mission and training philosophy

The Industrial and Organizational (I-O) Psychology training area at Baruch College provides doctoral-level training in I-O psychology, a field that focuses on the scientific study of the workplace – including both organizations and their employees. I-O psychologists develop skills in the design, execution, and interpretation of research in psychology and to apply that research to help address human and organizational problems (SIOP, 2010).

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I-O psychologists conduct research and work in a wide range of organizational, consulting and academic settings. The training program in I-O psychology is designed to prepare students for a variety of career paths, by developing key skills and foundational knowledge in psychology as well as more specialized I-O topics. In addition to taking fundamental I-O courses, students can pursue their individual interests in a variety of areas, such as personnel selection and assessment, psychometrics, testing, employee engagement and motivation, performance management, talent management, work attitudes and emotions, work-life interface, diversity, executive coaching, cross-cultural issues, teams, training, leadership development, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Consistent with the model of I-O psychologists as both scientists and practitioners, our program places a heavy emphasis on developing students’ research and analytical skills. Research and quantitative methods are at the core of our training program. Students are actively involved in research throughout their graduate training, beginning with mentoring and involvement in faculty research, and moving toward independent research projects as students develop their skills and interests. The program fosters a collaborative culture where students and faculty work together and support one another in the pursuit of student development and research excellence.

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The I-O program at Baruch College includes eight full-time psychologists (Harold Goldstein, Yochi Cohen-Charash, Charles Scherbaum, Anna Godollei, Deepshikha Chatterjee, Wei Wang, Andrea Bazzoli, and Kristin Sommer); four part-time psychologists (Joel Lefkowitz, Lise Saari, Rob Silzer, and Elliott Larson) who contribute to the program and doctoral student development.

The major strength and pride of our program is our people. Our students, alumni, and faculty have achieved some of the highest levels of professional distinction in I-O psychology.

  • Our students are regularly authors on posters and papers at national conferences, such as the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Academy of Management, Association for Psychological Science and American Psychological Association conferences, as well as regional conferences, such as Eastern Psychological Association conference. Many students are authors on published articles and book chapters by the time they complete the program. 

  • Our alumni hold positions in academia (e.g., Southern New Hampshire University, Sacred Heart University), Fortune 500 organizations (e.g., Facebook, Pepsi, J P Morgan Chase, Merck, Goldman Sachs, Chevron, Morgan Stanley, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson), government (e.g., Office of Personnel Management; Federal Bank of New York), and consulting firms (e.g., Korn Ferry, BTS, Mercer-Sirota, Aon).

  • The program has a strong network of alumni located in New York, the rest of the United States and internationally who contribute to our program and student development.

  • Our faculty regularly publishes in top I-O psychology and related journals, including the Journal of Business and Psychology, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Human Relations, The Industrial and Organizational Psychologist: Perspectives on Science and Practice,  Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Organizational Research Methods, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Leadership Quarterly.

  • Our faculty has a track record of securing external research grants from funders such as the National Science Foundation, Society for Human Resource Management Foundation, and the Graduate Management Admissions Council.

  • Our faculty and students have won major awards from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (M. Scott Myers Award for Applied Research in the Workplace; Distinguished Professional Contributions Award; SIOP Small Grants Award, Adverse Impact Reduction Research Initiative and Action Grant, Leslie W. Joyce and Paul W. Thayer Graduate Fellowship in I-O Psychology, and John C. Flanagan Award for Best Student Contribution at SIOP) and the Academy of Management (Sage Award for Scholarly Contributions to Gender and Diversity).

  • Our faculty has been elected to fellow status in the American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and Society of Consulting Psychology.

  • Our faculty is currently or has been on the editorial boards of top I-O journals including the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Business and Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Emotion Review, Academy of Management Journal, and Industrial /Organizational Psychology Journal: Perspectives on Science and Practice.

  • Our alumni and faculty are actively involved as officers in professional organizations, such the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Metropolitan New York Association for Applied Psychology.