hybrid
Doctor of Psychology
The Doctor of Organizational Psychology (PsyD) program is designed to meet the growing demand for experts who can cultivate thriving work environments and positive company cultures in today’s rapidly changing workplace. Created as a practical, application-oriented alternative to traditional, research-heavy PhDs, this program equips you to solve real-world organizational problems. Drawing from psychology, human resources, management, and more, the PsyD program prepares you for impactful leadership roles with advanced knowledge and practical skills.
CGU is home to the largest Organizational Psychology programs in the world and is recognized as a leader in Positive Psychology. Our new PsyD leverages this strength to provide an innovative applied doctorate with concentrations in:
Our PsyD program fills a gap in doctoral education by offering hands-on expertise with comprehensive evaluation and statistical training. Through applied coursework, you will learn from executive leaders in the field and industry partnership opportunities such as: Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, Disney, and many more. The PsyD program prepares you to gain a competitive edge in the job market and become a leader in organizational psychology.
Graduates of this program will be ready to excel in leadership roles that significantly enhance organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. Common job titles may include Director of Training and Development, People Analytics Specialist, Human Resource Business Partner, Chief People Officer, and Vice President of Global Talent.
Our PsyD program is designed for:
72 units
required units
Doctor of Psychology
degree awarded
Hybrid
modality
Fall
program start
3-4 years | full time*
estimated completion time
5-8 years | part time
estimated completion time
This concentration aligns directly to the competencies outlined by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and prepares you to tackle workplace challenges on both individual and organizational fronts. Curriculum and training includes workforce planning, diversity, equity, and inclusion, recruitment and selection, talent management, leader development, attitudes and motivation, and much more.
Developed in one of the nation’s premier institutions for Positive Psychology, this concentration prepares you to improve organizational effectiveness and individual work life through empirically supported best practices in the field of Positive Organizational Psychology.
Full Professor
Research Interests
Development of those not typically represented in leadership roles (e.g., women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+), Psychological mechanisms underlying the process of leader development (e.g., feedback, goal striving, self-views, implicit theories, leader development readiness), Development of leadership through experiences outside of the work context (e.g., global, sports, volunteering, crisis)
Director, Human Resource Management
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
Organizational behavior, employee experience, psychological safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion, leader development, statistics and methodology
University Professor
Research Interests
Organizational Justice, Employee Attitudes and Motivation, Leadership
Distinguished University Professor
Executive Director, Claremont Evaluation Center
Executive Director, The Evaluators' Institute (TEI)
Research Interests
Positive Organizational Psychology, Health/Well-Being & Positive Functioning Across Cultures, Program Design & Re-Design, Culturally Responsive Theory-Driven Measurement & Evaluation
Executive Vice President & Provost
Professor of Organizational Behavior
Research Interests
Leadership, Organizational Culture, Charismatic Leadership
Dean, School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation
Full Research Professor
Research Interests
Educational Program Evaluation, K–12 Educational Curricula, Comprehensive School Reform
Associate Professor of Evaluation Practice
Research Interests
Positive youth development, evaluation capacity building, evaluation use, continuous quality improvement, expanded learning programs
Research Interests
Cultivating Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Organizations
The PsyD curriculum integrates statistics, methodology, and evaluation with significant hands-on experience through applied projects with leading organizations. With concentrations available in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Positive Organizational Psychology plus 22 units of electives, you can customize your education to match your career goals. A mix of online and flex courses accommodates working professionals, allowing you to balance career, family, and study while enjoying our unique campus culture.
You will complete two practicum courses and aligned projects.
Take TDNY 440 (Professional Practice for Inclusive Excellence) to complete your field placement. You are encouraged to use your field placement organization for either your first year project and/or your capstone project.
Address a real organizational psychology issue faced by a real client. Upon completion of the project, you will present your work to a panel of practitioners and academic scholars in a capstone defense.
Complete an applied and practitioner-driven portfolio that will equip you with applied and translational skills essential to compete in the workforce. The portfolio will include the following:
University Requirements | |
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Application Fee | $80 (fee is non-refundable) |
Official Transcripts | Undergraduate/graduate Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Electronic transcripts sent to admissions@cgu.edu are also accepted. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for review purposes, but official copies will be required upon admission. Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU. International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts. |
English Proficiency Exam | Required (international applicants only) A valid score on one of the following examinations TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson PTE, Duolingo English Test is required of all non-native English-speaking applicants. The examination is not required for the following applicants:
CGU’s school code for the TOEFL exam is 4053. International applicants are encouraged to visit our International Applicants page for more information, including score requirements. |
Resume | Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume. |
Program Requirements | |
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Statement of Purpose | Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of research interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals. |
Academic Prerequisites | 3 years of work experience is preferred. |
Letter of Recommendation | 2 letters required When filling out the online application, please enter references acquainted with your potential for success who will submit a written recommendation on your behalf. In most academic departments, references from faculty members who can speak to your academic ability are preferred; applicants with substantial work experience may request professional references. Please do not enter family members as references. You will be required to input information for your recommenders (whether they are submitting online or not) in the “Recommendations” section of the online application. Please follow the directions in this section carefully before clicking on “Recommendation Provider List” to input the names and contact information for each recommender. You will have an opportunity to indicate if the reference writer will be submitting online. These reference writers will receive an email from CGU with instructions on submitting an online recommendation. Recommenders who are indicated as offline will not receive an email from CGU with instructions to submit. These reference writers can submit via traditional mail and should use the supplemental New Student Recommendation Form. Recommenders can also email their letter of recommendation to the Office of Admissions at admissions@cgu.edu. |
Interview | Required Upon review of your application, you may be invited for an interview, which is required for admission. An admission decision will not be issued until the interview is complete. |
CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.
Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.
Fall 2025
Priority Deadline – February 1, 2025
Final Deadline (International) – July 5, 2025
Final Deadline (Domestic) – August 1, 2025
Classes begin – August 25, 2025
Program | 72 units |
Tuition per unit* | $2,020 |
*Based on 2024-2025 tuition rates.
$245 Student Fee |
$150 Technology Fee |
International Student Services Fee*: $661 fall semester, $776 spring semester **Applies to all international students (F-1 visa only) who are registered in coursework, doctoral study, or continuous registration. The fee is assessed each fall and spring semester for annual ISO accident and sickness plans and administrative fees. Subject to change. |
For estimates of room & board, books, etc., please download CGU’s Cost of Attendance 2024-2025.