Doctorate in Organisational and Political Psychology

Instructional Philosophy

IUGS students are typically mid-career professionals who completed post-baccalaureate coursework. Students who need additional coursework to fulfill their requirements will be provided the opportunity to take the course(s) at another accredited institution or through independent study at IUGS. Coursework submitted for advanced standing transfer credit must be approved by the Dean. The coursework must be relevant to the students’ academic and/or professional goals and be consistent with the degree that is to be earned. Professional experience is required of all of our students, although IUGS grants no credit for “life experience.”

Degrees Offered

• IUGS offers a PhD, Doctor of Organisational and Political Psychology, and Master of Science degrees. Students may choose to declare and pursue a specialty in either Organisational Psychology or Political Psychology.
• Students are eligible for conferral of the PhD with the completion of a research-based dissertation, using an action learning framework. Students are eligible for conferral of the Doctor of Organisational and Political Psychology degree with the completion of a Doctoral Project showing the application of their learning to an applied area of interest. Students are eligible for conferral of the Master of Science degree with the completion of a Master’s research-oriented thesis, using an action learning framework.
• The PhD dissertation tends to be theoretical and involves more secondary then primary research.
• The MSc project tends to seek a practical solution or outcome for a question or need. It involves more primary then secondary research.
• All students will demonstrate mastery of the competencies through a combination of coursework, seminar participation, and professional experience.

Advanced Standing Academic Credit Transfer Requirements

Academic credits may be transferred from other institutions according to IUGS’s advanced standing academic credit transfer policy. The student’s portfolio and previous post-baccalaureate academic transcripts are reviewed by the Dean and discussed with the student to determine his or her goals. A maximum of up to 66 hours of advanced standing transfer credit will be approved after this process for doctoral candidates. For these candidates, instruction at IUGS is provided via study and at the 8-day Graduate Seminar at the 10-day Residency Programme. Only grades of “C” or better will be accepted in transfer for academic standing. In addition the students overall average must be “B” or better.

Instructional Requirements, Strategies, and Sequence

• A total of 93 post-baccalaureate credit hours are required for doctoral degrees, a minimum of 27 credits must be taken at IUGS. Some of these may be taken via independent study or at other post-baccalaureate institutions approved by the Dean.
• Up to 66 post-baccalaureate academic credits may be transferred from other accredited post-baccalaureate academic institutions according to IUGS’s Advanced Standing Academic Credit Transfer Policy.
• A total of 45 post-baccalaureate credits are required for Master’s degrees, with a minimum of 18 credits taken at IUGS. Up to 27 post-baccalaureate academic credits may be transferred from other accredited post-baccalaureate institutions.
• Instructional methods include:

1. Review and, as approved, acceptance of previous relevant post-baccalaureate coursework that meets the criteria of IUGS for advanced standing academic credit transfer;
2. As needed, independent study or courses completed at other post-baccalaureate institutions approved by the Dean to complete the required coursework;
3. Assigned readings of texts and academic journal articles;
4. Interactive lectures;
5. Small group discussions;
6. Use of electronic media (Questia online library provided by the University and other selections by the student, mentor, and Dean);

The instructional requirements and sequence include the following coursework to be successfully completed at IUGS:

1. Organisational and Political Psychology Research Design I (3) credits for the Doctoral and Master’s degrees;
2. Organisational and Political Psychology Research Design II (3) credits for the Doctoral degrees;
3. Upon completion of the research requirements, development of the Doctoral Dissertation or Project under the leadership and consultation of an appropriate mentor approved by the Dean.
4. Dissertation and Oral Defence or Doctoral Project and Oral Examination (18) credits or Master’s Thesis and Oral Defence or Master’s Project and Oral Examination (12) credits;
5. Oral panel Defence of the PhD Dissertation and the Master’s Project, or Oral Examination of the Doctoral Project or Master’s Project;
6. Graduate Seminar Programme (3) credits – Doctoral students only;
7. A minimum of 85% mastery of examination materials is required.

For Doctoral degrees, Organisational and Political Psychology Research I must be completed, approved, and filed before work on Research Design II begins. Organisational and Political Psychology Research and Design I and II are pre-requisites to undertaking the dissertation or the Doctoral Project. The research I is a prerequisite to undertaking the Master’s thesis, Research II is not required for a Master’s degree. The Dissertation and Doctoral Project are not pre-requisites for the 8-day Graduate Seminar at the 10-day Residency. However, it is recommended that all required coursework prior to the research courses be completed.