A blend of business and organizational psychology that combines research skills and theory for real-world applications.
This in-person or online I/O psychology Ph.D. program takes a multidisciplinary approach to address real-world individual, group, and organizational problems. Graduates are trained to enter roles as academics, organizational leaders, or consultants who are fully equipped to succeed in a competitive market that demands both relational and performance success. Foundational psychological and business principles allow students to address the wide variety of work settings that leaders and consultants encounter. The business psychology doctorate curriculum is a unique blend of business and industrial and organizational psychology that will prepare you to conduct empirical research with a multi-disciplinary approach that contributes to new knowledge to the scholarly literature while addressing real-world individual, group, and organizational problems.
Applicants in the Industrial/Organization track can enter the program with either post-bachelor’s or post-master’s. When entering with a bachelor’s degree, the first two years of the Ph.D. Business Psychology program will work toward an Industrial and Organizational Psychology Master’s degree. If the applicant has an M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology or equivalent, then the applicant can enter the program for a three year post-master's doctoral program.
Michael Stowers, Psy.D.
Admissions Requirements
- Application
- Application fee ($50)
- The general guideline for admission to the Ph.D. Business Psychology: Industrial Organization Track is a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale if entering at the post-bachelor’s entry point and a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale if entering at the post-master’s entry point
- Official college/university transcripts
- Resume or curriculum vitae or work history
- Essay
- Statement of research interests
- Two letters of recommendation
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited university (post-bachelors)
- Master's degree from an accredited university (post-master's)
- Completion of two courses below with a grade of C or better
- Undergraduate or master’s level statistics course
- Upper level undergraduate or master’s level organizational behavior or psychology course
- For students entering with a master’s degree, 21 hours of the following foundational IO Psychology graduate courses including all of the following requirements:
- Selection
- Two internship courses or an Applied Project/Thesis equivalent
- Performance Appraisal
- Training
- Survey
- Principles of industrial/organizational psychology
Accreditation & Licensure
Accreditation
To learn more about The Chicago School's institutional and programmatic accreditations for the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Ph.D. track, visit our Accreditation page.
Licensure
For information on whether the Industrial Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program track at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
Fieldwork Opportunities
Post-Baccalaureate Internship (On-Ground)
Students who enter the doctorate in I/O psychology program post-baccalaureate and are studying on a ground campus will complete two 300 credit hour internships (for a total of 600 hours of internship experience). The internship should involve the student in learning specific, transferable, Industrial and Organizational Psychology-relevant or HR-relevant professional skills. All internships must be pre-approved by the faculty internship supervisor. Students registered in this program incur a one-time $195 Experiential Learning Technology Fee.
Applied Research Project (Online)
Students who enter the program post-baccalaureate and are studying at our Online Campus will complete an Applied Research Project. The Ph.D. Business Psychology: Industrial and Organizational Track online students in the ARP track complete classwork over the course of their studies that guide them through the process of writing the Applied Research Project. A faculty member will approve and supervise the project through these courses.
Additional Program Components
Residencies
Students in our I/O business psychology Ph.D. online program are engaged in two brief residencies (roughly three and a half days each) at one of our campuses-providing an opportunity for face-to-face interaction and networking with fellow students from around the globe who bring a wealth of diverse business experiences and perspectives. At the first residency, students meet with their cohort and faculty members and engage in focused seminars. At the second residency, students participate in their competency exam.
Comprehensive Examination
Every business psychology doctorate student is required to pass a comprehensive competency examination. The aim of this assessment exercise is to evaluate the student’s knowledge of theory, research, and practice. This is also an opportunity to assess the student’s ability to demonstrate this knowledge and skill in simulations of work scenarios in order to judge his or her abilities as a future business psychologist. The Comprehensive Examination is taken upon completion of the second year of the industrial and organizational doctoral courses.
Dissertation
Completion of the dissertation is an essential aspect of the in-person and online Business Psychology students’ academic experience and professional education. It provides the school the opportunity to evaluate the student’s ability to think critically and creatively about an applied issue in business psychology and to produce new research in the field. The dissertation should clearly and concisely demonstrate the student’s command of the research in a specific area of business psychology. In the dissertation, will conduct empirical research using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods to produce new knowledge within the theoretical framework that comprises the Ph.D. Business Psychology curriculum.
Sample Courses
Statistics and Lab
The course presents the descriptive and inferential statistical techniques used in decision making. This course also examines problem-solving research methods currently used in organizational and industrial psychology. Students will apply univariate and multivariate statistics using computer programs designed to fulfill the needs of practitioners to address real organizational problems using research methods. This Ph.D. Business Psychology: Industrial and Organizational Track course is delivered in a blended format, where students complete the “lecture” portion of the class online and the lab portion either in a classroom for campus based students in webinar format for distance learning students.
Professional Development Seminar
This I/O Psychology Ph.D. course is designed to provide students with (1) the core professional skills necessary for competing successfully for I/O positions, (2) socialization into the profession of I/O psychology, (3) research skills, and (4) diversity training. Topics covered include networking, interpersonal skills, self-awareness, critical thinking and writing skills, business and systems logic, professional organization and networks, business etiquette, and competencies needed for successful job placement.
Social Psychology/Behavioral Economics
The online or in-person industrial organization psychology doctoral course focuses on the role of societal and environmental factors in the initiation and maintenance of human behavior patterns. The course will consider the implications of socio-environmental factors for the practicing psychologist. Cultural and individual differences are also considered.
Career Pathways
The Ph.D. Business Psychology program prepares students to build careers and assume professional responsibilities as professional psychologists in the executive ranks, management consulting, strategic HR, and organizational effectiveness positions.
Career Outcomes
The Chicago School prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The Chicago School is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions representative.
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status, including students applying to our Industrial and Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
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