Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2008-2009 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Psychology, Ph.D. Applied Organizational


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Professor Metlay, Graduate Program Director, (516) 463-6344, William.Metlay@hofstra.edu

This program prepares students for careers as doctoral-level psychologists in business, industry, government, and other private and public organizations. Graduates of this program are trained to apply scientific methods to the solution of problems related to individual and group behavior in organizations. They can also be capable of teaching and researching these topics in higher education settings.

The program’s overall approach is based on a scientist-practitioner model in which students are exposed to research methodology, factual content, theory, and the application of these skills and knowledge to the solution of practical problems in organizations. A major part of the student’s training, including the internship, research courses, and doctoral dissertation, will involve projects in organizations. These projects must serve the educational needs of the students and advance scientific knowledge in the field of organizational psychology; they cannot only serve the interests of the organization. The internship provides practical experience working for an organization for approximately 20 hours per week, under the supervision of a manager designated by the organization and approved by the program faculty. In contrast, the research courses provide experience conducting applied research relevant to an organization in both laboratory and field settings. The laboratory research is performed under the supervision of a faculty member; the field research is conducted under the joint supervision of a faculty member and a representative of the organization. Dissertation research may be conducted in the laboratory, the organization, or both. In addition to sound scientific methodology, the dissertation must have both practical and theoretical significance. This integration of science and practice is a major objective of the program.

Application for Admission


Applications completed by February 1 will be screened for regular acceptance. Applications completed after February 1 will be considered only if there are openings in the program. All requests for information will be directed to the Office of Graduate Admission. Students will be accepted only for the fall semester of each year. 

Admission Requirements


  1. Successful completion, at an accredited institution, of a master’s degree (or equivalent) in one of the social sciences or in business.
  2. Scores on the Graduate Record Examination of no less than 500 on the Verbal Section and no less than 600 on the Quantitative section, or the equivalent of these scores on comparable examinations.
  3. A personal statement of interests and career intentions.
  4. A personal interview. 
  5. Two letters of recommendation.

Graduation Requirements


  1. Completion of the 96-s.h. program with a cumulative grade point average of B or better.
  2. Successful completion of a multi-stage comprehensive examination that includes (1) a multiple choice exam administered in January of the first year of the program, (2) an oral exam based on areas of weakness identified in (1) and completed no later than January of the second year, and (3) an essay exam administered at the end of the summer of the second year. Students who fail the oral exam will be retested on the material in a supplementary component of the essay exam in (3). Students who fail the essay exam twice will be dropped from the program.
  3. Students must maintain a B average each semester, receive no more than one C per semester and no more than three Cs in total toward the Ph.D. or the student will be dropped from the program.
  4. If a student earns a grade of D in a course, the instructor of that course will inform the program director who will then convene a meeting of the core program faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the D was earned. If this is the first D earned during his or her course of study, the student will be immediately placed on probation and a remedial plan for the student will be developed by the faculty. In the case of a D, course credit will not count toward the degree being sought but the grade is included in determining the cumulative gradepoint average. The course or its equivalent, must be repeated. A second grade of D received in any course while enrolled in the program is grounds for immediate dismissal. The Core Program Faculty will decide if the dismissal is warranted. A letter which reviews the discussion and outcome of the meeting, will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
  5. A grade of F in any class is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program. If a student earns an F, the instructor of that course will inform the Program Director who will then convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the F has been earned. A letter, which reviews the deliberations of the Core Program Faculty, will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
  6. Students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner according to the guidelines for students conduct and academic honesty at Hofstra University, and the Ethical Standards for Psychologists published by the American Psychological Association. Satisfactory interpersonal behavior and professional performance in classes and meetings, on practica and internships, etc. is expected. If a report of an ethics violation or an interpersonal problem which may be impeding professional growth is received, the Program Director will convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the violation or problem arose. After a faculty investigation, a report will be issued that may clear the student of any wrong doing, place the student on probation with a plan for remediation or dismiss the student from the program. A letter, which reviews the deliberations of the Core Program Faculty, will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
  7. Completion of a satisfactory research dissertation.
  8. Satisfactory performance in an oral examination, to be given subsequent to the completion of the dissertation.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 96



Students must complete 96 s.h. of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree, of which 72 s.h. are required in the core area and 24 credits are required in the extended area. A maximum of 44 credits may be transferred from prior graduate level work to partly satisfy extended or core area requirements (or a combination of the two). All transferred courses must be equivalent to corresponding courses in the program. The maximum number of transfer credits is subject to the basic regulations governing doctoral programs at Hofstra University.

1. Core Courses - Semester Hours: 72


2. Extended Area Knowledge Requirements - Semester Hours: 0-24 - No core credit


This requirement is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain knowledge in diverse areas. Transferring credits from prior graduate-level work can satisfy this requirement. However, for those who have transferred less than 24 credits this requirement can also be satisfied by either of the following alternatives (or a combination of the two):

Alternative A: Take the required number of courses from the following list under advisement.

a. Applications of Research Methods and Statistics to Practical Problems in Organizations


b. Disciplines Related to Human Behavior in Organizations


  • ANTH 112 - Anthropology of the Global Economy, 3 s.h.
  • ECO 121 - Economics of Discrimination, 3 s.h.
  • ECO 130 - Intermediate Microeconomics, 3 s.h.
  • ECO 141 - Labor Economics, 3 s.h.
  • PSY 248 - Human Engineering, 3 s.h.
  • SOC 106 - Work, Alienation, and Power in Social Life, 3 s.h.
  • SOC 107 - Organizational Structure and Process, 3 s.h.

Alternative B:


Take a set of six courses to satisfy the requirements of an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Business in any of the following functional areas. (Students can take a maximum of 21 s.h., including prerequisites, if any, in the School of Business.)

  • Accounting 
  • Banking
  • Corporate Finance
  • General Management
  • Human Resources Management
  • Information Technology
  • International Business
  • Investment Management
  • Marketing
  • Taxation

Sequence of Courses


Students admitted into the doctoral program will have completed a master’s program, from which they will receive some number of transfer credits. They will be required to take various courses as specified under program requirements, above. The following table shows how courses may be taken during the three years of the program, after the first 44 s.h. have been completed.

Year 1


Fall


  • PSY XXX - Extended Area Elective

Year 2


Spring


  • PSY XXX - Extended Area Elective

Year 3


Fall


  • PSY XXX - Extended Area Elective

Spring


  • PSY XXX - Extended Area Elective

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