Skip to Content
Purdue University is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of our community. Virtually all Purdue classes that begin in the months of May, June or July will be delivered by remote instruction. Events are also being restricted or suspended through July 31st. For the latest information and guidance on Purdue’s response to COVID-19 please visit: https://Purdue.university/covid-19
Purdue Krannert School of Management logo
Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Area

OBHR PhD Program Requirements

All OBHR PhD students are required to:

  • Complete a minimum of 48 credits of appropriate graduate coursework.

  • Complete and present to the OBHR area a 606 research project by the Fall of the 2nd year of the program.

  • Pass preliminary examination the summer after the 2nd year in the program.

  • Develop effective teaching skills through serving as a teaching assistant and course instructor.

  • Competently contribute to research projects that lead to papers being submitted for presentation at national conferences and for publication in academic journals.

  • Submit and defend a dissertation proposal.

  • Complete and defend a dissertation.

Coursework Requirements

1. Managerial Skills (Take any 2 below; waived for MBA graduates) 

  • MGMT 600 Accounting for Managers (3 credits)

  • MGMT 610 Financial Management (3 credits)

  • MGMT 620 Marketing Management (3 credits)

  • MGMT 650 Strategic Management I (3 credits)

  • MGMT 660 Introduction To Operations Management (3 credits)

  • OBHR 681 Managing Behavior in Organizations or OBHR 631 Human Resource Systems (2 credits)

2. Research Methods (18 credits)

  • OBHR 605 Research Methods I (3 credits)

  • Students choose with the help of their advisor 12 credits of graduate methods and statistics from a slate of courses such as Reserch Methods I in Psychology, Introduction to Statistics, ANOVA and Experimental Design, Regression Analysis, Multivariate Statistics, Multi-Level Analyses, Structural Equation Modeling, and Psychometric Theory.

3. OBHR Major Coursework (16 credits)

  • OB survey (2 cr)

  • HR survey (2 cr)

  • Advanced topics in OBHR courses  (2cr as offered)

  • Independent study (variable hours)

  • Research practicum (606 project; 2cr)

4.  Minor Coursework (6 credits)

Minors are designed by students with help from their advisor.  A minor in I/O Psychology is recommended. 

TOTAL (not counting dissertation credits)  48-49 credits