PhD in Psychology - Industrial and Organizational Psychology - Qualitative
What Is Industrial and Organizational Psychology?
Grand Canyon University’s qualitative Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology allows you to study human behavior across a number of settings. This program focuses most on people in the workplace. You will have the opportunity to learn how relationships are formed and what makes people engaged and motivated. Studying these topics can allow you to consult and coach business professionals who wish to make improvements in relationship-building, culture and organizational performance.
The PhD in industrial and organizational psychology program was designed by the College of Doctoral Study to emphasize the following aspects of the field:
- The role of industrial organizational psychologists in an organization
- Theories and styles of leadership for appropriateness to organizational contexts
- Principles of interpersonal and group consulting and coaching to improve organizational performance
- Theories and methods for selecting, training, appraising, organizing and supervising employees and managers
- Methods for the selection, administration and interpretation of workplace tests and assessments
What Is a Qualitative PhD Organizational Psychology Degree?
Throughout this PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program, you will employ qualitative research methodology to conduct your dissertation. This research methodology focuses on how and why people think, believe and behave a certain way, while quantitative research methodology focuses on analyzing events by interpreting numeric data. By pursuing your qualitative PhD, you will create a sampling plan, design and field test research tools, collect data and conduct an analysis using a systematic approach.
Earn Your PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology Online or On Campus
The PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program includes coursework in the history and theory of general psychology. You will have the opportunity to discuss key theories and synthesize how they apply to behavior in the workplace. Common psychological theories are examined as they formulate new ideas and practices.
Scholarly research is as the heart of the GCU PhD industrial organizational psychology online and on-campus programs. As a student, you will evaluate existing research and consider the application and design used to formulate those principles. You will also conduct independent research with the goal to better understand approaches to thought processes in the workplace, such as memory, reasoning, intelligence, motivation and learning.
This work can lead you to research and complete your own dissertation. Throughout the program, you will have numerous avenues of support with your dissertation, including two hands-on doctoral residencies. Graduates who intend to pursue licensure will need to complete additional requirements, as this degree on its own does not lead directly to licensure.
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Study Organizational Behaviors and Management Strategies
Learners who plan to work with all levels of employees can be supported by the coursework in the PhD in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program. In order to support businesses that wish to help their workers excel, an expert in industrial organization must understand and be able to evaluate leadership, supervision and culture-building. At GCU, the study of these topics can help build that background.
- Psychology of leadership
- Social and organizational principles to business and industry
- Probability, descriptive and inferential analyses of data and statistical testing
- Principles related to personnel and human resources management
- Research
GCU alumni enrolling in a doctoral program for the first time may be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.§
Industrial and Organizational Psychology Careers
As a graduate of the PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology online or campus program, you may position yourself to become a behavioral expert in the workplace and bring the methods of psychology to business. You may also find work as a:
- Consultant
- Researcher
- Teacher at the university level
If you are eager to learn more about how psychology functions within work environments, a degree in industrial organizational psychology may be for you.
§ MOU-Alumni 2000 Doctoral-Dec2023: The Alumni Scholarship for Doctoral Programs is only valid for those applicants who submit a complete application and begin a Doctoral program in December 2023. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship or awards and only applies to online and evening programs. Please speak to a university counselor for complete details.
Time to Completion and Dissertation Process
To learn more about time to completion and the dissertation process at GCU, visit our doctoral page.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course introduces doctoral learners to the principle elements of research, scholarly writing, and effective argumentation. Learners are made aware of the dispositions and expectations of doctoral researchers as well as the University’s overarching values and beliefs regarding research and the responsibility of scholars to contribute new knowledge to their respective fields of study. Learners begin the process of identifying a researchable dissertation topic and are acquainted with appropriate scholarly resources that support the development of the dissertation.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to the critical reading of scholarly qualitative and quantitative literature at the doctoral level. Learners also explore the concept of synthesizing the scholarly literature to identify problems and problem spaces that emerge to form a researchable topic of study. The application of scholarly argumentation from the extant literature to defend the need for a research study is discussed.
Course Description
This course is designed to familiarize the graduate student with the major schools of thought in psychology and their philosophical origins. The individuals and their personal experiences are examined in depth. The social, economic, and political forces that have influenced the developing discipline of psychology are also examined.
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the nature, origins, and history of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. Although not a clinically based course, the course does address the psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic strategies used to assist individuals with managing personal and inter-personal issues leading to improved mental health.
Course Description
In this course, learners are introduced to key components of qualitative and quantitative research designs and the means to critically appraise the application of research designs as observed in the scholarly literature. The University's core research designs are presented. Consideration is given to the initial selection and defense of a research design to address a problem that emerged from the extant literature.
Course Description
This residency allows learners to continue developing their skills as academic researchers. Learners will have hands-on experience applying quantitative and qualitative design principals to develop the foundational elements for their potential dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-850, RES-825, RES-831, or RCS-831.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods employed in qualitative and quantitative research designs. Learners explore the alignment of sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods to the research topic, research questions, and research design. The course positions learners to select qualitative or quantitative designs for their dissertation studies. Prerequisite: RES-831.
Course Description
This course examines the historical and theoretical background of the behavioristic movement and its major works. The course also examines methods and techniques to help teach and learn new behaviors as well as the concepts and strategies to diminish or eliminate unwanted behaviors.
Course Description
This course applies social and organizational methods and principles to business and industry. Topics include human behavior at work; personnel selection, evaluation, and training; motivation and job satisfaction; management philosophies; employee-management relationships; work and equipment design; working conditions, accidents and human errors; and consumer psychology.
Course Description
This course explores the historical roots, theoretical foundations, major works, and guiding philosophy of Humanistic, Transpersonal and Existential (HTE) psychology. This course also examines the different approaches to studying HTE as it relates to human motivation, needs, will, love, and existence in a contemporary world.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore the basic components of GCU qualitative core research designs including descriptive, case study, and phenomenology. The nature of epistemological foundations and the structure of problem statements, purpose statements, research questions, data sources, collection and analysis approaches are discussed in the context of each design.
Course Description
In this course, learners differentiate the epistemological foundations and explore the data trustworthiness, research ethics, and potential for bias in descriptive, case study, and phenomenology research designs. The process of building a rationale for design choice and aligning the research questions, interview questions, problem statement, and purpose statement is addressed. Sources of qualitative data are introduced for each design, and ethical aspects of research are discussed. Prerequisite: RES-841.
Course Description
This course explores methods for accelerating individual, group, and organizational performance through consulting, coaching, and change management.
Course Description
In this residency, learners orally present and defend an expanded design of their preliminary dissertation research from RSD-851. Emphasis is placed on developing the qualitative dissertation. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
This course examines psychological principles related to personnel and human resource management in both physical and virtual work environments. Topics include personnel selection, affirmative action and equal opportunity decision making in selection, design and evaluation of training programs, training methods and management development, performance appraisal, and the work environment.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: RES-871, PSY-885, RSD-883, or RSD-884.
Course Description
In this course, learners explore qualitative data collection techniques and sources of qualitative data in the context of answering the research questions posed by a study. Consideration is given to the recognition of data saturation and the management of data. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs to prepare a written statement of data collection, and management activities. Prerequisite: RES-843.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: PSY-955.
Course Description
In this course, learners focus on the interpretation of qualitative data to produce written research findings, results, and implications. Learners continue to work with their respective dissertation chairs and apply information from this course to move ahead in the dissertation process. Prerequisite: RES-873.
Course Description
In this course, learners apply the skills of the practitioner-scholar. They are self-motivated and committed to reflective practice. They actively seek input from other scholars while continuing to design and/or conduct independent research under the guidance of the dissertation committee. Prerequisite: PSY-960.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.