Open Search
Open Navigation
study group

PsyD in Organization Development

Enhance your existing skills to drive business change.

Offered at these campuses
Anchor
Anchor
Anchor

Need additional help or information?

Request Info
Anchor

Doctorate in Organization Development Overview


As modern business becomes increasingly complex, organizations are pressed to find effective ways to increase performance, and those that do it well gain a significant competitive advantage. This is where your skills in organization development can make a difference, whether the focus is on developing individual competencies, increasing team effectiveness, improving strategic leadership, realigning culture, or improving structures, systems, and practices to enhance enterprise-wide performance. 

As a doctoral student of this program, you will become an expert in organizational behavior and develop the ability to help people initiate and manage the organization change process. Most ODs have business experience along with their PsyD in Organization Development, making this the perfect career shift for the mid-career professional. An organizational leader's job description is not limited to educational leadership or organizational change alone. The job opportunities presented with a doctorate in organization development run the gamut from consultancy, teaching in higher education, upper levels of human resources management, entrepreneurship, running a nonprofit, to other positions focused on inclusion, equity, social responsibility, and diversity.

The doctorate in organizational development program is taught in an executive format where you'll collaborate closely with others in a cohort, networking, finding jobs, and surmounting hurdles together. Ready to help business with organizational leadership and development after graduating from our graduate school?

To learn more about this program and other offerings, visit our CSPP-dedicated microsite. You’ll find videos featuring our university president, dean of CSPP, and faculty, along with numerous interactive features!

 

 

Graduate Program Highlight


Tailored Scheduling

The program is designed for the working professional, and taught in an executive format with once-a-month, weekend classes, and a flexible schedule

Hands-On Approach

The program follows an adult learning model, with more time spent on experiential learning, dialogue, collaborating, and sharing life experiences.

Cultural Competency

The program incorporates diversity, inclusion, social equity, social responsibility, and sustainability, including students from other cultures in the program.

 

Admissions


Learn About Admissions Requirements

Admissions

 

Faculty


Get to Know Our Diverse Faculty

Faculty

 

Doctoral Degree Information


Professional Training and Experience

Throughout the program, you’ll develop professional practice related skills in organization development through a variety of training experiences including class projects and coursework, case studies, and research methods in-class simulations, and field placement, often within your current organization. You’ll have regular exposure to faculty who are working in the field and who share their organizational learning and experience. We focus on providing coursework in organizational studies that can be applied in the workplace immediately. The organization development doctoral program provides tools to help you be a better change initiator, strategic leadership expert, and manager, and become a competent organizational leader and consultant with:

  • Exposure to various competencies necessary for effective client-service delivery
  • Familiarity with organizational environments that are experiencing change efforts
  • Establishment of a basic foundation in organization development/consulting skills

Field Work Projects

Examples of field work interventions have included:

  • Needs assessment and action planning
  • Redesigning human resources processes
  • Establishing strategy
  • Team building
  • Conflict management
  • Executive coaching
  • Training and development
  • Organizational culture change
  • Merger transition planning

Students have completed field work projects in a variety of organizations such as:

  • AT&T California Central Coast Construction and Engineering
  • California Department of Corrections
  • California Health Collaborative
  • California State University, Bakersfield
  • Central California Blood Bank
  • Central California SPCA
  • Central Valley Health Policy Institute
  • Chapman University
  • Delano Unified School District
  • Fresno County Department of Personnel Services
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development
  • Hinds Hospice
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Lemoore Naval Station
  • Mattel, Inc.
  • Police Activity League Life Skills Teaching Program
  • Producers Dairy Foods, Inc.
  • Sacramento County Airport
  • Sacramento Mutual Housing Association
  • Tulare County Human Resources Department
  • Walt Disney Company

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe and explain Organizational Psychology principles, concepts, models, theories, and methods. 
  • Apply psychology concepts, models, theories, and methods to organizational change and practice.
  • Summarize and critically evaluate the literature on topics in organizational psychology and leadership studies.
  • Apply knowledge of ethical and legal behavior to situations in organizational psychology.
  • Demonstrate a positive, proactive, and non-judgmental attitude towards diverse cultural and international identities and in interpersonal and professional interactions.
  • Plan and deliver culturally competent professional services in respective areas to diverse populations.
  • Produce plans, analyses and presentations relevant to leading, consulting to, and developing people in organizations.

 

Links and Downloads

School Performance Fact Sheet

Anchor

Frequently Asked Questions

Anchor

Why a doctorate in organization development?

It has a flexible schedule designed for working professionals, some are already organizational leaders themselves, who want to advance their careers. The organizational leadership program is perfect for those who want to expand their professional network and increase their advantage in the leadership role. Expertise in organizational science is highly sought in today's evolving business environment, where companies need leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change.

Anchor

What scholarship and financial aid options are available?

Private and public scholarships can help you meet the cost of your education, and Alliant offers institutional scholarships for many of our students. Learn more about these scholarship opportunities here. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify in the form of loans, grants, federal work study, and military aid. Learn more in our Financial Options Guide.

Anchor

What does this program’s dissertation process consist of?

Once you choose a faculty chairperson and committee member, a proposal is submitted and approved, followed by individual and/or small-group supervision from the committee. Your research courses are designed to assist you, and it is expected that you will complete the doctoral dissertation within three years. Doctoral students who have completed all their courses and registered for all six dissertation units, but have not completed their dissertation, may register for dissertation extension units, which will extend the program beyond the three scheduled years. We also offer an alternate path to graduation through a scholarly, applied project that could benefit an organization, such as creating a training program or designing an organizational project like a handbook.

Anchor

When does the PsyD in organization development degree program start?

The doctoral program is offered as an eight-week term program and is open for enrollment during fall and spring terms of those enrollment periods. You can find a copy of our eight-week term academic calendar here.

Anchor

How long does it take to earn the PsyD in organization development?

The PsyD in organization development degree is a 66-credit, year-round program and takes a minimum of three years to complete.

Anchor
Anchor
woman with doctorate in organizational development talking to her peers

Through this program, I broadened and deepened my understanding of organization development best practices and cultural awareness. The professors use practical projects to explain the concepts, make time for rich discussion, and share their wealth of experience to prepare all students for the field, whether that be in a hospital, large company, non-profit, educational system, or other facility.

Jade Edwards
CSPP Alumnus
Anchor
Anchor
Anchor

Why Alliant

At Alliant, our mission is to prepare students for professional careers of service and leadership and to promote the discovery and application of knowledge to improve lives. We offer an education that is accredited, focused on practical knowledge and skills, connected with diverse faculty and alumni, and aimed at the student experience.

Learn More

Anchor

Why CSPP

Founded in 1969, CSPP was one of the nation’s first independent schools of professional psychology. Today, CSPP continues its commitment to preparing the next generation of mental health professionals through graduate-level degree programs in clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, clinical counseling, organizational psychology, psychopharmacology, and more.

Why CSPP

Anchor
student holding a coffee

Start on your path to impact today