PhD in Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology: Top Online Programs
A hybrid or online PhD in industrial organizational psychology can save you money and offers convenience. Find out more about I/O programs and degree benefits.
Whether you’ve been working for years or are fresh out of your undergraduate studies, it’s never too early (or too late) to think about graduate school. And, if you’re considering a doctorate in industrial organizational (I/O) psychology, your timing is impeccable. In 2023, the American Psychological Association credited psychologists with “leading the way” in new initiatives on workplace wellbeing, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates faster-than-average growth for psychology jobs over the next decade.
If you earn your I/O psychology doctorate online, not only will you be gaining the qualifications you need for this exciting branch of psychology, but you’ll also learn from home, saving money and hassle as you fit studies into your own schedule. So, let’s see if an online PhD in industrial organizational psychology is the degree for you.
Industrial Organizational Psychology PhD Spotlights
While the best program to start your PhD journey will depend on personal circumstances, the following programs offer a high-quality combination of academic rigor, student support, and course variety in online or hybrid form. Get started on finding the right school for you with these options.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
As an accredited, specialized university offering psychology degrees, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles is a leader in the field with their PhD in Business Psychology: I/O Track. This is a primarily online program, although it’s also offered at campuses in Chicago, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. The I/O track can be completed in three years of full-time or five years of part-time study and includes a residency program where you will gain hands-on experience. The residency can be completed at the most convenient choice of those three campuses.
Moreover, you will have the opportunity to complete fieldwork during your studies, either through an in-person internship or an online applied research project. Prospective students must have at least a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited university, while students who have earned a master’s degree are also encouraged to apply.
Adler University
Adler University is an accredited private university with campuses in the United States and Canada. It specializes in psychology and offers an Online PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with an emphasis on utilizing the skills gained in the program for social justice. The program can be completed fully online, including doctoral qualifying exams and a dissertation, while still providing opportunities to speak individually with faculty and fellow students. In addition, you will complete a 200-hour social justice internship at a setting in your community where you will gain hands-on experience that builds on your coursework.
Interested prospective students should have already completed a master’s degree in a relevant field, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You will also need to submit an online application, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample, as well as complete an admissions interview.
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is part of the state’s university system. They offer a hybrid PhD program in Industrial Organizational Behavioral Management through their psychology department. As a hybrid program, enrolled students will complete a mixture of courses online and in person at their Kalamazoo campus. The program consists of mandatory coursework, electives, and a final doctoral dissertation. A practicum is optional as an elective.
While WMU does not require prospective students to have a master’s degree before applying to the program, it is strongly encouraged that you complete an MA in a relevant psychology-related discipline before beginning to earn your PhD. It is also highly recommended that applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their graduate studies and have a GRE score in the top 50th percentile in both math and verbal.
PhD vs. PsyD in I/O Psychology: Which is Right for You?
According to the APA, PhD and PsyD are both important degree types, but serve different purposes. Have a look at which version of an I/O psychology degree might be best for you:
| Online PsyD in I/O Psych | Online PhD in I/O Psych | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To gain the highest level of expertise for delivering services in the field | To generate new information in the field of I/O psychology through research |
| Student Type | Earned at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology, business, etc. | Earned a master’s degree in psychology and/or has several years of work experience |
| Student Goal | A career working directly with people or business clients | A career in academia or research in the public or private sector |
| Funding | Can be funded by an employer | Rarely employer-funded; may be funded by teaching or research assistantships |
| Prerequisites | Can often be entered into directly out of undergraduate studies | Students are often required to have a master’s degree in order to apply |
| Length | Typically 2-3 years of full-time study to complete | Typically 3-5 years of full-time study to complete |
| Capstone | Not always required; may take the form of a research project | Doctoral dissertation which will be examined by a committee |
Benefits of Earning a I/O Psych PhD
If you’re already interested in the field, you may still not be sold on the commitment required for an online PhD in industrial organizational psychology. Here are just a few benefits to consider when earning this degree in an online or hybrid program.
Save Time (and Money) While Advancing Your Field
Online programs typically offer accelerated options, but even those that don’t can be completed quickly due to the flexible, customizable schedule. Moreover, even before any financial aid you may receive, you’ll be saving money on your doctoral studies by avoiding campus relocation expenses. It’s not a bad way to add to your I/O psychology knowledge while earning qualifications at your convenience.
Gear Up for a Career Shift to a Higher Level
Once you’ve earned your PhD, you’ll be qualified for jobs with more responsibility and more advanced tasks than if you only earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree. This is true whether you were previously working in I/O psychology, or you have a background in business, clinical psychology, or another field. While your PhD may not represent a complete rethinking of your career path, it’s definitely a step into a new job market with new skills and credentials you’ve gained.
Work While You Study – and Let the Experiences Guide Each Other
One of the most interesting aspects of I/O psychology is its application in the world of business and the workplace. One of the major benefits of studying online is how the flexibility of online learning makes it easier to work while you study. Working while you study your PhD in industrial organizational psychology online means you’ll be able to bring the skills from your studies to your workplace, and vice versa, allowing your experiences to build on and enhance each other.
Accreditation for Online Psych PhD Programs
It’s absolutely critical that your online PhD program in industrial organizational psychology be accredited. It is what will give your degree legitimacy, as accreditation is recognized by future employers and for any licensure you may need. Your university should have regional accreditation, which means that a third-party accrediting body has found it meets certain standards of academic rigor and can award doctorates.
In addition, an accredited online PhD in industrial organizational psychology may also have programmatic accreditation from a psychology-related body, such as the American Psychological Association, which recognizes the program’s rigor and credentials in addition to the legitimacy of the school as a whole, which the regional accreditor guarantees.
While it’s not necessary for your degree to have programmatic accreditation in order to be viewed as legitimate in most cases, programmatic accreditation from an accredited school can often be a sign of a high-quality program.
Common Program Components of I/O Psych PhDs
A PhD is made up of several different elements, and your online PhD in industrial organizational psychology will be no exception. Here are some aspects of the program you can expect to complete.
Coursework
One of the first portions of your PhD will be coursework. This is likely to include both required core courses and electives you can choose for yourself. In an online or hybrid program, you might be taking asynchronous or synchronous online classes in addition to some hybrid programs requiring on-campus coursework.
Dissertation/Research
Completing a dissertation based on original research is one of the key parts of a PhD that distinguishes it from other types of degrees. You will likely have to formulate a hypothesis and proposal and present it for approval before you begin conducting research. Then, you will write up your results to present before a committee.
Internship
Many PhD programs, especially in a scientific field like industrial organizational psychology, have a required or mandatory internship. In an online degree program, your advisor will typically help you find an internship site that’s local to you, while a hybrid program may require you to work at a site near campus.
Practicum
A practicum, or hands-on practical course, is likely to be part of your program, even in the case of a fully-online degree. The practicum will give you hands-on experience and will likely involve a short residency at your school’s campus in order to access its labs and other facilities.
What You’ll Learn in an Industrial Organizational Psychology Grad Program
Whether it’s in your required coursework or an elective, you’ll have plenty of options for classes in your PhD program. While you’re likely to be able to customize your schedule, here are a few popular classes to expect.
Psychology of Work
One of the cornerstones of industrial organizational psychology is how our brains interact with the work we do. In this course, you’ll be learning how work environments are distinctive forms of human interaction, with all of the psychological impacts that entails. You may go into further detail for different types of work, such as white collar and blue-collar occupations or collaborative vs solo working.
Behavioral Economics
I/O psychology is a unique field in how it shows the interaction between psychology as a discipline and business and economics. Behavioral economics deals with how people conduct themselves in the real world and whether this differs from self-reported goals and interests. This class will teach you not only the foundations of behavioral economics but also how to conduct research in the field.
Personnel Training and Development
While many graduates of PhD programs in industrial organizational psychology go on to a career in academia or research, working in the business world or industry is also a popular route. This class can be especially valuable for people looking at post-graduation industry work. Personnel training and development explore the best ways to teach new skills to employees and cultivate a strong workforce with possibilities for employees to advance.
Behavioral Systems Analysis
This course is an offshoot of behavioral economics, as it focuses on wider systems of behavior rather than on an individual. In this class, you’ll be looking at organizations as complex systems, like physical organisms, and learning how to develop management and training strategies that account for how the functions of any part of a business will impact the health and productivity of the organization as a whole.
Behavior-Based Instructional Design
This is a course which will help you design training strategies for maximum efficacy, based on behavioral psychology. Using data and the principles of behavioral economics and analysis, you will learn how to design instructions for a business or educational setting that is most likely to be understood and utilized by the intended audience. This course is another one which is especially useful for designing research projects or future industry work.
Understanding Tuition and Financial Aid
Before you begin your online or hybrid PhD in industrial organizational psychology, you should have some idea of how you’ll pay for it. This may include having savings available for your educational expenses, but it’s important to investigate your possible financial aid options, including loans, grants, work-study, fellowships, and both school-sponsored and private financial aid. You should also be aware of differing costs between schools, as seen below.
What Your Online I/O PhD Could Cost
| School | Program | No. of Credits | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles | PhD in Business Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Track | Varies | $1,737/credit |
| Adler University | Online PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 66 | $64,152 |
| Western Michigan University | PhD in Industrial Organizational Behavior Management | 42 | $33,520 |
Top Careers for I/O Psych PhD Grads
It’s valid to wonder what your career will look like after you’ve graduated from your PhD program. Luckily, I/O psychologists are in high demand in the business world, as well as in research and academia. Not only will you be qualified for a variety of careers where six-figure salaries are common, but also many of these jobs are projected to grow quickly over the next decade, leading to plenty of job openings for you. Have a look at just a few options you’ll have post-graduation.
| Job Title | Median Salary (50%) | Top Salary (90%) | Projected Growth (2023-33) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $147,420 | $219,810 | 7% |
| Human Resources Manager | $136,350 | $239,200 | 6% |
| Training and Development Manager | $125,040 | $220,060 | 7% |
| Management Analyst | $99,410 | $172,280 | 11% |
| Psychology Professor | $82,140 | $151,890 | 8% |
Sources: O*Net OnLine, 2024; The Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
Online I/O Psych PhD FAQs
Are online Industrial Organizational Psychology PhD programs more affordable than in-person programs?
Generally speaking, online PhD programs will be more affordable than in-person programs, because you will save money on relocation costs and have more opportunity to work while you study. These factors are relevant to your online PhD in industrial organizational psychology, but you should be sure to compare costs specific to the programs in which you’re interested and check out financial aid opportunities for which you’re eligible.
How long does it take to earn an Industrial Organizational Psychology PhD degree online?
Generally, you can complete an I/O psychology PhD online over 3-5 years of full-time study, as is the case with the doctorate offered by Adler University. However, it will take longer if you opt to study part-time. Some schools may offer accelerated options where you can transfer credits from previous study to finish your doctorate in as little as one year.
What are some common admission requirements for online Industrial Organizational Psychology PhD programs?
Generally speaking, you will need to provide transcripts from previous study, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and potentially your GRE scores. Letters of recommendation should come from academic or professional sources, such as former professors or managers. Depending on your program, it may require you to have completed a master’s degree program in a relevant field (often with a GPA requirement of 3.0 or higher) before you apply.
Once I earn my I/O PhD, do I need to become licensed or certified in my state?
If you want to practice psychology after you graduate, you will need to become licensed in your state. Licensure requirements vary from state to state, although they often include education and supervised work requirements, but your school will be familiar with these and will be able to answer some of your questions through its career counseling services. However, you may not need to be licensed if you are planning to work in industry, as many businesses that recruit industrial organizational psychology PhD graduates do not require you to practice as a licensed psychologist.
There are a lot of online industrial organizational PhD programs available. How do I choose the best one?
The program that is best for you will depend on a lot of different factors. You should consider the school’s reputation but also the program details, such as whether your online classes are synchronous or asynchronous. You should also consider if you want to specialize in a particular area of I/O psych and how the program you choose can help with that. Finally, consider costs and pick a program you can pay for comfortably.
PhD Student Resources for I/O Psychology
- SIOP – The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
The premier professional organization for industrial organizational psychologists, it’s affiliated with the APA, publishes journals, and organizes an annual conference. - The American Psychological Association (APA)
The No. 1 psychological professional and academic organization in the United States, the APA also serves as a programmatic accreditor for many psychology degrees. - The Alliance for Organizational Psychology
Founded in 2020, this international organization brings together organizational psychology professionals and leaders from around the world to create a network for professional and research resources. - Society of Psychologists in Leadership
This is a professional organization for PhD-level psychologists, including industrial organizational psychologists, who work in leadership positions in industry and the particular worlds of business and management. - Psych Learning Curve
Developed by the APA, this is a resource for psychology students at all degree levels, including relevant news updates, study tips, and profiles of psych students and the work they do.