Industrial / Organizational Psychology

The Industrial/Organizational psychology program is designed to train psychologists who are qualified in the scientific study of human behavior in the world of work. All psychology graduate students must obtain a firm grounding in several basic areas of psychology and research methodology. Within the industrial and organizational program the student is expected to become competent in theory, research, and applications of psychology as they relate to human behavior in organizations. The program emphasizes contributions of both industrial and organizational psychology to the understanding of people in their world of work. Training is received in conduct of basic and applied research, and in the applications of theory and research to organizational and human resource management problems in organizations.

Beyond the core requirements common for all students, every effort is made to tailor the program to the individual student’s interests and objectives. Further courses in the department, electives in other departments, independent study projects, and research activities are selected by the student and his or her advisory committee. Seminars allow faculty and students to explore, in depth, topics of current mutual interest. Practicum arrangements in organizational settings expose students to some of the everyday problems of applying their research and professional skills. Each student is required to be involved in research and is encouraged to obtain supervised teaching experience in the course of his or her program.

The program admits only students interested in attaining the Ph.D. degree. Past graduates have moved comfortably into jobs in personnel research departments of industrial and governmental organizations, psychology departments and business schools in universities, consulting firms, and research institutes.

George C. Thornton, III Graduate Scholarship

The program is proud to announce that through the generous donations of alumni and friends of the program, we have achieved the necessary funding level to launch the George C. Thornton, III Graduate Scholarship award through the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Foundation. This scholarship recognizes a doctoral student in IO Psychology who epitomizes the scientist/practitioner model in his or her training, research, and practicum experiences. The first award recipient will be announced at the 2013 annual conference for SIOP in April 2013. For more information and to make a tax-deductible donation to grow the scholarship fund, please visit SIOP's foundation website, at www.SIOP.org, Foundation Funds & Initiatives.

Application

The application and supporting documents for the Industrial/Organizational program must be received by December 1st of any given year. Application materials may be obtained by writing to Graduate Admissions, Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1876, by e-mailing Linda.Thornton@colostate.edu or by visiting our graduate application page (offers an online graduate school application).