to add two additional master’s programs and three doctoral programs upon final approval at the August SBOE meeting, including a doctorate in clinical psychology.

“Our goal is not only to fill the current gaps in health care provision, but also to create a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals who can contribute to the well-being of Idahoans for generations to come,” Seegmiller said.

U of I has worked closely with Idaho State University on the development of health care education in Idaho.

“We appreciate the support from our sister institutions, especially Idaho State University, to help make the School of Health and Medical Professions possible and look forward to future collaborations to help meet the health care needs of our state,” U of I President Scott Green said.

U of I has the medical education building and anatomy lab in place to house SHAMP and is prepared to take on the expansion of graduate-level health care programs in north Idaho. Additionally, in anticipation of growth, U of I will break ground in July on an expansion to the D.A. Huckabay M.D. Medical Education Building.

“University of Idaho was founded on giving back to the state of Idaho as a land-grant institution and has a responsibility to better the lives of Idahoans,” Seegmiller said. “Developing the School of Health and Medical Professions furthers that mission.”

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