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.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in psychology OR a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits in psychology, including a course in statistics and a laboratory experimental course. Please note: an introductory course in psychology does not count toward the minimum credit requirement, though it might be needed as a pre-requisite to other psychology courses. Students demonstrating a strong background in psychology and behavioral research will be given priority.
Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: December 1st. Please note: Upon offer of admission, you will be asked to submit an enrollment deposit of $200.
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Industrial/Organizational Psychology (PhD) program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Essays/Personal Statement – Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- What are some strengths that make you an excellent candidate for our program? You may also want to explain any areas of relative weakness.
- What are some areas of research that you might be interested in?
- What faculty members would you like to work with if you were to be accepted into our program?
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation, from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant’s promise of academic achievement and potential for professional growth.
- Standardized Test Scores: GRE (General Test)
- Resume: A current resume is not required, but applicants are encouraged to include one.
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
The Ph.D. degree requires completion of 79-81 credits hours of which students take 24 credits the first year and approximately 18 credits all remaining years. The first year is course heavy and focuses on statistics and design, I/O domains, and business strategy. Students are also encouraged to establish a relationship with their research advisor as early as possible during the first year. The second year leads into advanced I-O topics along with a structured, year-long research experience where students formulate original theoretical ideas, develop multi-method studies, and present findings at a program-wide colloquium. Following second year, students complete a prospective comprehensive examination to qualify for doctoral status. During the last two years, students refine their focus through advanced seminars, dissertation, teaching, and a specialization, allowing scholarly pursuits most relevant to their personal and career goals.
| I/O Psychology Core | 16 credits |
| I/O Psychology Options | 12 credits |
| Methods, Stats, and Data Science | 15 credits |
| Advanced Statistics | 3 credits |
| Business and HR Strategy | 3 credits |
| Specialization [Psych, Business, or Data Science] | 12-14 credits |
| Advanced Electives | 6 credits |
| Thesis and Dissertation | 18 credits |
| Total | 79-81 credits |
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Industrial/Organizational Psychology (PhD) Program Coordinator:
Program Coordinator: Dr. Valerie Sessa
Email: psycgrad@montclair.edu