Columbia University

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Three Top-Ranked I/O Psychology Degrees at Columbia

Columbia University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

At Zankel Hall, the Teachers College grants a M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology for cohorts of 15-35 Columbia University post-grads dedicated to studying critical workplace issues from a scholar-practitioner approach with the Eisenhower Leader Development Program. Led by Dr. Sarah Brazaitis, the 45-credit, non-thesis curriculum builds on courses like Group Dynamics with two supervised NYC internships, such as Pfizer, Deloitte, Colgate-Palmolive, and Christian Dior. Graduates with at least 8-10 years of experience could choose the Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology’s Executive M.A. in Change Leadership instead. This 45-credit, one-year accelerated track blends four one-week modules, including Organizational Consultation, with guided action research.

Currently, 25 Columbia Lions are pursuing the Ph.D. in Social-Organizational Psychology for scientist-practitioner research training on industrial operations. Fall cohorts beginning the 75-credit, five-year program benefit from corporate partnerships like Merck. There’s also the on-site Morton Deutsch Center and Social Cognition & Career Lab. There’s also a Principles and Practices of Organization Development Certificate.

About Columbia University

Columbia University originated in July 1754 when Dr. Samuel Johnson welcomed an inaugural class of eight to New York’s first institution chartered by King George II as King’s College. On May 1, 1784, the State Legislature passed the Act renaming it Columbia College. By 1887, the Teachers College was founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Nicholas Murray Butler with funding from Grace Hoadley Dodge.

In 1898, Columbia formally acquired Teachers College as its Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology. One century later, Columbia University merged with the women’s Barnard College too. In 1981, the Department of Organization & Leadership founded its first Ph.D. for psychology. Endowed for $10.86 billion, Columbia University employs 3,999 faculty teaching 33,032 students from 90 countries . It has:

  • 22 libraries
  • 200 Ivy League study abroad partnerships
  • 500+ campus organizations

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Columbia:

  • the third best national university
  • sixth best value
  • 17th top psychology program
  • seventh top teachers college

Niche ranks Columbia:

  • America’s fifth-best professors
  • eighth best academics
  • ninth most diversity
  • 15th top psychology courses

Times Higher Education placed Columbia University 16th globally. The Princeton Review picked Columbia:

  • 17th for career placement
  • 39th for sustainability
  • 11th for dorm housing

Mines ParisTech recognized Columbia for the world’s 12th most CEO alumni. Forbes declared Columbia University the 15th best overall with the 14th most impactful research. The Center for World University Rankings positioned Columbia 13th for education quality and sixth for alumni employment. Money magazine ranked Columbia the 56th best buy for a 20-year PayScale ROI of $653,000. In 2018, Columbia University also ranked #1 for National Institutes of Health funding.

Columbia University Accreditation Details

Columbia University is accredited through 2026 by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).  In particular, the Teachers College was reaffirmed by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in Spring 2013. The Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology was approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) through 2021. Columbia University was also featured by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) in February 2019.

Columbia University Application Requirements

Admission to Columbia University is classified “most difficult” by Peterson’s because only 2,263 of the 37,389 Fall 2017 applicants were triumphant for selective 6 percent acceptance. Post-grad students seeking the M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology must hold 120+ credits of regionally accredited bachelor’s prep. Fulfilling prerequisites like Introduction to Psychology and Statistics is suggested.

Cumulative GPAs above 3.0 are mandated, though the average is 3.56. Median GRE General Test scores are 162 Verbal, 160 Quantitative, and 4.0 Analytical Writing. Having at least 24 months of paid/volunteer experience is necessary. Mid-career professionals with 95+ months of experience enter the Executive M.A. Non-native English speakers must exceed the 600 TOEFL pBT, 100 TOEFL iBT, or 7.5 IELTS mark. The Ph.D. in Social-Organizational Psychology only accepts 15 transfer master’s credits graded “B” or better. Each competitive workgroup of 3-6 must exhibit research competency and minimum 3.3 GPAs.

Columbia University has set a January 15th early and April 15th final deadline for the M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology. Executive M.A. in Change Leadership cohorts must apply before March 1st. The Ph.D. in Social-Organizational Psychology has a strict December 15th cutoff yearly. Admission to the Principles and Practices of Organization Development Certificate is rolling.

Accordingly, prospective students should complete the $65 Teachers College Application online. Registrars mail official bachelor’s and master’s transcripts to 525 West 120th Street in New York, NY 10027. Utilize Educational Testing Service code 2905 for score reports. Other documents include:

  • résumé or curriculum vitae
  • statement of purpose
  • writing sample
  • research proposal
  • three recommendations

Please pose further questions to (212) 678-3710 or admission@tc.columbia.edu.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, the Teachers College Board of Trustees approved a Columbia University tuition rate of $1,635 per credit. In comparison, that’s lower than non-TC costs of $1,890 per credit. The Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology charges a $458 mandatory fee each term. Research fees add another $458. The Columbia health fee is $561 by semester. Unless waived, insurance premiums are $3,169.

Expected add-ons include:

  • the $300 tuition deposit
  • $100 library fee
  • $100 registration fee

The Ph.D. dissertation advisement fee is $4,905. The M.A. in Social-Organizational Psychology total is estimated at $75,865. Executive M.A. cohorts spend an estimated $74,594 overall. Doctorate pricing rises to an estimated $134,569. Living at the New York City campus’ housing like Bancroft Hall adds $6,140 to $12,546 by term.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid gets 59 percent of Columbia students enrolling with median assistance of $39,523 for $186.15 million combined. Teachers College funds include:

  • the Abby O’Neill Fellowship
  • City Year Scholarship
  • Diversity in Education Scholarship
  • LGBTQ Diversity Scholarship
  • Posse Foundation Fellowship
  • Lemann Fellowship
  • Arthur Zankel Urban Fellowship
  • Margaret Mead Fellowship
  • Morse Digital Learning Fellowship
  • Dean’s Grant for Student Research
  • Morton Embree Award

The Doctoral Dissertation Grant gifts $6,250 for current Ph.D. in Social-Organizational Psychology students. Research assistantships remit tuition while paying $3,375 to $9,000 in stipends per semester. Filing FAFSA applications coded G03979 helps borrow low-interest Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate Plus loans. Returning volunteers can receive $1,289 to $6,095 from the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. External SOIP programs like the George C. Thornton and Lee Hakel Graduate Scholarships also help.

Learn more about Columbia University at the Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology website.

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