News

Earlier this month, the State Board of Higher Education gave final approval to a new Ph.D. in Applied Psychology at Portland State, the demand for which has been well documented by Department of Labor forecasts, professional societies, and in the increasing number of applications for graduate study in these fields.

Students earning a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology are equipped to conduct research that can influence public policy on pressing social issues—the provision of paid family leave at the regional, state, and national levels, or the effects of social relationships on alcohol use and abuse, for example. A concentration in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (one of three program tracks), can lead to consulting work focused on the prevention of job stress and workplace injuries, and finding ways to improve job satisfaction and the quality of life for workers and their families.