The principal thrust of the Ph.D. Program in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology is to develop scientists who are able to apply their psychological skills and knowledge effectively to the solution of human problems in complex organizations. The I/O curriculum has been formulated on the premise that an effective behavioral scientist or practitioner working in an applied setting should be first a good psychologist, with a sound background of knowledge in all areas of psychology. The I/O psychologist should also have even more highly developed levels of knowledge and expertise in areas of psychology directly relevant to work and organizational environments. The brief outline of the program of study that follows is drawn from the longer official description which is issued to all entering I/O graduate students. Refer to that document for further details.

General Outline of the Program

The I/O graduate program is intended to progress from the general to the specific. During the first year of graduate training, the student must take the basic methods courses and complete part or all of the Departmental core course requirements. The basic overview course in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology is also scheduled for the first year of graduate training. (This introductory I/O course will be waived for students who have had a good introductory I/O Psychology course at either the graduate or undergraduate level in the past.) As a general rule, the first-year full-time student will carry a 12-hour course load each semester. The Master's thesis will also be started in many cases (in some cases, even completed) during the first year.

In the second year, the student will usually begin to take more specialized courses in the I/O field, the additional graduate methods courses, and the computer proficiency requirement. A normal course load during the second year is at least two courses (6 hours) each semester, in addition to the course hour credit for thesis research. Most students will be completing the Master's thesis during the second year. In fact, unless there are extenuating circumstances, a full-time student should complete all requirements for the M.A. degree by the end of the second year if he/she is to remain on a four-year schedule for completing the Ph.D.

The third year curriculum typically becomes more specialized, with the course program consisting mostly of advanced seminars in the specialty area of concentration chosen by the student. Again, most students will take at least two courses each semester, in addition to credits for research and/or internship. During the third year, the student will typically meet the internship requirement and the Minor requirement. It is also possible for the student to begin work on the doctoral dissertation during the third year. Comprehensive examinations may be completed at the end of the third year.

Typically, most of the fourth year will be devoted to completing the doctoral dissertation. The student may also carry an additional advanced seminar each semester during the fourth year, although this will almost always be an optional choice.