College of Management and Human Potential - Doctoral Programs:

PhD in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology

For Students Entering With a BS Degree

Minimum Degree Requirements

• Doctoral Writing Assessment
• Professional Development Plan and Plan of Study
• Foundation course (3 credits)
• Core courses (40 credits)
• Research courses (25 credits)
• Specialization courses (15–17 credits; see each specialization for specific courses)
• Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation
  • Dissertation support courses (7 credits)
  • Dissertation writing courses (5 credits per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion)
  • Quarter Plans
• Four PhD residencies

Curriculum

Foundation Course (3 credits)

Core Courses (40 credits)

Research Courses (25 credits)

Specialization Courses (15–17 credits)

These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.

Residency Requirements

• Residency 1 – Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2.
• Residency 2 – Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course.
• Residency 3 – Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system.
• Residency 4 – Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
  • Residency 4 General (RESI 8404) OR
  • Residency 4 Proposal Writing (RESI 8404Q) OR
  • Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Qualitative (RESI 8404R) OR
  • Residency 4 Methods & Data Collection: Quantitative (RESI 8404S) OR
  • Residency 4 Publishing & Presenting (RESI 8404T) OR
  • an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 for select programs only. Contact Advising for information.) OR
  • a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Student Success Advising to register. You must attend all sessions and advising throughout the entire intensive retreat in order to successfully complete the experience to satisfy residency 4 requirements. NOTE: Intensive Retreats are NOT included in Fast Track tuition.
• Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during IPSY 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register.

Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation

OR

AND

Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred.

Course Sequence for Students Entering With a BS Degree

Students undertake courses in the following sequence.

* These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.

** Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.

To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.