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SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY
MARSTON/WATSON HALL
206.281.2987
GRADADMISSIONS@SPU.EDU

MISSION STATEMENT
The master of arts (M.A.) and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in organizational psychology (OP) programs seek to develop scholars, professional practitioners, and leaders who will actively engage the community and businesses around them, improving organizations and developing people as part of their jobs. Graduates of the Organizational Psychology programs become scholars possessing the necessary tools, theoretical knowledge, and analytical skills to launch their academic or consulting careers; they are practitioners managing change, applying scientific methodologies, and improving the organizations around them; and they are leaders guiding organizations, motivating and building teams, and developing future leaders.

PROGRAM DISTINCTIVES
Both programs are designed with a focus on the science and rigor associated with quality degrees in this field along with an equal emphasis on the practice of organizational psychology. The program curriculum provides students with a strong theoretical foundation for meeting real-world challenges. Field practicum experiences allow them to design and deliver interventions, conduct research and develop leaders. A wide variety of electives encourages students to tailor their coursework to meet their individual vocational and professional goals.

The curricula for the master's and doctoral programs have been structured according to the guidelines for graduate training in industrial/organizational psychology published by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), a division of the American Psychological Association. The curriculum in each of SPU's Organizational Psychology programs satisfies the suggested areas of competence for graduates in organizational psychology, ensuring that our graduates are fulfilling not only the expectations for master's- and doctoral-level education, but also the expectations of experts working in the field.

THE MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) IN ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
The master of arts degree in organizational psychology provides a theoretical foundation for addressing a broad range of behavioral issues in the workplace. It develops professionals within human resources, organizational development, and training fields, and provides organizational leaders with a graduate education that relates directly to their practice as leaders.

M.A. PROGRAM CURRICULUM
The M.A. is a 65-credit program (56 credits required, plus 9 elective credits) and is designed to be taken over a two-year/seven-quarter or three-year/11-quarter sequence. Master's students may take any of the approved graduate courses to fulfill their elective requirements. Full-time students will typically take 8 credits a quarter (two classes) in their first year and 8-11 credits in their second year.

Students complete a master's project and a portfolio in their final year of the program.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
The program begins in Autumn Quarter and admits students once a year. The deadline is February 15. Listed below is a brief outline of University and program requirements for admission to the Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology program. For detailed information on admission, please . You may also request an application packet by email to gradadmissions@spu.edu, or by phone at 206.281.2091 or 800.601.0603.

1. Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Candidates must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all undergraduate work. Preference is for applicants to have completed a major or minor in psychology, and possibly a major or minor in business administration. A minimum of one business or social science statistics course and two courses in psychology must be completed (at a regionally accredited institution) prior to admission to the program.
   
2. The GRE must be taken, and the test must have been administered within five years of the deadline date for application to the program. A combined score of 950 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE is preferred.
   
3. A typed personal statement that demonstrates writing and grammatical skills; addresses career objectives; the rationale for seeking the degree and choosing to attend Seattle Pacific; and indicates personal qualifications, experience, and other insights as deemed appropriate by the applicant.
   
4. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation: (a) one from a person who has experienced the applicant in a professional setting (i.e., a current or former employer); (b) one academic reference from a former professor or instructor, and (c) one personal recommendation (not a member of the applicant's family). Note: Recommendations must be submitted on the forms provided in the application brochure. Recommendation forms should be sent to the applicant in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap, and included with the application package.
   
5. Those for whom English is not their first language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and present a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test. 6. Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States must provide an official confidential statement of financial support covering each year of intended enrollment. This is necessary in order to issue the paperwork for an I-20 immigration form.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS
The Admissions Committee of the Organizational Psychology program will conduct a preliminary screening process. Finalists will be invited to come to campus for personal interviews. Admission to the master's program depends upon recommendation by the OP faculty and approval from the OP chair. The entire process is usually completed within eight weeks after the final deadline date for applications.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT
Students who have taken graduate coursework at a regionally accredited institution may be allowed to transfer up to 12 quarter credits. Students must provide applicable transcripts and/or syllabi. Each course must be at least 3 graduate quarter credits, equivalent to courses taught in the organizational psychology programs at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and completed within seven years of admission. A minimum grade of B will be needed for transferred work. Any transfer-credit petitions should be submitted only after formal admission to the master's program.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D.) IN ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
The doctor of philosophy degree in organizational psychology provides graduates with the training to occupy the same positions as master's graduates. The distinctiveness of the doctoral program is in its additional emphasis on theory, methodology, and research. The Ph.D. in organizational psychology prepares graduates to take on higher level academic, consulting, and leadership positions.

PH.D. PROGRAM CURRICULUM
The doctoral program is a 168-unit program (138 credits of required coursework and 30 credits of electives) and is designed to be taken over four years/16 quarters, with an integrated research and dissertation sequence. A full-time doctoral student will take 8-14 credits each quarter. Outside of the required coursework, students may complete electives from a variety of disciplines (marriage and family therapy, clinical psychology, business administration, and education).

The doctoral program begins in summer with an introductory course in statistics. Doctoral students will complete a master's level project in the second year and be awarded a master's degree upon completion of the equivalent M.A. requirements. By the summer of year three, doctoral students are working full time on their dissertation. The fourth year in the program includes full-time dissertation work and professional placement credits. Click here for a sample four-year course sequence for the program.

GENERAL ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
The program begins during Summer Session and admits students once a year. The deadline is January 15.

Listed below is a brief outline of University and program requirements for admission to the doctor of philosophy in organizational psychology program. For detailed information on admission, please visit . You may also request an application packet by emailing gradadmissions@spu.edu, or by phone at 206.281.2091 or 800.601.0603.

1. Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Candidates must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in all undergraduate work. Preference is for applicants to have completed a major or minor in psychology, and possibly a major or minor in business administration. A minimum of one business or social science statistics course and three courses in psychology must be completed (at a regionally accredited institution) prior to admission to the program. Those who have already been granted the M.A. in organizational psychology at Seattle Pacific University and wish to pursue their Ph.D. must apply to the organizational psychology doctoral program.
2. The GRE must be taken, and the test must have been administered within five years of the deadline date for application to the program. A combined score of 1100 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE is preferred. NOTE: Candidates with significant qualifications and exceptional recommendations who fail to meet the GPA or GRE minimum scores may still be considered for admission to the doctoral program.
3. A typed personal statement that demonstrates writing and grammatical skills; addresses career objectives and the rationale for seeking the degree and choosing to attend SPU; and indicates personal qualifications, experience, and other insights as deemed appropriate by the applicant.
4. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation: (a) one from a person who has experienced the applicant in a professional setting, i.e., a current or former employer; (b) one academic reference from a former professor or instructor, and (c) one personal recommendation (not a member of the applicant's family). NOTE: Recommendations must be submitted on the forms provided in the application brochure. Recommendation forms should be sent to the applicant in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap, and included with the application package.
5. Students who are nonnative speakers of English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and present a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test or 250 on the computer-based test.
6. Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States must provide an official confidential statement of financial support covering each year of intended enrollment. This is necessary in order to issue the paperwork for an I-20 immigration form.

ADMISSIONS PROCESS
The Admissions Committee of the Organizational Psychology program will conduct a preliminary screening process. Finalists will be invited to come to campus for personal interviews in March. Admission to the doctoral program depends upon recommendation by the OP faculty and approval from the OP program director. The entire process is usually completed within eight weeks after the final deadline date for applications.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT
Students who have taken graduate work at a regionally accredited institution may be allowed to transfer up to 12 quarter credits, and students who have been granted a master's degree from a regionally accredited university in psychology, organizational psychology, business administration, or a related field may be allowed to transfer up to 30 credits. A maximum of 20 credits may be transferred toward the elective requirement.

Students must provide applicable transcripts and/or syllabi for any course they wish to transfer. Each course must be at least 3 graduate quarter credits, equivalent to courses taught in the organizational psychology programs at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, and completed within seven years of admission. A minimum grade of B will be needed for transfer work. Any transfer-credit petitions should be submitted only after formal admission to the doctoral program.

Those who have already been granted the M.A. in organizational psychology at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and wish to pursue their Ph.D. must apply to the organizational psychology doctoral program.

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