Be on the Forefront of Organizational Behavior
Get Your PhD in Organizational Behavior
The program follows an apprentice model with an emphasis on one-on-one interaction by working directly with faculty.
As a student pursuing a PhD in Organizational Behavior at WashU Olin, you study organizations from multiple viewpoints, methods and levels of analysis. You delve deep into management, leadership, negotiation and other areas as you prepare for a career in academia.
OB students develop close mentoring relationships with faculty, working on projects together and often co-authoring papers. From your first year of study through defense of your dissertation, you find the support you need from faculty and staff alike.
Organizational Behavior Faculty and ResearchOlin has a diverse and highly productive faculty in Organizational Behavior, and their work draws on cutting-edge theory and methods from economics, psychology and sociology. Recent research projects have examined performance benefits of team production; how leaders gain the trust of their subordinates, and how they can rebuild it once it has been lost; how to enhance the creativity of workgroups; the changing nature of the employment contract; and methods of negotiation and conflict resolution.
Our OB faculty’s research has been published in a wide range of leading journals, including:
- Academy of Management Journal
- Academy of Management Review
- Journal of Applied Psychology
- Organization Behavior and Human Decision Processes
- Psychological Science
Read about collabortive research by Organizational Behavior faculty and PhD students.
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PhD Organizational Behavior
WashU Olin’s PhD program in organizational behavior examines how individuals and groups affect and are affected by people in the organization.
Organizational Behavior Curriculum
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First Year
Recommended Course Sequence
First Semester- Tools Course: Quantitative Methods I (Psych 5066)
- Psychology courses
- Olin PhD OB courses
Second Semester
- Tools Course: Quantitative Methods II (Psych 5067)
- Cognitive Psychology Seminar (e.g., Advanced Cognitive Psychology)
- Olin PhD OB courses
The order of classes may change due to availability, and classes may be substituted with approval. A communications course that focuses on oral communication is also recommended during the first two years. When the student takes the course is determined by the student and their advisor.
Research
- Attend Organizational Behavior seminars.
- Begin research collaborations.
Milestones
- In the summer after the first year, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by August 1 after the first year.
- First-year summer papers are due at the end of the first summer prior to beginning second-year course work.
- In August after the first year, students must attend an RA/TA orientation offered by The Center for Teaching and Learning.
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Second Year
Courses
Third Semester- Olin PhD OB courses
- Tools Course: Research Methods/Analysis (e.g., Research Designs and Methods, Psych 5011)
- Psychology elective seminar
Fourth Semester
- Olin PhD OB courses
- Psychology elective seminar
Research
- Attend Organizational Behavior Seminars
- Continue research collaborations
Milestones
- Field exam
- Second year summer papers are due at the end of the second summer prior to third year course work.
- In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by August 1.
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Third Year
Courses
- B53 660 Seminar in Presentation Skills (fall semester, required)
- Improvisation course
Research
- Attend Organizational Behavior seminars,
- Paper presentations (brown bag seminars and conferences)
- Dissertation research
Milestones
- In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD office by August 1.
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Fourth Year
Research
- Attend Organizational Behavior seminars
- Paper presentations (brown bag seminars and conferences)
- Dissertation research
Milestones
- Dissertation Proposal – students must be able to assemble a Research Advisory Committee for the proposal of their dissertation and must submit a Title, Scope and Procedure Form as the committee’s approval of the proposed dissertation by September 30 after the fourth year.
- In the summer, students must meet with the faculty coordinator to discuss progress and complete a progress report to be submitted to the PhD Office by August 1.
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Fifth Year
Research
- Attend Organizational Behavior seminars
- Paper presentations (job market paper presentations with faculty and at conferences)
- Dissertation research
Milestones
- Intent to Graduate (complete form online)
- Job market and placement
- Oral Defense of Dissertation
- Submission of Examination Approval form which signifies committee’s approval
- Upload of final, approved Dissertation to Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Submission of Documented Teaching Requirements to PhD office
- Course Descriptions
Full-Time Organizational Behavior Faculty Members
Contact Us
Doctoral Programs
Campus Box 1133-124-05
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
Office Hours:
Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.