Industrial/Organizational Psychology (PhD) – STEM Designated Degree Program
Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in the workplace. It focuses on the assessment of individual, group and organizational dynamics and application of evidence-based principles to improve the well-being and performance of an organization and its employees. I/O psychologists look at questions such as: What are the best ways to select and retain employees? How are decisions made? How do we train better leaders? What makes employees happy and engaged? How do team members interact and collaborate? Knowing the answers to these questions and many others help business owners determine where to change systems to improve company functioning. I/O psychology has taken on an increasingly strategic dimension in the world of business.
Unique Advantages of the I/O Psychology PhD at Montclair State
The Ph.D. program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Montclair follows the scientist-practitioner model, equally emphasizing the generation and application of psychological science to improve the workplace. Students will develop their research and analytical skills in concert with individual faculty members while also applying this knowledge through coursework, consulting, and experiential projects. The Montclair I/O program also has many unique offerings to service a new generation of doctoral students in the 21st century, such as:
- Wide Expertise: We have 8 full-time and affiliate faculty with active laboratories, making us one of the largest I/O Psychology programs in terms of research breadth. Students can choose a range of mentors who best align with personal interests and career endeavors.
- Balance: Our program adheres to the SIOP competency model for graduate education (SIOP, 2017) to offer a balanced curriculum equally emphasizing methodological, industrial, and organizational topics.
- Business Strategy: Students are required to take business courses in competitive advantage, HR strategy, and organizational development. The exposure to big-picture areas and actual business operations helps students close the intersection between I/O ideas and strategic concerns facing executives and managers.
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Quantitative Certification: I/O Psychology PhD students will also fulfill all requirements to obtain the Advanced Quantitative Methods in Psychology (Certificate) along the way.
- Data Science: We are the only I/O Psychology PhD program to offer a Data Science concentration in computer science where students take courses in Python, computational modeling, database systems, data mining, and natural language processing.
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Eagle I.O. Students can participate in a student led consultancy group providing evidence-based services to local organizations to improve organizational effectiveness.
- Support: The program is dedicated to a strong, collaborative culture which supports student development. Most doctoral students are guaranteed funding for their first four years of study. There is also an onboarding process, peer mentorship program, annual celebratory party, SIOP reception for alumni and students, and financial support for travel and research.
- Statistical Training in R: The Psychology department offers a specialized R Data Science course for social scientists, teaches most quantitative courses in R, and is creating a quantitative certification for students seeking to specialize in advanced statistical modeling.
- Regional Reputation: We are the only I/O Psychology PhD program in the state of New Jersey. The program builds on the current MA program which is among one of the most rigorous and best respected in the region. Faculty regularly serve on boards of local I/O professional groups which provide speakers and development opportunities.
Along with the Industrial/Organizational Psychology (PhD) degree, the department also offers an Industrial and Organizational Psychology (MA) degree. More details about the I/O program can be found at the Psychology Department’s website.
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.